# tried and tested : Paris/London with Idbus/OUIbus...

London’s Calling !

A few days ago, I had to travel to London for a photo shoot. This job was booked the evening before I had to actually be there… It could not be more last minute.. and obviously when it came to booking transport I found myself helpless because of the sky high prices of a fully booked Eurostar… But strangely enough, the cost and the availability of the outward trip was fine ; the return however… where to begin.. No available seats and if there were, they were at totally ridiculous times and exorbitant prices..

I had no choice but to consider other alternatives : going there by road or plane.. Road was against my better judgment, as I despise long bus and car journeys, having done quite a few in Thailand and Nepal I always get car-sick but this time I had to get over it since the planes were full as well… After comparing and studying the internet for bus options, the one company that really stuck out for me was the Idbus, a bus that specializes in long, overnight trips in Europe, at competitive prices. It runs day and night, and honestly, the prices are simply unbeatable!

=> I booked from London to Paris, Bercy station, departing at 10pm, so that I could take full advantage of the day in London and travel at night.

=> Cost: 50 euros (strangely all journeys that depart from London as opposed to Paris, are more expensive, whether it be by bus or on the Eurostar.)

The departure ..

The bus leaves from the station, so all passengers meet there, and the big surprise is that it is absolutely crowded, despite it being so late in the evening. There are so many people who travel by bus overnight, I had no idea ! There are many different buses from different companies, and they all depart from the same station, but everything is well signposted so you just need to check the screens for times and updates. It is pretty easy to find our bus.

In the line waiting to check in, I find myself talking with lots of expats who use this method of transport on a regular basis for their many trips… let’s see what happens. Boarding is a fairly easy and straightforward process. The man in charge, who is also the driver, checks our tickets and passports and proceeds to load our luggage. We take our seats and make ourselves at home for the next 8 hours… So far so good, the seats are comfortable, spacious and there is Wi-Fi ! Yes !! Let’s go !!

On the road..

The journey passes quickly, the seats recline, and once the driver dims the lights, its nap-time until we reach border control before crossing the channel via the tunnel. Passport control is fast, followed by a toilet break and Starbucks fix, before hitting the road again. Then it’s back to sleep again until we arrive in Paris at 7 am. The bus drops us off at Bercy station… Already ??

My opinion …

I didn’t even notice the time pass ! For someone who usually struggles with car sickness, I have to admit I was fine, no nausea, nothing ! Seriously it was a super cool trip and actually, in hindsight, the 8 hours went very quickly. I would definitely do it again at night time ( I still don’t think I’m quite ready to face it during the day)

I think this option is a really good alternative. It’s an economical and very comfortable way to travel in Europe… It is really the perfect alternative to car sharing and other methods of transport, when you are looking for something low budget, last minute, or if you do not like flying !

Good to know ..

Passports or ID are mandatory, especially for journeys to and from London. There is border and passport control before entering the tunnel
For luggage, you are allowed one suitcase, in the hold and one piece of hand luggage to take on board the bus with you. If you want another item of luggage you have to pay extra, just like on a plane.
Animals weighing no more than 5kilos are allowed, as long as they are kept in their protective cages.
You can bring a small blanket and a mini pillow with you to feel more comfy & cosy during your journey.
In Paris, there are several different stations that bus arrives at : Bercy, La defense and soon they will be adding Charles de Gaules and Orly.
Idbus will be changing its name soon to OUI bus , and as of September 2015 they have added many other locations around France at reduced prices. There is also an offer currently under way for other European destinations in Italy, England Spain etc…

So, go go go !!!