Hi John (and Patricia). Many thanks for responding to this - great to hear from you and thanks for sticking up for me with the security guys in Edinburgh! I’m not sure they realised I was filming myself which I tend to do anyway out of respect for other peoples privacy. Anyway, I really appreciate you providing the detail on the trip here - it’s interesting how many different variables you guys have to deal with in terms of the knock-on effects from other peoples travel situations. The logistics must be quite something - especially when other coach companies are involved and I wonder how many others would feel obligated to help them out as much as you both did. I’ve done a few of these videos now and I must say it really does matter to me as a passenger when the crew are on top of their game and just being that extra bit helpful and friendly. It shows. And for me, positive experiences like this need to be mentioned and credit given. I hope that came through in the film because as I’ve said to others, I would much rather do this journey in the day than overnight and given the choice, I would not hesitate to choose you guys over the ‘opposition’. That’s mainly because of the service provided and the quality/standard of the coach. Thanks again for the comment and sorry about the new nickname - I take full responsibility 😊👍

How nice to hear the crew's perspective - things the passengers don't know/realise that impact the journey. This crew obviously went the extra mile for their 'breakdown extras' which was really caring - I hope they made their connection. The Relentless Crew 😁 seem to take great pride in their work and it was deserving that they got such a positive review in the concluding remarks here!

@@LetsMakeaTrip Moja milovaná (my beloved) is Slovak and I spend half my year there. For the other half of the year I am home on the edge of the New Forest. We have used National Express; Ringwood to Victoria and then Victoria to Stansted. We then endure the misery of Standsted and then the tender mercies of O'leary for our flight to Bratislava. Slovak air crew speak competent English and their announcements are perfectly intelligible. Irish staff may as well not bother. The safety announcements are gabbled and on the last flight from Budapest, from the Irish dialect announcement about the sales trolley, I was able to discern "9.99" and "offers". I think the preceding word was "special" but only because I don't know what else it could have been. At the Slovak end, I travel free on Slovak trains, the full fare averages about 7 pence per mile. They are often late but you can sit at home watching the progress on an app so no waiting at the station. Parking at the station is free, for days if you want, . When I have explained to Slovaks about our train fares in Britain AND about parking charges at our hospitals, they are horrified. Parking at hospitals in Slovakia is free. If we are making longer journeys (Bratislava 75 miles from us for instance) we use the train. The carriages are built like brick §§§§houses. Platforms are very low at most stations so mountaineering skills are advisable to climb up, but, once up there, the carriages are very comfortable. Only once have we had a grumpy driver on National Express..... he wasn't unpleasant, just morose. Other than him we have found ALL National Express staff to be lovely people. On one occasion Táni, travelling on her own, left her computer on the coach at Victoria. By the time she realised, the coach had started another run. She contacted her employer in Slovakia straight away and they remotely wiped the computer. National Express charged us 20 quid but staff found the computer. They kept in touch with us all the way and the lady at Bishop's Stortford was as overjoyed that they had found it as we were. Táni needed it urgently so I arranged to drive up there. We were advised that they could have it for pick up at the airport or at the Bishop's Stortford depot but they advised the depot so as to avoid the airport parking charges .... a nice little touch. We were and are grateful to all concerned. We do find the National Express fares to be a bit pricey though. We have started using Bournemouth to Budapest. It takes less time. and the cost of the total journey is less. A neighbour drops us off and picks us up, along with, it appears about a third of all users of the airport, OUTSIDE on the public road and we walk in and out on a rough path to avoid the £4 pick-up/drop-off charge. It went up from £2.50 recently. These are just figures plucked out of the air by these thieving cowboys. (At Bratislava there is 15 minutes free). At Stansted, we find that most of the staff suffer from the deepest of depression. and give the impression of being perpetually harassed. It may just be the Essex way. This compares to warm and friendly staff/immigration at the spotlessly clean Bratislava. From stepping off of the plane onto the tarmac to waiting at the bus stop for the 61 to the railway station has never taken more than 10 minutes even though I have knee problems and sitting on Ryanair seats hard against the seat in front plays havoc with them, I like to be last. It is more complicated at Budapest ... a bus to the end of the metro, metro to the main railway station, train to Nové Zámky (just inside Skovakia) The train runs along the side of the Danube for mile after mile, lovely views and, on the other side, castles overlooking the river from the crags. Nové Zámky to Šurany, Šurany to Levice. Then home to our village. Seems a lot but very little waiting at the connections. We used a Flixbus from Nitra (deepest Slovakia) to Ljubljana (Slovenija) in May, return per person €39:99 (About £34.50) for the 640 mile return journey (5.39 pence per mile). It took 8 hours via Bratislava, Vienna, and Graz. We went to visit a friend of mine for several days. I translate for Primož so that he can put English subtitles on his videos. Buses and trains are fast, efficient, and on time in Slovenija. Bus fares are about 10 pence per mile. The 8 hours included some time at each of the stops and a meal stop at a very pleasant service station. Although we shouldn't have needed them, I took my passport and Táni her identity card. It was just as well, Schengen is breaking down. Leaving Slovakia we were stopped by Austrian border guards. They insisted on seeing identification from every one and asked questions of several passengers. We sailed through the Austria-Slovenija border. On the way back, they were busy at the Austria border. We were waved on but many vehicles were stopped. One car had all the doors open and the entire contents out on the tarmac. Fall in love with Ernestina, English in the C C subtitles kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z9Bojcdlx9WYk6c.html

@@terryhoath1983 The Irish crew would not be using a dialect to make announcements. The script would be the same for any English speaker. :)

Well done John and Patricia for a job well done and for your reply here. Im a casual driver on Citylink, always good to see positive examples!

Thanks Andy, appreciate the kind words 😊

Thanks Gareth, agree, sit back and relax, take a book, watch some Netflix or just look out of the window. Cheers (for now) 😊👍

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

Cheers Bobby. Glad you liked it and thanks for the support mate 😊👍

Cheers Steve. Yep, first time for me I’ve had anyone say anything like that. Caught me off guard a bit but at least I was able to give them some back. I was tired and grumpy at that stage too but, overall, I reckon it was a pretty-decent journey (if a tad full-on). For me the coach was comfortable enough and the McGills staff were very good. Now I must go and book the BlaBla experience 😂

Rather watch this Rather than go there in person transport is same everywhere

It was mate! Cheers for the comment 😊👍

Thanks very much and get well soon 😊👍

Cheers Adam 😊👍

Cheers Danny, likewise mate 😊 Plenty more stuff to come 😊

@@LetsMakeaTrip I'll be looking forward to it that's for certain!

Cheers David - kind words indeed and I’m glad you liked it. Quite a few people agree with you about the BlaBla bus thing so I guess I’ll have to make the effort now 😂 watch this space 😊👍

Cheers John, thanks as usual for your support 😊👍

Cheers, yep price and arrival point - pretty much spot on because this is exactly why people do it. 👍

Cheers Mark, all the best to you too and happy retirement!

Cheers mate. That sounds like a proper adventure - decent price too! I remember doing coach camping around that time down to the south of france. Same conditions but fortunately no where near as far as you went! I hope it made a few stops on the way!!

Ah cheers John, some good tips there. Might try the NX one at some point myself 👍

Cheers Simon and thanks for the support. I’d like to find out if any of the other daytime services have rest breaks. A lot depends on the crew and how they work it I reckon. Might get some more insight into it from the coach drivers that comment on here 🤞

Cheers Nicholas, glad you enjoyed it 😊 The comfort stops I think in my limited experience appear to be a thing on the overnight services and because there were two drivers on this service, I guess there was no need. Like I said though, it was pretty relentless but then with the amount of people getting on and off along the way, I would say not many were going the full distance anyway.

Cheers, yep I stood up in the aisle a few times for a stretch, that was about as good as it gets. Not sure about the Poland bus, I think there is one I’m sure I saw it somewhere. Definitely up for the BlaBlaBus though, just need to plan it in 😊👍

Thanks mate 😊👍

Broken man more like Simon! Yep I was a bit stiff the next day but overall, it wasn’t a bad run tbh. Just so long as you’re not in a rush. Cheers mate 😊

Troublemaker 😂 well, you know, maybe they were pre-warned of my arrival! Cheers Keith, yep not too bad overall but I was a bit stiff the day after tbh 👍

These trips are always a gamble, I'm afraid sometimes let down by the human. factor

Cheers Tim! Yeh I don’t think those two were indicative of Edinburgh as a whole - I really like the place and it certainly didn’t have any bearing on the trip overall. Yes I thought this Flixbus was pretty good and McGills crew excellent. Like I said, it’s pretty full-on so you do need to be prepared. Overall, yep, I’d do it again 👍

Cheers Alex, yes I must try Lumo at some point - haven’t done it yet and it looks like it might be the closest comparison fare-wise so thanks for the info. 😊👍

Hi Trish, thanks for the comment. I’m he same as you. Did Toronto to Florida (then back again) on various Greyhounds. Took around 48 hours each way but I was much younger then. No way would I do it now!

You are very welcome

Here’s Alan 😊👍

Pleasure sir 😊

Quite a few like that I've noticed!

S9 and S10 yep, one of the last times I used a bus in Shrewsbury probably 😂 It’s normally the train for me as well but this is a useful option if you’re budget-conscious and not in a rush. I quite enjoyed it really. Cheers mate, see you soon 😊

Lovely Jounery ..got a nice feeling for Newcastle upon time people's love them BEUTIFUL and a great Wellcoming peoples always in my Heart .Greetings from LONDON

@@stevenmutumbu2860 cheers Steven, all the best mate 😊👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip Welcome

@@LetsMakeaTrip Jounery by bus are too Fascinating you see the World amazing things even the ANGEL OF THE NORTH 😂😂😂🐎

Cheers mate. Yep, agree and have pinned the comment. It is great when you get that engagement from the drivers, really helps a lot. I’ve done the Settle & Carlisle already (filmed it last year I think) so I’d probably look at the Coastliner out to Scarborough I think that would be worth doing 👍

There were just as many getting on at Finchley Road as Victoria and I bet proximity to the LU is the main reason. Cheers Paul 😊👍

Yes Jamie, very soon hopefully!

Cheers Keith, great stuff and good luck if you do. Make sure you take lots of food 😊👍

That’s fair comment Monty. Time Vs cost conundrum (I’d probably do the same tbh).

Cheers Jack - I’d probably do the Coastliner service over to the east coast which looks quite nice 👍

Cheers Daz, I’ve yet to try Lumo. Had a few comments about them now so yep, might be my next jaunt between the two cities. Maybe there’s more time if the coach is ahead of schedule, but I reckon the schedule’s probably pretty tight and they’re mainly roadside bus stops anyway to keep costs down.

Well you know I like these coach ordeals 😊

Thanks Elaine, yes I might head up there, get a cheap hotel and do a few trips in the near future. 😊👍

Cheers Beth! PS, you should see what I’m doing this weekend!!

You can go all the way from Manchester. That’s super-long, maybe even too far for me that one!

@@LetsMakeaTrip that's quite a long bus journey 👀😶

I’ve noticed that more too but on other accounts. I fix that by unsubscribing then subscribing again: sort of reboots it

Cheers Sean, not sure why YT wouldn’t do that? I’ll ask the question. Thanks for the kind words and giving it a watch. 😊👍

Cheers FG, yes overall, it was a nice coach, definitely one of the better ones and huge credit to McGills, I was really impressed with them. Overall, it was pretty good and there’s plenty more of this kind of stuff to come. Thanks for the comment mate 😊👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip it’s alright mate your videos are soo entertaining and professional and your such a top bloke too 👍

@@FrostyGaming8394 cheers mate, appreciate the kind words 😊

If they haven’t been impressed and there’s something to moan about, well, that sounds right up my street! 😂 I’ve gotta give it a go now 👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip it'll be a good watch! Including a ferry or Eurotunnel trip sounds good to me too

There is a tram

Cheers Craig. Yes I tend to agree with the travel sickness thing. I only ever feel it a bit on the coach or bus. The other part of your comment is very valid because it’s got me thinking maybe you could ‘mix and match’ say train out of London to Leeds then coach from there? Don’t know really, maybe it’s too much hassle tbh 🤷‍♂️

Nice trip report. I’d happily do this trip myself one day, and I’d ensure I have plenty of refreshments for the journey.

😂 I thought I saw you on the Tyne Bridge waiting for me mate 👍

That is a great point actually. Well put and many thanks for commenting 😊👍

I might well try one of the routes out of Swansea - something I’ve been trying to do for a while 👍

It wasn’t bad mate 👍

Cheers Enrico, well I have to try everything don’t I 😂 but tbf I did think this Flixbus was pretty good and that’s more props to McGills really as they came across really well in my opinion.

Cheers Iain. I’d love to know how quickly it can be done without any stops (other than a driver change)? 7 hours does make it more appealing I would say.

@Let’s Make a Trip! The 7 hours included a 1 hour stop at Charnock Richard. Not only for comfort but to change crews.

@@iainclark5964 impressive! 👍

Cheers Alan. Yep, I’ve done both the tram and the bus. Getting off one stop before the airport used to be cheaper and you get to walk past the Spitfire. Need to be travelling light though really.

Yep, pays your money and all that 👍

Enjoy Michael! And yes I agree you can’t go far wrong for the money. Also, ittsurprising how cheap you can fly back if you book at the right time!

Thank you sir, much appreciated 😊👍

Cheers Roberto. I visited Mexico City last year and made a few earlier videos about it. Loved the city 😊👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip I am watching your videos and I love them, I am going to visit London for the second time on April 26 and your video of the national express truck line helped me a lot, because I am going to Bristol

Cheers Paul. I only know what others have told me about Megabus Gold but it did seem really good and an economic alternative to the sleeper train. I wonder if it’ll ever come back? Personally I think there’s room for it but I’m not an expert and things aren’t getting any cheaper!

Cheers Tim, thanks for the comment. Yep I was suffering a bit the next day but would I do it again? Yes, probably. The coach and crew were pretty good overall 👍

I have the same problem, my body couldn't take it anymore. Sleeping would be no problem though, it's staying awake that is one. As I can afford 1st class in trains I prefer those.

Haha, yep London prices. Getting the coach out of there is probably the cheapest thing to do in the capital these days 😂👍

No, I haven’t seen that at all tbh. Used to do it on school trips and coach outings though from what I remember.

@@LetsMakeaTrip Many thanks for the reply. The industry has changed a great deal now, but I know from having done a lot of coach driving myself back in the 1970s and early 80s that drivers did depend on tips to make a decent wage. Service drivers however tended not to do so well, even although they often had to deal with not only around 50 passengers but all their heavy suitcases as well!

Seriously looking at it 👍

Hopefully I’ll get to try a few one day 👍

Jeremy Vine lol! I must try that one!

That’s a great deal Jim 👍

I was more concerned with the sosig bap tbh 😂

Yes Jon, totally agree. I’ve heard it’s only a tenner too and yes, you can’t really go wrong for that price.

@@LetsMakeaTrip from memory I believe mine was only £8 but interestingly from London to Newcastle I couldn't reserve the seat next to me. Thankfully I had no one next to me the whole journey as being crammed in the window seat would've been a nightmare!

Totally agree - especially if you’re not in a mad rush😊👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip Thats true they're not great if you're in a rush but for price and destinations (they cover basically everywhere in Europe) they're great.

It is Brian, the cost makes a big difference especially if you’re doing it regularly

@@LetsMakeaTrip plus what’s it’s doing to the car lol defo look into it

10 hours! Blimey, I guess if it’s not direct it can be a slog - probably even longer if you were heading up to Scotland from there. Cheers Jon 😊👍

Yep, just one 10-15 min break would have done for me - factored into a scheduled stop. Maybe they’re charged on the time they stop at bus stops? A bit like cruise ships that don’t like being in port too long. I wonder if any bus/coach driver types know the answer to this?

@@LetsMakeaTrip In Australia the breaks are mostly required by law every 5 hours for 30 minutes minimum and driver change after 10 hours of driving. They have to be off vehicle for a minimum 10 hour break for sleep. So they don't carry the second driver with them but a driver based in a mid route stop will swap over. Some road coaches operate on routes more than 24 hours long so multiple driver swaps occur. eg Brisbane to Cairns is about 35 hours. Train is quicker at 25 hours.

@@nickhiscock8948 I’ve seen National Express do this with one driver up to around Sandbach and then someone else gets picked up and continues the journey. The other driver though doesn’t necessarily leave the vehicle at this point. Megabus, same driver just with an extended break halfway on the one I saw (which is less satisfactory I would think).

@@LetsMakeaTrip I prefer the rest stop as you have time to get food and use a proper toilet. They normally stop at a roadhouse with full meal service available. They can be in the middle of nowhere though

Cheers Brendon, yep, if you’re not in a rush, pay your money, take some food and enjoy the trip I reckon 😊👍

Watch this space Edward 😊👍

Cheers Sheila, this was pretty good as far as long journeys go - a decent coach and great crew. Yeh the security guards, well, it’d been a long day, they could’ve been friendlier, not in my face and then it’s not a big deal is it. Thanks for the comment 😊👍

In the 1990s I travelled each year from Brussels to Spain, 1200 km overnight. You left in the afternoon and arrived at your destination before noon the next day. I was smart enough not to choose a destination in the south of Spain, which would have added another 500 km. There were many stops (bus exchange, mandatory shopping in Luxemburg, lunch, breakfast and so on. In fact they discouraged us from using the bus toilet except for emergencies. I was much younger, so I could take it. Today I don't know. My back and legs would hurt, not to mention other physical problems. Though these organised bus travels with several companies cooperating have gone, killed by cheap air travel.

@@flitsertheo can you remember who that was with?

As I mentioned this was a cooperation between several independent touring car operators and the only one I can remember was a major company called "Omnium Tours". Probably they organised and coordinated the whole thing, with departures at least once a week during the whole summer. And if I'm not mistaken they went bust in the early 2000s.

Yep, I’ve done the coach camping thing a very long time ago and that’s an ordeal - no a/c then either! BlaBlaBus - watch this space! 👍

Good luck 👍 Where are you going?

@@LetsMakeaTrip Lille to London - thankfully the 7h30 journey is broken up with a ferry ride in the middle 🤣

@@TravelSignal nice one, I look forward to the video?

@@LetsMakeaTrip Providing I'm not too tired, and I get a window seat, I'll video it 👍(wouldn't let me pick a seat at all :( )

@@TravelSignal bit hit and miss the seat selection thing I think.

Yep but I think ordinarily it’s a bit more flexible (pinned comment from crew alluded to that) 😊👍

I'm an anxious traveller I would prefer no leg breaks as I fear being too anxious to get back on!

Planning 👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip Good, will look forward to, please also visit Leeds.

Cheers William, yep it’s not for everyone is it. I think cost is a major factor because, tbh, I’d probably travel by train first class every time if I could afford it. 😊👍

@@LetsMakeaTrip I'm talking about a LOT of years ago when a single ticket on a train from Edinburgh to London cost about £10 On second thoughts, I probably took the coach because of a rail strike. Back in 74 I had a summer job in Waverley Station and after 3 months got a travel pass which gave 75% discount. I did a train trip from Edinburgh to London, on to Cardiff and back to Edinburgh for £3.

I didn’t no. Wish I had because I hear it was pretty impressive in its day.

Cheers David 👍

I’ve just got to get there David. If I do find myself in Chile sometime though, I’ll be sure to try it 😊👍

I would put this in the comfortable category imo. I do think having the ability to reserve the adjacent seat made a big difference in that respect though. Cheers Andrew.

Cheers Iain, great info given and thanks for taking the time to provide such detail. The Megabus London to Inverness says ‘1 change’ so i guess it’s easy to assume that’s what happens at Glasgow but I’m presuming from your comment that you can just wait on the coach? The access fee thing - yep I thought it might be something like that. Sometimes though I reckon that can work out quite well. Take Birmingham for example whereby if you’re arriving by train, both Megabus and Flixbus ‘side of the road stops’ are much closer to New Street than NX (albeit there are no facilities at either). As for Edinburgh City Council, yep, high footfall areas I’m sure there are lots and lots of rules and regulations, but I simply don’t have the time to be applying for permission to every single local authority etc etc I pass through. I get that that doesn’t validate me doing it but ultimately I don’t normally have an issue and most apply a common sense approach. If it does become a regular occurrence, both myself and many other KZfaqrs making the effort to bring these videos to others will simply give it up. It will become too much hassle and certainly something I don’t need in my life. All the best, Mark 😊

The national express services from Glasgow to Plymouth have been discontinued. The services now only go to Birmingham since March 2020. The megabus services from Inverness are using citylink to Glasgow to change onto the London megabus services

@@s125ish An update is that asof the end of March, Megabus officially becomes part of Citylink with a UK network

Agree passengers rarely use them but it is a legal requirement so, you know, if there was a crash……

Cheers Gary, I’d need to have a look at the NX website tbh, what I would do next time is look to see if there are any stops longer than 5 minutes just for a bit of a break.