Why Travel by Bus?
One of the chief reasons people travel by bus is economics. In this day and age, many travelers simply do not have the finances to travel by air. I recently booked a trip through Greyhound to visit my son and his family, who live on the opposite side of the country. It was a 33 hour trip – one way! Sure, I could have flown and gotten there in the space of just one day, including layover times, but the cost was prohibitive to my budget.
The other major reason people choose to travel by bus is fear of flying. There is a certain comfort at feeling the wheels of the bus rolling along the highway, unlike that of being miles high in an airplane, knowing there are miles and miles between you and the ground!
Getting the Most for your Money!
When I began traveling by bus, I went to the Greyhound internet site: www.greyhound.com . There I learned of a program they have, called “Trip Rewards”. By signing up for this program, at no cost to you, there is an automatic 10% savings on the first trip you purchase. Points accumulate as you travel by bus and the program continues to save you money on future trips.
Is it Safe?
In many ways, traveling by bus is safer than flying or driving yourself. Greyhound bus drivers are highly trained and take their job of getting you to your destination very seriously. With the diverse ages and personalities that ride in their bus, the driver is clearly the one in “charge!” On one of my recent bus connections, a man began swearing about a luggage problem after everyone was boarded. The driver quickly took the lead and told the man he had two options — “Get off my bus!” or “Sit down and be quiet!”
The man chose the second alternative and the driver, ever concerned about even this “angry” passenger, radioed the terminal and was soon able to assure him that his luggage had been located and would be at the next connection point when he arrived. I couldn’t help but respect the driver for his handling of the situation.
Alcohol (frequently a precursor to problems) is also strictly prohibited on the bus. Likewise, if any of the passengers upon boarding appear to be under the “influence”, they are not allowed to travel.
The Positives of Bus Travel
By far, the most enjoyable part of traveling by bus is getting to know new and interesting people. There is never a trip that does not create a new friendship or make the trip seem to pass that much quicker. I always find someone with a common interest to talk with.
Even if you have a long bus ride ahead of you, there are plenty of rest breaks along the route. Some may only be 10-15 minutes, while others are major transfer points where there is time to actually freshen up and sit down to a nice meal. Enjoy a short walk to stretch your legs, but do be mindful of the time as the bus driver must depart on schedule. The very last thing you want to do is call home from your cell phone and lament, “I’ve been left behind!
Often when we think of a bus, we picture something the likes of the city bus that runs across town. Hard seats, noisy, bumpy — generally unpleasant! Traveling by Greyhound is the flip side of that coin. With plush seats that are pleasantly covered in an eye appealing fabric, adjustable foot rests, seats that tilt back and head rests to boot, comfort reigns supreme!
If your travel takes you through the night time hours, interior lighting is turned off to facilitate sleeping. There are, however, individual reading lights above each seat, allowing those with a bout of insomnia to pass the time reading a magazine or working on a crossword puzzle.
Is There a Down Side?
Of course — nothing is perfect! By planning ahead, however, it can be manageable.
#1 – The first down side is only a partial one, as it also has an up side! — the Bathroom! Realistically, anytime you have upwards of 55 people on a bus and 20-25% of the patrons on a long bus run needing to use the facilities, what was once sparkling clean in the beginning will be less than satisfactory as the trip comes to an end. Of course, it is nice to have that accomodation always there for you to use — if you just must pee! I always travel with my own personal roll of “TP” and a mini-bottle of sanitizer with several sheets of folded paper toweling. Some people prefer to just “straddle” but on a moving bus, that can be tricky.
#2 – Restless children and babies! Adults and older children have an understanding of time and mentally prepare themselves for how long they will be on the road. Toddlers and babies have no such knowledge. Rather than getting upset with a crying baby or fussy toddler, try putting yourself in the mother’s shoes. This is no picnic for her either! If you have extra graham crackers, or perhaps a juice box, offer to share to lighten the moment. I always pack extras in my carry-on bag just for this very reason.
#3 – Transfer Points! Most bus drivers are quite good about arriving on time, but on occasion transferring to another bus can be a very hectic part of your trip. When I travel cross-country, I have no less than four transfer points. If you’re a clock watcher like I am, you can expend a lot of energy worrying about whether the other bus will still be there when you finally arrive. Be assured, however, that the driver keeps in touch with the station about any delays. Your likelihood of being stranded “between buses”, is highly unlikely.
In Summary
I love to drive but on a long jaunt, especially, traveling by bus wins out by a large margin when I figure in the wear and tear on the car, the cost of gasoline and the need for me to stay alert for an extended period of time.
So…the next time you hear the phrase, “Go Greyhound” or “Leave the Driving to Us!” on the radio or television, file it in your memory bank for the next trip that might be in your future.
