Daytrip was a lifesaver while I was traveling in Europe, for many reasons. This global travel platform provides door-to-door car transfers with English speaking drivers and optional sightseeing stops in over 130 countries worldwide. As a travel advisor with Fora, I had booked this private transportation service before for clients, but this was my first time using Daytrip for myself. As a solo female traveler exploring the Balkans, it was the best way for me to move around easily, stay safe and not waste time on my journey.
I booked four Daytrip rides from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia; from Sarajevo to Mostar, Bosnia; from Mostar, Bosnia to Perast, Montenegro; and from Perast to Podgorica, Montenegro. Trip driving times were an hour, sometimes two, and once a five-hour day with two stops.
I was super impressed by each driver’s professionalism. They picked me up on time, had water in the car for me, made me feel safe with their driving abilities, and spoke English so they could offer personal recommendations and insider knowledge of each country. Also, I really appreciated that they carried my luggage and I could reach them via text or Whatsapp if needed, as in one case the driver was able to pick me up earlier than I had booked. The cars were clean, new, well maintained and comfortable.
Adding unique sightseeing stops along the way is another amazing perk with Daytrip. When I was in Bosnia, I broke up the long drive to Montenegro by booking stops to explore more of the region that I was traveling through. A bus would have taken so much longer and way more of a hassle, if there even was one that could get me from Bosnia to Montenegro. Highly doubtful.
With Daytrip, travelers are in charge of their schedule and route as they can customize:
- pick-up and drop-off locations
- time of the pick-up
- the number of stops during the transfer
- the length of each stop
- type of car
- type of transfer: private or shared
Top Reasons I loved Using Daytrip to get around Europe
Safety Traveling Solo
As a solo female traveler, I was a bit apprehensive traveling through unknown countries as I didn’t know what to expect, so paying for private transportation felt like the best idea when I couldn’t fly from one location to the next or take public transportation, which wouldn’t have worked with the number of items I was carrying on my own. It was nice to be picked up right at my hotel and dropped off at my hotel, too. For instance, I ended up in Bosnia at night and you never know what to expect when traveling somewhere new so it was nice to be transported straight to the hotel.
Professional drivers
Every driver was professional but what mattered to me most is that they made me feel safe driving. They were not racing in and out of lanes or trying to scare me with speed. I encountered some treacherous roads and often tight squeezes in cities but I still felt well taken care of, which is a huge thing for me as I am often paranoid of someone else taking over the driving. In Montenegro, one of my drivers had to wind back and forth on switchbacks up a 1000-meter mountain to get me to my final destination. He was so nice that he stopped at some special spots along the way so I could take photos and even waited for me as I spent time at an overlook restaurant. I felt dizzy and somewhat sick from the altitude but he was patient with me on this careening Serpentine Road.
They carried my bags
I am not sure what I would have done in several scenarios as my medium sized suitcase was ridiculously heavy, so much so that I couldn’t lug it up steps. One driver picked me up in Mostar and came up the stairwell of my hotel to help carry my bags to the car and another driver who dropped me off in Perast was so kind to lug my suitcase up many ancient stairways and passageways through a historic town and up several flights of stairs to my Airbnb. He was a lifesaver! Then, the driver who picked me up also helped carry my luggage back down to the center of town, to the car.
Some routes had no other options
Since I wanted to save time and had to be at some destinations at an exact time for a plane or group meet-up, taking a bus wasn’t going to work and in some cases the train was no longer running due to recent rockslides taking out the tracks in Bosnia, so I could have rented a car (which didn’t seem practical) and drove unknown roads alone OR enjoyed the scenery and drive with Daytrip! I wish this service existed many years ago when I was in Europe. Also, I had no problems crossing borders in the car from Slovenia to Croatia or Bosnia to Montenegro. They stamped my passport in Montenegro, which I heard was crucial if I planned to fly out of the country.
Enhanced my trip with hidden gem stops
Enhanced my trip with hidden gem stopsDaytrip is the best way to see the landscape or take interesting sightseeing stops. While Daytrip provides transportation, they do not coordinate the activities at the various stops. But on their site, many ideas and options for interesting excursions populate depending on your travel route. For example, for $25 extra, I could add to my trip by booking an hour stop in a unique town. I made two stops in Bosnia and Herzegovina on my way to Montenegro.
I spent an hour in Trebinje’s walled old city and another hour exploring Blagaj Tekke, a monastery built in 1520 by the Dervish, a mystic branch of Sufi Island known for rituals that involve various forms of whirling. The dervish temple sits snug into a cliffside with a waterfall and mouth of the Buna River. Still used today 3 nights weekly for praise chanting, you can visit inside with a head scarf (for ladies) and appreciate the serene awe-inspiring setting.
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While I have not used them, my friends have used them on several occasions and highly recommend them.
Just be aware that the price can be high, as is usually the case for private transfers, but still often the best option for customized transport. It is a great option for those who prefer not to deal with renting a car and all that is involved with that.
We used them in Spain to get from Seville to Tarifa to get the ferry to Morocco. We incorporated 3 stops into the day. It was seamless and the driver was very friendly and professional. Would definitely use the service again.