Backpacking In The Isle Of Man🇮🇲: Saving Money By Buspacking The Island

“What took you so long?” – Emma Bunton.

In 2022, I finally made it to The Isle Of Man! This was crazy. My parents were here way back in 1972 on their honeymoon and they hadn’t been back since. I had never been either despite the fact that I grew up basically staring over at this small island country! From Bangor, Ballyhalbert, Donaghadee in Northern Ireland on a good day you can see the Isle of Man. It was a very sentimental trip when I finally toured the Isle Of Man in 2022 and I was out of sorts – I picked the weekend of the Southern 200 when the island was packed for the first time since COVID all began.

I didn’t get a passport stamp on arrival or need a visa, but here I was at Ronaldsway International Airport, on arrival from Gatwick on the edge of London having been reunited with Millwall Neil and James. I was Easyjet Loyal, Gate 11.

On arrival in the Isle Of Man, I had my first ever beer in th bar by the Glen Mona Hotel. I stayed in two hotels in the Isle of Man and still need to write about them – The Glen Mona and The Ascot. My parents chose The Sefton so I backpacked it for a beer and a nosey and to reminisce. Then it was time to see the whole island.

I decided fairly early on that I would tour the island on bus and try to take advantage of a 24 hour bus pass. Therefore I got it early morning in the capital city of Douglas and milked it. I also knew that I was back in the British Isles, where I grew up. Isle of Man officially is not in the UK per se., but a lot of the same businesses are here and I wanted to take advantage. Years ago my Mum had worked for a clothes shop in Bangor and she told me about a Dorothy Perkins discount code that also worked in places like Douglas, so I was able to tour the island and save money in different ways. I milked that and also over-used the local bus network…so I actually managed to visit Ronaldsway, Douglas, Ramsey, Peel, Laxey and Kirk Michael, even with 3 broken bones.

I toured it fairly hardcore and this included Peel Castle, a visit to the oldest pub – The Mitre at Kirk Michael and a stopover in little Laxey.

I can look back with fondness from my time buspacking the island but it was actually a real bargain – £7 for an ALL DAY bus saver. Even my bus to and from the airport was decently priced at £2.70 a time. The capital Douglas is also well equipped with bars and stores and even if you have a UK Michael Kors promo code, you can still use them here and enjoy the tranquility of the Isle Of Man. I have a few more articles to come on my tour of the Isle of Man and it made me eager to see The Scilly Isles, The Shetlands, The Orkeys and maybe even Lindisfarne.

In terms of other islands in the region, I have also backpacked Rathlin Island, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Guernsey, Lihou, Oxford Island, Eeel Pie Island, Portland Bill, Brownsea Island, Isle of Wight, Jersey and Anglesey. Below are some more photos from a brilliant hat-trick of days on the Isle of Man. Safe travels!