Ah yes - transportation.
If you do not have a car - then how does one go about transporting themselves and their belongings across Finland or beyond?
Personally, I travel every weekend to and from Turku to Jyväskylä via Onnibus.
It is worth noting they - like most companies - have an app for that and it makes it much easier to show your E-ticket instead of printing out your e-mail confirmation or digging through your e-mail for it.
It is significantly cheaper than travelling via VR Train (and yes they have an app "VR Matkalla") and Onnibus has double-decker style buses as well!
However if you plan to travel with your pet - then they now have the Onnibus Flex option which is only a single level bus and pet-friendly.
Larger pets need to pay an extra 5€ you need to sit with your pet near the back of the bus so people with allergies can sit up front. Pets cannot sit on the actual seat but must be on the floor or in your lap.
Guide dogs for the visually impaired or blind always travel for free but your ticket must be booked 36 hours in advance so they can accommodate a space for your dog.
Seniors (65+ years of age) qualify for a discount - which is a fairly new thing to the Onnibus site.
So with the Onnibus Flex - you are able to take 2 pieces of luggage with you - to store in the compartment below, along with your carry-on, they accept bicycles as well!, pets, have free WiFi and have a cash-payment option available too. You cannot reserve specific seats with Onnibus Flex.
With the double-decker style buses - you only get 1 piece of luggage to store away, no bicycles or pets allowed, free WiFi is included, there is limited mobility access, you can reserve specific seats and power sockets beneath your seats.
When booking tickets via Onnibus - book in advance for a cheaper price and you can reserve the seat where you wish to sit.
Booking a seat with more leg space costs 2€ more but can be well worth it if you have long legs or want more space in general!
Yes, there is a toilet on board but it is quite small and cramped - but hey! At least there is one!
Drivers are quite polite and friendly - just be sure to be at your stop on time with your ticket ready to show them.
A lot of people sell their unused E-tickets on Facebook in second-hand items / used items groups on Facebook - so you can always post in your local FB group to inquire if anyone has a ticket to get rid of!
YOU CANNOT GET A REFUND OR CANCEL YOUR ONNIBUS TICKETS - so be sure to TRIPLE check your booking before confirming your payment!
There is no alcohol allowed to be consumed on an Onnibus (but people often do it anyway sneakily) and no smoking either - so no E-cigarettes, weed or regular cigarettes are allowed to be used during your travel on the bus.
Another way to get cheaper tickets - is to book your ticket via Matkahuolto (yep they have an app too!).
The only catch is that you cannot reserve a specific seat when buying your ticket through Matkahuolto!
When using a Matkahuolto ticket - be prepared to provide identification as your name is on the ticket and the driver may want confirmation of who you are.
In terms of savings - my weekly weekend trips on Onni bus cost minimum 12€ per direction and can even skyrocket to 24€ per direction if I buy very last minute!
Whereas I can easily book my trip via Matkahuolto for a maximum of 16-20€ round trip - assuming I do not wait until the very last possible moment to purchase my tickets.
So what I do - is I book my seats through Matkahuolto and I use both apps - and check what seats are available to sit in via Onnibus' app.
To do this - you simply pretend as if you are buying a ticket but do not go through with the purchase - and you "change the seat" and see what is available before boarding.
This helps you to avoid playing musical chairs or "Onnibus Seat Bingo" as I call it! Because of course if you are in someone else's seat you need to move and find elsewhere to sit.
This does not apply to Onnibus Flex because you cannot reserve specific seats.
It USED to be that children travelled for free (of a very young age) but that is no longer the case. So be sure to book your child(ren) a seat accordingly when planning your trips!
Also worth noting - since you cannot book specific seats via Matkahuolto or on Onnibus Flex - it is wiser to book tickets for family members travelling with you via Onnibus' website so you can be sure you are sitting together throughout the whole duration of your travels.
Here are FAQs on Onnibus' website!
Of course there are a few airports in Finland - if that fits your budget!
You can find the full list of airports available in Finland here.
For local travellers - every city also has taxis you can call and order one - they tend to be more expensive late at night and on weekends of course. Many people bike - yes even in the winter - or walk!
Uber seems to only operate in Helsinki currently.
Every city has buses for local transportation and the companies typically accept cash, e-tickets via their app or an electronic bus card.
And on special occasions - bus rides may be free for example if you wear an elf hat closer to Christmas! Just keep an eye out for their offers on their official websites or Facebook pages!
And of course there is ride sharing via various Facebook groups, friends and family here! Or if you have a valid drivers license - you can rent a car!
It is worth following or liking your preferred transportation method's Facebook page or website or even Twitter handle because if there should be a delay or cancellation - they typically list it on social media!
Thanks for reading!
LAFA
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