Don't do a coach trip!

durandurancontiki
3 days ago
6 min read

If you can't get past these simple questions.

Now, before I get sued for everything I own, let me say this first: I love the idea of a coach trip. And yes, there is a difference between a bus and a coach.

I genuinely think it’s one of the best ways to tick off multiple countries in a single trip, without completely destroying your bank account. It’s affordable, efficient, and leaves a relatively small carbon footprint compared to other ways of travelling.

That said, after three years of leading these types of trips, I’ve noticed something important. Some people book coach trips without really understanding what they’ve signed up for. And when that happens, it can ruin the experience—not just for them, but for the people around them too.

So this article asks a simple question:

Is a coach trip really for you?

First Question: Do You Like People?

Now, this may be an odd one to ask, and you’re probably thinking, what sort of stupid question is this? Why would you book a coach trip—where the main selling point is travelling as part of a group—if you don’t like people?

Believe it or not, I’ve seen it with my own eyes: people who book these trips but genuinely dislike being around other people. Okay, I’ll admit, that case is rare. What’s far more common is this

question: can you deal with different ideas?

Let me explain.

You’re on the way to Rome. To pass the time, someone brings up the news. That turns into politics, and before you know it, an orange-faced man with funny blonde hair gets mentioned. Suddenly, you realise you don’t share the same opinion as the person sitting next to you.

So… what do you do?

For many people on coach tours, this environment is completely new. It might be their first time away from home, their first time abroad, or their first time making friends who aren’t from the same school, town, or background. Back home, if you don’t agree with a stranger, you roll your eyes and move on with your life.

On a group tour, it’s not that simple.

You’re sharing a coach, meals, accommodation, and experiences. You have to stay polite. And for a lot of young people, handling these kinds of interactions is harder than they expect. When it’s done badly, it can create unnecessary tension and conflict.

The reality is this: we don’t all share the same ideas, cultures, morals, or opinions—and that’s okay. You’re allowed to disagree.

That person? That’s fine—just don’t sit next to them. Or when they start ranting about politics, simply zone out. You can still be friendly. Who knows, they might even grow on you.

But if you genuinely can’t handle people who think, act, or live outside of your own bubble, then a group tour is going to be a real struggle for you.

Next Question: Do You Actually Like Travelling?

“Well… duh. Why wouldn’t I like travelling?”

And I’m sure you do. But here’s the thing—you might be mixing up travelling with vacationing. Not sure if that’s a real word, but let’s roll with it.

These days, influencers make travel look effortless. Perfect outfits, empty landmarks, sunsets every night. Do not listen to them. What they don’t show is that they’ve probably taken three times as long to visit the same number of countries you’re about to squeeze into your upcoming Euro trip.

So what’s the difference?

Travelling is about seeing as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. It’s go, go, go. Early starts. Late nights. Walking all day—10,000 steps is the warm-up. Taking photos, trying every gelato flavour you can find, squeezing in experiences wherever possible. There’s usually some partying, some drinking, and very little sleep. Sleep is for the dead.

Vacationing, on the other hand, is flying to Bali, lying on a beach for a week, soaking up the sun, heading back to the buffet, hitting the pool, and maybe reading a book. Nothing wrong with that—but it’s a very different thing.

And this is where people get caught out.

Travelling isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But you need the right mindset going in. You will get tired. Your feet will probably hurt. You’ll have moments where you wonder why you agreed to a 7am departure. That’s the reality of travel.

You can rest when you get home.

But if you’re booking a trip expecting it to feel relaxing the entire time, you might want to reconsider whether this style of travel is really for you.

Next Question: Do You Just Want to Get Drunk?

This question is really important.

What do you actually want to get out of this experience?

Seeing the Eiffel Tower? Trying incredible pasta?

Or throwing up your guts in a bar, losing your wallet, crashing an e-scooter, and waking up in a foreign police cell?

Okay—that last one is rare. But I won’t lie to you… it has happened on group tours.

Before we go any further, we need to talk about the past. Old-school coach tours had a very specific reputation when it came to alcohol. Some great stories came from it. Some very bad ones too. But the world has changed, and so have people’s attitudes toward excessive drinking.

Europe, in particular, is getting tired of cleaning up after drunk tourists.

Take Dubrovnik, for example. Authorities have consistently made it harder for cruise ships and party sailboats—packed with young travellers—to dock close to the city. In Hvar, music restrictions and bar limitations have been introduced specifically to discourage people who come only for the nightlife.

This isn’t about banning fun. It’s about balance.

I enjoy a drink like anyone else, but sometimes it’s just not worth it. I didn’t spend all this money to forget the experience or lose an entire day to a hangover. And let’s be honest—this is also when most travellers get into trouble, whether that’s with the police, pickpockets, injuries, or all of the above.

So yes—have a limoncello. Try a stein. Enjoy yourself.

Just know your limits.

If your main goal is to get blackout drunk every single day, a group tour probably isn’t for you. You’d be far better off at an all-inclusive resort in Spain or Bali—places that are built specifically for that kind of holiday.

Next Question: Can You Accept That Things Will Go Wrong?

2023 Chateau flood

Now, not to sound overly dramatic—but things do go wrong.

Sometimes it’s small stuff, like realising you left your socks behind. Other times it’s much bigger, like thinking, oh God… is that my passport in the washing machine?

Yes. That actually happened to me.

And honestly? It’s all part of the fun. It’s inevitable.

I think one of the biggest problems for young travellers—especially those new to travelling—is the expectation that everything should be perfect, just like it looks on social media. Influencers have a lot to answer for. Sorry to break it to you, but nothing is perfect.

The Statue of David? His head’s too big.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa? It leans—and that’s exactly what gives it its beauty.

Imperfection is what makes things memorable. And some of the best travel stories come from things going wrong.

Let me give you an example.

I once hiked up Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka carrying a tuk-tuk tyre. The whole thing took well over three hours, up and down. It took so long that we had to immediately start driving afterwards—otherwise we’d reach our accommodation in the dark, which wasn’t an option because that’s when the animals come out.

Google Maps decided to send us on a “shortcut.” That shortcut led us through a tea plantation, down paths designed for motorbikes—not tuk-tuks. Every few metres, we had to stop and dig the wheels out of the mud. What should have been quick added another three hours to the journey.

Then, just when we were twenty minutes away, the tuk-tuk slid straight into a swamp.

We were completely stuck.

We had to run down the road to find help. It took eight local villagers to pull that thing out. Finally, back on the main road, we were met by one last obstacle—a massive bull elephant blocking our path. After a long standoff, he eventually let us pass.

Now here’s the thing: if we hadn’t got lost, stuck, and delayed, we would never have seen that incredible, gentle giant. One of my most unforgettable travel moments came from everything going wrong.

And that’s the point.

⸻

Wrapping It All Up

I hope this article hasn’t put you off—because I genuinely love coach travel. Yes, it takes a little longer than flying, but for me, that’s part of the magic.

Watching movies on long drives. Talking about history while pointing out landmarks. Meeting incredible people. Seeing their faces light up when they experience something new for the first time. And eventually saying goodbye to close friends who were complete strangers just weeks earlier.