Before I left for abroad, multiple people told me to visit the Amalfi Coast because it’s one of the most beautiful places in Europe. During my first week here in Galway, I mentioned to my roommate that I really wanted to go to the Amalfi Coast. She said the same and told me some people she knew had gone through a company called Bus2alps. We looked into dates and flights, then booked our trip through Bus2alps. We were given an itinerary so we knew what we would be doing, but we had no idea what we were truly in for.
We landed in Rome on Thursday night, and were bussed to our hotel in Sorrento. Early Friday morning, we left the hotel and took the ferry to the Isle of Capri, where we took a boat tour around the entire island. It’s the most amazingly beautiful place I’ve ever seen. We went into the Blue Grotto, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and swam in the Green Grotto. In the afternoon we took a ski lift to the highest point of the island and had the most stunning view of the island and the gorgeous blue water surrounding it.
The view from the highest point of Capri
On Saturday we journeyed to Positano, where we cliff dove, swam in a cave, and spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. On Sunday, our last day, we went to Pompeii and took a tour of the city, which was a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The tour guides are really enthusiastic about the history of the city and all the new discoveries being made.
I was so impressed with Bus2alps and the amazing trip they put together for us. Talking to Dan, the head trip leader, I could tell that the first priority of the company is to ensure that the students have an amazing experience. “Bus2alps’ main goal is to produce the greatest possible travel experience for Study Abroad Students at a price they can afford.” I thought that the pricing was completely reasonable, and was not at all mad about the amount of money I spent at the end of the weekend. I had just taken a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life, which is what Bus2alps hopes to provide. As Dan told me, “First and foremost, I hope students walk away from each trip feeling like they just had the most amazing weekend possible and take away memories that will last forever. Also, that we provided a service that students feel was 100% worth it, they tell their friends and come back for more trips.”
Part of the reason I had such an amazing time is because I could tell that the guides really enjoyed what they were doing. They took the time to make sure we were taking advantage of all the opportunities offered to us and enjoying ourselves along the way. I asked Dan how his experience with Bus2alps has been, and it was no surprise to find out that he loves what he does. “One word: AMAZING! I love my job. I learn something new, meet new people, and experience something new daily. We are a rapidly growing company and I am very enthusiastic for the adventures ahead. I also get to go to amazing places like Interlaken, Prague, Barcelona, Dublin and Paris to name a few, so that’s not too bad either.”
I highly recommend using Bus2alps for anyone currently abroad, or planning on going abroad in the future. Check out their website to see a complete list of the trips they offer. I had a truly amazing experience with this company, and plan on doing their trip to Interlaken, Switzerland, where I will be able to ski, skydive, canyon jump, night sled, and much more! The time I’m spending abroad is one of the most incredible, eye-opening experiences I will have, and I want to make sure that it is filled with as much fun and exploration as possible, and Bus2alps has helped me accomplish this.
Sources:
Dan Haseltine, Barcelona Trip Leader, Bus2alps Ltd.