I have decided to travel with Eurolines from London to Perpignan in south of France with my two children and one of our friends so I rang up to book it all and get a best connection. I was told we have a couple of hours break in Paris and we might need to change a coach or might not and a 10 minutes break in Lion but we wont change coaches then as it is only 10 minutes. The advisor also told me that ne will note it sown that I am taking a chid seat for my one year old daughter but when we got to London I was then made aware by the Eurolines that we are changing coaches in Paris and Lion which made it very difficult with my two daughters and all the luggage swapping coaches - plus car seat and the pushchair!
As we got on the coach London to Paris we sat in front seats. I fitted the car seat for Amber and Stefana my other daughter sat with our friend just opposite us. As all the bags we needed to take on the coach were placed in front of us and kids were all set I have then tried to put my seatbelt on but it was stuck and wouldn't move. Three people had a go trying to free it but it wasn't working for them either! As we called the French coach driver and told him my seatbelt is not working he started shouting at as that we can't seat in the front seats with children under 16 years old. No mention or concern of the seatbelt not working he has told us to move and seat somewhere else now the coach was full and everyone has got their seats. I was not made aware at any point while booking my trip with Eurolines, or entering the coach that we wouldn't be allowed to seat in front seats. Bearing in mind while travelling from Coventry to London the same day I have sat with my one year old daughter in the front seat with no problems! I could understand if my daughter didn't have a car seat and my other daughter wasn't safely strapped but that wasn't the case. So, anyway we had to find seats, move the car seat and all our stuff while the driver pulled of the coach and I was carrying my one year old daughter to find the seats so non of my kids were strapped or seated down in the seats as we didn't have any yet while people decided to move. A young lady who swapped with me sat in the front seat without the seat belt right in front of the glass window as we were sitting upstairs from London all the way to Paris.
On our second coach from Paris to Lyon another French driver wouldn't allow my bag on the coach because it had wheels although other people were taking bigger bags then mine but mine had wheels although I was telling him that that's were the nappies and spear clothes are for my daughter he was having non of it! I did explain that she doesn't need leg room still no understanding. I always take this bag while travelling via plain or coach and never had problems before as it is easier to pull with wheels while I need to carry my daughter too! While travelling about 3am baby Amber got sick everywhere and loads, covered everything! Smell was unbearable and no spare clothes to change her into. I then asked my friend to ask the driver to stop the coach so I can get the bag and change her. The driver who didn't allow the bag on the coach was asleeo but by the time the other driver few minutes later stopped the coach and my friend got me the bag on the coach to change Amber he had woke up and came over and had a right go at us for bringing that bag in the coach. I was showing him little Amber covered in sick and other two men were speaking to him in French saying not to be like that as it is a baby he couldn't stop shouting! I couldn't leave my sick daughter to go and open the bag outside the coach in the middle of the night and get the stuff she needed and my friend didn't know what stuff I have packed or what I need for Amber so he had to bring the bag on the coach! After Amber was changed and the drive insured the bag was off the coach we drove off again!
On our way back from France the coach Lyon - Paris was delayed and my seven year old daughter needed the toilet. I was made aware once we found the toilet it was after 10pm and it was shut. I have then begged every single Eurolines driver to let Stefana on one of their coaches to go to the toilet as she was desperate, the toilets are shut, we just arrived by Eurolines from Perpignan and our coach to Paris is late and we don't know when it is going to arrive! Drivers were laughing at us saying that is not possible ask someone else but they could all hear what I was asking every single drive as they were all standing outside their coaches! I have asked the driver who drove back from Perpignan as well but he said "Yes but I have just finishes my shift....hahahaha....ask someone else!" I felt like crying so helpless while walking off with my seven year old daughter while she was telling me "mummy, mummy what are we gonna do, I am going to wee myself and they are all so mean!!" No space to write anymore! Horrible read more
