BP24 Translation Conference for freelance translators

Join hundreds of freelance translators (a.k.a. Badass Polyglots) at Europe’s favourite translation conference
Join us in Sevilla or online — We offer flexible options to be part of a welcoming professional crowd where the focus is on continuing education and building an enthusiastic international community
‘BP’ stands for Business & Practice, the two overarching themes that define what our conference sessions are about
Business & Practice
Learn new tricks from your colleagues
Boost your productivity as a translator
Stay ahead of the curve
Expand your client base
Become more confident in your freelance business
Get a healthy dose of motivation for the year to come
Earn a certificate for your CPD points
Badass Polyglots
Find like-minded colleagues from around the world
Meet people who actually understand you
Fire up your brain for 3 days
Expand your network with valuable connections
Make lasting friendships
Pick each other’s brains
Get addicted to BP conferences
Business & Practice
Learn new tricks from your colleagues
Boost your productivity as a translator
Stay up-to-date in industry trends
Expand your client base
Become more confident in your freelance business
Get a healthy dose of motivation for the year to come
Earn a certificate for your CPD points
Badass Polyglots
Find like-minded colleagues from around the world
Meet people who actually understand you
Fire up your brain for 3 days
Expand your network with valuable connections
Make lasting friendships with fellow freelancers
Pick each other’s brains
Get addicted to BP conferences
BP24 will take place in Sevilla and online
Countdown to BP24
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Apply as a speaker
by 2 October 2023
Tickets go on sale
8 January 2024 (probably)
BP24 in Sevilla
22-24 April 2024
BP24 online
14-17 May 2024
Format / Timeline
Workshops in English / Sessions in Spanish
We may have a day of conference sessions in Spanish (if enough people are interested)
In another room we have may have workshops in English.
Below you will find a feedback form where you can tell us about your preferences.
Welcome reception
Our popular welcome reception where you can start connecting with the rest of the conference crowd. The welcome reception will be included in the Premium ticket.
This will most probably take place in the hotel’s garden.
The conference proper starts with a plenary session, then, after the first coffee break, we’ll split into 3 breakout rooms.
One possibility is that we’ll have regular sessions in 2 of the rooms, while the third one will be reserved for 2-hour workshops. In this case the workshops are included in the conference ticket, but perhaps you’ll be limited to attending 1 (or maybe 2) of such workshops during the 2 days of the conference.
Please send us your feedback below
Gala dinner
The highlight of the event, the gala dinner will take place somewhere in town (venue to be announced later). The gala dinner will be included in ‘premium’ tickets. Oh, by the way, there will be full moon on this night 🙂
We’ll start the day with sessions in 3 separate rooms until a late lunch break.
After this, we’ll convene in the largest conference room for a panel discussion and a wrap-up session, where hopefully the location of BP25 will be announced.
Farewell reception
As usual since BP19, we’ll close the day with a cocktail / reception, for one final round of networking. This will be included in the conference ticket.
We’ll have walking tours, day trips, and many other fringe events before and after the conference itself.
Some of these will be organized by BP (e.g. a day trip where a rented bus is useful), while for others, especially those in Sevilla itself, you may form impromptu groups using the conference app.
There are so many things to see and do in Sevilla, such as visiting historical sights, cooking classes, or even a bullfight.
Ideas for day trips include Córdoba, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Ronda, Itálica, and many others.
You may be interested in spending a holiday in Andalusia, in which case a visit to the Alhambra in Granada is a must. For breathtaking views, walk along Caminito del Rey, north of Málaga.
The online version of the conference will take place 3 weeks after the in-person event. The idea is to avoid any annoying technical issues, as well as to provide an opportunity for making contacts between people who attend in person and those who join us online.
The best sessions from Sevilla will be repeated online, using the Zoom Events platform, and some more will be added by speakers who cannot travel to Spain.
All sessions from this online event will be recorded and the recordings remain available for 2 months.
Timing: afternoon hours European time, morning hours in the Americas, evening hours in Asia. Tuesday to Friday, 2 tracks.
Feedback form
Tell us about your preferences
Social media
Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn
Call for papers
Apply as a speaker for BP24 Translation Conference
F.A.Q. for speakers
How to apply as a speaker
Please fill in the form to submit your speaking proposals. Feel free to submit up to 4 proposals on different subjects.
If you can’t see the application form on this website, click here to open it
(this FAQ item will be expanded later)
Why apply as a speaker
Being a speaker at an event is a great challenge to take on. It will help you step out of your comfort zone, it will give you something to boast about, it will help you confirm your status as an expert in your area…
Oh, speakers will attend the conference for free, including the welcome reception and the gala dinner.
(this FAQ item will be expanded later)
Application deadline
Please submit your proposals by Monday, 2 October 2023. (Midnight CET)
(this FAQ item will be expanded later)
How speakers are selected
Once all applications are in, we create an anonymous survey with the proposed titles and abstracts only (names will not be mentioned), and potential attendees will cast their votes. This is a first filter to see what subjects people are interested in.
Roughly the bottom 30% will not make it to the second round, while the top 10% will most likely be included in the conference programme.
Picking the rest of the conference sessions from the remaining 60% of the proposals will be a much more tedious task, and we’ll take into account several factors. This stage may involve another round of voting, this time with names of the hopeful speakers.
We plan to select the speakers by the end of November. Approved speakers will need to fill in a few form forms before they can be announced.
(this FAQ item will be expanded later)
What subjects are welcome at BP24
‘BP’ stands for Business & Practice, the two overarching themes that define our events.
Usually 60% of our sessions can be categorized as ‘Business’, with all-time-favourite topics such as client acquisition, direct clients, pricing, various ways of acquiring clients, dealing with clients, business practices, and so on.
The remaining 40% can loosely be categorized as ‘Practice’: anything tech-related, CAT tools, other software translators use, productivity hacks and software, and, increasingly, MT and AI.
No academic subjects please.
Bear in mind that the common language of the audience is English, but with dozens of different language combinations. Do not propose subjects that are too language-specific (e.g. How to tackle issues in English-French legal translation). If you are a legal translator, think along the lines of ‘How to get direct clients as a legal translator’ or ‘Ethical issues in legal translation’ — these subjects are not language-specific.
Compensation for speakers
All approved speakers at BP24 itself (Tuesday and Wednesday) will attend the conference for free, including the welcome reception on 22 April and the gala dinner on 23 April.
Speakers with sessions that will be repeated during the online sequel (14-17 May) will receive an additional 100€ as a store credit (that they can use towards tickets at any future BP events). 60% of the sessions i Sevilla will make it to the online sequel.
Speakers who presented one of the top 5 rated sessions will receive 300€ that will be paid aganst an invoice.
Speakers on Monday (Spanish event or workshops in English): Still need to work on the details (this will be decided after evaluating the demand for the type of sessions/workshops on Monday)
(this FAQ item will be expanded later)
Have an idea, but afraid to pitch?
If you’re toying with a presentation idea, but you’re not sure if it will be accepted, feel free to write an email so that we can discuss it. We can also have a brainstorming session in a Zoom call.
We’ll help approved speakers to develop their presentation, giving tips on the overall structure and the visuals alike.
Registration
For a limited time, special bundle tickets are available, see below.
Regular BP24 tickets will be available from 9 January 2024
We do sell tickets to our online event, Winter Translation Forum — on that page
Conference prices
It’s too early to set a price for the conference ticket, but the following explanation will give you an idea.
The ‘Basic’ conference ticket will cover the programme of two conference days (23 and 24 April), including coffee and lunch breaks, and a farewell cocktail. Hopefully, Early Bird rates can be kept under 300€.
Early Bird rates are usually valid for the first 100 tickets sold, or until a certain set date, whichever is reached earlier. After this period, tickets at the regular rate will be about 10% higher, while in the last few weeks before the conference, another 10% increase is likely.
Tickets will be available from 8 January 2024, and the rates will be announced shortly before that.
A ‘Premium’ ticket will cover the conference itself (‘Basic’ ticket), plus two networking dinners. We’ll have a welcome reception in the evening of 22 April, and a gala dinner on 23 April. Usually, about 70% of all conference attendees buy such Premium tickets. Hopefully we can keep the price of each dinner under 60€, ideally even lower. As soon as we have more information, we’ll publish it.
Dinners will also be available individually.
Online tickets will go for about 100€ in ‘rich’ countries, and at a lower rate in countries with a lower level of income.
All prices above are net. A Spanish VAT of 21% will be added if you purchase your ticket as an individual, or if you are based in Spain (as a company or an individual).
300€
300€ discount off an in-person BP24 ticket
Attendance at Winter Translation Forum ’23
1-year access to BP Video Library
Detailed description
- You’ll get a 300€ discount off your in-person BP24 ticket when they will be on sale from January 2024
- You’ll attend the online version of BP24 on 14-17 May 2024
- You’ll attend Winter Translation Forum* (saving at least 50€)
- You’ll get a 1-year access to BP Video Library** (saving at least 30€, but normally sold for 80€)
- If you must cancel your BP24 attendance, you can choose between a 260€ refund after 1 February 2024 or a 300€ credit you can use for any future BPconf.com event (and you still attended WTF23 and got a 1-year access to BP Video Library)
*3 days of online sessions in several languages on 29-30 November and 1 December 2023 (BPconf.com/WTF23)
**200+ video recordings from previous BP Translation Conferences (BPconf.com/videos)
200€
200€ discount off an in-person BP24 ticket
Attendance at Winter Translation Forum ’23
Detailed description
- You’ll get a 200€ discount off your in-person BP24 ticket when they will be on sale from January 2024
- You’ll attend the online version of BP24 on 14-17 May 2024
- You’ll attend Winter Translation Forum* (saving at least 50€)
- If you must cancel your BP24 attendance, you can choose between a 170€ refund after 1 February 2024 or a 200€ credit you can use for any future BPconf.com event (and you still attended WTF23)
- *3 days of online sessions in several languages on 29-30 November and 1 December 2023 (BPconf.com/WTF23)
100€
Attendance at BP24 online
Attendance at WTF23 online
Detailed description
- Attendance at BP24 online (14-17 May 2024)
- Attendance at Winter Translation Forum* online (saving at least 50€)
- If you must cancel your online BP24 attendance, you can choose between a 70€ refund after 1 February 2024 or a 100€ credit you can use for any future BPconf.com event (and you still attended WTF23)
- *3 days of online sessions in several languages on 29-30 November and 1 December 2023 (BPconf.com/WTF23)
The venue
Hotel Silken Al-Ándalus Palace :: Sevilla
Easy to book
This is easily the most beautiful BP location yet — and room rates are very friendly as well (if you book early).
The deal is that we receive a 10% discount of the prevailing room rates published on the hotel’s website. If you book early, a single or a double room with breakfast is under 100€. Rates vary according to payment terms (no cancellation, cancellation until a certain date, etc.) or if breakfast is included (‘sólo alojamiento’ — room only, ‘con desayuno’ — with breakfast)
>> Check out the prices on the hotel’s website
>> Write an email to the hotel, mentioning ‘BP24 Translation Conference’
>> You may also call them: +34 954 29 88 58
>> Please do not write to BPconf.com about hotel room issues, write to the hotel directly
The event’s 10% discount cannot be combined with any discount code you may see in a popup window on the hotel’s website.
Please note: Up until 20 April, room rates are much higher due to the Feria de Abril festival. You’ll see the rate for each night on the hotel’s website on the link above.
How to reach the hotel
From Sevilla airport:
A ride on the airport bus AE + an urban bus takes about 50-60 minutes. The urban bus depends on the time of the day. Use Google Maps when you leave the airport building.
From the bus terminal (Plaza des Armas):
Take bus 3 for 20 minuttes + walk 5 minutes. Bus 6 is also good, but it takes a longer route before reaching the hotel area.
From the train station (Santa Justa):
Take a local train to ‘Virgen del Rócio’ station, then walk 17 minutes (or a short taxi ride).
City centre:
Bus 3 drops you off at Torre del Oro, from where it’s a short talk to the historical centre. Alternatively, bus 34 brings to Plaza de España, from where it’s a 10-minute walk to Alcazár.
More info will be published later.
Sevilla
Join hundreds of freelance translators in April 2024 in one of the most exciting and culturally rich cities in Europe!
‘Some cities blast you away, others slowly win you over. Seville disarms and seduces you’ — Lonely Planet
You will find more information about our host city soon: practical details on getting there, what to see in town and the region, and much more.
Fly to Seville, Madrid, or Málaga
Fly to Seville, Madrid, or Málaga
Seville airport (SVQ) is well connected internationally. Check out the destinations and airlines here.
Málaga airport (AGP) has far more direct connections. Conveniently, you can catch a train or a bus between Málaga airport and Seville. Buses are more frequent, cheaper, and take you closer to the hotel in Seville. Most trains involve at least one change.
Check out bus and train connections here, or directly at the bus or train company. Please note that direct trains most often leave from Málaga María Zambrano and arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa. Direct trains sell out earlier. For both buses and trains, dates in April will be available a few months before the dates.
If you fly from the Americas, Africa, or the Middle East, you’ll probably fly to Madrid (MAD) first. From here you can catch either a connecting flight to Seville, or you can train train A4 from the airport to Atocha train station, then catch an express train to Seville’s Santa Justa station. Trains take about 3 hours, and prices start from 16€. The earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it is.
Open Omio.com to find your best connection and to buy your ticket.
Another airport near Seville is Jerez de la Frontera (XRY), with a handful of destinations.
How to find connecting low-cost flights
Everybody knows about flight search engines such as SkyScanner or Kayak, but these find flights operated only by traditional airlines such as Iberia, KLM, or Lufthansa.
If you fly from a European city without a direct flight to Seville, you can find connecting flights on low-cost airlines on the website AZair.eu.
Step 1: Enter your airport of origin and the detination. If you live near several airports, you can enter multiple airports as well; results will include all possible flights.
Step 2: Enter the dates. For the chapest rates, try to be flexible. Enter the earliest possible date of departure, the latest possible date of return, and the number of days you wish to stay at your destination. Please note that most flights in April are not listed yet — these may be available from August or September.
Step 3: Enter the number or maximum changes. In most cases, you’ll go for 1. If you have direct flights by several low cost airlines from your region to Seville, enter 0.
Step 4: Search results are ranked by price (lowest first). You can change the sorting key to departure date/time as well. Check the duration of time between the two flights. If it’s too short (less than 90 minutes), especially in the evenings, you may miss your connecting flight, as it happened to your conference organizer. Morning flights are more reliable to keep their scheduled departure and arrival times, whereas delays are more likely later in the day. Make sure you have hand luggage only so you don’t have to check in again. Also, avoid a stopover in the UK, and you’ll probably have to go through immigration.
Step 5: Prices are indicative only, and usually they reflect the prices a ofew days earlier. In other words, actual prices may be higher.
Step 6: Buy the actual tickets on the respective airline’s website as usual.
Benefits: This website can find routes that may not have thought of before. For example, Milan (MXP), Rome (FCO), or Palma (PMI) may turn out to be good stopover points with cheap fares on both legs of your journey to Seville.
More ways to connect
Sign up to our mailing list so that we can notify you of our events >>
Facebook page
LinkedIn page
Badass Polyglots love BPconf
Unsolicited testimonials from BPconf attendees
Kees Kranendonk
Impact transcreator & writer, Spain
Dana Szabados
Technical translator, Romania
Luna Jungblut
Artlife Translations, London/Budapest
Jiří Toman
Cycling Translator, Czech Republic
Tanja Güllicher
Medical translator, Germany
BP22 was an amazing experience for my first time ever conference and debut as a speaker.
Silvia Schulz
Win With Words, Amsterdam
Sherif Abuzid
TranslationPartner.com, Cairo (EG)
Birgit Spalt
Phoenix Translations, Austria

It was my first BP, but it won’t be my last.
Carolina Casado Parras
VibrantWords Translations, UK
Paulo Conceição
iTechwords, Portugal
Elżbieta Dubois
EDIT Translations, France
BP :: FAQ
Registration / Buying a ticket
How do I register for the conference?
Regular tickets will be available from January 2024 (probably from 8 January), to be sold on this website.
Currently (July 2023) we sell pre-registration packages (more on these below, in a separate F.A.Q. item).
You can register for the event by buying a ticket of your choice. There’s no physical ticket, and there’s no QR code.
Once your payment arrives, you’ll receive an invoice, and we’ll keep track of all purchases, so we’ll know who bought a ticket.
You may need to produce an ID card at the event when picking up your badge and conference bag.
Conference prices
It’s too early to set a price for the conference ticket, but the following explanation will give you an idea.
The ‘Basic’ conference ticket will cover the programme of two conference days (23 and 24 April), including coffee and lunch breaks, and a farewell cocktail. Hopefully, Early Bird rates can be kept under 300€.
Early Bird rates are usually valid for the first 100 tickets sold, or until a certain set date, whichever is reached earlier. After this period, tickets at the regular rate will be about 10% higher, while in the last few weeks before the conference, another 10% increase is likely.
Tickets will be available from 8 January 2024, and the rates will be announced shortly before that.
A ‘Premium’ ticket will cover the conference itself (‘Basic’ ticket), plus two networking dinners. We’ll have a welcome reception in the evening of 22 April, and a gala dinner on 23 April. Usually, about 70% of all conference attendees buy such Premium tickets. Hopefully we can keep the price of each dinner under 60€, ideally even lower. As soon as we have more information, we’ll publish it.
Dinners will also be available individually.
Online tickets will go for about 100€ in ‘rich’ countries, and at a lower rate in countries with a lower level of income.
All prices above are net. A Spanish VAT of 21% will be added if you purchase your ticket as an individual, or if you are based in Spain (as a company or an individual).
VAT
In some cases you’ll need to pay a 21% Spanish VAT on top of the conference ticket, while in some cases you don’t.
- You’ll need to a pay a 21% VAT if you purchase your ticket as a private individual, no matter where you are based
- You’ll need to pay a 21% VAT if you’re based in Spain, whether you purchase your ticket as a company or as an individual. (As a company, you’ll be able to claim back the VAT amount in your tax return.)
- You will not need to pay a 21% VAT if you purchase your ticket as a company registered in an EU member state other than Spain. In this case you’ll need to provide your valid VAT number.
- If you’re based outside the EU and you purchase your ticket as a company, you’re also eligible to VAT-free purchase. (This information will be clarified after a thorough check with the relevant Spanish VAT regulations.)
While the company organizing BP Translation Conferences is registered in Hungary, for VAT purposes we’ll need to charge the local VAT of the country where the physical event will take place. All invoices (after 1 January 2024) will be issued with our Spanish VAT number. (To be obtained later in 2023.)
How much money do I need in total?
The conference ticket itself will cost around 300-350€ (+VAT), depending on how much in advance you register. If you add two networking dinners (most people do), this will cost around 100€ more. (These prices will be finalized before early January.)
You’ll need to pay for your flight or train tickets, and this, obviously, greatly varies according to where you live. As a rule of thumb, the earlier you buy your ticket, the cheaper it is.
Accommodation: We have a general 10% discount off the prevailing hotel room rates at the conference hotel. If you book early enough, a single room will cost around 90€, while a double room just over 100€. You can save a substantial amount if you can find a roommate to split the costs. If you stay more than just a couple of days, renting a holiday apartment may be a cheaper and more comfortable option, especially if you can split the costs between 3-4 or more people.
You may want to set aside some money for fringe events such as walking tours, day trips, as well as museum entrance fees, meals, and souvenirs.
Where does my money go?
Roughly half the amount of your ticket covers conference room rental, equipment rental, as well as catering at the event.
We also need to cover speakers’ costs, badges, bags, notepads, pens.
A part of the ticket revenue covers various licences (conference app, a dozen or so software subscription fees, and so on).
Cancellation policy
We offer a generous cancellation policy. You can find its full text, together with our general terms and conditions here.
(The text has not been updated for BP24 yet)
The conference itself
I don't know anybody -- can I still go?
Absolutely!
BP Translation Conferences have a reputation of bringing people together. We put a special emphasis on welcoming first-time attendees.
Our networking dinners are highly popular, with over 70% attending both the welcome reception and the gala dinner.
The majority of first-timers usually integrate easily into the conference crowd.
What are start and end times each day?
Given Spain’s geographical location and the fact that it belongs to the Central European time zone, conference sessions will likely start at 10:00 and last until about 18:00 local time.
Exact times will be available a couple of months before the event.
The event venue
All conference sessions and workshops will take place at Hotel Silken Al-Ándalus Palace (Av. de la Palmera, s/n, 41012 Sevilla).
The main conference room is located in the basement level, accessible by stairs or an elevator.
The hotel has over 600 rooms, and all BP24 attendees get a 10% discount off the prevailing room rates.
Tthe hotel also boasts a beautiful swimming pool in the garden.
Staying at the conference hotel allows you to spend more time with fellow attendees, either at the bar (open until 2 a.m.) or during breakfast.
Networking dinners
We’ll have a welcome reception on Monday, 22 April, in the evening hours; most probably in the hotel’s garden.
Our gala dinner will take place on Tuesday, 23 April, at a downtown location (to be announced later).
These dinners will be included in the Premium ticket. If you’d like to attend only one of these dinners, you can buy a Basic ticket and add the dinner of your choice as a separate item.
It is possible to invite guests to both dinners (by buying an additional dinner ticket).
The conference will end with a farewell cocktail around 17:00 on Wednesday, 24 April — this is covered by all conference tickets.
Special dietary needs
Getting to Seville
Direct flights
Seville is connected by direct flights to a wide range of airports in Europe. See the full list at this Wikipedia page.
Some airlines already published timetables for Summer 2024, while others (namely, Ryanair, the largest operator from Seville airport) will publish it probably in September.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your airline’s website on a regular basis.
Flying to Madrid, Málaga, Jerez, then travel by train/bus
Málaga airport (AGP) has far more direct connections than Seville. Conveniently, you can catch a train or a bus between Málaga airport and Seville. Buses are more frequent, cheaper, and take you closer to the hotel in Seville. Most trains involve at least one change.
Check out bus and train connections here, or directly at the bus or train company. Please note that direct trains most often leave from Málaga María Zambrano and arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa. Direct trains sell out earlier. For both buses and trains, dates in April will be available a few months before the dates.
If you fly from the Americas, Africa, or the Middle East, you’ll probably fly to Madrid (MAD) first. From here you can catch either a connecting flight to Seville, or you can train train A4 from the airport to Atocha train station, then catch an express train to Seville’s Santa Justa station. Trains take about 3 hours, and prices start from 16€. The earlier you book your ticket, the cheaper it is.
Open Omio.com to find your best connection and to buy your ticket.
Another airport near Seville is Jerez de la Frontera (XRY), with a handful of destinations.
Finding conneting low-cost flights
Everybody knows about flight search engines such as SkyScanner or Kayak, but these find flights operated only by traditional airlines such as Iberia, KLM, or Lufthansa.
If you fly from a European city without a direct flight to Seville, you can find connecting flights on low-cost airlines on the website AZair.eu.
Step 1: Enter your airport of origin and the detination. If you live near several airports, you can enter multiple airports as well; results will include all possible flights.
Step 2: Enter the dates. For the chapest rates, try to be flexible. Enter the earliest possible date of departure, the latest possible date of return, and the number of days you wish to stay at your destination. Please note that most flights in April are not listed yet — these may be available from August or September.
Step 3: Enter the number or maximum changes. In most cases, you’ll go for 1. If you have direct flights by several low cost airlines from your region to Seville, enter 0.
Step 4: Search results are ranked by price (lowest first). You can change the sorting key to departure date/time as well. Check the duration of time between the two flights. If it’s too short (less than 90 minutes), especially in the evenings, you may miss your connecting flight, as it happened to your conference organizer. Morning flights are more reliable to keep their scheduled departure and arrival times, whereas delays are more likely later in the day. Make sure you have hand luggage only so you don’t have to check in again. Also, avoid a stopover in the UK, and you’ll probably have to go through immigration.
Step 5: Prices are indicative only, and usually they reflect the prices a ofew days earlier. In other words, actual prices may be higher.
Step 6: Buy the actual tickets on the respective airline’s website as usual.
Benefits: This website can find routes that may not have thought of before. For example, Milan (MXP), Rome (FCO), or Palma (PMI) may turn out to be good stopover points with cheap fares on both legs of your journey to Seville.
Travel by train / bus
Train
In most cases, travelling by train within Spain will involve a change in Madrid.
Check out times and prices on Renfe. Tickets are usually bookable around 3 months before the travel date, although you may be able to find better deals closer to the date.
Most trains arrive at Santa Justa station.
Bus
Seville is served by several long-distance bus routes from various cities in Spain.
The only useful international routes are Lisbon (around 6:40) and Faro (around 2:30), both in Portugal, and both served by Flixbus.
In principle, there are direct bus routes to a number of cities in France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and even in Romania, but these trips are tediously long, and more often than not, cost more than a flight ticket.