Earlier this year I went on my very first coach trip! My coach trip to Denbies Wine Estate with LJ Edwards was easy, sustainable and budget-friendly. Here’s what I thought of my day trip.

Have you ever taken a coach trip or thought about coach travel? Up until recently, I knew little about coach travel (other than what I’d seen on the reality TV show, Coach Trip!), so I was really excited to take my first coach trip.

I’ve since learned that travelling by coach is one of the greenest ways to travel. It’s also convenient and budget-friendly, making it a great choice for younger travellers. Though some people think of coach travel being a popular form of transport for the elderly, it’s actually a great choice for younger people who enjoy slow travel or are more eco-conscious!

I was kindly invited on a coach trip to Denbies Wine Estate with LJ Edwards in November. Here’s how my trip went.

Travelling by Coach with LJ Edwards

My boyfriend and I arrived early in Hastings on 15th November to find the coach already ready and waiting. Though there were multiple pick-up points around the South East of England, getting on at the first stop was a great way to get some content before it got too busy and experience my first coach trip from the very beginning.

The coach was large, spacious and very clean. The seats were super comfortable and could be reclined for extra comfort, and each came with a rubbish bag hung on the side and hooks to hang our belongings. There was also a small but clean toilet on board which was a nice necessity – and tea-making facilities!

I really loved travelling by coach. Though the journey took a little longer (as we were picking up people along the way rather than going directly to Denbies Wine Estate), it was actually a really enjoyable journey. It was nice to sit back and relax for once and have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lovely views of the countryside along the way.

Because we were up so early, we even managed to have a couple of naps on the way!

Our outward journey also included a brief half-hour break at a service station where we could buy snacks, stretch our legs and use a bigger bathroom if necessary.

I also thought our coach drivers to and from Denbies were both really friendly, which was great! They were knowledgeable about the trip itself and kept us really informed of arrival and pick up times. I thought this was another great benefit that you don’t get from other types of travel. When I travel, I’m always planning myself, so it was nice to just relax and be told all of this information already planned for me!

Wine Tasting and Christmas Lunch at Denbies Wine Estate

It wasn’t too long before we arrived at Denbies Wine Estate in cold but bright weather. The estate itself was beautiful even in the winter. Our visit consisted of a wine-tasting tour followed by a Christmas lunch and time to enjoy the gift shop.

The tour itself was short but interesting – it’s always fun to see behind the scenes when it comes to creating wine. We then enjoyed tasting a few different types of wine in the Denbies Cellar – one of which I later purchased in the gift shop.

After our wine tasting, we had a festive Christmas lunch with the other people on our tour/coach trip. We had our own table with Christmas crackers and decorations, which was lovely! My boyfriend and I were the youngest ones there, but we had a great time chatting with everyone.

I particularly loved all the nannas and grandads sharing lots of life advice and listening to their fun life stories.

I think this is another great benefit of coach travel – meeting other people! Some people on our trip were travelling solo and soon ended up chatting away happily with everyone else.

After a tasty (and slightly tipsy) Christmas lunch, I headed to the gift shop. We had about an hour of free time now. I enjoyed buying some Christmas presents from the very festive gift shop. It stocked not just wine but lots of Christmas decorations, accessories and generally really lovely gifts. We then spent some time just exploring the grounds as we slowly made our way back to the coach.

It was such a fun afternoon. I loved that by travelling via coach, we could indulge in the wine tasting as much as we wanted to.

Read more: How to Visit York on a Budget

The Benefits of Coach Travel

Overall, I absolutely loved my first coach trip. In fact, I can’t believe I’d never been on one before. There are so many benefits of coach travel, past the obvious (sustainability, slow travel etc). I think it’s a great option for saving money too and it’s ideal for solo travellers. I met so many great people on my trip.

It’s also so convenient. As someone who travels often – and spends a lot of time planning (which I do admittedly enjoy doing), it was a nice change to not have to do that. It was really great just being told where we were getting picked up and what we were doing. Being able to relax and read, nap or just enjoy the scenery on the drive was great too.

LJ Edwards kindly invited me on this trip as they’d like to appeal to a younger audience. I was more than happy to take this opportunity as I truly believe coach travel shouldn’t just be for the older generation. I think it can be an ideal choice for younger travellers too, particularly those with a passion for sustainable, slow or more affordable travel.

Would you ever take a coach trip, or have you in the past? Let me know!

Disclosure: I was kindly invited on this press trip by LJ Edwards. All my opinions are entirely honest and based on my own experiences.

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