Endorse Your Bus and Train Tickets in Europe
Each Friday, we’re featuring a reader-submitted tip as our Travel Tip of the Day. This week’s tip was left by reader Orit R. from Israel, who says:
“Being an international traveller I take for granted these kind of things, but: I just had friends come back from the Czech Republic where they had a bought bus/tram tickets. As in most European countries this kind of transport works on the “honor system,” in which you must endorse your ticket when getting on the transportation.
My friends thought since they bought the tickets they were okay to go. Well, the transport ticket police got on their bus and were checking all the tickets and when one of them got to my friends, he saw the tickets were not endorsed. My friends tried explaining that they were tourists and didn’t understand the language, but that didn’t help. They were ‘off-loaded’ at the next station and taken to the police station, where they received a hefty fine. They were on their way to a prepaid tour, and of course due to time they missed their tour.
It is well know that many locals know the tricks, or know when the transport ticket police get on, or what they wear so they avoid them. My friends were totally innocent and came back to me upset and complaining after their trip. Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, etc., all have this system…so DON’T FORGET to endorse your bus ticket using the machine when you get on.”
A longer, but really great tip. Thanks Orit!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Tried this tip? Let me know in the comments!
Have your own tip? Email it to whitney@johnnyjet.com!
Want to see more tips? Click here for all 329!
Want even more travel tips? Subscribe to the Daily Travel Tip newsletter! All you have to do is sign up for the weekly newsletter by filling in your email address and checking the Daily Travel Tip box in the top-right corner of the homepage.
If you already subscribe to the newsletter, fill in your email and check the Daily Travel Tip box in the same top-right corner of the homepage and you’ll receive an email with a link to update your JohnnyJet.com preferences. On that page, just click the Daily Travel Tip box and Update Profile and you’ll have Johnny’s best tips, straight to your inbox each day. And don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds!
We called it “composting” the ticket–in France, the kiosk to get them endorsed said “composte” or something close.
I believe the terminology should be validate the train, bus ticket.
This is excellent advice – we experienced this in Denmark. We were made to get off the train then validate then get back on the train when the next one came so it delayed us by about 20 minutes
My nieces have just called from Germany to say they’d been put off a train and each received a 60 euro fine for not having their tickets stamped – they are both gutted as they are young and this is their first time away without parents, they were so excited that they were going alone and now they are disappointed and deflated still with 3 hours travel ahead of them and quite a large proportion of their small budget gone!!!