Strolling Sojourner

Unlike Canada, travelling is super easy within Europe. From buses to trains and even planes, there's so many options to explore the many cultures around, at very reasonable prices too.

This time around, I had the opportunity to try 2 different overnight bus providers that runs between Paris and London: Flixbus and National Express. In general, there are 2 ways travelling across the English channel. The easier one is through the tunnel where the bus stops inside a container and the train ships you to the other side of the channel without you having to get off. The second method requires you to physically get off the bus onto a ferry that brings you across. Both times I lucked out and did not have to get on a ferry in the middle of the night.

Here are some thoughts I had during both rides:

Flixbus/Megabus
- Easy boarding process~check in in front of bus
- Could be a little difficult to find the Bercy Station at night

- My seat couldn't recline, bus was of older conditions

British border asked every little detail, including ones already filled out on immigration card ~ only me ~ asked me if I spoke English...

National Express
- Check in at designated desk~much more sophisticated check in process, but still easy (and I actually got a boarding pass)
- Driver spoke minimal English
- Smoke/washroom break available

A rant I do have to get off my chest, irrelevant to the bus service itself, was when I was passing the British border. The woman at the border control for some reason thought I did not speak English until she saw my passport. And even though I had already filled out my immigration card, she still felt the need to ask every nitty gritty detail of my trip. If there were other people that had the same treatment I would not be complaining, but out of everyone on the same bus, I was the only one that was questioned so vigorously, and I have a feeling it was because of my skin color. But just to give her the benefit of doubt, it was a standard safety procedure, and it could've happened to me because of random selection.

Anyway...

My final verdict? Overall it was a good experience, the buses were on time, both actually arrived earlier than scheduled, and I had no major hiccups with the entire process. I would definitely use it again if I was tight on schedule and budget. Beware though, however safe I had felt during the journey, basic cautionary procedures still had to be taken. For example, I had heard from a friend that these overnight buses are a source of shelter for the homeless, especially for domestic routes. 

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