Eurail or Busabout?

[snorkelman]

Most backpackers to Western Europe travel by trains and use Eurail passes, but I have seen information about some bus companies.  What's up with these?  Are these bus things just for people without a clue on how to navigate by using trains?  Are the bus things cheaper than train travel to the same cities in Western Europe?  I have a feeling that the bus thing is only a good idea if you have never traveled much and are intimidated by doing it on your own.  Anyone experience both solo train travel and busabout?

['Guest']

my understanding is that the bus is much cheaper.  trains are certainly better, so they charge a lot for them.  [eurail passes are *not* cheap!]  a really big advantage on trains is night trains.  you sleep on the train, don't waste vacation time going from city to city.  but, a bus just isn't too comfortable to sleep on.  

[nitsansh]

In general, buses are cheaper than trains everywhere, if you compare point-to-point tickets.
In any other comparison, trains are a better deal.
Trains go to more places than buses, and more frequently, especially in off season. Trains are faster. Trains are more comfortable, especially for long distance travel.
Rail passes give you flexibility that you can't have on buses.
And it's one big international system, you don't need to look for information on various bus companies. Trains use the same symbols everywhere, you don't need to know the local language to read a timetable. Also, because trains are more popular with tourists, it's more likely that the staff understand English.

[nitsansh]

I must clarify... my previous post was about public intercity/international buses, not about Busabout....
Busabout, from what I understand, is a good deal as long as you stick to their routes and stay at their suggested hostels.
Compared to any public system, they have very limited routes and frequency. Most of their departures are every 2 days, some lines only every 4 days. They only travel by day. They only have a full schedule in June-August. They cut their service in April-May and September-October, and shut down alltogether November-March. They only go to major, popular destinations. If you want to go to smaller, off the beaten track places, they are of no use.
They pick up and drop off at hostels, which is good if you like to stay at those hostels. It's not that good if you stay elsewhere.

Back to public buses...
In these countries, you should consider travel by bus rather than trains:
United Kingdom: Trains are very expensive if you buy one-way point-to-point tickets. Since UK is not covered by Eurail passes, you have to buy a seperate pass for UK, the Britrail pass, which is also quite expensive. The fares system is very complicated, there are some dozens of ticket types and fares. In rural areas of Scotland and Wales, train service is no better than buses. Unlike other countries, in UK the trains are private, and the system is divided by many companies, while there are 2 big bus companies in all of Britain: National Express in England&Wales, Scottish Citylink in Scotland. Both offer passes, but if you are a student or under-26, your best option is likely to buy a travelcard, which gives you 33% reductions on all bus journeys. The card cost 9 pounds in England+Wales or 6 pounds in Scotland, a sum you would pay back in 2-3 short travel days, or one London-Scotland journey.
There's also a similar card for trains that cost 18 pounds.
Ireland:
The bus companies, Bus Eirean in the Republic or Ulster Bus in Northern Ireland, have more extensive network than the trains. They get to many places that trains don't.
There are passes for bus, train or both, in either the Republic alone or the entire island.
To qualify for a student reduction, you need to buy a travelsave stamp, cost 8 pounds/punts, which you should attach to your ISIC card.
Norway:
The train network is quite limited. Trains don't get to the Fjords, or to the far north. If you want to go there, you need to go by bus or boat.
Finland:
This country has a national bus network, about as good as the train system. Trains don't reach Lapland in the far north.
Spain:
On many routes, you may find buses go faster, cheaper, and more frequently to your destination. The major problem with buses is to find out information on companies, schedules, prices and stations. Tourist Information in any town can give you this precious info if you ask them.
Greece and Turkey:
Although I have no experience with them, I was told buses are better than trains in those countries. They are often faster than trains.
Croatia:
Also, no personal experience. The bus system is more extensive than trains. South of Split there's no train.
Czech Republic:
On some routes out of Prague, you better use buses. On others, trains are better. Since Eurail pass is not valid there, and the prices are about the same (and very cheap), use whatever is better for your journey. Take a bus to Karlovy Vari, train to Kutna Hora.
Portugal:
I have no experience. Let's Go suggests buses are often better.

In these countries, trains have no match: Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria. I think also Poland and Hungary.

Note that the train-only countries cover most of central Europe, while the countries where trains are not dominant are mostly on the edges of the continent.

Any comments from experienced travellers?

[[e-mail]]

In Greece buses are much better than trains, and they are more expensive!! For example, if you're coming from Italy via ferry to Patras: the normal train is supposed to take about 6 hours, and the intercity (faster andnot as many stops) is meant to take about 5 hours, but generally they take alot longer, get stuck on the tracks, spend to long at stations etc, gets very frustrating ang HOT in the summer, not something you want to go through after an overnight ferry! Meanwhile the bus takes only 3 hours to get to Athens and depart evry 30 minutes. BUT the bus terminus is a bit further out from the city and you will most likely have to get a taxi to your hostel. The train station is walking distance to a couple of good places, namely the aphrodite hostel and zorbas hotel. The choice is yours!!!

[nitsansh]

Important consideration in summer in southern Europe: Is there air-condition? (and does it work well?)
Quality of buses and trains may vary widely, even on the same route.