has anyone ever ridden on greyhound??????

Question

How is it, Is it comfortable and good value to travel eight hours on the bus?

Answer 1

I don't live near a major airport so bus is what I choose a lot to get across the country. I have made quite a few trips: Texas to NY at least twice, Texas to DC, Texas to Iowa at least twice.

I have a car now so I think my bus days are over but still it isn't a bad way to go.

Some tips:

Get your tickets at least 10 days in advance if you are making a longer trip. You get a flat fare, I think it's 59 dollars one way. You may be able to get a plane fare cheaper, and it gets you there faster. If you can fly cheaper, go ahead...but not just because busses suck so bad you will do anything to stay off them.

When you ride, try to read your fellow passengers and your driver. Some don't want any hoohaa and don't want to get to know you, others will become your travel buddy and want to hear your life story. Play the game.

Take enough on board to get you through the ride but not so much as to crowd anyone out or clutter up your little spot. You might want a book, or something with headphones, and you want a small pillow and a sweater or small blanket, you also want some small snack items and nicotine replacement if you smoke. You also want a water bottle and a bottle of hand sanitizer, a toothbrush and some toothpaste, a travel roll of TP, and a travel packet of cleaning wipes for the bathroom because the water in the toilet sloshes around and splashes up and it does not flush, and there isn't much that can be done about that that isn't done already when they layover to clean the bus. A tiny toy or storybook carried with you to share or give away to a child on the bus will go a long way to making travel buddies, as well as distracting kids who are usually trying to be on their best behavior on a bus. Try to be patient and compassionate. Lots of single parents on busses and there's nothing going to change for the better by getting bent out of shape about it.

There will likely be times on your route where you will have to share seats, and other parts of your trip where you can spread out. They shouldn't fill the bus over capacity of 2 to a seat. The very back seat on the bus is a mixed blessing. You can usually spread out a little more, but in a pinch it is a three seater, not a two seater, as well as being the first one asked to share when the bus starts to fill up. It is also right next to the bathroom.

Re: safety, be mindful, not paranoid. The busses attract a mixed crowd but usually not people intent to commit crimes against you, they are just trying to get somewhere, just like you are. You need to keep important items like your driver's license, your plastic, and your cash, keys, phone, etc on your person, in your pocket so you don't leave it behind. Layovers in some places are scarier than others, and you can thank the locals for that, not the bus line.

Try to get your luggage on the same bus with you (it will be underneath), sometimes you can watch them loading and catch mistakes but all things considered they are pretty good about keeping you and your stuff together. There are other times when you are in a caravan of people going the same place in different busses and your stuff might be on the other bus. It's no big deal. As with flying, you want your very most important things with you in your carryon, and you want to pack light.

If you don't know what you are doing re: catching your connections, etc ASK someone but more importantly PAY attention when your driver tells you what's going on. Read your monitors and look for signs above doorways that list popular routes from that gate, and destinations on the bus windows to make sure you are on time and in the right lines. Don't ever fall asleep waiting for a bus in a depot. You could miss it and if you are in the middle of nowhere your next chance to make up the difference is likely 24 hours later. That's one hellish layover, and you won't have your luggage with you.

Here's one thing I love about the bus. I have a string of Greyhound stories, and I have never met anyone on a bus who was too good to be on a bus. Just regular everyday people. Mostly it has been fun, and when it wasn't, there were a few other people around to make the best of it. Be friendly, be respectful, be patient, and it usually comes back around.

Answer 2

Goodness me, I have ridden Greyhound hundreds of time in my life and it always brings back good memories. Greyhound is not frills though, so sometimes the buses are crowded and there are no room in the seats but value wise, it's a really good deal. If you're not afraid to fly though, I would recommend checking out airfares as they are many major airline companies competing for your business. I once traveled over 26 hrs. on a Greyhound with 2 children under the age of 2 1/2 and the trip was nice. The have small reading lights over your head and the windows do not open, but a ride on a Greyhound is nice; I like it so much, I would recommend at least 1 ride on one. If you don't mind no elbow room and not much leg room, then Greyhound is OK. The do not allow smoking on any of the buses and rest stops in between cities can be long, but Greyhound is good in my book.

Answer 3

It's not as comfortable as the train, which has bigger seats and lots more leg room, but it's also less expensive, which makes it a good value. Personally, I can't deal with a bus trip of more than 3 hours because I can't get comfortable and end up with a stiff neck, but everyone is different. You could meet some great people, or you could get stuck next to a stinker or a motormouth, but that can also happen on a plane or the train.

Answer 4

I took Greyhound from Seattle, WA to Sacramento, CA... normally a 14 hour drive... but it took 26 hours on Greyhound. It was sooo boring and mindnumbing. Thank god the seat next to me was empty, I could stretch out and sleep.... but the sleep was bad and unrestful, gave me a headache and I crashed for 6-8 hours when I reached my destination. I vowed never to use greyhound again. But it wasnt so bad.

Answer 5

It's not particularly good value unless you're going someplace you can't get to any other way. If you book ahead, planes are usually much faster, cleaner, and better. The only advantage of a bus is that you do get to see the countryside.

Answer 6

From Tucson Arizona to Newark New Jersey... or was it Port Authority in NYC. Seventy two hours - it began to get uncomfortable once I finsihed my bottle of Cuervo. i wouldn't ever do it again. Flying is so inexpensive these days that it just isn't worth it. By the way, the driveer from Philly on up was a total ars hole.

Answer 7

you will meet a class of people you didn't know exsisted. Some people try to take up two seats. For long bus rides like washington to arizona it is kinda cheaper to fly because all the stops you make if you eat that adds up

Answer 8

Is comfortable enough, but I'd look into any stations you might have to transfer in on the way. Chicago was scary!

Answer 9

That would be animal cruelty wouldn't it ? Why do they ride Grey Hounds in the US, we usually race them here in the UK ??

Answer 10

As long as there's air conditioner...enough leg room...place to pee, and good environment (usually a bunch of seniors).