If you have to travel on a budget, National Express FunFares are an Option (National Express)

Member Name: norton501

Product:	National Express
Date:	02/08/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap FunFares

Disadvantages: Toilet, heating, expect some delays,slow way to travel...

In the last twelve months after getting rid of my car, I have had no choice other than to use public transport if I want to go anywhere. During this time I have been on approximately 12 National Express coach journeys.

I found they have "Funfares" which are an alternative to the Megabus (and don't just go to London)- these can be booked from their website and you can print out your ticket there and then or for a fee of £1.50 have them text your ticket to your mobile as an "M-Ticket". I've never opted for the mobile option and instead printed my ticket to show to the driver on the day.

Funfares can be really really cheap. I have managed to get from Leicester to Nottingham return for £4 and from Leicester to London for £5 there and £1 back using the National Express Funfares (the Funfare price comes up as art of the standard online process of "buy a ticket" after you have searched for times and fares). As the train has become increasingly expensive, this is a viable alternative but the journey times can be quite horrendous. Leicester to London which is 91 miles takes three hours and 10 minutes plus there can be traffic delays.

When getting late busses or the last bus on the schedule, I have never had an issue with a last bus not turning up. On a few occasions the bus was a late, but we were kept informed at the station and on one occasion waiting passengers were told they would be put on an alternate bus also going their direction, but in the end the bus we were waiting for arrived.

In general the busses are clean, basically done out- blue seats, individual curtains so you can block out the sun if you need to, a light and an air vent at each seat (from overhead). There is a toilet on board- normally at the back - I wouldnt recommend sitting anywhere close to this as coach toilets in general smell and the door often opens and closes and bangs around mid journey of its own accord which will be really really annoying as the buses are in general quiet. After the general safety announcement from the driver about wearing your seatbelt, the driver will let you know when you get to your destination and thats it.

Its a no frills service really, to get you from A to B. If I had paid £60 for a ticket, I would expect more- less excessive heating (can make you sleepy), more bins, some sort of drinks machine or water sold onboard and a toilet where the door has a better catch and doesn't smell so awful... but simply because they do FunFares, it is a good cheap journey option.

Summary: Budget travel option- journeys can take a long time