Help! In Derry and just found out that bus service to Sligo is canceled

According to the operator's website, the 64 is still running.

https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=243#timetables

Yes, but service from Derry is suspended. Found out we need to take the 380 Ulsterbus to Letterkenney, then switch to the 64

So the bus operator has confirmed it's not running?

That’s the info from the front desk at our hotel

You know what you need to do, don't you?

?

The schedule shows that the bus goes all the way, but I think the front desk has no idea. He says that we will not know until tomorrow if we will switch or not

Check with the bus operator.

Stating "because of Brexit", which is something that hasn't happened, makes me want a second opinion.

Yes, I'd call the bus company directly. I agree that "because of Brexit" is a red flag, since Brexit hasn't happened yet.

Go to the bus station. Confirm it from them not the person at the hotel.

BREXIT hasn’t yet occurred so I’m leary of the desk person giving you truthful up to date intel.

Yes, I agree. He admitted that he doesn’t really know about public transport. Disappointed, but we will work it out. Thanks for the input!

Yes, I'd call the bus company directly. I agree that "because of
Brexit" is a red flag, since Brexit hasn't happened yet.

I'm with the others: there hasn't been a Brexit yet so that doesn't make sense. Call or email the bus company.

https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=290#contact

"He admitted that he doesn’t really know about public transport."

Ah, THERE'S the rub. In most places, hotel staff are excellent sources of mass transit information - but not always. I ran into this problem in Tel Aviv, although at least there, they admitted it upfront, rather than making assumptions as your desk staff did.

Quite crass and unprofessional behaviour by the hotel staff member.

I’d say he’s the exception. People have been friendly and helpful. I’ll make a full trip report, but putting the plug in for Northern Ireland. Consider adding it to your bucket list!

There does seem to be something up with this route, because if you try to book on the Bus Éireann website to Sligo the details come up but greyed out and are unselectable from Derry/Londonderry but are selectable from Letterkenney onwards. However, I can't find any details there as to why.

Bus Éireann are unable to offer online booking on journeys starting across the border, hence only available from Letterkenny in this case.

OP I would be inclined to mention that staff member's behaviour in any reviews you post.

So to possibly help another traveler in the same situation, what did you end up doing?

I totally agree with you about how beautiful Northern Ireland is. I would just go to the bus station and buy my ticket there. I took this bus last summer. You are smart to take a break at Sligo. It can be a long ride if you go all the way to Galway in one day.

Where did anyone say it was a crime? The receptionist could have simply admitted their lack of knowledge (which seems to have happened afterwards) and left it there, but instead made up some unfounded nonsense that left the OP very concerned and having to make queries on multiple websites. Never any harm in a review to advise other travellers, who may not know if their leg is being pulled in the same way a local might.

Whoa! Let’s not fight. We sorted it out. We ended up taking a car service. I’ll fill in the details when I post my trip report. Thanks for the advice and input!

Ended up taking a car service. It was a budget buster, but so worth it. Diarmuid O’Donnell at Legenderrychauffeurs.com is another wonderful Derry discovery. We had great conversation, and a very smooth, nice ride.

I don’t know. We made a last minute call to use a car service. Helped with the stress a lot!

I can’t believe that bus 64 doesn’t connect. It certainly did when I took it less than a year ago. I wasn’t able to buy tickets online in advance, but there was no difficulties buying a ticket at the station. This bus was the lifeline between towns in this area and well used.

I am glad that you came to a solution that was satisfactory for you and you felt you received good value from your driver.

was the car service recommended by the bloke at the hotel?

No, I found him myself

There's kind of a running joke about asking an Irish person for directions - even if they have no idea, they'll give you directions usually ending with "when you get there, ask somebody else."