Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Coach trip/mini break?

4 replies

Lovemusic33 · 19/04/2023 19:45

Has anyone been on a coach trip (a couple nights)?
it’s something I have only really considered old people do but dd (17) is obsessed with big posh coaches, she has autism and has asked to go on a coach trip. Are they just for older people?
It’s not really my ideal holiday, I’m not keen on being on a coach with lots of people and being an emetophobe it’s a bit of a trigger for me, but dd would probably really enjoy it. I’m thinking maybe one or 2 nights away, ideally a city break.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 20/04/2023 07:55

You could just use the national express or city link type bus services to do your own trip, or does it have to be an organised tour? I would say from having seen them doing stops at the motorway services that you will be younger than the average passenger on a coach holiday. Also, check the itinerary carefully as they often involve spending a very long time on the bus and hotels may be in the back end of beyond to keep costs down.

TreesAtSea · 20/04/2023 18:58

I haven't been on an organised coach holiday but have done many day trips that way, both in UK and to mainland Europe.

Is it mainly the fancy coaches and on-board facilities that appeal to your DD? If so, I'd advise checking different companies' websites and brochures to see what their fleet of vehicles is like, as it can vary quite a lot.

Yes, you're likely to be amongst the youngest on board, but again that can depend what the destination and itinerary is. PP makes a good point about the hotels companies use sometimes being out of town etc.

If your DD is also interested in the logistics of coach travel - all the destinations, routes etc - then I'd echo PP's suggestion of putting together your own itinerary, say with National Express or Megabus, and if possible using one of the major coach stations, like Victoria Coach Station in London. I know there are other major hubs but that's the one I know best. She'll see coaches of all different types going here, there and everywhere, including ones heading to mainland Europe.

That kind of travel would likely be more cheap and cheerful, but facilities should still be okay, and there'll be a real mix of passengers. Each to their own, but I tend to prefer that kind of coach travel as I travel alone and find organised trips can be a bit cliquey, though people are usually very pleasant.

Lovemusic33 · 20/04/2023 21:26

I think she’s mainly interested in the coach itself so it needs to be a top end posh coach.I think we would try a day trip first and then possibly a short break (just one night would be fine). I have found one that’s a day trip to Camden Market but I’m not sure if she would cope with how must it may be? She would probably enjoy the stop off at the service station more than the final destination.

OP posts:
TreesAtSea · 21/04/2023 11:13

Doing a day trip first is a good idea. If, once there, Camden Market doesn't appeal for any reason, you could have a walk along the canal going west. It's a popular route, but would be less busy on a weekday. From the market, Primrose Hill Park or Regent's Park are both around 15 minutes walk, though of course on a day trip you may be a bit pushed for time.

To be honest, on a day trip or overnight stay, any potential downsides of coach trips are unlikely to apply, unless you have a long journey at either end. The possible cliqueyness I mentioned - which I appreciate wouldn't bother everyone - would only really come into play on a longer holiday.

I hope you both have a good time whatever you choose to do.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page