We struggled with the choice of taking the Flixbus directly from the Munich airport to Garmisch-Partenkirchen or taking the train which would require a transfer. We took the Flixbus and didn't have a good experience. It was early June and the bus was stifling hot (we sat on the lower level - our friends sat up top and said it was fine). We were unaware that there would be a mid-trip driver switch. The first driver was very abrupt when we tried to ask questions before we boarded. He spent much of his time looking at the phone in his hand. The bus drifted onto the shoulder of the road a number of times to the point that we were a little concerned about our safety. The next driver was better. If you're really trying to cut costs then consider the Flixbus, but be aware that there are a lot of variables that can make for an uncomfortable trip.
Posted by
116 posts
how long was the bus drive? I am going from houston to munich and then plan to go to Garmisch. I dont want to deal with train transfers after a long flight. But I also dont want to deal with a hot bus in late august.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
What is the problem with making a simple train transfer, whether after a long flight or not?
At Munich airport, buy a Bayern Ticket, 25 EUR for the 1st person and 6 EUR for each additional person up to 5 traveling together. You can buy from a vending machine (choose English instructions), or for 2 EUR fee, buy at a ticket window. Week days, travel after 9 am.
Take the S-8 train to Munich-Pasing. The S-8 goes every 20 minutes at 1, 21, 41 past the hour. at Munich-Pasing you arrive on Track 7. take the stairs, or escalator, or elevator down to the pedestrian passage below the tracks, then walk about 100 feet, then up the stairs, escalator, elevator to Track 4. Trains to Garmish-Partenkrichen go every hour at 39 past the hour.
If you have time to kill at the Munich-Pasing station, you can walk to the end of the pedestrian passage and there are shops for coffee, snacks, etc.
I'd much prefer that to a bus hurtling down the Autobahn with a driver glued to his cell phone.
Posted by
116 posts
Thanks guys. @Sam, I am going to Bavaria in late August. Flying in and out of Munich. I want to see Bavaria but also beautiful scenery in Austria. WAs thinking of making Garmisch my base and then a second base in Austria. Have 7 days in all. What are your recommendations?
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
We were recently on a Rick Steve’s tour crossing the border from Germany to Switzerland and got stuck behind a Flixbus for almost an hour before we could go on. There was someone on the bus who didn’t have the proper paperwork and it took the authorities a while to get them off. Our driver said he used to drive for Flix, and that was not an uncommon occurrence. Because it was cheap, people used it to try to get through without the right papers. Not judging them, just reporting what happened..
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9220 posts
Rode Flixbus from Frankfurt to Trier. The driver was friendly and polite, but he was talking on his phone for about 2 hours. I went online to the Flixbus FB page and complained. At our next stop, I told him to stop it, that it was illegal. He claimed to have only been on the phone for a few minutes. We were close enough to see him the whole time, so told him that. Even 1 second is too long when you are driving. He didn't use the phone anymore the rest of the trip. The next coming back to Frankfurt, it was the same driver. He was not as friendly, so the company must have said something to him.
Lesson learned? Don't be afraid to say something to the driver. It is your life.
You can also ask them to turn on the AC or turn it down if it gets too cold.
The bus didn't make a comfort break, and the WC on the bus was smelly and had no TP. Going to Trier and back. This went on my complaint form to the company too.