In the years before the introduction of the new high speed trains, I used these coach services to travel around Spain. They were comfortable, reliable and really not so expensive given the distances involved. Certainly a lot more pleasant than the UK versions. It's true they may be losing their appeal on routes where high speed rail (together with cheaper fares available) but there will still be a lot of places where the bus is the only public transport way to travel.

Madrid’s weather has been described as ‘nine months of winter and three months of hell.’ Not surprised it was cold. Many Brits think of all Spain being bathed in perpetual summer. It isn’t.

I'm on an 8 1/2 coach trip tonight from benidorm to malaga. So you are not the only nutcase travelling round Europe at the moment. Saves a nights accommodation though

Before high speed trains in Spain, intercity coaches were very popular and were often quicker and more reliable than trains; especially the case in Granada where I used to live - the train to Madrid took 8 hours while the Alsina Graells bus took about 5 and I think was cheaper. The drivers always seemed very safe, professional and smooth unlike a lot of car drivers, handling the twisty sections through Despenaperros with aplomb.

Very different on e.g Malaga to Algeciras mainly due to poor rail connection along Costa del Sol. Bus services often full.

Great video as usual Scott. Just back from 5 weeks in Spain (took the car from Rosslare to Bilbao). Stunning country isn't it. Hats off for the way they've handled infrastructure in the last 30 to 40 years. Excellent roads, excellent fast rail and from what we could see, virtually no water running into the sea any more with most rivers now being called Rio Seco.

I travelled on AVANZA last easter from Barcelona to Barbastro. The coach was well clean and nice. all seats had personal screens with maps and movies (only in Spanish tho) but it was really nice. Very friendly coach driver and very cheap, 12 pound return for two people (all in all) so very cheap.

As surprised as you this service exists, can’t work that one out at all, especially as RENFE are so good. Hmmm. Thanks for doing it though, and looked a comfortable ride. Ps love a Spanish coffee!

Back in the 90.s i drove these long distance coach services across Iberia. Back then we carried freight, as well as passengers, that subsidised the bus fares. Our passenger levels varied enormously from zero to duplicate coaches running on many services. A problem that was increased as the ticket agents kept selling seats, right up to the moment before departure. I once literally carried two passengers from Barcelona to London, following the service car which was rammed full of people. Oh yes i then ran back empty to Paris from London, before picking up any other clients. Economic madness, road tolls ferry costs, two drivers each way. Mind boggling.

They might make their money during the spring and summer time! And trains more expensive during peak season!

Thanks scott it got me scratching my head too mabey it's just a quiet period time of year I have no idea enjoyed anyway see you next time

Loved the music.

Went from Bilbao to San Sebastian the other day on Alsa night smooth journey in their premium line.

This gives me memories when I went to Spain in June. Love your videos Scott! Keep up the good work!

I think it make sense to keep alternative routes even if they might be inferior in every way. Say, when there are strikes on rail operators, or things like landslide on rails, or major power outage like what happened to SWR last December, caused the train service on certain route have to suspend until cleared.

Despite the train being the better option that still looked like a pleasant journey. Compare and contrast the overall experience to the UK which is much more of a lottery.

Such big and well organised bus stations, compare that to Aberdeen dreadful modern cramped bus station, with not enough room, no waiting room, just a draughty corridor to stand in at Union Square, not even any covered areas for the Citylink coaches meaning passengers get soaked..

You're right. Public buses run like uk rail franchises, and if there are loses, those are funded by the goverment who is behind the line; long ones to central goverment, regional ones to their respective region goverment. For 2023 in long distance buses, a free scheme is in place for pepole doing 8 round trips in a quarter. Also, some services stop at places not served by train. And the classic rail line has been closed and shutted down. HSL only stops at Cuenca and Requena on the way to Valencia.

Scott, I live in Valencia and know the coach station very well indeed. I've used Avanza's main competitor Alsa half-a dozen times between Valencia and Barcelona and their coaches have always been full. However, there aren't rapid, cheap train services between the two cities which I guess explains why the coaches are always full, day and night. I've used Renfe/AVE and Ouigo (SNCF) between Valencia and Madrid and as you mentioned in one of your videos their services (and also those of Iryo the other low-cost train company) are both very rapid and very attractively priced. 🙏

They survive by charging a premium for their service then hoping enough KZfaqrs review their service! 😂

The rest stop at Area 175 reminded me of the scene from Bagdad Cafe film featuring song 'I'm calling you'.

Very strange - I could understand the bus service being provided if it served other places along the way - but then of course it would be even slower! The attraction of a slower coach vs train is usually the price. But this seems the other way round! As you say Scott, it cannot possibly last. I wonder how long it's been running?

That coach I recon is either a Scania Iruzar I6 or a Volvo Ceatano Leavante

Oh my. Makes me wonder. Good eye. Interesting. Thanks Scott.

I noticed that there was a flixbus service to Rennes in France. Future video perhaps?

Great vlog again but just a pity there out of sinc with your earlier vlogs of Valencia

With just four people onboard it would’ve been more economical to run a transit van!

Great video Scott

I did the same route late 2022. Took the train as mentioned. Faster and cheaper. Did wonder if anyone took the bus route. As your video noted. Very few.

Scott like your video 👍👍

Well there’s many reasons why they still survive. First of all, some routes are subsidised, specially more local ones. Secondly, they operate many public bus networks (such as in Zaragoza, where they are pretty bad, with strikes being common and many times longer than advertised waiting times, but really cheap thanks to once again, new subsidies). The third reason is because of private contracts such as universities and schools, factories, and most importantly special events. I’ve only travelled on avanza in the two last ways and it’s not very impressive, but the longest trips I’ve done with them have been maybe 50km. And this bus is not even in such a bad condition compared to others I’ve taken in Spain, the few coaches I’ve taken from them have been in relatively good condition compared to other companies.

A slight upgrade than london Victoria coach station!

as the government, the only reason you would want to have a bus service on a route like this is to break the monopoly of the railways on that route... given how expensive the roads and mechanical support services are, I can see how making the service cheaper would be untenable. my guess is, being greener, railways are subsidized slightly more than the bus network, but both are economically helped/allowed to exist for varieties sake

Fascinating fact about the Osborne bulls in Spain but don't recommend the brandy....Madrid is higher I believe hence the temp change.

i only take bus here to small towns with no train

Next time take one of the many new high speed services from Madrid-Valencia-Madrid, AVE/AVLO/OUIGO/IRYO door to door in a lIttle over 90 minutes

has to be a subsidised service

I'm surprised they are not out of business.

It must be a cultural thing. I noticed that buses are far more popular than trains in the Iberian Peninsula, even though prices for rail where rail is an option is the same or less than 2 euro different.

try santander to benidorm by bue change in zaragoza

This could have done with a map to show me where Valencia was located. This is a general feeling in your videos. I wasn't paying stream the tension but I don't recall the time of departure and length of the trip and the time of arrival all the length of the stopover at the service station all the price of the coach trip although I do recall the price of the rail alternative being 25 probably euros I do enjoy watching your videos but they can be improved.

Sounds like you also had to suffer the driver's "taste" in music, so the train gained even more of a thumbs up.

Have an Agua de Valencia to take the sting out of the trip..

Think yourself lucky that the bus didn't use the 'Service Station' on the other side of the road, 'Meson Los Robles', quite possibly the worst place I've ever seen, and I've seen a few driving around Spain!

I have been some coach trips that are so slow and some that aren’t as clean. I have had the worst experience in my whole life.

Perhaps those 4 passengers each way are all vloggers or bloggers, so basically, the company keeps in business on people checking out how the company is keeping in business.

Bus intercity routes in Spain are subsidized by the central government. Meanwhile intercity trains are not. Quite nonsensical in the routes parallel to HSL.

Have you got much experience on travelling with Flix Bus ? I have been having a problem with Flix bus policy. I recently booked a return ticket from Leicester to London however 24 hrs before my travel date, I got a notification that my outbound trip had been cancelled and giving me an option to either rebook my outbound or get a refund. If I rebooked my outbound to the next available time of that day it would limit my time in London thus rendering it pointless in going to London. Although I was given the option of refund of my outbound trip, there was no refund option given for my inbound ???

This trips are subsidised by the government, because otherwise they will not exist anymore 😑

Some time of day and length of journey time stamps would have been useful - was that sunrise or sunset sun at the stop?

Probably Euro funded subsidy by Brussels ?

Must be losing a fortune with only four on board and my understanding in the UK is that you need 15to twenty on board to break even or make some money.

I have lived in Spain for a long time, and have always just took a AlSA bus around to and from Madrid. I wonder how much that bus would be from Madrid to Valencia?

🙏 'promo sm'

The Spanish transport infrastructure is amazing, new roads everywhere, a train network that's modern, efficient, cheap and extensive, Bus companies competing for business on most routes, cheap, modern and efficient , and you will find all of these services under used, empty motorways, intercity trains virtually empty and buses rarely full . When you compare these services to their U.K. Counterparts it's hard not wonder what's going on, given that the UKs EU contributions helped pay for it .

Aren't there special deals on Spanish trains ? They seem to be copying the Germans with encouraging public transport .

The train is faster and more comfortable so why would you take the bus that is slower and costs more,this does not even make sense.

First 🙂

Its a front for money laundering…..

Sorry Scott but not one of your best videos..what was the actual point of doing it..?

Why are you having to wear a mask these days? I was on a regional bus and national train in Spain and there was no mandate to wear a mask. Of course if it's for your own mental comfort I understand. Profit is built in with subsidy from the government to maintain these routes.