Bus2alps – Student Travel Europe

When Bus2alps is kicking it at home base in Switzerland, we sometimes feel the urge to take a break from the adrenaline of skydiving and paragliding in Interlaken. So what do we do? We head to Jungfrau for more high-octane adventures, from racing down mountains on the First Flyer zip line to whipping around on scooter bikes.

One of the most distinguished sights of the Swiss Alps, the majestic Jungfrau summit attracts leisure and adventure travelers from all over the world.  This region offers spectacular hiking trails with breathtaking views of the iconic peaks and lakes that stretch beyond the horizon. From hiking to a playground to a shimmering ice palace, Jungfrau is the ideal family adventure.

Laid-back trekkers and adrenaline junkies alike can’t resist the train ride to the towering summit, dubbed the Top of Europe experience. At 3,454 meters, Jungfraujoch is Europe’s highest-altitude railway station and boasts stunning panoramic views.

Whether you want adventure, leisure, or scenery, you’ll find it in Jungfrau. We certainly get a healthy helping of all three…We’re called Bus2alps for a reason!

With our home base in Interlaken, Bus2alps has become an expert on traveling throughout Switzerland.  And just as we set the standard for Swiss ground transport, SkyWork Air is revolutionizing air travel.

After six years as a flight training school in Bern, in 1989 SkyWork shifted its focus to providing transport for private and business travelers. SkyWork’s original agenda offered flights from Bern to popular holiday destinations, like Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, and London.

Today SkyWork has quadrupled its fleet and its reach, flying to 24 destinations across Europe. This expansion has helped create the largest route network in the history of Bern Airport, giving travelers access to more of Europe’s coolest cities.

Like Bus2alps, SkyWork’s goal is to make traveling an exceptional experience. We’re proud to be partnered with a company that shares our ambition for quality transportation!

Whether you’re looking for pure relaxation, extreme adventure, or unmatched scenery on your travels, look no further than Interlaken, Switzerland. After a day exploring the town, skydiving over the Swiss Alps, or hiking one of many majestic peaks of the Jungfrau region, it’s always nice to return to Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof to rest and recharge for your next adventure.

Since 1998, Backpackers Villa has provided quality accommodation for travelers from all over the world. Its Swiss hospitality is evident, with reviews from guests earning Backpackers a HOSCAR award for best hostel in Switzerland in 2009 and 2010, and  every month thus far in 2011.

From a garden to a music studio, meditation room to paragliding center, Backpackers Villa caters to travelers of all ages and backgrounds. Free access to the local public pool and mini golf course, an eco-friendly design, as well as private rooms makes Backpackers ideal for families.

Priding themselves on professionalism, the friendly Backpackers Villa staff is dedicated to providing guests with an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere. Bus2alps is committed to providing the same for our travelers, so we are proud to work together in Interlaken!

After a long day of admiring the beauty of the Prague Castle and inspiration of the Lennon Wall, there’s no better place to rest your head than Prague’s top-rated hostel, Mosaic House.

Mosaic House is located right in the heart of the city, just a short walk from the famous Charles Bridge, the National Theater, and other historical hotspots. It has a quality accommodation, relaxed atmosphere, and modern-chic design.
Mosaic House is appropriately named for its diversity, bringing together guests from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. It houses the popular hangout Belushi’s, where locals and travelers alike gather for food, drinks, and live music.

As the first hotel in the Czech Republic to use 100% renewable-source electricity, 100% biogas, and a water-recycling unit, Mosaic boasts some of the most sophisticated eco-friendly technology. In fact, Mosaic House was recently awarded a prestigious Energy Globe Award thanks to the friends, family, locals, partners and guests who believe in its green initiatives.

Rich in character and style, Mosaic House sets the standard for excellence in the hospitality industry.  Bus2alps strives to set the same standard in the tourism industry, and that shared ambition makes us happy to call Mosaic House one of our homes away from home!

Might sound crazy during your semester abroad, especially if you know me, but this week’s travel tip is to do your homework.

Student Travel companies offer a unique opportunity for study abroaders to have less stress while traveling, through the comfort of the knowledgeable and experienced trip leaders and direct travel. And less stress, especially in travel, is always a good thing.

However, in my opinion, there can be too much of a good thing. I fear that too many group travelers rest on their laurels, proud to have chosen an amazing city to tour, and they do not take the time to do even the slightest bit of homework on the their destination.

And homework, in this sense, is not writing a thesis or crunching numbers. A quick Google search on city prior to arrival can take a good trip and make it amazing. For instance, a quick Google image search of Pál-völgyi Cave , Sedlec Ossuary or St. Stephen’s Cathedral  could totally change the course of your trip to Budapest, Prague and Vienna. While other people might be totally content with finding the nearest Starbucks and BBMing their boyfriend, you will off on the adventure of a lifetime three miles into a monster cave, contemplating the skeletons of some 50,000 people or mesmerized by the beauty and harshness of gothic architecture.

I know most people don’t study abroad to necessarily study. But I am not suggesting that you memorize your Frommer’s Guide to Prague either. So, while studying abroad, do at least some homework – because believe me when I say, even little bit of preparation can make all the difference.

Until next week – safe travels,

Tony

If you’ve ever visited Interlaken, Switzerland, chances are you’ve stayed, eaten, or partied at Balmer’s Herberge. This 4-season holiday resort nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps is the first and oldest private hostel in Switzerland. With a quality accommodation, an outdoor Biergarten, Interlaken’s hottest nightclub, and now 7-person Jacuzzi, it’s no mystery why Balmer’s has been consistently voted one of Europe’s top ten hostels.

Since Frida and Adolf Balmer opened the establishment as a tourist house in 1907, Balmer’s has remained a family business. In the 1970s their son Erich transformed the tourist house into a private hostel, and its popularity was evident with the rapid growth from 50 to 350 beds.

Today Balmer’s is owned and managed by Erich’s daughters, Fabienne and Carmen, who continue to foster the friendly atmosphere that attracts travelers from all over the world.  Bus2alps is proud to be partnered with an establishment that shares our commitment to providing the best experience for travelers. We’ve made countless memories at Balmer’s Herberge, and look forward to many more to come!

This past week with Bus2alps was record-breaking as we had one of our biggest sales to date. On Wednesday, thousands of students from all over Europe and beyond took time out of their study sessions for midterms to try to snag some ridiculously discounted spots to their favorite destinations. The server even crashed briefly as we had thousands of students logging on. It was record-breaking, and in the end, lots of speedy typers got to book trips to places like Interlaken, Prague, Vienna & Salzburg, Morocco, and Ireland for as low as 50 Euro. Huge savings.

 
The next day, after classes let out, over 150 students took off to the Northern Loop with Bus2alps to voyage on an amazing 10 days of seeing Europe’s top cities. Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris are all on the tour and everyone back home is anxiously awaiting the awesome stories and pictures that their traveling friends will come back with.

 
Over in France, students from all over Europe gathered in the City of Lights to spend 3 nights in Paris with Bus2alps. The Louvre, Elysee, Arc du Triumph, Notre Dame, and of course the Eiffel Tower were all sites to be seen this past weekend for all. Chocolate was even a special attraction as everyone took part in the Salon du Chocolat festival, which included several chocolate venues and a chocolate fashion show. Parisian high fashion mixed with rich, delectable chocolate is our kind of style.

 
Over in Italy, students also got their chocolate fix as they attended the final weekend of the Perugia EuroChocolate Festival with Bus2alps. Chocolate sculptors, chocolate picture frames, chocolate kebabs, and chocolate giveaways all made for a sweet time. You know what else is sweet? Free entry in all of Florence’s top museums tomorrow, Tuesday the 25th! Take some time to go check out all of the amazing exhibits you’ve been wanting to see, for free from 7pm-11pm! Museums participating in Art Tuesday include the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Bargello National Museum, Medici Chapels, Museum of San Marco, Museum of Palazzo Davanzati, Gallery of Modern Art, and the Palatine Gallery.

 
We’re looking forward to getting our final beach time in this upcoming weekend in Greece, as well as another departure for the Northern Loop! Happy travels, everyone!

Last night our Study Break Sale became the biggest giveaway yet, with thousands of students dropping their books and flooding the Bus2alps website to snag discounted seats. The amount of traffic to the site overloaded the server, causing a temporary crash (Social Network flashback anyone?). As in most traffic jams, there were those who were frustrated with the process and those who enjoyed the ride. We were the latter, overwhelmed by all of the excitement and enthusiasm from all of our customers who were ready and armed with their fingers on the refresh buttons to get huge discounts on their favorite trips.

Although not everyone landed a €50, €75, €100, or €150 seat, the excitement of the sale alone motivated many students to hop on our bus. We’re just as excited as you are to ski in Interlaken, dance with the green fairy in Prague, explore the caves of Budapest, ride camels in Morocco, enjoy a Guinness in Ireland, and stock up on gifts at the Christmas markets of Vienna & Salzburg. We want you to be there with us for every one of these amazing experiences, so if you didn’t snag a discounted seat, gift code SBSALE saves you 10% on any trip! But hurry, availability is limited to the first 50 people to book with the code!

It’s been a record-breaking year so far for Bus2alps, reaching 10,000 passengers last week and hosting our biggest giveaway ever this week. We’re planning on the last 2 months to be even better than the first 10, so ride with us for a record-breaking, memory-making winter.

For the last weekend of summer trips with Bus2alps, we went to two of our favorite summer destinations – The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre! Seven hostel welcomed us back for some fun on the rooftop bar in Sorrento, and Cinque Terre’s spectacular views didn’t disappoint.

Bus2alps would like to thank all the travelers who joined us this summer for unforgettable experiences in some of the most beautiful European destinations. So thanks for cliff jumping and sipping limoncello in the Amalfi Coast, white-water rafting and island hopping in Croatia, rolling the dice in Montecarlo in the French Riviera, hiking the seaside cliffs of Cinque Terre, riding in Gondolas in Venice, and skydiving and canyoning in Interlaken! Because of you this has been the most successful summer yet for Bus2alps!

If you’re saying goodbye to Europe to head back to the U.S. of A, then this isn’t goodbye! Check out our newest adventures with Bus2alps America. Hope on the bus for a weekend ski trip, or if you’re missing Europe, join us for Oktoberfest! And don’t forget to tell your friends who are coming to study abroad to travel with Bus2alps! Whether you’re on your way home, or getting ready to study abroad in Europe this fall – we’ll see you on the bus!

It was another amazing weekend with Bus2alps! We travelled to the beautiful Amalfi Coast, enjoyed summer sports in Interlaken, and saw the sights in Venice and Cinque Terre.

It was another adrenaline-filled weekend in Switzerland! As we arrived in the Swiss Alps Friday morning, some were so pumped that they went immediately to book their skydiving reservations. Others spent the early morning hours exploring the town’s shops, stores, and restaurants. Friday and Saturday consisted of all different types of heart pumping activities such as canyoning, paragliding, white water rafting, mountain biking, bungy jumping, and canyon jumping! During the evening, to unwind from the day’s activities, we all hit the best bar in town, located at Balmers Herberge, Metro Bar, where the DJ doesn’t stop till everyone goes home, and happy hour starts at 9pm. On Sunday some spent their last hours doing activites they just couldn’t miss out on, while others went to Lauterbrunnen to see the amazingly high waterfall at Staubbach and the hidden waterfalls of Trummelbach Falle, or rented bikes to adventure out to lake Thun for some great pictures.

Meanwhile, back in Italy, Bus2alps headed back to the Amalfi Coast for some fun in Southern Italy. On Friday, we ferried over to Capri and after our private boat tour, students were able to spend the day sipping limoncello, taking a chairlift to the top of the island, and checking out the custom sandals. We braved Saturday showers to go cliff jumping and cave swimming in the Mediterranean sea. The weekend was completed with a trip to Pompeii where we were able to explore the ancient Roman city and learn about its unique history.

A few hours north, the Bus2alps crew were on their way to the majestic city of Venice. Upon arrival, we hopped on a waterbus to the island of Murano, and were dazzled by the glass blowing factories and gift shops. Then it was back to the floating city to explore Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, as well as enjoy a relaxing gondola ride. The amazing people, food, and atmosphere of Venice keep us coming back!

In Cinque Terre, we enjoyed hiking the seaside trails. After a long hike it was nice to relax on the gorgeous sunny beaches of the final town, Monterosso, and lets not forget about the seafood and pesto pizza pit stop! Swimming in the Mediterranean and sipping granita was the perfect way to end the day.

The summer semester may be winding down, but Bus2alps is still taking you to all the best European destinations. See you on the bus!