This article is intended for those who are wondering whether or not to go to the bus tour, as well as for those who have already made up his mind and is preparing for the trip. If you already have at least one round, then I think your own experience will be for you is more valuable than the text, but you may still find in it something interesting. The article is based on personal experience of bus tours of the author number three, as well as the study of reviews on this topic on this site.

1.Klassifikatsiya. Bus tours can be divided into:
A) Pure bus, when you sit on a bus in Moscow or St. Petersburg (less often in other cities not on the frontier). With the exception of tours to Scandinavia, they include a fairly grueling crossing the border.
B) bus, rail, train (more often) to Brest, sometimes up to Berlin, Vyborg, or other cities. Enables you to get to the border with some great comfort and normal beds (if the train can be considered as such).
A) Flights over with the flight to the beginning of the tour route (Italy, Spain and others). I\u0026#39;m such was not, so I will only say that they are usually somewhat more comfortable than the first two options, so not all that more will be said, applies to them.

2.Ehat or not to go?
Find out whether you fit a bus tour in advance probably impossible. There are fans who do not think any other form of leave, there are those who returned jaded and angry. But if you\u0026#39;re going in the bus tour, you should be ready for the next (not all of this really you will, but I describe \u0026quot;average\u0026quot; and not \u0026quot;extreme\u0026quot; round):
- You will have to abandon the normal sleep patterns, nutrition and personal hygiene.
- You will have to spend most of their time in a confined space in society 30-40 different people, not all of which will be nice to you.
- You will have to be tolerant to various small knobs (delay of tourists, drivers who do not know the road races in the shops, the queues at the borders, etc.), because they will have lost precious time, which may not be enough for the most coveted.
- You have to build their lives on the team guide, dividing it into small intervals (inspection of the monument and photographs - five minutes), always existing in a very tight schedule.
If I have not scared you read on, then move on to something more pleasant.
There are a few \u0026quot;scary\u0026quot;, which I do not share.
- Bus tours - is physically very hard. \u0026quot; I can refute the presence of a large number of older people receiving a lot of fun. Even with the position of his not very young age - also would not say.
- \u0026quot;Night move - it\u0026#39;s terrible.\u0026quot; Again, not as difficult as it is painted. Normal sleep, of course, does not succeed, but in general, there are things more difficult, including in the same tours.
- \u0026quot;Very tired for a long time to sit in one place, everything starts to ache and become numb.\u0026quot; I have not encountered, and among my neighbors on rounds of complaints heard.
So after all, why should resign ourselves to the difficulties described, plus large sum of money spending?
For the sake of uniqueness of experience, the joy of knowing the world in a very dense mode. The very density and kaleidoscopic can \u0026quot;grab\u0026quot; the most remarkable and save it in themselves. For example, one of the strongest impressions in my life - it is Brussels, where we were an hour and a half or two, not more. But the unalloyed beauty of the area the morning, mingling with the magical taste of waffles - now I remember, and in my heart something flips. It was for such moments, like bus tours.
For a chance to see much of the relatively little money, not zamorachivayas planners, hotels, language and many other everyday problems.
For the sake of pleasure-old woman to travel all over Europe and make sure that it is not so big. And the dank winter looking at pictures or seeing familiar buildings on television, is proud to think: I was there:)
In general, it is also still worth it!

3.Kuda, when, with whom.
I went in the summer, because I think that it makes no sense to add to the already mentioned difficulties uncomfortable weather conditions. But it is impossible to guess the whims of weather, had to face 32-degree heat in Norway, and with the cold and biting wind in July in France.
It is worth considering that the holidays will have to deal with queues at the borders. Also during this time increases the probability of bad trips in buses and other troubles.
Regarding the \u0026quot;where\u0026quot; question immense, so only some of the answers.
- If you want to see as much as possible \u0026quot;very-very\u0026quot; at one time, then your route - to Paris, via Poland, Germany, with a stop in Belgium or Holland (or both there and there). Such options set for all firms.
- If you are not sure you will enjoy a bus tour, then you should go for 4 days from St. Petersburg to Finland and Sweden with travel by ferry. The route is short, interesting and not very tiring.
- If you feel like every day to move to another place - you in the Czech Republic. Look for the version with radial departures from Prague, are there, although not all the routes in this country.
Before deciding indicate the distance that you can drive: they are usually listed in the description of the tour, and if they do not, calculate according to the atlas of highways or other card. The fact is that out of the tour program may not be obvious that most of the day you have to ride the bus, but the excursion program will remain very little time. Of course accurately predict the time spent in transit, it is impossible, but here\u0026#39;s the most approximate estimations.
Average speed avtobucha on good highway (which are not always available) 80-90 km per hour. But raschcheta time you want to add more parking, entry and exit from the city, traffic jams (they occur on motorways). In short, if the day you can drive 200-250 miles, you can expect that most of the day will take a guided tour program. If about 500 km, it is probably half a day on the road. 700 km and more - a day with a few stops.
By the choice of travel companies can say one thing: do not know any, on which there is no feedback from disgruntled malcontents. Even in the best company adverse circumstances or someone else\u0026#39;s penny-a-job can ruin a trip. And for bus tours luck seems even more significant factor than for other types of recreation. So \u0026quot;think for yourself, decide for yourself.\u0026quot;

4.Sobiraem things and prepare.
A. About the \u0026quot;rule of three bags\u0026quot;
The first bag (or suitcase) will ride in the baggage compartment of a bus. All day you will not have access to it. At the parking outside the city, the driver can open the trunk of your request (as a courtesy), in the cities it is forbidden. Typically, the trunk opens the night before the move, so you can get things for the night.
So, this bag should be as easy and convenient to drag and drop, for take out-cram into the bus, pull on the stairs of the hotel will have almost every day. (Overall purchases are usually allowed to leave in the trunk of the bus). Other requirements: the presence of pockets or offices, so that you do not have to shake up everything in search of, for example, slippers or a toothbrush.
The second bag - with the things that you need to be on the bus. This may not be the bag, and the package whose contents will be allotted to you shove on shelves and pockets. There are spare warm clothes, a mug with a spoon and knife, foodstuffs for the day, first aid kit, maps and guidebooks, road Fiction, or other entertainment.
Finally, the third bag - the one with which you walk through the city. Then perhaps, and so everything is clear.
B. Clothing.
I\u0026#39;m not sure that you will pretty much wear and brand name clothing, depending on the route, it may be in demand, but maybe not. Practical, comfortable, nemnuschayasya clothes will be in demand forever. Given that you\u0026#39;re not always going to be able to change, you can use the principle of \u0026quot;cabbage\u0026quot;: for example, T-shirt, which is put on a light sweater and top - jacket. All of this with you in the bus and combined depending on the weather.
Comfortable shoes - this is understandable and necessary requirement.
V. Food.
Here it is very difficult to recommend. Because what about the food on the way, we can not say in advance, Travel Agents assurances that everything will be OK, not always true. On the other hand, pull a lot of food and make heavier baggage, too, do not want. Ability to buy sweets, cutting, bread, sandwiches, and so will almost certainly. So if you are kind to the need always to be fed, better still grab a certain number of soups, porridges from the bags. Otherwise, you can confine light (by weight) and hearty food such as chocolates, nuts and pr.Sleduet also note that in recent years, due to avian influenza at the borders there are periods when not miss anything of animal origin - no cheese or sausage, or eggs (especially high probability of such \u0026quot;ambush\u0026quot; on the border with Poland). Also needed the tea bags and coffee. Most pleasing candy. Bottle of water in the bus for our family is required.
G. Kit.
In addition to the understandable demands to consider the following.
- Poor state of health could save the need to move with them. Therefore, antipyretic and facilitate well-being means a medicine chest are mandatory, even if you do not like to use them. The same applies to funds from cough-cold (imagine how important it is, if you will be able to share them with your neighbor coughing). I\u0026#39;m on the safe side and always take an antibiotic, but there\u0026#39;s one solves itself.
- Given the unevenness of power and unfamiliar foods may be in demand means for digestion - and constipation, and disorders and to facilitate digestion (type Festal).
- Due to the unfamiliar food and vegetation need antiallergenic drug, even if you do not suffer from allergies.
- Adhesive tape for polished legs - also a vital necessity.
In short, my principle, you probably understand: the more you take, the less useful:)
D. What else?
Maps and guidebooks. I usually buy a good map and guide to the \u0026quot;core\u0026quot; country. The rest is looking for friends or working on the road (more tell you how).
Boiler. Required for evening meals. There are more popular electric kettles in the rooms, but it is better to err.
EA Mobile. It certainly will not forget you, and without my reminders, but it is better to recall that it must be international roaming and the desired amount of money in the account. How can it be determined? Take the office with your operator, or search the Internet a list of tariffs on the country you need. Typically, in each country there are several operators with different rates, you can set your phone to the most profitable. Prikinte how much you\u0026#39;re going to talk, and multiply that amount by half (just in case). If you do not want to talk, put at least $ 20 for emergency cases.
All my imagination had run out. In conclusion, I will only say that regardless of the amount of text written above, my principle: smaller things - easier trip.

5.Denezhnye problems
How to take money - it is a question that can not be answered. I can only say that the two trips we took around 100 euros per day for three people not in the cheapest countries (meals, excursions, souvenirs, tickets, etc.), and we especially do not economize. Theoretically could spend half as much. However, almost all leaves significantly more and why this happens, I honestly do not know. But here is a sample calculation for those who want to austerity.
Be sure to start your trip Check List and the cost of additional excursions, entrance fees, etc. Many companies will give it to you without additional requirements. If you do not give, ask, or search online travel companies. Calculate which this list you want to go-go and how much it will cost. Multiply this figure by half (almost certainly for this article will be unforeseen costs, which will avoid possible or desirable). Plus twenty euros a day \u0026quot;to life. Plus a hundred euros just in case (if the manifest resistance, will bring back).
If your trip is in the whole euro zone, then you are traveling with a euro. If a country has its own currency, you can keep and euros and dollars, that you prefer. Guide usually lead you to the exchanger with a relatively favorable course or prompt, where such a finding. However, after I had once held three o\u0026#39;clock in the heat without a penny of local money in anticipation of the arrival in the \u0026quot;lucrative\u0026quot; exchanger, has made it a rule at least a small amount of change at the earliest opportunity on any course.
In Poland, on the road can pay in euros. But the surrender of will in zlotys.

6.B path.
Since you ride guide and two drivers. From the guide depends on how it seems to me far more than from the company, but choose to go to a specific guide, as a rule impossible. Again the lottery. The duties of the guide is to inform you all the information about the route of movement: when the people went, some excursions, when and where we go, etc. As this is vital information, you must not hesitate to ask questions and seek clarity. Unfortunately, there are guides who are very reluctant to share information or pronounce loudly and clearly enough. Guide also tells about the countries you pass through, carries some, and sometimes all tours. He Selita the hotel, gives a signal to the administration of the bus agrees with guides, tackle the problems, answers questions, helps with translation, filling out papers at the border - in short, doing everything that you could possibly imagine. Almost all of the above you have the right to require a guide (sometimes unfortunately have to demand it). But note that it still is not your personal guide, as a group, so it can not be your personal interpreter and advisor.
Be sure to take your mobile phone guide - just in case you are late, lost, and etc. He can himself to dictate to you, but if you do not ask - ask him. It is also desirable to exchange phone numbers with neighbors on the bus. In critical situations they will delay the administration of the bus.
The bus you to an air conditioner, toilet, hot water. With all these are problems. In \u0026quot;sredneblagopoluchnom\u0026quot; round air conditioning will work, but not always well enough (by the way, please note that the parking lot it does not work, so in southern countries to be standing in a bus unbearable), boiling water will calculate pair of glasses per person per day, and toilet will exhort you to go \u0026quot;only if you really, really need.\u0026quot;
Parking is not made less frequently than once every 4 hours, usually observed. If it\u0026#39;s just \u0026quot;Sanitary station\u0026quot;, then most likely it will be at a gas station, where there is a toilet (ladies, be prepared to queue), a small shop (the prices are generally comparable to Russia\u0026#39;s supermarkets) and maybe some fast food.
In a way, or will guide you anything to tell or show the film (the two TV screens on the bus). The problem of what you yourself would take, you need to consider in advance, because the removals took a substantial part-time tour (sometimes a whole day with short stops).
Now on a night crossing. It is not at all rounds and is considered the main difficulty of those tours, where is. My opinion: if you go to France, Benelux, Italy (in general, everywhere, except Germany, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia), the nocturnal removal may be a lesser evil than a day monotonous roads. For Deutsch autobahn - it is quite a boring thing.
Before the move night put 8 (according to other sources, 9) hours of \u0026quot;sludge bus\u0026quot;, that is, you walk through the city, most of the time alone, without a tour, but the bus may not go.
It is believed that for a night journey to have a special pillow (preferably air), a blanket and a blindfold on. I did none of this is not used. Just available odezhek mildest placed under his head, the largest (jacket, for example) is covered. Even if the day is hot, in the morning on the bus can be chilly cold, you need to have something laid. Maybe winter is even more important, but in winter I did not go.
The first night in the bus is usually heavy, sleep can be difficult, shallow sleep, often waking up, but you can make up for the day. The following night on wheels moved more easily. In general, the full course not sleep enough, but not too scary.
After a night journey you can stop for breakfast, but can - only to wash and breakfast will be offered in the bus. Then, to advance to buy food.

7.Pitanie.
In this issue, too, is very difficult to make predictions. Breakfast you will be in hotels. Continental breakfast - pastries, cheese, sausage, eggs, yogurt, tea and coffee. Many come with a bag, gathering the whole lot, carry away with them and eat during the day. This is generally something equivalent to theft, although this may not know everything.
If you have a whole day on the road, then you at least once a full stop to lunch. This may be fast food, where you can just take a look and liked a dish, and perhaps the distribution or order on the menu, which will have to respond to the names in an unfamiliar language. Frankly - a couple of times in such situations, I remained hungry: not that they can not understand, but the awkward slow turn. Guide can wait until all calmly eating (and then a dinner, given turn, spread over a couple of hours), and may declare the administration in a strictly scheduled time and then some will be pressed for time. Some prefer to all of this does not communicate, and eat in the bus personal inventory.
By destination you can come pretty late and then you drink tea with the fact that you have from the food. Rather guide will warn you about this beforehand and will offer during one of the stands to buy food for dinner.
Now the second version of the food - independent: during his stay in the cities. Here is hungry to remain extremely difficult. If you are confused by the high prices or language problems, you should focus on a variety of fast-food outlets, where you can just poke in favorite dish. If you know at least English, is looking for a place where there is an English menu. If not, call upon the aid of their linguistic abilities and try to read the menu on the language in which it is written. This is easier than it sounds: a lot of names of dishes like written in different languages. Although if you do not travel in the country, and a few days, it makes sense to prepare in advance: to write out some basic phrasebook names of dishes.
And another thing, the food did not fall. I\u0026#39;m sorry too. Fast-food outlets like McDonald\u0026#39;s and KFC can be used not only for food (there is a tastier and more interesting for about the same or slightly more money) but as a place where you can without making a reservation, use the bathroom. But he may be paid.

8.B cities and on tours.
Despite the fact that the guides quite intensively graze \u0026quot;tourists almost every day is free time when you can go wherever you want and need to return at the right time and right place. This requires a fairly good orientation skills. One way or another the vast majority of successful deals, but you can get lost (in our last trip to our group this happened on three occasions, thus delaying the entire group for half an hour or more), so if you\u0026#39;re not very confident in their abilities, to join the more experienced fellow traveler.
For the success of independent walking very desirable card. They can be obtained in various ways.
- Buy: in advance, in Russia or already on arrival in the country.
- Ask for a time with friends who went to the same country.
- Some travel companies offer plans for tourist cities - thanks to them.
- Finally, maps, brochures and many other valuable information can be found at the information stand: at the reception desk in the hotel, at the cash register of museums, large stores, targeted at tourists, and finally in data centers - as a rule they raspolodzheny in cities, close to tourist sites. They are designated beech i, they can ask questions and get answers in different languages, to buy tickets to events, etc. A variety of leaflets are suitable not only for information (often really valuable), but as souvenirs.
On the delay. If you spit on your fellow travelers, the delays are possible, especially in the administration of the hotel. Excursions and free time the group reduced the term of your tardiness. But if you do not want to bring a great deal of trouble, better not miss the key points of the route (on the ferry to crossing the border, etc.). The delay of this will lead to hours-long delays. The threat of lengthening the time the tour (bus rentals, penalties, expired visa) is your guide be moved to throw you in a foreign country.
Most tours are places \u0026quot;wiring\u0026quot; of tourists. This is all kinds of \u0026quot;diamond factory\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;dairies\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Museums spirits.\u0026quot; Visit them at times sent to the personal enrichment of your guide (commission sales), and sometimes he performs the urgent request of the authorities of the country (I know, for example, about the Dutch Ministry of Tourism). Usually it\u0026#39;s a waste not as much money as time. Often impossible to avoid, is \u0026quot;to relax and enjoy.\u0026quot;
In the cities money and documents, hold close to ourselves, and better money, lay in several places (we tend to divide in half with her husband, and the last visit with the grown up daughter) and make copies of the documents, because, unfortunately, stolen in the crowd or transport - a frequent phenomenon.

My story is a bit boring and a problem-oriented and detail. I hope that you will successfully overcome them (or do not notice) and this will allow you to enjoy the view, as there is almost nothing written - the beauty of European cities and joy interesting holiday. Have a nice trip!
PS Thanks to commentators, particularly GAL, Kotik, Irina: their information is included in the publication. The originals can be viewed on the forum.