Not the most comfortable option but cheap and does what it says on the tin. (National Express)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	National Express
Date:	17/08/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper than the train, Gets from A to B

Disadvantages: Longer Journeys, Cramped, Bad Smells.

National Express is perhaps the most popular company for long distance coach journeys within the UK and is particularly famous for offering a cheaper travel option for folks who wish to get to an airport which a good few hours away from them so that they can fly to some wonderful destination. I have used National Express a few times to travel between my home near Cardiff in South Wales and London Heathrow Airport, where I am generally dropped off at "Central Bus Station" to catch my flight out from terminal three.

When you want to travel to the airport, there aren't really many dirt cheap options in my situation, I am sure you can probably save some money if you are flying from Heathrow and live in Middlesex, but I am a good couple of hours away from Heathrow by motorway. I could take the car, but then I have to pay for airport parking, bridge toll and of course fuel. I could also take the train to paddington and then get the Heathrow Express, but this journey is considerably expensive just to reach London without even considering the final stretch to the airport. The cheapest option therefore is the coach.

The Coach may not be the nicest of all methods to travel on. It takes longer to reach your destination because there are frequent stops at bus stations along route to pick up more passengers. It is also limited by traffic, road closures and other unhelpable common delay situations. Generally the coach is more cramped that the train, with the seats being quite snug and the toilets are reputably always exceptionally dirty and can usually be smelled from even the front seats. What's more the driver is sometimes a bit of a dodgy geezer who wishes to have regular cigarette breaks or is prone to breaking the speed limit.

The truth of the matter is that in this life you get what you pay for. Travel by coach is not as nice as travelling by train, that is just how life is and you therefore pay less to go by this means of transport. I am young and fit, and not really in a position to pay for luxury travel to the airport, aslong as I reliably get there then it's fine which is why I generally use National Express.

The coaches will generally pick you up at your local bus station where there will be a designated National Express Platform (at least there is at my local bus station). You will show the driver your ticket and you will be allowed to board, and once you are in your seat that is it until the end of the journey, although I am reliably informed that on some of the longer journeys that National Express offers, passengers may be allowed out for a breath of fresh air.

The toilets are always rubbish on these buses, I am afraid that is something that I have learnt to live with and I have heard horror stories of particularly fowl smelling vehicles. Obviously if the smell is over powering then that isn't really acceptable but thankfully on my trips with National Express I have never had a coach that smelled beyond bearable. Another advantage is that the coach drivers tend to be quite swift drivers who are very familiar with the road which means you almost always arrive on time at your destination - I have yet to be significantly delayed although obviously it may occur if road conditions are beyond anyone's control.

What's more, the National Express is not limited to airport travel, it can take you between many major cities within the United Kingdom, and the journey does not necessarily have to involve London, so it's not exclusively for those jetting off which perhaps makes it more desirable.

I would recommend it, whilst I have heard some horror stories, I have yet to experience anything horrific. It does what it says on the tin, and if you want to avoid the risk of urine smells and the longer duration, I'm afraid you'll have to part with a little bit more cash.

Summary: I will continue to use the coach because of the savings.