Hi all,

Could you please let me know about your experiences of Flixbus, and in particular the Interflix pass (5 one-way trips for 99 Euros) if anyone has used it. And of course any recommendations for what to do/cheap hostels to stay in for the destinations/apps to download while out there (I'm 20 y/o, m, traveling w/ a friend).

I plan to use it for:

1. London- Amsterdam

2. Amsterdam- Frankfurt

3. Frankfurt- Paris

4. Paris- Toulouse

5. Toulouse- Barcelona

Please let me know; I plan on being in Europe from late May to mid June.

Get a copy of Let's Go Europe for all those tips and more on buses, which are great if their limited schedules comport to yours and if riding in a bus seat all night sometimes is for you. Trains of course cost more money but leave all the time and if booking on national rail web sites may not cost too much - for lots on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If booking early enough you can often get 19-29 euro train rides for most of your trips.

I don’t have personal experience but a good friend of mine just came back from a trip similar to yours using flux bus for the first time. His main comments were that:

At least in Germany, the larger bus stations are a little confusing and it’s sometimes difficult to tell which bus is yours. The destinations are not often clearly marked, and sometimes there are buses leaving within half an hour of each other so you have to make sure you’re getting on the right bus.

Having to be there 15 minutes before departure is a hard and fast rule that they take very seriously. He missed one bus when he was not able to find the correct bus at the terminal, and go though he arrived five minutes before the bus was scheduled to depart The driver would not let him on.

I use flixbus on and off for night travel to Paris. Never heard about the 15 minute rule, but maybe that is because I travel at night.

London-Amsterdam is a pain on flixbus. The other destinations I can't speak for, but it's an excruciating journey.

If you want to save money on planes or Eurostar, consider the day time sailing of Stena, from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Flixbus takes longer.

The savings of take dirt-cheap night buses can be huge - if on a low budget great and for younger folk OK - probably lots of other younger folks on board.

That said I doubt many on Fodor's have experiences - Lonely Planet forums may yield better takes.

But seems like a great cheap way to go though cheapest ain't always best.