Buying transportation tickets can be really difficult and stressful. Omio is a service that helps address this problem by offering travelers a place to purchase bus, train, and flight tickets, all in one place. But is Omio actually worth it?
Figuring out how to get from place to place when you travel is a big hassle. Especially when you’re in a foreign country with a language barrier, booking a ticket online or in-person becomes complicated and stressful.
That’s why dedicated booking services have been coming out with a way to book these travel tickets online well in advance to reduce the hassle of booking in person. These services help you book the tickets you’ll need, sometimes even at a discounted price!
What is Omio?
Omio, previously known as GoEuro, is a Germany-based online travel booking site. Omio specializes in booking modes of transportation during your travels and taking care of your train, flights, and bus tickets. It aggregates travel info from multiple websites and companies, so you only need to log onto one website or app to view all route options.
Omio works out the travel time and cost by comparing and combining air, bus, ferry, and rail journeys. Omio doesn’t operate its own flights, trains, or buses and currently has coverage only in Europe, the US, and Canada.
How Does Omio Work?
Omio uses advanced mapping technology to locate the closest airport, train, or bus station to your chosen location. For example, suppose you want to travel to a destination from a foreign place that you’re not familiar with. In that case, all you’ll need to do is to input where you’re currently located on Omio. Omio will then provide you with all the nearby transport hubs to get me to my chosen destination and how far they are from me.
Omio can also combine different forms of transport for your selected route, so you can weigh all options in terms of traveling time and cost. It tells you what routes are the cheapest and fastest and how many changes are required—all the info you need to make an informed decision.
Is Omio Free?
Omio is entirely free to use, but you pay a small service fee when you make a booking. This is similar to many online booking services that only charge you a small transaction fee when you make a purchase.
Benefits of using Omio
- Seamless booking experience
For an app that helps you book transportation tickets, Omio is super convenient and seamless! Everything is in English in one place (or in one of the 20 other available languages if English isn’t your preferred option). If you are traveling through Europe, figuring out each country’s train ticket booking system can quickly become a nightmare.
Especially booking transport that crosses borders can sometimes be both difficult and intimidating. Add to that potential language issues, and you quickly feel overwhelmed. Omio makes booking cross-border travel the easiest thing to do. Book ahead with Omio train or Omio flight tickets to avoid stressing about purchasing last-minute tickets during your trip!
- Fun and sleek interface
The website and the app have a very fun and sleek interface that is user-friendly. You don’t waste any time figuring out what you need or how to proceed to the next step. Overall the look and feel of Omio are very modern and aesthetically pleasing.
- Multi-mode travel comparison
Our default mode is often to start comparing flight prices immediately when planning a trip. However, very often other modes of transport like trains are not only cheaper but more comfortable. Omio helps you make that comparison instantly by showing you all transport options.
Especially when we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint, having access to information about alternative modes of transport is one of Omio’s key features. Another unique point about Omio is that it covers more than 700 ferry routes in Italy, Spain, Greece, and the UK. If you’ve ever spent a summer holiday island hopping in Southern Europe, this puts Omio in a class of its own.
- A hub of helpful information
If you look at the Omio website, you’ll find information about different destinations and travel tips. For example, suppose you want to learn more about how public transport is organized in Germany. Omio will give you a breakdown of the country’s buses, trains, and airports. Again, Omio gives you the feeling that it’s a company that seeks to provide value to help travelers rather than just acting purely as an intermediary.
- Your tickets are in one place.
The Omio app doesn’t just allow you to store your tickets in one place, but you can also use it to check in where possible. The app also has station locators and provides you with live journey updates. This makes Omio an excellent travel resource throughout your trip.
- Useful add-ons
Omio strives to be the go-to place for all your travel needs. When you book your ticket, Omio will display suggestions related to your destination. For example, they’ve partnered with Booking.com for your accommodation needs. While booking accommodation as an add-on isn’t revolutionary, the way it’s integrated into the app does make for a fantastic user experience.
Downsides of Omio
- Less flexibility when searching for flights
Omio lacks the flexibility of apps like Skyscanner or Momondo geared toward flights only. On Skyscanner, you can search per month, for example, to get an overview of the cheapest options during that period. On Omio, you need to fill in your specific dates. This downside is only relevant if you have the flexibility to travel anytime, allowing you to take advantage of flying on days with cheaper options.
- Limited to no coverage in unpopular destinations
Omio coverage isn’t great if you travel to slightly less popular spots in Europe. But, you can be sure that all travel routes are sufficiently covered in popular Western European destinations such as Spain and Germany.
However, travelers have complained that routes and travel companies are left out for countries in the Balkans, for example. This is not necessarily an issue if you know where to book elsewhere. Still, it can wrongly give the impression that other routes are simply unavailable. Not all routes are shown in popular destinations such as Croatia, as some regional bus companies are left out. Omio is also not the best tool for even more off-the-beaten-path options like Georgia. If you are traveling to SouthEast Asia, you might be better off checking-out options such as Traveloka.
Is Omio Worth it?
Omio is a fantastic travel app that every savvy traveler should have in their arsenal when planning trips. However, you should be aware of its limitations depending on the country you are traveling in and whether Omio has coverage. It’s also an app to consider if you are trying to make your travels more eco-conscious by opting for public transport. While public transport options may be a bit more expensive at first glance, it more often than not is a lot more comfortable and less stressful.
Ready to book your tickets?
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