Omio is a one-stop shop for booking different modes of transportation in Europe so you can travel from one city to another.
Formerly known as GoEuro, Omio partners with different train companies, bus companies, and airlines so you can find the most convenient way of transportation to get from one city to another within Europe.
While I was solo traveling Europe, I used Omio a lot to book transportation between cities and countries. So I'll be sharing with you how it works, plus its pros and cons.
How Omio Works
Omio is quite straightforward and simple to use. All you have to do is enter your city of origin, your destination, your travel date, and if it's roundtrip or one-way. Of course, if it's roundtrip, you have to enter the date of your return.
The website will then display all trains, buses, and flights available based on your preferences. By toggling between different modes of transportation, you can compare the costs and travel time.
Once you've selected a trip, you will then be asked to enter your information. You can also just create an account so you don't have to keep entering your details every time you make a booking.
After making sure that all your details are correct, the next thing to do is pay. Once the booking is paid, you will immediately get a confirmation in your email. You will also receive a mobile ticket with a QR code so you don't have to print it out.
On the day of your trip, you just need to present a screenshot of your mobile ticket. For trains and buses, don't delete your ticket even after you've boarded because someone will be checking for it and scanning the QR code every now and then during the trip.
Payment Methods Accepted
Omio accepts different modes of payment. You can pay with your credit card, as it accepts major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, JCB, UnionPay, Discover, and Diner's Club. It also accepts online payment platforms like PayPal and Google Pay.
Pros of Using Omio
One of the best things about Omio is that it's incredibly easy to use. It also has a mobile app so you can make your bookings using your smartphone. Every transaction is seamless.
Many countries in Europe have more than one train or bus company, so if you’re going somewhere regional, you may need to book several train or bus companies especially if your trip involves transfers. Omio solves this problem by aggregating results from the different bus and train companies into one search. This way, you can plan your trips accordingly.
With Omio, you get to have all your bookings in just one app or platform so it's easy to make changes to your trips. This also helps keep you organized.
Cons of Using Omio
A major drawback when using Omio is that not all European countries are included and the options are limited, especially if you want to go to the less touristy places. For example, if you search routes in Georgia and other Balkan countries, you'll find that there aren't a lot of results for transportation and the information is very limited.
Another disadvantage when using Omio is that it can be hard to look for cheap flights. While you can search for flights through the website, the results are still quite limited compared to other flight booking platforms.
There's no doubt that Omio is the best platform for booking buses and trains in Europe, but I prefer using other websites when it comes to flights. Nevertheless, the flight search feature is still useful if I want to compare airfares with bus and train fares.
Even with its drawbacks, Omio is still my go-to app for booking transportation in Europe. I love how convenient it is. I also how it helps make planning and organizing my trips a lot easier.
I highly recommend Omio especially if you're planning a trip to Europe, especially if it will involve a lot of land travel. It's super easy and convenient to use - definitely a must-have app for travelers.
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