Alsa Reviews

I wont ever be travelling with Alsa again.
5 hours late, ok, it happens, not nice leaving at 3am, but I can accept that there are circumstances out of their control.
Mid- trip, the co-driver had an argument with an eastern european who didn't speak Spanish about having his shoes off, telling him that it was against the rules. Sitting in front of him and because I speak a little spanish, I offered a translation.
When I questioned whether this really was a rule, he told me that if I didn't agree I would be thrown off.(I had my shoes off as well by this time) I checked the rules of travel and there isn't a rule for this. When I told him, he again threatened to throw me off telling me to call customer service.
(Ironically he had a whole buffet set up on the dashboard when the rules suggest not consuming any food on board.)
His aggression shocked me. He later told me if he saw me again he wouldn't let me on the bus.
I was only trying to help him and the passenger and ended up being threatened and 'banned' from Alsa buses. Even after I left the bus, he approached me to continue his abuse.
He was totally out of line, I dont expect the driver to be bullying the passengers with rules he makes up. I'd be actually afraid to book with Alsa again after this experience. It left a very bad taste.

Date of experience: February 29, 2024

My wife's grandmother passed away, and she started preparing for a trip to attend her funeral. We had little time before the bus departure, and we lived 100 km away from the bus station, but we decided to try and make it on time. Unfortunately, we managed to arrive just as the bus driver closed the doors in front of us and started driving away, ignoring my wife's desperate pleas. She then ran after the bus until we reached a busy road with many cars, but the drivers didn't care. I understand that there are rules that people should follow, but this kind of behavior is cruel and shows a lack of humanity, even towards women. It reflects the upbringing of these individuals and the society that prioritizes consumption over kindness. I hope that their children or spouses do not encounter the same indifference and instead come across good people who can spare a minute of their lives to open a door and help a crying woman on the road. In my heart, as a man, I only feel aggression and disgust towards this nation.

Date of experience: April 29, 2024

The worst company I have ever travelled with. Obnoxious drivers who don't speak a word of English, confusing website with untrue information, app partly in Spanish even if downloaded on an English phone account, not possible to buy ticket from the driver, but if so they want me to withdraw and handle dirty cash. Absolute nightmare and ruined my holiday as instead in Benidorm I ended up in Valencia. I wish I never have to deal with you again and will avoid you as much as possible! And everyone else also should!

Date of experience: April 10, 2024

Booked tickets in advance and paid extra for seats with more room. When the bus arrived it was a different layout and the seat numbers I had reserved were not the ones with extra room. The driver was arrogant and unhelpful. Zero leg room in the seats leaves you feeling like cattle. The toilet on the bus requires coins to use, so unless you are carrying coins you can’t use it. I’d rather walk next time.

Date of experience: March 27, 2024

I bought a ticket from Valencia to Alicante AIRPORT. When I got on the bus in Valencia, I asked the driver to look at my tickets and tell me if I needed to change the bus in Benidorm or not, to get to Alicante airport. He said no, this bus is going to Alicante. Then in Benidorm, I asked him again, and he said no, this bus is going to Alicante, not to worry. He never bothered to look at my ticket, but because people were getting on the bus, and he opened only the front door, it was impossible for me to get off, to check any of the signs at the station.
It was my first time on this route, so some information about the bus number would have been nice. So, I stayed on the bus, and was shocked to find that the bus did not go to Alicante airport and I had to take care of my own transport to the airport from the bus station. The driver was rude and did not really care that he kept me on the bus!
I had to spend extra money and wasted 1 full hour to get to the airport, which might have been a problem if I had missed my plane! I really think this information is not enough and drivers should give proper information when you board the bus. AND check the tickets and tell people what to do, to not waste money and time.
I am really disappointed with this service and I asked for a refund, but besides asking me to send in the extra ticket, I have not received any reply from the company. What a BAD service, it seems they don't care about their reputation.

Date of experience: March 31, 2024

Benidorm to Calpe. (Family of 5). Online ticket system said return trip €15 + €15 adds up to €40 !!!! plus it wants passport details !!! Decided to risk buying tickets on bus. Driver said get tickets at ticket office. Ticket office said they only sell tickets to airport. After much ‘cursing’ and arm waving by the driver he actually sold us the tickets €15. Alsa need to go to Berlin and see how public transport should be run. Shocking.

Date of experience: May 24, 2023

The bus arrived but was full, lots of customers including ourselves was very unhappy. We had no option but to pay for a taxi. On the return Journey we eventually found Nerja bus station, the ticket office was closed the man who should have been working was smoking a cigarette, he only opened the ticket office when the bus arrived!!!! 30 people ran to the ticket office to buy a ticket as the bus driver said he would not take us on the bus pass unless we had a ticket as he never took cash. The driver then proceeded to drive away leaving over 30 people at the ticket office so we had no option other than to get a taxi back to Torrox Costa. Terrible bus system that needs vast improvement!!!

Date of experience: September 26, 2023

Appears that pickup at FAO for two people didn't happen, though we were waiting there at the proper location with other distance bus travellers. We were at the stop 45 minutes early and waited an extra hour. Had to take Uber to the Faro main (and only) bus terminal to buy more tickets for a later departure. Signage is non existent and the terminal has no status board. All alsa buyers beware. I'm still out $50 and 4 hours. They wouldn't give credit for the earlier bus not arriving.

Date of experience: October 18, 2022

rude drivers. Ever time I am waiting half an hour for late bus. I witnessed the driver not stopping to collect passengers on an almost empty bus. RUDE! Information about routes and timetables is extremely lacking which may be typically Spanish, but is not acceptable in any company looking to make profits in this century. And customer service is non-existent. Alsa - you need to drastically up your game!

Date of experience: December 30, 2022

I purchased a ticket from Clermont Ferrand (France) to Geneva (Switzerland) with scheduled departure time 11.45am. I got to the station at 11.40am and waited until 12.30 to no avail.
None of the phone numbers or contacts worked. the bus tracking system did not work. no representative at the station.
I had to buy another ticket with another company and leave as I did not want to get stranded.

Date of experience: August 12, 2023

I was very afraid about taking the ALSA bus after reading the reviews on this site. But surprisingly, our experience travelling from Santiago de Compostela to Porto was good. We could not find the charging point, but I believe that ALSA fulfilled its main obligation of getting us from one place to another safely and without delay. The bus conductor was pleasant as well.

Date of experience: May 03, 2023

I travelled on an ALSA bus twice (Santander - Bilbao, return journey) and could not have had a better experience. The buses were on time and the driver was polite (a top tip if you don't know what the expectations are regarding boarding and ticket checking is to just not be the first to board, so you can watch other passengers - for this journey, the QR code from the ticket PDF was scanned).

For a low-cost journey that, for my route, was the fastest way to get around the region, I'd happily travel with ALSA again.

Date of experience: January 17, 2023

Awful trip and company. The website didn’t work well, and we couldn’t take the bus we booked because they wrote down the wrong names. No Wi-Fi, no toilet on the bus, no phone charger, and the driver put music and movies with really loud volume during a night trip, obviously nobody asked him for it. Workers are really rude, both in the bus station and in the desk. Avoid this company

Date of experience: December 10, 2023

Really need to focus on their customer service, from drivers to office staff at the depot, so rude, unfriendly & no help whatsoever! ALSA needs to take a hard look at themselves & get with the program, after all it's the customer that's keeping them in business!

Date of experience: July 28, 2023

I had a super-flexi ticket from Malaga airport to Granada but could not change it. Had to go to the bus station in the city center, where they told me that the next two buses were fully booked. Then opted to take the train, but my girlfriend could not cancel her super-flexi ticket just bought online, became it was less than 2 hours in advance!

Date of experience: September 18, 2022

As a UK tourist I downloaded the Asla Bus App. I purchased el3 tickets to use from Calpe to Benidorm. With no instructions on how to use tickets I boarded the bus thinking like tge UK I just tapped my phone to use tickets bit no. The driver wasn't at all helpful just kept telling g me I had to pay despite me telling g ho. I HD already purchased 3 tickets via the App. On arriving i Benidorm I went into an Alsa Ticket Office only to be told I have to go to the bus station which wasn't close by. Calpe have no ticket office to complain to. I wouldn't advise anyone to download the Apl and purchase tickets. I now have 3 useless tickets.

Date of experience: March 22, 2023

Our new matching suitcases were not in the cargo hold when we got off the bus in Málaga, Spain where we had placed them before leaving Granada. It was a direct bus with no other stops. We told the attendants and went to the police station and filed a report. It is assumed they were stolen upon arrival. Besides all of our clothes, our medicine was stolen, a C-PAP machine and our gifts to family members were also in the suitcases. We are struggling to get medicines replaced and the machine. I will update this when this is resolved.

Date of experience: March 21, 2023

We took the nightbus from Barcelona to Bilbao in 2022. We bought tickets with sportsequipment, because we had Mountainbikes with us. We had to absolutely disassemble our bikes before we were allowed to put them in the bus. The bus was a normal bus. No sleepingchairs, no curtains. The driver was listening all night long to loud music. So did we 🙄. At least drivers changed when they were half night through. And no tags on the suitcases: so everybody could just get off the bus during the ride and take along your luggage. So if you guys are used to asian or southamerican bus travelling: forget it !

Date of experience: September 10, 2022

I had a really positive experience with my most recent trip from Seville to Lisbon. The bus left on time, the bus driver was really helpful and the seats were reasonably comfortable.

The tickets we purchased were 20 euro for 2 so we got an extremely good deal.

Date of experience: April 23, 2023

Lousy and horrible , we booked a bus from Seville to Granada on 25th Dec 1900, an email reminder was sent on 24th Dec on the schedule.
We waited since 1830 at the designated few platforms and there was no show of Alsa bus until 2000. Get help from hotel staff to call Alsa customer service ( coz no English speaking personnel available in Alsa), 1st call Alsa informed that bus has been cancelled. 2nd call, changed story saying the bus was rescheduled to earlier time . All without any notification to customer. 3rd call on 26th Dec morning, bus departed on time ( there was no alsa bus departed during our whole 1.5 hours there)
Different stories, no professionalism , not helpful to resolve customer problem , wasted few hundreds Euro on Granada accommodation, Seville extra accommodation, even can’t make it to Nasrid palace ( booking time on 26th 1000 and no new tickets till 2023)
Please do not use Alsa, pay more for a train to safeguard your money and journey

Date of experience: December 24, 2022