Some people still much prefer to travel by road than by any other means of transport. There are people whose fear of flying has reduced their options but there is still the decision about whether to drive or be driven. It is something worth a little thought because driving has become more costly and the independence that a car provides has now been called into question.
- Coach travelForbesy 🙂 / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Cars no longer the obvious choice
The advantages of being driven range from cost to convenience. In addition, the environmental lobby will say that anything that reduces the number of vehicles on the roads is good news. The roads have become increasingly busy; the motorways that were seen as the means of speeding up journeys have been overtaken by sheer volume. The only time when traffic might be light is during extremely unsocial hours.
Popular routes have become increasingly busy and simply take longer. Arriving at a strange destination doesn’t help anyone driving, even with satellite navigation, because of parking difficulties; a car in a strange city can actually be an inconvenience.
The ease of arranging trips to a host of destinations makes coach travel a serious option to consider. In line with many companies today, the travel business has fully taken advantage of the Internet which has opened up new opportunities and in the case of travel and accommodation people can go online and see what is on offer.
The cost of coach travel for the service provided makes a compelling case. The local travel agent has little left to offer in the face of what companies themselves can offer. With online booking and one to one contact when needed, people can get their travel documents in minutes. Payment gateways have ensured that personal financial details are perfectly secure and email confirmation is immediate.
Service experience
There are none of the frustrations of airport terminals when it comes to travelling by coach even when it involves crossing national borders. Modern coaches are extremely comfortable with WiFi and electric sockets as standard.
The quality of service from first contact, purchasing bus tickets and arriving pre-boarding to the personal service on the coach is a positive experience that will only increase the popularity of coach travel. The journey itself can be part of a holiday; there may be new places to see en route and there are regular updates on progress and estimated time of arrival.
There is a logistical advantage that a coach has over an aeroplane. Airports are almost without exception on the outskirts of cities. This means there is still further to travel after emerging from the airport. In contrast, bus stations are often centrally located; arrive at a bus station and the total trip is almost over.
Some people may never have thought about coach travel. It costs nothing to do some research on the subject and see what the reality is. Flying is certainly quicker but the total journey from leaving home to arriving at a destination is usually nowhere near as quick as people believe when all the queues and security checks are taken into account.
