The "skip the flight and take the bus" crowd is lying about how much time it saves

I see so many people online bragging about taking a 12 hour bus from Budapest to Prague to save $30. I tried that exact route last summer and the bus broke down outside Brno for 3 hours. So that 12 hour trip turned into 15 hours and I had to pay for two extra meals at a gas station that charged tourist prices. Then I missed my hostel check-in window and got slugged with a late fee. Has anyone else had a budget bus trip actually crush their whole itinerary?

3 comments

3 Comments

john4301mo ago

I've had three buses break down on me doing those long hauls.

wells.brooke10d ago

I've had three buses break down" is wild, but I gotta say something nobody's brought up yet. Those long haul drivers are on strict schedules where they can't afford to wait for a proper tow job half the time. I've heard of drivers literally being told to just wait on the side of the road for whatever mechanic happens to be closest, not their own company's guys. So you end up with some random shop patching things with whatever parts they've got just to get the bus moving again, which probably sets you up for more breakdowns down the line.

simonl861mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, has anyone thought about whether the bus company is actually keeping up with basic maintenance on those long haul routes? I've heard stories where they just patch things up quick to get the bus back on the road instead of fixing it right. You'd think for how much those tickets cost they'd at least check the engine before sending you off. Maybe it's a sign they're cutting corners somewhere else too.