Emily Kammerlohr /

Flying etiquette should be common sense, but unfortunately there’s nothing common about it these days.

If you are looking for ways to be polite on a plane, or just need a safe place to rant about others who are not, then this is the post for you.

7 Essential Tips for Flying Etiquette

airline connections short connections tight connections

Prague, Czech Republic

See also:

Cut Yourself Off

Can you wear normal clothes to Oktoberfest Oktoberfest costumes Oktoberfest outfits Cheap Oktoberfest costumes

Getting boozy at Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany.

Dierks Bentley may have made it sound like a blast (after all, the 737 was rockin’ like a G6), but getting drunk on a plane is one one of the trashiest things you can do and a huge violation of flying etiquette.

I’ve been stuck in a tube of metal hurling through the sky at 500mph with drunk girls too many times.

Two of the most memorable experiences:

  • My 8:30AM flight from Chicago to Houston.

I was going home to Houston for spring break, but the three girls behind me were just connecting  for a week of debauchery on South Padre Island.

One of them drank three Bloody Marys of her own before downing her friend’s when she got up to use the bathroom. Rows 17-20 were then treated to a graphic story of her exploits from spring break last year. Don’t be that girl.

  • My 10-hour flight to Paris from Houston next to the lady who inspired this post.

This girl drank like, six mini-bottles of Chardonnay in the first two hours of the flight and then got so belligerent with the flight attendant that she got cut off.

And I say “like six” because that’s how many I counted after she spilled over half of the last one onto my lap. Who knows. The discarded bottles were clustered around her feet. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple had rolled back a few rows.

See also:

Pack with the Plane in Mind

best time to visit Mount Rushmore best time to visit mt rushmore

With my trusty travel backpack (and an angry mountain goat) at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Put your headphones, medication, and snacks in the small bag that will go under the seat in front of you. If you only bring a rolling suitcase, or would prefer to have all the leg room you can, get the things you think you’ll want from your bag out and place them in the seatback pocket.

Don’t be that girl; the one who needs to get into the overhead storage (STORAGE being the key word here, y’all) bin 50 times during a two hour flight and has so much junk with her that it spills over into her neighbor’s lap (side eye at you, Houston to Paris rowmate. I didn’t really want to read your Spanish homework, but you put it open on my tray table soo??) Please plan ahead.

Sit Up during Meals

Whole30 Travel Whole30 While Traveling

The Dining Room at the Royal Opera House in Vienna, Austria.

I’m of two minds on whether or not reclining your seat on an airplane is rude. I mean, I definitly hate it when my forward neighbor comes careening into my lap, but I also definitly like to lean back when I’m trying to take a nap.

  • So, my general rule for flying etiquette is this:

Only recline your airplane seat when you are 100% going to take a nap and always sit it up during the meal service. Nobody wants to eat out of their laps.

And, if the person behind you asks you to put your seat up, work with them. It doesn’t mean you are required to sit straight as a board for the entirety of your flight, but don’t be like my Houston to Paris rowmate who actually got out of her seat and almost tried to fight the gentleman behind her (who was well over six feet tall) when he asked her if she would put her seat up for a little while.

See also:

Monitor Your Volume

Whole30 Travel Whole30 While Traveling

I can’t be quiet about my love for Selenas.

My lovely seatmate also played the entirety of Nicky Minaj’s Pink Friday on repeat while she took a snooze. I honestly love me some Nicki, but there’s only so many times you can listen to her jams blasting from your neighbor’s headphones before getting irritated.

Tbh “so many times” roughly translates to the first 30 seconds of the opening track. Seriously. There’s this amazing trick you can do where you take your earphones out, see if you can hear what you’re listening to when you hold them at your shoulders, and then adjust your volume accordingly.

This also goes for how loudly you speak. Please use your inside voice on airplanes. They are very small. We can all hear you.

Also (wow this post is getting a little bit ranty), flying etiquette 101: if you’re taking a flight before 8am, maybe don’t speak at volume level 10000000 to the person next to you, even if y’all are best pals, until we are AT LEAST all the way to 35,000 feet. Have some compassion on the sleepyheads who don’t want to hear about your next meeting.

Take the Lead of Your Rowmates

friends in Boston

My buds and frequent travel buddies (Rachael and Brittney) at the MFA in Boston, Massachusetts.

Have you ever sat down on a plane and felt immediately trapped by a chatty Cathy? Or maybe you feel disappointed the man in 14C isn’t more chipper?

People want different things on planes. Some (most?) prefer to just get to where they are going and not learn their neighbor’s life story. Others are looking for a talking buddy. However, no matter which camp you fall into, it’s a important part of flying etiquette to maintain your civility.

If you don’t want to chat, a quick “Hey, I’m going to get some rest. Nice to meet you.” Or “Enjoy the flight! I’ve got some work to do.” should be enough for most to get the picture. If you are out here trying to make friends, be sure to be alert for the these subtle brush offs.

See also:

Be Cool about Bathroom Breaks

Flixbus Budapest

At the baths in Budapest, Hungary. I definitly got OUT to pee because I’m not nasty AF.

As a lover of the window seat, I can promise you that I hold it as long as I can because I don’t want to bother you, but sometimes a girls gotta go.

If you sit on the aisle, even if you’re in a dead sleep, proper flying etiquette says that you don’t have the right to be irritated if one of your rowmates wakes you up because they need to use the restroom. People need to pee.

Unlike frequent access to the overhead bin, frequent trips to the bathroom are definitly something to accommodate.

Shower the Day of Your Flight

Azalea Trail Display Azalea Trail Houston River Oaks Garden ClubRiver Oaks Houston Ducks

Rubber Duckie, you’re the one. Houston, Texas.

I’ve started carrying peppermint essential oil to rub under my nose with me on flights because so many people seem to think it’s chill not to shower when they are about to embark on a hours-long journey in a metal tube with recycled air.

Please you guys. The day of your flight is not the day to skip your shower.

Pin it:

flying etiquette rules for flying

**This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item via these links (or in the same session) I get some cash money, at no extra cost to you. You can learn more in my Privacy Policy.

Follow:
Emily Kammerlohr /

Oh, Uber drivers.

You come across some crazy characters when traveling. You can learn a lot from people when you least expect it, if you only take a moment to listen. Everyone, even people you meet in passing, has a story to tell. I’ve met some of the most interesting people through ride-sharing. Here are the highlights.

Sonder – noun. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

The five Uber drivers you meet on the road and what you’ll learn from them.

See also:

The Knights Templar Rocker in Bratislava

Flixbus Bratislava Flixbus Prague honest Flixbus Review is Flxbus reliable

You won’t remember a time when you’ve been more scared. You see him on the side of the road, across from the Bratislava bus station. You demand he pull up to meet you because you don’t want to cross a busy street. You immediately regret it.

He angrily u-turns. You can hear the heavy metal music when he’s still 200 feet away.  His bright red car might as well have been stained with the blood of his enemies. When he jumps out of the front seat, he’s way taller than you expected. He’s hefty. His dark gray hair is carved into spikes on the top of his head.

You ride without speaking. You’ll pretend it’s because of the language barrier. You don’t speak Slovak. But the metal he’s blasting is in English, which he clearly understands. You just don’t know what to say to this Uber driver. There’s a Templar cross hanging from his rearview mirror. You’ll convince yourself later that there was probably a sword in the trunk.

When he drops you off at the Most SNP bus stop in Bratislava, you leap from the car in relief, even if your new location is under a sketchy concrete bridge.

What you learn: Never demand anything from someone over the phone. Be polite. Ask nicely. Because they might have a sword in their trunk.

See also:

The Despacito Repeater in Vienna

airline connections short connections tight connections

You’ve had a long day exploring Schönbrunn Palace. You hop in an Uber because your feet are swollen and the idea of walking all the way back to the S-Bahn station makes you want to cry. Despacito is playing. You think, “Oh, I love this song!” You and your friend even sing along.

I don’t know the words, so I sing poquito.

I don’t know the words, so I sing Dorito.

I don’t know the words, so I sing contingooooo.

The song fades out. Then sharply back in.

Come and move that in my direction…

Odd, you think. Maybe it’s just his phone playing the song again. But then it comes on again. In English. In French. In Arabic. In a language you don’t even recognize. By the time you arrive home, your ears are bleeding. “Never again,” you mumble. You hear Despacito rev up again as he drives away. You clammer into the building.

What you learn: The maximum time that a human being can listen to Despactio in one sitting is considerably less than eleven plays.

See also:

The Lobbyist in DC

What was it like at Trump's inauguration how to get good inauguration tickets

Washington, DC. 5PM. Thursday, the day before Trump’s inauguration. You go to Georgetown in the middle of the afternoon because the dress rental company screwed up your order for the inaugural ball you’re due to attend and you’re desperate to find a replacement.

You struck out and are in near tears with nothing to wear and the fanciest event of your life starts in three hours. Then your fairy godfather appears. He offers to take you to CVS to buy some safety pins and suggests ways of pinning the dress up so it still looks nice. He takes shortcuts to try and beat the DC traffic and tells you stories of fun things to do in the area.

He asks you why you’re in town. For the inauguration, you say. There’s a lull in the conversation.

He takes a deep breath. “So, did you attend a lot of Trump’s rallies before coming up?”

“Omg no,” you immediately reply. “He’s the worst. I’m just here to report.”

The mood lightens up right away.

“Oh, I guess now I can speak freely.”

You learn his heart is really in data collection and communication. He’s poured his life savings and energy into a company that’s completely on hold because of the change in administrations. No one knows what Trump’s stances and priorities are.

Your ride is well over an hour because of DC traffic. The last quarter mile takes 30 minutes, but you don’t get out to walk. You’re invested in this conversation. This man is your friend now.

What you learn: You can get along with more people than you think if you’re actually brave enough to start a conversation. New friends are everywhere.

See also:

The Mario Cart Racer in San Jose

travel burnout tired of traveling

Most of the Uber drivers you’ve had in your life can actually drive. But you’ve never been as distressed as when you hopped into this man’s tiny car in San Jose. Even Knights Templar rocker was able to stay on the road, so you’re in completely uncharted territory as you grip your seat, dodge bananas, and try to nab power ups on the Costa Rican highway.

You’re on your way to pick up your rental car, but the lack of solid addresses in the Costa Rican capital cause you to circle the block no less than four times. Your driver begins to get irritated because you don’t know where the buisness is. You try to explain that you’ve never been here before. This makes him madder.

You almost roll backwards into a ditch and run over a dog before finally spotting the rental car sign. You swear you can hear the Hallelujah Chorus. You’ve barely shut your door before he speeds away.

What you learn: Life is precious and can end at any time. There are also things scarier than being bitten by an iguana in Costa Rica.

See also:

The Silent Type in Amsterdam

Study Abroad Bucket List: The Ultimate European Scavenger Hunt

It’s 3:30AM. The woman in your dorm has been snoring at top speed for nearly six straight hours. You are covered in bedbug bites. Your flight to London is at 7:00AM, but you decide to leave for the airport now because this is one of the most uncomfortable sleeping situations you’ve ever been in.

You use the remnants of the hostel wifi to call your ride. It’s only September, but Amsterdam is freezing in the middle of the night. As you stand next to the canal, shivering, itchy, and exhausted, your ride arrives.

It’s warm in the car. He’s softly playing classical music. He greets you with a smile, puts your suitcase in the trunk, and then doesn’t speak to you again for the entirety of the ride.

You slip into a blissful 20 minute nap, so when you arrive at Schipol, all is well.

You:

Your Uber Driver:

You:

Your Uber Driver:

You: 5 stars!!

He’s one of your favorite Uber drivers ever.

What you learn: sometimes not talking at all is the best way to bless someone.

See also:

Pin it:

uber drivers travel

Follow:
Emily Kammerlohr /

The Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus is one of the many overnight bus options available throughout Europe.

If you are backpacking Europe on a shoestring budget or just trying to save some time by combining transportation and accommodation, an overnight bus could be a good fit for you.

Need to get Flixbus tickets? Grab them here. 

See also:

Benefits of Taking Overnight Buses in Europe

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany

The Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus (and other similar routes) essentially functions as a long haul flight. You go to sleep in one location and wake up in another.

Here are the good parts:

  • Saving on accommodation

The best possible reason for wanting to take an overnight Flixbus (or the like) would be to save money by combining your transportation and accommodation for one evening. Depending on your level of accommodation (hostel or Airbnb) and your location in Europe (Northern, Eastern, etc.) this could be anywhere from $20 to over $100 saved.

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

The Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  • No “wasting” daylight

Assuming your time in abroad is limited, it can be frustrating to waste an entire day on a bus or a train waiting to arrive in a new destination when you would rather be out exploring it. When you take an overnight bus in Europe, you can avoid this by zipping between locales when everything cool is closed anyway.

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

Berlin Cathedral in Berlin, Germany

  • No trekking to the airport 

Most Flixbus stops are in central locations throughout the city, so you don’t have to worry about the added expense and time of getting all the way out to the airport from the city center. You just show up 15 minutes early, hop on your bus, and then you’re off.

  • Inexpensive tickets

Taking an overnight bus in Europe is always cheaper than flying (especially when you add in the expenses of getting out to the airport) and usually cheaper than a train. When I took the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus, I paid 37 Euro for my approximately 11-hour journey.

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

Cute houses in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

See also:

Drawbacks of Taking an Overnight Bus in Europe

  • Potential for limited sleep

Just like an long haul flight, you might not get too much sleep on an overnight Flixbus — it just depends on how creative (and tired!) you are. The Flixbus seats are comfortable and do recline more than seats on a airplane, so if you can sleep at a 45 degree angle, you’ll be fine.

There is lots of leg of room on a Flixbus, too, so if you need to stretch out your legs to sleep, you will be accommodated. I am 5’6″ (about 1.68 meters) tall and had plenty of space. If you’re taller, just sit on the aisle seat to stretch your legs.

If your bus is empty side, the best spot to sleep is on the second level in the back row, stretched out across all the seats.

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany

  • You could sleep through your stop

When I took the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus, I got on at the first stop and off at the last, but we made many stops in between, like in Hamburg, Germany and Groningen, Netherlands. If you’ve booked to one of these smaller “on the way ” stops, you should set an alarm for about 30 minutes before the arrival time on your ticket. This way, even if the bus is running ahead of schedule, you won’t sleep through your stop.

See also:

My Experience on the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

I thought that getting from Berlin to Amsterdam was going to one of the tricker parts of planning my trip in Europe, but it was actually one of the easiest thanks to Flixbus.

I was scheduled to leave from the Berlin Alexanderplatz Flixbus stop, but due to the Berlin Marathon, the bus stop was relocated for the day. The Flixbus team let me know about these changes well in advance and sent me the address of the new stop multiple times, even including the exact coordinates — just in case. It was easy to find and left on time.

Flixbus Wifi limit

Gardens in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

My bus was completely full as we left Berlin, but when a quarter of the bus got off in Hamburg, I finally got to spread out and get some sleep. I remember waking up right outside Amsterdam and actually said to the girl next to me, “Wow, that actually wasn’t as bad as I thought.”  The 11 hours flew by!

Need to get Flixbus tickets? Grab them here. 

  • Pin it:

Overnight Buses in Europe: the Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus

I didn’t partner with Flixbus for this review; however, after my journeys finished, I became a Flixbus Affiliate and will receive a small commission from purchases made through my blog.  All opinions, as always, are my own. You can read more in my Privacy Policy. 

Follow:
Emily Kammerlohr /

Oh, Flixbus wifi. You lure us in with promises of Netflix and iMessages, only to leave us high and dry after we blow through our allotted 150MB of data after checking Instagram for like, five minutes. But, with a little planning, you never have to run out of Flixbus wifi again.

Need Flixbus tickets? You can get them here. 

See also: 

How to Outsmart the Flixbus Wifi Limit

Flixbus Wifi limit

Berlin – a Flixbus Destination

I took an 11 hour overnight Flixbus from Berlin to Amsterdam and didn’t run out until 30 minutes before arrival. You can do this, too! Here’s how:

Download Netflix + Amazon Movies Ahead of Time

Flixbus Wifi limit

Munich – a Flixbus Destination

Both Netflix and Amazon allow you to download movies and tv shows onto your phone or tablet so you can watch later. If you’d like to binge Stranger Things on your way to Berlin, it only takes about two minutes of planning.

Just use the wifi at the airport, cafe, or hostel and download any and all of the content you’d like to see on your trip. Just don’t use the Flixbus wifi to download or stream any video files, as you’ll run out of data pretty much instantly.

Put your Phone on Airplane Mode

Flixbus Wifi limit

Prague – a Flixbus Destination

Even though I downloaded Netflix content ahead of time, my phone (a brand new iPhone 7+) kept trying to stream the shows I had downloaded instead of relying on the downloaded files.

Pretty frustrating, but there’s an easy fix. Just pop your phone over to Airplane Mode. This way there’s no confusion and you stop having to run interference between your app and the Flixbus Wifi.

Another bonus of Airplane Mode is that you are not accidentally eating up any of the Flixbus Wifi limit with background app refresh, etc. If you need to send a text or look up the address of your next hostel, you can briefly turn it off, but it’s best to pop it right back on after.

This is one of the main ways I stretched my 150MB limit from Berlin all the way to Amsterdam.

See also: 

Sign up For Audible

Flixbus Wifi limit

Bratislava – a Flixbus Destination

Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time on overnight buses in Europe if your travel style is more look out the window and relax. If you sign up for Audible, you get at least one free audiobook when you sign up for the 1-month free trial, after which you can cancel at anytime (and keep your audiobook!) or continue on to receive one Audible credit a month.

I’ll admit, I signed up for the free trial so I could have book to listen to on my 11 hour Berlin to Amsterdam Flixbus ride, but ended up keeping my subscription because let’s be real… who doesn’t love a good story without the effort of actually reading it? Just, as always, download your book ahead of time — even if it’s using the wifi at the bus station as you’re waiting to board.

Sign up for Audible here.

Stream Music Offline

Flixbus Wifi limit

Amsterdam – a Flixbus Destination

The paid version of streaming apps like Amazon Music and Spotify have options for listening offline, as long as you download your playlists ahead of time (this seems to be a theme), but there are still a few streaming apps that are completely free.

Like Umusio where you pay .99 one time then have access to millions of songs offline.

The app Deezer costs $9.99 a month, but the first 30 days are free. So sign up, but remember to cancel on time!

Just Take a Freaking Nap

Flixbus Wifi limit

Rome – a Flixbus Destination

The lull of the Flixbus engine. The blurred European landscape whisking past you as you barrel down the highway. Oh, so so relaxing, right? If you reach the Flixbus Wifi limit, forgot to download movies to watch or music to listen to, and are traveling alone with no one to chat to, just lean your head back and take a nap. You’ll get to where you’re going soon enough.

The bottom line of outsmarting the Flixbus Wifi limit is just not to use the wifi because you follow the steps I’ve listed above you won’t even need it anyway.

Need Flixbus tickets? You can get them here. 

  • Pin it:

Flixbus Wifi limit

**This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item via these links (or in the same session) I get some cash money, at no extra cost to you. You can learn more in my Privacy Policy.

Follow:
Emily Kammerlohr /

Is Flixbus Reliable?

That was my first question when my friend Smoky suggested we use it on our European adventure.

Flixbus is significantly cheaper than taking a train or a flight between cities, so I was inclined to give it a try, even though the idea of taking a bus made my travel anxiety flare up…like a lot.

Would I be able to find my stop? Would the bus leave early? If it’s delayed, does that mean it’s actually going to come? Will the bathroom be clean? What if we get stuck in traffic and I lose a whole day in my destination?

You can buy tickets to Flixbus here. 

See also:

Is flixbus reliable Is flixbus reliable honest Flixbus Review

This stems from the fact that I took buses in college a lot. Usually from my sleepy Western Massachusetts campus into Boston or down into NYC. I found them to be kind of icky and delayed like seven times out of ten. Bus stations also tend to stress me out simply because of the mere chaos of it all.

BUT

Flixbus is all about rebranding buses.

Its team promises clean, eco-friendly buses with free wifi. The stops seemed easy enough to find and the prices (starting at 5 Euro!) couldn’t be beat.

So I bought my tickets and hoped for the best.

Here’s my honest Flixbus review:

Flixbus Review Berlin —> Amsterdam

flixbus berlin is flixbus reliable

Berlin, my first stop this trip.

Finding the stop: Easy

Punctuality of the Flixbus: Left on time

I took an overnight Flixbus from Berlin to Amsterdam because I wanted to save money on accommodations. It took about eleven hours and I was dreading it, but as we pulled into Sloterdijk, I actually said to the girl next to me, “Wow, that actually wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

It wasn’t bad at all, actually.

Flixbus Berlin to Amsterdam normally leaves from the central Alexanderplatz stop (among others in the city — including the most used stop: Berlin Central Bus Station), but because of the Berlin Marathon, the stop was relocated. I got multiple emails from Flixbus with the exact coordinates of the “pop up stop,” so it was very easy to find.

I even tweeted them to confirm (hello, travel anxiety) and the social media team responded within the hour to put me at ease.

You can buy your ticket from Berlin to Amsterdam here.

See also:

Flixbus Review Munich —> Prague

Flixbus Munich flixbus berlin is flixbus reliable Flixbus Review

At Oktoberfest 🙂

Finding the stop: Easy

Punctuality of the Flixbus: Left on time

After a little too much fun at Oktoberfest, Smoky and I were headed to the fairy tale city of Prague.The Flixbus stops at Munich Central Bus station are very easy to find. You can take the SBAHN to Hackerbrücke and then it’s like a two-minute walk to the stops. Everything is labeled and there are plenty of places to eat or shop while waiting for your bus.

One thing to note: when Flixbus is on time, it’s ON TIME. We rolled out of the station at our exact departure time and not a second later. So is Flixbus reliable? In this instance, yes.

You can buy your ticket from Munich to Prague  here. 

See also:

Flixbus Review Prague —> Vienna

Flixbus Prague Flixbus Prague honest Flixbus Review is Flxbus reliable

Finding the stop: Hard

Punctuality of the Flixbus: Left early

The Flixbus stop at Prague Main Railway Station was difficult to find. I think this because we came in the “grand entrance” at the front of the station, so to find it, we had to walk allll the way to the back of the station, and up some stairs. The actual stop is on a strip in the middle of the road behind the station.

We had to ask for lots of help and ran around like beheaded chickens for a bit, but we did eventually find it. If you are departing from Prague ÚAN Florenc, I wouldn’t worry as it’s small and manageable, but if you’re leaving from the station, give yourself some extra time to find your stop.

This bus actually left about six minutes before it was “supposed” to. Smoky and I figured it was because we were the only two ticketed passengers due to board in Prague, as there were only like ten other people on the entire double decker bus, so there wasn’t a point to waiting around.

Is Flixbus reliable? Not if you don’t have a ticket! If the driver doesn’t even know you’re coming, he won’t wait for you, so make sure to buy your ticket at least an hour or so in advance.

You can buy your ticket from Prague to Vienna here.

See also:

Flixbus Review Vienna —> Bratislava

Flixbus Vienna Flixbus Prague honest Flixbus Review is Flxbus reliable

The Royal Opera House in Vienna.

Finding the stop: Moderate

Punctuality of the Flixbus: Over an hour late, so we bailed.

The Flixbus stops at Vienna Erdberg are relatively easy to find, since we were dropped off from Prague in the same general area, but I say “moderate” because we never actually found our bus stop.

We were only doing a day trip to Bratislava, so we didn’t have too much time to spare and it was FREEZING outside (the terminal is basically a wind tunnel), so when we saw that our bus was going to be over an hour late, we knew we needed a plan B.

Thankfully, there was another Flixbus just sitting there that was also going to Bratislava, so Smoky and I decided to forfeit our original tickets and buy new ones. The 7 Euro for the new ticket was worth it to get out of the cold and get on our way.

You can buy your ticket from Vienna to Bratislava here.

Flixbus Review Bratislava —> Budapest

Flixbus Bratislava Flixbus Prague honest Flixbus Review is Flxbus reliable

Beautiful Bratislava

Finding the stop: Easy

Punctuality of the Flixbus: Over an hour late

My travel anxiety flared up in a major way over this bus to Budapest, but it turns out it was for nothing. I wish I more like Smoky. Calm, cool, collected…confident that the bus would come. Because it did. It was reaaaaally late, but it came exactly when the app said it would.

The Most SNP Flixbus stop in Bratislava isn’t somewhere I’d like to be after dark, since it’s kind of just under a bridge, but as we were there during the daylight hours it was fine.

The Bratislava Central Bus Station, however, is really nice. Like really nice. Like free wifi, clean AF free bathrooms, and free luggage storage nice. I would almost consider it a tourist attraction on its own.

We did make the mistake of sitting across from the bathroom on the bus to Budapest. Don’t do this y’all. Every time we went over a bump, the door would fly open. It was almost reaaal embarrassing.

You can buy your ticket from Bratislava to Budapest here.

See also:

So, is Flixbus Reliable?

Flixbus Budapest Flixbus Budapest is flixbus reliable an honest flixbus review

At the Széchenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest

Does the Flixbus Wifi Work?

Yes! It worked great on every single ride; however, to keep things moving quickly, Flixbus limits the amount of data you can use.

Be sure to download your audiobooks and Netflix episodes beforehand, then put your phone on airplane mode and only use the wifi when you really need to. There are also power outlets on board.

See also:

Is Flixbus Dirty?

I didn’t think so. The buses I took were nicer than some of the trains I’ve been on. I even actually used the bathroom on the way from Berlin to Amsterdam. I remember being like “Wow, how suspicious. It’s really clean in here…too clean.”

There was toilet paper provided, but you should always bring your own as well. On the way from Bratislava to Budapest, someone dropped the roll…wouldn’t want to use that one.

is flixbus reliable honest flixbus review

The Blue Church in Bratislava

Honest Flixbus review: Should I use Flixbus? 

I would use it again! Yes, two of our buses were really delayed and we had some hiccups finding some of the stops, but Flixbus buses are just that…buses. They are subjected to things outside their control like weather and traffic. If the bus is going to be late, the Flixbus app lets you know and updates itself in real time. The drivers we met were kind and helpful. The buses were clean.

For me, that makes up for it.

If you’re looking to save some money on your next trip to Europe (and, as of 2018, the American Southwest), I would recommend looking into Flixbus. Just prepare to be flexible. 

You can purchase tickets for Flixbus here.

See also:

 

  • Pin it:

Is flixbus reliable? honest flixbus review

I didn’t partner with Flixbus for this review; however, after my journeys finished, I became a Flixbus Affiliate and will receive a small commission from purchases made through my blog.  All opinions, as always, are my own. You can read more in my Privacy Policy. 

Follow: