I like to think of BlablaCar as a roadtrip-sharing service. It’s basically the Airbnb for transportation, but it’s a lot more than that too. I first found out about it when I was working as an English teacher in France, making 780 euro a month. Train tickets could be expensive, especially if I didn’t plan ahead, so BlaBla’s average 30 euro rates seemed like a great alternative. I have used the service about four times now; between France and Spain, and France and Amsterdam. If you want to know more about how it works, and my impressions, keep reading!
BlablaCar is a carpooling service, headquartered in France, that exists in 21 countries so far. These are mostly in Europe, but recently, Mexico and India have joined the pack. The most obvious benefit of using the service is cost. Where 130 euro train tickets are not an option, you could hop a bus for as low as 15 euro between Paris and London for example. But the bus is slow, it makes frequent stops, and it’s definitely not the best for comfort or personal space. BlaBlaCar offers a happy medium of faster service and a bunch of other benefits.
More Flexibility
On my most recent ride, one of the riders needed to get to Rotterdam, which was about 45 minutes from the actual advertised destination. Our driver was happy to drop him off at a convenient location, and even waited until he was picked up by a friend. Of course, this depends on how nice your driver is, but this kind of customization would never be possible with a train or bus.
If you’re traveling with a pet, train travel becomes even more complicated. BlaBlaCar comes to the rescue, allowing you to filter for drivers who are willing to have furry passengers.
Friendly Faces
Sometimes you will find that unicorn driver that goes above and beyond for you, and will drop you off right at your hotel for example. We had one such driver in Amsterdam, and she served as a sort of tour guide during our short stay. She was happy to share tips on the city, and show us all the good local spots. Generally, people who use the service are quite social and interested in other people, so you’re likely to meet some great people along your trip. It’s also worth mentioning that this could be a great way to practice your language skills. You’ll often end up in a car with people speaking 3 or 4 languages, and it’s a great way to pass the time, and learn something too.
A Note on Safety
Is it safe? Just like Airbnb, drivers need to pass verification steps like submitting ID and phone numbers to prove their identity. The site also provides the driver’s number of Facebook connections, if that is at all comforting. Other riders will also leave reviews which can help in choosing a reliable driver. For those who are still concerned, there is even a “Ladies Only” filter, where you don’t have to worry about those pesky boys!
If the car breaks down, you’re even covered my insurance. The website claims that they will try to repair the car, and if that’s not possible, will transport you to your destination free of charge. This all sounds great, and luckily, it’s never happened to me.
Are there any drawbacks?
Sometimes a rider or a driver can be late, which could affect your arrival time. Once I had a driver that “just needed to run a few errands” before leaving, which delayed us by an hour. If you have a flight to catch, or other inflexible appointments, it might be better to avoid the risk of being late.
Also, because of the social nature of the service (it’s right there in the name!), you might feel pressured to talk, especially if you’re the only other passenger. This could be great for some people, but stressful for others, especially if you don’t speak the same language. If you’re just looking to pass out and listen to music, the train might be a better option for you. However–I mentioned preferences earlier–you can actually check a driver’s level of “blabla” they are happy with. Most drivers say they are “chatty when they feel like it” and some are “all about the playlist”.
The bottom line
All in all, I love BlaBlaCar. Can you tell? Apart from depending on another driver to arrive to your destination on time, and the possibility of strange co-riders, I’d recommend them 100%. You get more personal service at a cheaper price than train travel, and possibly friends.
Have you tried BlaBlaCar or something similar? Let me know what you thought of it.
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My Quirky Travel 