Travel Corporation introduces Busabout, the funkiest youth travel option by far!

Busabout, and its related ventures HAGGiS Adventures and Shamrocker Adventures, offers independent travellers aged 18 and older (there is no upper age limit) a wide range of flexible, budget travel options traversing Western Europe, the Balkans, Scandinavia, the Baltic, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Apart from offering unbeatable value for money and awesome included experiences, Busabout is unique in its flexibility: with a hop-on hop-off system on its fixed coach routes, clients themselves decide the pace of their holidays and where they want to go. What's more, it's been doing this very successfully since 1998, when Busabout Hop-on Hop-off was launched.

Several awards

Busabout Adventures, with its groundbreaking short breaks, Mediterranean island-hopping and sailboat cruises, and access to various exciting European festivals, was established in 2003. Busabout is in a collective with HAGGiS Adventures and Shamrocker Adventures, which offer similar holiday options in Scotland and Ireland respectively.

In addition, Busabout has won several awards for its offering, the latest being three categories of TNT magazine's inaugural UK Golden BackPack Awards late last year. The magazine's readers chose Busabout as their favourite in the Favourite Medium Sized Tour Operator, Favourite European Tour Operator and Best Tour Itinerary categories.

Busabout becomes the fifth brand in The Travel Corporation's South African stable, joining Trafalgar, Contiki, Insight Vacations and Uniworld.

"The youth segment of the South African travel market has gone from strength to strength in the past four years. Coupled with a strong rand, and the fact that we've seen a lot of local interest in Busabout, there is no better time to introduce this dynamic and exciting travel brand to the local market," says Theresa Szejwallo, The Travel Corporation's managing director for South Africa.

"There is simply no more vibrant or fun way for adventurous young adults to explore Europe - including historical and cultural discoveries, fabulous festivals and events, parties galore and one-of-a-kind holiday experiences," adds Szejwallo.

"And they can travel solo or in groups; either way, they're among like-minded people, and they're guaranteed to have a great time!"

Try these for size

Just some of the fantastic holiday options in the extensive list of Busabout itineraries are:

• The eight-day Scandi-Baltic Adventure, which goes from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius to the Estonian capital Tallinn (or the other way!) Along the way the tour also visits Riga, the cool capital of Latvia, the historic Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, Stockholm and Helsinki. It includes two Baltic Sea cruise nights, orientation walks, all transport and ferries, Riga club entrance and a Busabout guide. Travellers also have the option to extend their trip further east into Russia
  
• The eight-day Sail Turkey, aboard a traditional Turkish gulet sailing boat, represents the best way to explore the Eastern Mediterranean. Travellers can swim in crystal clear waters every day, visit ancient ruins of sunken cities and party on island hideaways. This trip's price includes accommodation in en suite twin/double berth cabins, three meals daily, afternoon tea and coffee, snorkels, masks, flippers, fishing lines and the services of a local guide
  
• The eight-day Ibiza Island Hopper Trip, which explores the breathtakingly beautiful islands of the Balearics, where travellers can party all night at the most happening clubs of Ibiza, and kick back and relax on the beaches of Mallorca and Menorca. Jam-packed with added benefits, this trip also includes accommodation and most breakfasts, all island transfers and ferry tickets, guided orientations of local attractions on each island, organised nights out on every island and discount Ibiza club tickets
  
• The 10-day HAGGiS Adventures Compass Buster Trip of Scotland, where travellers will go beyond the mainland and discover the country's remote northern and western fringes. Many historical and cultural experiences are packed into this trip, with highlights including visits to the Isle of Skye and Skara Brae Stone Age village, captivating ferry trips and scenic hikes, and monster-spotting on the Loch Ness cruise. Travellers will also spend a night in a haunted Highland castle. Price includes your legendary local Guide, transport and all ferries, as well as a free Lonely Planet guide book
  
• The three-day Shamrocker Adventures Southern Rocker Matchmaker Festival Trip, which goes to the world's largest singles event, in the small Irish spa town of Lisdoonvarna. The annual Matchmaker Festival draws 40 000 singles, who get stuck into lots of music, dancing and speed-dating fun - and also have the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, and see the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and the mysterious lunar landscape of the Burren. The price includes a Shamrocker Irish Guide, all transport around the Emerald Isle, free entry to Blarney Castle and the Cliffs of Moher, and a Lonely Planet guidebook.

Szejwallo says The Travel Corporation will promote the great festivals included on Busabout trips - such as Oktoberfest, Pamplona, La Tomatina and Las Fallas - with Let's Go Busabout, party bus events around South Africa. Similar events are also planned for the travel trade.