Summer 18 Multicountry Euro Trip

Is there a particular reason for flying into Edinburgh if you're going to then make the long journey by bus to London the same day?

The flight to Edinburgh was significantly cheaper than to London.

I'm relieved. I thought the title of your post was for an 18 country "Multicountry Euro Trip" or 18 countries trip sometime in summer using the currency Euro.

It seems a lot less than that. whew

I worked out that you are not talking about the money but using a new abbreviation for Europe (dropping the "p" and the "e")

Haven't looked at prices, but you might want to think of flying one of the budget airlines from Edinburgh to London.

"my happy place" suggests that you are an experienced European traveler. Is that correct? If so, we don't need to warn you about spending six of 18 days on very long bus trips. You have already used Google Maps or a similar product to estimate your jumps from city to city. There is a feeling from the itinerary that this is the only trip you will ever make to Europe.

I like London just fine, but because it isn't that well connected to Amsterdam, the beginning of the trip doesn't make travel-time sense. You might wish to compromise so that you spend more time enjoying local life and less time ticking a list of boxes. Opinion.

Im just curious to why you have chosen the flixbus pass? Have you looked if there are cheaper or more convenient alternatives to busses? And if there are indeed overnight busses?

You ask for "recommendations on places to see at the destinations" -- but why were your reasons for picking these destinations ??

Lots of long-range moves for short stays. Plot out your itinerary and figure out how much time you will actually have in each place after subtracting out your bus ride times.
Have you booked flights already, or could you change entry/exit points or add time to your trip?

No I wouldn’t consider myself an experienced European traveler, but I have been there twice and to Toulouse once an it takes my breath away with its charm. I plan on choosing the flixpass strickly because of the cheap price. I have looked on the website and every one of the routes (minus Edinburgh-London) has an overnight direct route. I don’t mind a 9, 10, 11 hour bus ride because I think it would be worth it to save the money on transport and housing, but if anyone has any better ways that are not too expensive, I’m all ears. I chose these destinations because my friend has never been abroad, so I want him to see the most iconic cities. The tickets to and from Europe have already been booked so the time frame can not change.

And I don’t believe it would take 6 days off of my trip, all of the routes I’m interested leave after 9pm and arrive before 11am.

We are young, and would like to explore large cities with vibrant nightlife. That’s pretty much the criteria, we aren’t interested in day trips or small town strolls.

I doubt you can find anything cheaper than the bus pass if you include the savings for a nights accommodation. However in my experience a night bus does not equal a good nights sleep and you still have to get to and from the bus station to your accommodation. After a night on a bus, you might need a nap during the day.

Hi,

I've been to Toulouse twice on two separate trips in the early years of the 21st century, both times taking the train from Paris. It's a nice city, an university city too. The centre ville is very interesting.

From your proposed itinerary I see you'll be taking the bus from Paris to Toulouse. If there is night Flixbus, take that departure. It's like to taking a night train. Take the night departures whenever they fit into your schedule.

There used to be a direct Paris to Toulouse night train. When I went to Toulouse, I did not know about the bus. Maybe the bus option didn't exist then?

@ tyrus....There is nothing wrong or amiss with the cities you picked ...Paris, Toulouse, (If it's place in the south, I would have picked Grenoble but Toulouse is well worth it), Frankfurt, Amsterdam (apart from its superb museums, I don't care much for Amsterdam), Edinburgh. Only Edinburgh I've not visited...not yet.

And I don’t believe it would take 6 days off of my trip, all of the
routes I’m interested leave after 9pm and arrive before 11am.

What is your plan for bathing/showering when you take these overnight bus rides?

@Continential we are going to check in to our hotel in the morning, I’m sure there’ll be enough time to bathe. I don’t think showering at night is necessary, there are 24 hours in a day. Maybe you should try to switch it up one day.

"...check into our hotel in the morning..".

The only way to do that is to pay for the night before, otherwise somewhere between 2 and 4pm is the usual check in time. That raises another question. What is the plan for your luggage between the time you arrive in a city and when you can check in?

Maybe you should look at hostels rather than hotels. Probably cheaper and definitely more suitable to your travel style.

Tyrus, Most hotels will allow you to dump your luggage at reception in the morning, but not allow access to the room until ~14:00 to 15:00.
Similarly if you are checking out you must do this by ~10:00 to 11:00, but they will look after your luggage so you can pick it up later in the day.

You may not have the days,but since you are going through Edinburgh it is a shame to miss the city. Also look up York ( https://www.visityork.org/ ), half way between Edinburgh and London and worth a day.

Your plan sounds like something I would have though up when I was 20, but today there is no way I would sleep on an overnight bus.

We are only bringing carry-ons (to avoid baggage fees) with a backpack inside so that we could use them during the day. And hostels do seem like a better deal.

We are young...

You maybe asking advice from the wrong travel forum. lol
Try the Lonely Planet also.
The order of your itinerary trip makes sense.

As mentioned previously, getting restful sleep on a night bus for most is a tall order. Saving money on a room by travelling at night works when you say it that way, but not necessarily all that well in practice. If you and your friend have done it before and are good with it, then great. If not, it could mess with your ability to enjoy your trip.

Have you looked at the cost of your cheap flight to Edinburgh + the train to London vs flying direct to London? It may not be so cheap after all. On Rome2Rio.com I see one way train tickets Edinburgh to London running around $230 USD (6hrs 45min), bus at $60 USD (8 hrs 45min), flights around $70 USD (1hr 30min plus arrival before your flight, and security). Also, if your flight arrives Edinburgh in the morning, you lose that day to getting to London rather than landing in London and having that day to explore it.

@ tyrus...no problem taking a shower when you are traveling in Germany, assuming you hit the big cities, (Frankfurt, Köln, Berlin Hbf, Munich, etc.) Practically all the German train station' WC facilities are under one management, (Can't recall the name, used to be Rail and Fresh). These WC facilities have showers, (some), of course, you'll be charged one or two Euro if you partake in this option.

Checking in while it's still morning is no problem, not in Germany and Austria. You may check-in say at 0800 hrs but going to your room is another story especially if it had been occupied the night before. There have been times I got off the night train to Berlin, or Vienna (this one was from Frankfurt), a bit after 0900 hrs at Westbahnhof, walked to the hotel ten minutes later or so, checked in, and since the room was not used the the previous night, I had my room. If not, after check in, the hotel will store your luggage, no need to put it in a train station locker.

Likewise in Paris. In 2015 I got to the 2 star hotel at Gare du Nord ca 2 pm, was told in 20 mins the room would be ready. (The room should have been ready at 2 pm since it was reserved). That room wasn't ready until almost 3 pm...a bit taxing.

@ tyrus....When you arrive in morning say 0830 hr at the hostel after an all night bus ride, you may check in at the hostel, no problem. You put your luggage in a locked storage room. Of course, you can't access the room since it has not been cleaned. At 9 am there is lock down, ie, every one out of the bedrooms, for cleaning (Reinigungssperre), which lasts 2-3 hrs, it varies. At least you are checked in and the luggage is secure.

@Peter, Rome2Rio is good for spotting travel options and companies you didn't know about, but for costings it is rubbish.

You wrote "Edinburgh to London running around $230 USD (6hrs 45min)"
Advance purchase fares from Edinburgh to London purchase 3+ months in Advance start at £25 and it takes 4h21. See https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/
The "pay on the day" price (Anytime single) is £151.50.

I automatically reject any price in the "wrong" currency. It implies the price is from a reseller in another country, not direct from the supplier.

Chris, I searched for a one way fare, March 15, Edinburgh to Heathrow on the Virgin East Coast link you provided. Im getting 5hrs 25 minutes, and a Super Off Peak Single of 169.9 GBP (or about 230 USD at todays exchange rate).

Edited to Add: Im seeing the "Anytime Single" for the journey noted above at 183.5 GBP.

@Peter My friend and I have taken a night bus (Megabus) before, and we slept on the bus (not the best sleep, but not terrible.) When we got to our destination (around 7am) we didn’t feel particularly tired, rather energized and excited to explore our destination.
@Fred we probably won’t be taking a train in/around Germany. We plan on staying with my family in Frankfurt. And I agree with @Chris F in that I don’t put too much stock in pricing on Rome2Rio, even though I regard it as one of the best comparative travel sites. And the hostel check-in policy sounds great, and very conducive to our travel schedule.

And the flight from Edinburgh to London might make sense. We arrive in Edinburgh in the morning it might be better to stroll the city for a few hours (instead of the 12+ hours I had planned) and flying out to make it to London before too late, and just add that night’s accommodation.

@Peter, I just looked up 15th March. I am seeing trains from Edinburgh to London Kings Cross for £32.50, and it does take 4h21 to 4h43 depending on train.
You wrote "Edinburgh to Heathrow . . . . 5hrs 25 minutes" - the extra hour is for the trip out to Heathrow. The OP said London, not Heathrow. I don't know why the site is listing over £100 for the leg from King's to Heathrow, that is ridiculous. It is only a few £ on the tube.

@tyrus...You'll see that sleeping on an overnight bus is no big deal, no problem, plus you have previous experience anyway. If you did not, I would still suggest doing it anyway. Look at the other passengers who will be dozing off, snoring away (a few ) once the bus is under way.