Is This the best Coach Service in Europe? Riga to Tallinn with Lux Express!

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OK guys and thanks for clicking on another video!
This week I'm in Latvia taking a coach - actually a 'lounge coach' from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia. The coach - a Scania i8 (not an 18!) features a separate seating area at the rear which Lux Express (the operators) refer to as 'Relax Class'. Of course, I couldn't resist this coach version of 'business' and paid the extra money to have the pleasure of sitting in it for a total travel time of just over 4 hours.
In this video, I'll show you the seat and the facilities the coach has to offer, including the toilet and coffee machine! I'll tell you how much it costs and compare it to the train. There's also some great scenery on the way which I'll share with you.
I do hope you enjoy the video and if you do, a like, sub and comment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks as always for your support and until the next one guys,
Cheers for now!
Mark
If you'd like to buy me a coffee I have a Ko-fi page and shop here: ko-fi.com/letsmakeatrip
I post regular photos of my trips on Instagram: / markswaintransport
I also comment post too much for my own good on Twitter: / lets_makeatrip
And here's my Facebook Page Link: / letsmakeatripwithms
#letsmakeatrip

Опубликовано:

21 окт 2021

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Комментарии : 89

@richardnei 2 года назад

What an amazing coach experience! Not something you would see on my local operators anyway! Loving these trips. ✈️

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Thanks AFUK, yes I wish there were one or two operators like this in the UK. Is there a market for it though?

@seancoleman8528 Год назад

Amazed how nice it was pity we cant do it in the uk.thanks for tge video

@LetsMakeaTrip Год назад

This was a great coach. Something like this would go down well in the UK I think.

@NonstopEurotrip 2 года назад

A far cry from your Flixbus experience today then mate... However I'd have demanded a refund as the bus WiFi was clearly defective 😆😎 Great video, cracking bus...coach, whatever lol 🐧and free coffee ☕😍

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

I have subsequently heard that Regiojet (same company but the bus not the train) has a similar offering and they do a London - Brussels - Prague type thing. Might be my next ride that 🤔

@NonstopEurotrip 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip Fuck that for a laugh 😂

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Haha, point well made! It’s only 6(ish) hours to Brussels 🤣

@thanejessicahmmakola3154 Год назад

The bus has everything

@rezaalan3991 Год назад

Great trip. Irizar coach is one of my favourite coach, in the past my country have few of them, most of them built by local bus bodyworks. The coach company is Great by the way.

@LetsMakeaTrip Год назад

I too like the Irizars! This and the Mexico coach I took were both fantastic. I’ll definitely use Lux again next time I’m over that way 😊👍

@spark_6710 2 года назад

It's definitely got the luxury feel !!👍👍Especially, the foot rest & a very nice overhead storage bins ,I love !! 👍A very nice leg room & a very clean floor & new comfy padded seats !! Recliner seats ...big screens to watch TV & movies !! 🎥Like an airplane !! Are they pricy !?? I bet it's more than national express !!? A very very nice bus 🚌 !! 😀👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💞p.s.Thank you for mentioning the price at the end !! I just heard it !! Lol.👍👍Fantastic !!! Lux Express is the answer for travelling in Eastern European countries for sure !!! WOW !!! 😲 👏👏👏👍😃

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Yes definitely. I took the train back and that is slow and onerous in comparison. An interesting journey in itself but you can’t beat the bus for efficiency and comfort for this route. Cheers.

@spark_6710 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip I didn't know of this bus !! So,you just introduced that to me ! So ,thank you !! This is fabulous, a great alternative to trains ( though I love love train rides & trips ) & regular coaches !! And the prices !!! 😍👍👍👍Just so wonderful !! If I'll ever travell in eastern European countries, which I'd love to ,then I'll be definitely booking those !! I wish if you had those in U.K.as well !! Lol. Thank you so much for your reply !!💜💜💜💜🥁🐉🎵🎤🎶🚍💞

@theglobalpeasant 2 года назад

Never seen a coach with an IFE? IBE? Lol. And a coffee maker! Looks like a very comfortable product! Cheers!

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Oh yes GP, coffee machine - absolute bliss on this coach and totally free whether you’re in ‘lounge class’ or standard. I’d love to see more of this in the UK tbh and yes, super comfy in the back. If you were doing 24hours + on a coach in Europe, this is the sort of thing you want really. Definitely recommend it 👍

@simonwhitlock9189 2 года назад

Always nice to see a bit of the world that I have never been in,thanks and good luck.Cheers.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Cheers Simon, yes it was a first for me going to Latvia then Estonia. Very nice, both countries with very friendly people I thought. Would definitely recommend. I’ve got a few more videos of various things to come out from my trip so hopefully you can see a bit more of both countries over the next few weeks 👍

@joeturner1920 2 года назад

I’d of never thought of coaches in Latvia, your videos always introduce me to something new. Thank you!

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hey Joe, thanks mate and thanks for supporting the channel, I really appreciate it. I came across this as I needed to get up to Tallinn and the coach was by far the most efficient way of doing it Vs the train. I took the train back to Riga anyway just for the hell of it and that was a loooong day! Anyway, it just so happened that these Lux Express coaches had these awesome interiors AND coffee 🤣 I’m now on the lookout to find similar just to see if I can answer my own question I guess. Cheers 😊👍

@joeturner1920 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip Free Coffee is always an easy seller 😂, thanks for the videos!

@trakaipilies396 2 года назад

There's simply no alternative to taking a bus, as the train companies didn't manage yet to establish connections, even between the Baltic capitols, during the last 30 years.

@peeterl.2016 Год назад

Lux Express is actually estonian.

@dugitk2817 2 года назад

I love your style and content. I've been binge-watching your earlier videos, especially the UK train themed ones. Keep it up!

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hi Dugit K, many thanks for the kind words - lovely to hear, thank you 😊 I think the style’s developed a bit since a year-or-so ago tbh! Some of the early ones are a bit rough - they were done on an old iPhone! Hopefully they’ve improved a bit now I’ve gotten around to actually buying a proper camera🤣! All the best, Mark

@RolandKontson 2 года назад

Interesting insight. I often used the Tallinn-Pärnu line (2008-2016) - everything seems the same. The other companies are mostly just as comfortable and modern, minus the screens on the back of the seats.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Cheers Roland. It was a bit of a novelty for me having a screen on the back of the seat. Very handy though, passes the time!

@richardturnbull6333 2 года назад

That was a brilliant video Mark.... it was just as good as The holiday programme I used to watch with Judith charmers back in the 80s.... I make no joke Mark.... you would be a person that British television needs... honestly. Looks a lovely place and a Trip that I would want to do.... hey... what a coach... God...why can't they be like that in Britain.... so clean aswell... Looking forward as always to your next one Mark my friend 😀

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hey Richard. Well I never thought I’d be compared to Judith Chalmers - praise indeed! I remember that show, was that the one on itv? There was one on bbc too for ages but I’ve forgotten who was on it now. Cliff Mitchelmore? Anyway, yes it was a lovely coach. There’s no reason why coaches can’t be like that in the UK I guess but is there the appetite? There could be, I was on a Flixbus the other day and that was awful. Would people pay more money for better and more direct coaches? I think so and the National Express coach I was on between London and Bristol was really nice and getting near to this Lux express standard. Who knows? Back on the ferry next week! 😊👍

@richardturnbull6333 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip hey my friend... yeah... itv was the one with Judith charmers and 2 more celebrity's... Chris cells and ile be bugged as to who the 3rd one was.... he will be deed noo though... he was a cany age when he was on..... can't remember the BBC one. As for them Flexy buses.... I was on one when I was based in Munster (Germany) in my Army days.... them ones were great... however us in Tyne and wear had them running between Gateshead metro and the Metro centre until 3 years ago... They were withdrawn after 2 years as they were to difficult to negotiate the route. And drivers hated them with one saying they were a nightmare. Anyway enjoy your ferry... Will look forward to your next installment... stay safe my friend 😃 👍

@damianwalls1262 6 месяцев назад

Man that is some coach. Enjoying your Tallinn Helsinki Riga vidd😊

@jamescrossley8599 2 года назад

Thanks for the great video, I enjoyed watching it. This is one of my favourites, it's up there with the Malta episode for me! The journey looks pleasant, relaxing and altogether civilised, I'll have to give it a go myself if I'm ever in that part of the world. Cheers!

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Ah cheers James. The Malta one was a bit niche tbh so I’m glad some people got some enjoyment out of it 😊 IMO, the bus(well this bus) easily beats the train between these two cities. I mean, the train journey involves taking an early morning regional train to a place on the border in the middle of nowhere, hanging around there for three hours and then getting an old soviet train for another two hours to finally reach your destination!?! Who would want to do that? Well, me actually - but that’s for another video! Watch this space! 🤣😂🤣

@JoJo-yt1ys Год назад

Appreciate the great videos,👌👍

@LetsMakeaTrip Год назад

Thanks for the support 😊

@catb7059 2 года назад

Great vlog, really enjoyed travelling with you 👍👏👏👏

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hey thanks CatB, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍

@RecordMogul 2 года назад

I've used Lux Express a lot. Their bread and butter route is the 2 hour Tallinn-Tartu service, operating every 30 minutes. Their fares are never high as they are competing with the train service but often they run 5 euro promotions. The next most popular route used to be Tallinn-St Petersburg and they use it as an opportunity to tanker far cheaper fuel back to Estonia so they rotate their coaches to cross the border. The Latvian drivers fill up their own jerry cans for the ride back to Riga from Moscow. I think some of the international coaches are configured 2+1 throughout with almost lie flat seats. The Moscow-Tallinn/Riga night service is particularly useful with a connecting service on the Estonian side of the border at a free parking area. The coffee machine is brill. I drink endless cups of hot chocolate. You can make noodles and soups, too. On the longer services they carry a relief driver. And just to the left of the rear door underneath the seats above is a sleep (!) cubicle for any knackered driver. The toilet is a challenge to use for any larger person.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hi RecordMogul. Well I’ve gotta say, that is a fascinating insight into the operation of Lux Express, thank you very much! For a first time user like myself, I did wonder how they make much money but yes, the fuel opportunity makes sense and that overnight service to/from Moscow is something I’d love to try out one day. I do know that Riga - Tallinn compared to the train the coach is much much easier. However, I did do the train journey back (just for the experience) and it was at least twice as long time-wise. That journey will be up on the channel soon if you’re interested. In the mean time, thanks again for the detailed comment. All the best, Mark 👍😊

@RecordMogul 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip There are overriding political considerations behind every aspect of Baltic transport policies. Until 7 years ago, the Estonian trains were the same as the ones in Latvia. "Chunky" Soviet style but with a buffet car. The new Stadler train sets were essentially gifted to Estonia, a bureaucrat deciding that Estonia only needed a commuter type network and hence no catering facilities. In a different part of Europe DB would be running through express trains from Riga to Tallinn using the new rolling stock. But neither the Latvians nor the Estonians particularly want to make the other side look good unless the EU is paying them to do so. The existing rail option is also trashed as the Rail Baltica boosters flail away. Tartu is not on the Rail Baltica alignment. You would have stopped at my local station on the Valga line, Mägiste. Just a short station platform in the middle of nowhere.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

@@RecordMogul yeh, I was staying at the hotel in Tallinn that’s right next to the railway station and I saw nothing but orange FLIRTs the whole time I was there. One of these took me down to Valga which seemed a kind of ‘semi-interesting’ place as far as railways go but there’s not that much to do really. I’d rather not have had to spend 3 hours + there waiting for the Latvian train to show up. You’d think they could improve that connection if nothing else?

@RecordMogul 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip For a while the Latvians saved a few bob by not running the connecting train(s) past the last Latvian station. Sorry I wasn't there to show you around. Lux Express run their Riga-Tartu-St Petersburg coaches through there, stopping at the station. Valga used to be a stop on the Riga-Pskov-Leningrad services.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

@@RecordMogul that would have been good. I had a wander over the footbridge towards the sheds and sidings (which was interesting), walked past the steam train by the station and had a mooch around the ‘park’? Unfortunately the nearby museum was closed so I ended up in a cafe drinking coffee for an hour before stocking up on supplies for the train back to Riga. A long day but definitely an experience 😊

@RodneyEnt 2 года назад

"After that, everybody started using it". it's the smell. Once the smell of your coffee made it's way through the couch, the all needed one.

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hiya John, yes i must say this is the best coach I’ve been on and the coffee machine was a MAJOR contributing factor! Imagine if Lux Express were in the UK I’d gladly pay a bit extra for a coach like that. National Express are ok in my experience but the likes of Flixbus and Megabus, well, they certainly need to up their game.

@RodneyEnt 2 года назад

Oh, typo! i meant:" They all needed one".

@TravelSignal 2 года назад

Great video and what a seat - Lux Express living up to its name! Like some of the Latin American Executivo and Cama coaches! Though I was intrigued by the modern coach with what looked like an old wooden chest of drawers between the last row seats ;)

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Yes something I noticed and I was going to comment about it in the video but couldn’t quite squeeze it in. The wooden ‘box of nothing’ seemed a bit out of place amongst the rest of the fittings!?! Odd choice really.

@luisstransport 2 года назад

Great trip report

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Cheers Luis, glad you enjoyed it 👍

@themadcoachman 2 года назад

Love the old Setra coach at the end

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

It's lovely isn't it. Lux Express were certainly a company that were proud of their company, coaches and history. A great trip that was.

@B.C36 2 года назад

Thanks

@berksoysal4 2 года назад

Thanks for documentary video

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hi Berk, hope you liked it. Best coach I’ve been on for sure 👍😊

@Timstravels01 2 года назад

“Handy for longer stays in this area.” 😂 That is one well equipped coach. You’ve done a great job reviewing it. Was it a busy service?

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Cheers mate! I reckon it was about half full. I would definitely use again, the train is a loooong trip but there’s always flying Air Baltic do it for a reasonable price tbf. I just fancied something a bit different.

@derisleybrittain 2 года назад

Excellent video 💖💖💖💖👍👍👍👍🥳🥳🥳🥳😄😄😄😄👊👊👊💐💐💐💐

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Thank you mate 😊 mega-emojis this week I noticed 😊👍

@sergeyskobelev8339 2 года назад

Отличный транспортный сервис, молодцы!!!

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Thanks very much - this certainly was a very pleasurable journey on an excellent coach 😊👍

@KrK-EST 8 месяцев назад

You should have tried the connectivity again in 🇪🇪Estonia, the coverage here is one of the best in Europe.

@LetsMakeaTrip 8 месяцев назад

Cheers, next time perhaps 👍

@paulsehstedt6275 8 месяцев назад

You can't a better European coach than a Spanish build Irizar i8 on Scania chassis.

@Adam-fj9px 2 года назад

You were right Mark, that coach was nothing like I've ever been on! How did you get back to Britain?

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Yeh it’s pretty cool isn’t it. I flew back but I’ve got a few more videos to post-up before that 👍

@petercotton89 Год назад

Irizar make the best coach and bus bodies and interiors IMO. Shame they aren’t prevalent in the uk.

@LetsMakeaTrip Год назад

Yes, I’ve been on one in Latvia and Mexico recently. Lovely looking coaches 👍

@bendonoghue9840 7 месяцев назад

Hi mate, just wondering if the coach stops at all or if it’s straight through direct with no stops?

@KrK-EST 8 месяцев назад

You bought the wrong card. You bought the transport card(for use all over Estonia) not the Tallinn card that gives you free public trantsport and some free tourist visits to places and a lot of other bonuses (around 15 eur for the basic one).

@LetsMakeaTrip 8 месяцев назад

Free public transport and free tourist visits to some places sounds good. So what’s the €15 for ?

@dfblasedhu3609 2 года назад

im thinking of doing this but im quite a new traveller, what documents did he have to check and are there any specific entry requirments?

@SupernovaeTech Год назад

When the video was filmed last year there were COVID entry requirements (proof of vaccination and possibly negative test). These requirements are gone now so it's likely just a check to make sure you are legally in the Schengen area (valid passport/visa). Both Estonia and Latvia (along with most of mainland Europe) are in this area of free movement which makes travel very easy. EDIT: Just took the bus today and I can confirm they're just checking passport/id

@trakaipilies396 2 года назад

Can't await your train documentation from Rīga to Vilnius. Couldn't find any serious connection. How is your route from Tallinn to Rīga by train? Guess there's no connection either?

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hi TP. The route I took by train was Tallinn to Riga. This requires a connection in Valga on the Estonian/Latvian border which is doable but tedious as you have to hang around Valga for over 3 hours and there isn't much to do whilst you wait. It was an interesting trip though contrasting the two separate trains from both countries. The video will be out sometime in December. I don't know about Vilnius tbh (I went there last year, I don't have much of an urge to go back really!).

@RecordMogul 2 года назад

Riga bus station (next to the train station) is a hub for international bus services, whereas the train station offers basically nothing. There are other bus operators in Riga. Ignore them, if you can, even if cheaper. Lux Express operates to Vilnius and beyond. Warsaw via Kaunas. Kaliningrad, you have to slum it with another company. Lux will hold their buses for connecting passengers in Riga. Super, super organised. Their drivers are expert at document checks, having trained on the Russian services where they are turning away Russians with incomplete docs.

@vinashkari 7 месяцев назад

I'm planning to Visit central Europen countries and, mount titlies during 12-April to 26-April. Since last so many years I have been suffering with Motion Sickness, Dizziness, Nausea issue while traveling in India Buses / Car/Roads. I wanted to understand what would be a possibility of same issue if I chose to travel In Europe via Big Coatch? In my case, all Doctor's and medicine failed. If the motion sickness problem is also common in Europe Big Coatch, what type of medicine people adopt to overcome with Problem. Accordingly, I will speak with my Doctor. Thanks

@yusufraza7529 2 года назад

When is Birmingham to Liverpool bus ride coming from

@LetsMakeaTrip 2 года назад

Hi Yusuf. It will definitely be out but in a few weeks as I’m tending to vary the modes of transport from week to week now (eg bus, train, ferry, plane etc etc) so that I can keep some variety on the channel. Cheers mate 😊👍

@yusufraza7529 2 года назад

@@LetsMakeaTrip yep I know what you mean

@georgeh5075 Год назад

The only way to get to Russia now, sadly. Helsinki-St Petersburg is the best way to go, if only for a nice Finnair flight into Helsinki. Tallinn-St Petersburg is possible too. Its nice that you get the ife system even in standard class. I hope to get some time off to visit Moscow at some point, and it doesn't look like flight sanctions will be lifted anytime soon.

@LetsMakeaTrip Год назад

Yes and next time I take Lux, I’d probably just do standard class tbh as there wasn’t much difference really and you still get coffee 👍

@timectrl 10 месяцев назад

The answer to the question in the title: no

@timectrl 11 дней назад

@@rolandahi1633 I’m glad you’re fluent in Yapanese. Unfortunately, most of your points are invalid. The train is almost never standing room crowded. The only instance of it being that crowded is during some Tartu rush trains. LuxExpress, although the ticket does come with a secured seat, the customer service, speed, and comfort leaves much to be desired.

@timectrl 11 дней назад

@@rolandahi1633 that’s… not true. The only time I’ve seen anyone standing on a train is the Tallinn - Tartu departures from 4-5. On commuter lines and former edel lines, there is never any problem finding a seat, even if it gets crowded. When the route I want to take is better served by bus, I take a reasonable company like EcoLines or GoBus.

@timectrl 11 дней назад

@@rolandahi1633 My complaint with LuxExpress: 1) my bus arrived late by almost 15 minutes. 2) Buying a ticket was fine, but it’s easier on other carriers 3) my seat wasn’t clean, and the driver wasn’t nice 4) it’s not the company’s fault, but we had to wait for road construction. If there is railway construction, Elron will tell us beforehand and re arrange the schedule. Honestly Elron isn’t the best train I’ve travelled on, but it’s clean and reliable, and it is a lot of a smoother ride than LuxExpress.

@timectrl 11 дней назад

@@rolandahi1633 my complaint isn’t with it being a bus, it’s with LuxExpress itself. Buses are fine, unless it’s a very long journey, but I’ve been on LuxExpress twice: my first time and my last time.