Greyhound bus travel is often cheaper and faster than flying, especially for long-distance trips. To find the cheapest fares, travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and book online at least 7 days before your journey. The Greyhound website claims that this can save up to 30 percent of the fare.
However, Greyhound buses offer advantages such as stopping and getting off where you want to, not where the airline wants you to. For example, tickets from Philly to NY are usually under $20, and the journey is just over 2 hours, so you won’t need to buy food. Affordability is another advantage of Greyhound buses, especially for long-distance trips.
A trip on a Greyhound bus is faster and cheaper than flying, with slightly more room than on the plane, taking longer, and potentially being cheaper. However, it may not be the best option for those traveling from the Cincinnati/Louisville area.
In comparison to many other countries, Greyhound buses are generally cheaper and more convenient than flights. If you get fares in advance, the train is generally the same price as Greyhound, but if you wait until the last minute, the bus is much cheaper.
In summary, Greyhound bus travel is an affordable and efficient alternative to flying or train travel, especially for long-distance trips. By traveling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and booking online, you can save up to 30% on fares and enjoy faster, cheaper, and free Wi-Fi.
📹 I Spent 5 DAYS on America’s Longest Greyhound Bus. It Was HELL
Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring this video. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/noel I spent 5 days …
Why is it cheaper to fly than train?
Flights are often cheaper than train tickets due to an unfair taxing system, pollution subsidies, and high tolls charged by railways. Greenpeace campaigner Herwig Schuster explains that many countries charge railways VAT, energy taxes, and high tolls while exempting plane tickets from VAT and not taxing kerosene fuel. Some airlines have also tried to reduce ticket prices by cutting staff costs and using freelancers.
Why take a bus instead of a plane?
Bus manufacturers prioritize passenger comfort, as bus trips are longer than plane rides. Many buses feature leather seats for long-term comfort, unlike most planes with rough fabric and lumpy seat cushions. Despite the perceived ease of flying, there are numerous advantages to traveling by bus, including cost, hassle, travel time, and amenities. Modern charter buses offer comfortable transportation solutions at competitive prices, with the ability to carry up to 56 passengers at a time.
As the group size increases, the cost of charter bus rental decreases exponentially, making it an excellent option for group travel. Despite the perceived inconvenience, charter buses offer a comfortable and cost-effective alternative for travelers.
What method of transportation is the cheapest?
The use of waterways for the transportation of heavy goods is the most cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. The ability of waterways to travel a larger distance per unit of fuel makes them an ideal choice for the transportation of heavy goods.
Is it better to fly or take a bus?
Charter buses offer an average legroom of 36 inches, compared to 30 inches in airplanes. This extra legroom provides comfort and health benefits, as legs can move freely even while seated. Buses also move more smoothly, making it easier to walk and stretch. These advantages are particularly important for long trips, as they provide a more comfortable experience and prevent health issues. Bus travel is particularly beneficial for the elderly and those with reduced mobility. However, direct flights are often unavailable, leading to wasted time, increased expenses on food, and the risk of luggage loss, which can compromise the quality of your time away.
What is the cheapest way to travel in the US?
Traveling around the US can be cheaper by using smaller regional airports with lower airfares, using trains for long-distance travel, using credit cards for daily transactions, taking a bus, or renting a car instead of driving. The “Sīkdatņu politikā” provides information on how to register, authenticate, and renew a visa or visa. The IAB Prredzamības and Piekrišanas system also provides information on the registration process, registration fees, and other related information. Personalized advertising, travel insurance, and travel insurance are also recommended. These tips can help save money and save time on your travels.
Is it better to travel by train or plane?
Chris Watson of My Adventure Diaries explains that the pros and cons of traveling by plane vs. by train depend on individual preferences. While planes are faster, more convenient, and more expensive, they can also be stressful. On the other hand, trains are generally cheaper, more comfortable, and can take longer. Anna Hamilton, travel blogger and founder of Spain Inspired, believes that the journey, not the destination, is what brings the thrill when traveling by train. She compares the cramped confines of an aluminum tube in the sky to the tranquil chill of a train ride.
Why is it better to travel by bus?
Walking to and from public transport is a great way to incorporate physical activity into your routine, improve mental health, and save money. It’s less stressful than driving and allows you to read, listen to music, or unwind during your commute. Public transport is also more environmentally friendly, as it’s twice as energy efficient as private cars. One full bus can take over 50 cars off the road, and one full train can take over 600 cars off the road. So, consider walking to and from your next destination to help yourself and the environment.
What are the disadvantages of traveling by bus?
Bus travel offers numerous advantages over other modes of transportation, including cost savings, ease of boarding, flexibility in routes, and comfort. However, some passengers may find long periods on buses uncomfortable, as they can be crowded and may face traffic jams or border crossings. Additionally, road quality may be affected by bus breakdowns.
On the other hand, buses offer numerous advantages such as cost savings, ease of boarding, flexibility in routes, and the comfort of modern buses. They are often cheaper than airfare or rail travel, allowing passengers to spend more on other necessities. Additionally, buses can reach even small settlements, making it easier to choose a more convenient final destination without the need for transfers. Moreover, modern buses are equipped with comfortable seats, climate control systems, and Wi-Fi, making the trip more enjoyable.
Is it cheaper to fly or take a train in Europe?
A new report by Greenpeace reveals that long-distance train fares in Europe can be up to 30 times more expensive than planes. The report, comparing the cost of flight and train tickets on 112 European routes, found that train tickets were twice the cost of flying, on average. The cost of train journeys from the UK to Europe, which involves the expensive Eurostar, was four times the price of flying on average. The same was true for Spain, which has a high-speed rail network with four competing brands. Flights were cheaper than trains on 71 of the routes analyzed.
Is it cheaper to take a plane or train?
Traveling by plane is faster, more convenient, but can be more expensive and stressful. Trains are usually cheaper and more comfortable but can take longer. The policy aims to protect travelers’ information, authenticate their travels, and provide new information about the destination and the traveler. The policy also includes information about partners, partners’ partners, and other related systems, such as the IAB Prredzamības and the IAB Pārredzamības system, which includes information about the traveler’s data, IP address, personal information, advertising, and notes, as well as auditors’ opinions and recommendations.
Is it cheaper to travel by bus or plane?
Bus fares are often cheaper than plane tickets, especially for long-distance trips. In some cases, it may be even cheaper than driving. For short-distance trips, bus fares are generally cheaper than plane tickets and offer time savings due to no security lines or airport stress. Additionally, bus travel reduces the stress associated with air travel, such as the hassle of getting to the airport, gate-checking baggage, and long security lines. Overall, bus fares offer a more cost-effective and stress-free option for travelers.
📹 New Greyhound Bus Rules | How Will It Affect Bus Drivers?
New rules for people who ride greyhound buses. How will the Greyhound motorcoach operators be affected by these new rules …
Last greyhound trip I took I sat in the back next to some guy wearing 5 hats, after some time I struck up a conversation with him, and I ask “you seem like a normal guy, what is up with the 5 hats?” He says “oh yeah I do that so no one wants to sit next to the crazy guy wearing 5 hats an I get the seat to myself” lol if I ever ride greyhound again I’ll be wearing 5 hats.
Traveled from South Dakota to North Carolina on a Greyhound. I had zero expectations and little money. That was a rough 3 days. The highlight of the trip was buying a honey bun from the snack machine in some bus stop. I learned that if you kept holding the button down it just kept dropping them. I ate those honey buns for breakfast, lunch, & dinner for days.
Longest I took was 4 solid days, here are some things I learned; 1) you took the greyhound/megabus/flixbus because you had no other options 2) if your trip is more than a day, the bathroom is a disgusting sanctuary you’ll learn to appreciate. Just don’t let the water splash you, some of them don’t have lids. 3) change your socks often as you will develop athletes foot if you don’t 4)if your bus is old and you didn’t bring a battery pack, bring a book or some NyQuil. 5) bring a big ass carry on to keep anyone from sitting next to you, it usually works if the bus driver doesn’t give a fuck at all. 6) Drivers will leave your ass in the middle of nowhere, don’t fuck around with their schedule. 7) stay in populated and well lit areas in terminals, especially at midnight. If you’re a sheltered homebody and wind up at a hood hood terminal, don’t venture outside. Just sit your ass down and mind your business until your bus comes. Hope this helps, good luck.
Back in 2019 I wanted to take a slow sightseeing trip from SF to LA and relax with gorgeous scenery. I could pick between the Coast Starlight or a Greyhound bus. I figured I would see more from the train with its panorama car. While freezing to death with the airco blazing overnight, I thought it was a shame I didn’t pick the bus. After this article: Thanks for making me appreciate the memory of the Coast Starlight all the more.
Earlier this year Greyhound dropped their load of passengers at a truck stop in the Boise, Idaho, area and they were there for three days. Like Noel said, a lot of them do not have the resources to get a room or a source alternate transportation and so they were forced to camp out in a parking lot. This is unconscionable service and frankly I think they need to have their operating license removed.
That’s crazy for the Greyhound to still have this mess. I rode the Greyhound in 1985, and I traveled from Pittsburgh to Seattle in the middle of nowhere by Billings. Our driver just walk off and left us because the other driver had’nt came, and he needed to leave. The middle of August hot as h#ll waiting for over four hours. Never again in life, Greyhound is still a nightmare. Smh.
What a mess. Mom & I used to take Greyhound from LA to Tucson in the 70s. The drivers wore uniforms & captains hats. They would lift me up to the top step and give me a Greyhound pin. They would hold women’s hands as they stepped off the bus. It was clean, safe, reliable, and comfortable. Now it’s something else.
Greyhound used to be the best bus company for travel. But slowly, over the years, they’ve declined drastically. Rude employees, dirty stations and constant delays led to their demise. It got even worse after they were bought by FlixBus a few years ago. The greyhound station he stopped at in Philly is now nonexistent. Now our city doesn’t actually have a greyhound bus station. Instead pickup and drop off is on a sidewalk miles away from the original station. No shelter, greyhound/FlixBus employees, restrooms or ability to buy tickets. I’ve since transitioned to Amtrak for all my travel. More expensive but worth it for the amenities and faster trips. America is so behind with transportation. It’s horrible!
I’m a Brit and took my first and ONLY Greyhound from LA to SF which is only supposed to be a 6 hour or so trip. It took at least 10 hours and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. One cute thing was a woman moved next to my empty seat because somebody had thrown up next to her. Her daughter ended up falling asleep with her head on my shoulder so I couldn’t move for 3 hours for fear of waking her. Clearly, nothing has changed in 14 years.
I can’t believe that they can just kick a paying customer off the bus and or leave people that are trying to get food. Leaving people in the middle of nowhere with hard telling how much money they have. This is what nightmares are made of. I always thought that I’d like to try and take a bus across the country. Thank you for making me rethink that. Customer service at its finest
I had a ride with Greyhound once. After 3 hours, the driver stopped in the middle of nowhere and told us that he reached his daily driving time. He called his dispatch and they said we are sending someone and it will take 13 hours if they could find 2 drivers. We were in the middle of a forest outside the bus (the driver couldn’t let us in since he was no more the assigned driver!). Some passengers just stopped passing vehicles and ask a ride to the nearest city Worst experience on bus travel.
I took a greyhound from North Carolina to Los Angeles, but it was actually not that bad. I met a chick at the Montgomery Alabama bus station during the layover and she was headed to Los Angeles also. She was the same age as me and we were 24 at the time. That was 13 years ago and I still talk to her here and there.
I worked for the company that owned Greyhound at one time and figured I would take advantage of the “perk” that allowed me to ride for a discount. I rode from Memphis to Detroit. RIDE FROM HELL☠️ 26 hours for a 800 mile trip…driver never busted 65mph; stopped every (seemed like) hour at random stops picking up passengers; cold; restroom reeked; 7, yes 7 hour layover in Chicago; cellphone users talking so loud it was ridiculous (even after the driver told the entire bus to not disturb others)…my back hurt…my knees hurt (I’m 6’3)…my head hurt…I haven’t recovered from that still and that was over 15 years ago 😵💫
I loved this article! My highlights were – you being called No-El the entire trip – The lady praising Jesus loudly – The guy who just got out of Prison and is away to ride on freight trains – The final bus driver’s attitude – Your humanity, giving away your food and empathising with the passengers regarding greyhounds service Best No-El article yet!
Pure hell is an understatement. I use to work as an abandoned semi truck fetcher and greyhound was my main source of transportation in between retrieving trucks. I could write a book on my negative experiences riding greyhound. They don’t have to address any of the despicable conditions their customers are subjected to because they don’t have any competitors in the mega ground transportation market. You have no choice but to utilize their services if you’re not flying or renting a car traveling city to city.
Noel, gigantic respect for you for treating those who you interacted with on this trip with such respect and empathy, especially when the vibe and behavior of Greyhound employees was so consistently disrespectful and demeaning toward their customers. Props to you for shining a light on a segment of the people in American society who are often forgotten and invisible to others. Greyhound should be so ashamed of themselves, but apparently are instead shameless of their horrible customer service. My respect for you to get through this with your integrity intact has never been higher. Carry on!
Hey Noel, thanks for doing this article. As someone that saw things at Greyhound getting rough as heck 20-30 years ago, I hadn’t seen how bad it’s gotten in the last few years. The people that are forced to use the system, for the most part, are the people that are the most vulnerable and have the least position to complain to the law or authorities, and so they are abused by Greyhound. It’s so broken. It’s so wild to be in the wealthiest country in the world and see how utterly negligent the country is to the most vulnerable. But isn’t amazing how people at the dregs, at the most abused corners, actually stick together — sharing their food, listening to each others stories, sacrificing whatever little they have, not judging, just trying to get to the destination, hopefully with the friends they’ve made along the way…that’s the hope I have for the country. Thanks again, Noel.
I rode greyhound to Texas more than once to go on to Mexico, 12 hours to Texas 12 Hours to go into Mexico. I was horrified at the greyhound portion of the trip the first time, was expecting worse in Mexico . The Mexico Buses were Mercedes Benz buses with reclining seats and plenty of leg room . I would of never thought that the quality and experience would be that much better in Mexico using their Buses . The U.S system was 3rd world compared to a Country many would dispel as less advanced.
I did this exact route from Philly to LA. Every stop along the way. It was absolutely brutal. I tapped out in Texas on the way back after a 2 day delay in Albuquerque and dealing with Greyhound forcing us to sleep on the floor. Absolute hell. Some decent views. I did see parts of the country I would not have otherwise but the people, the drivers, Greyhound staff, and the ride itself are HELL.
The old Greyhound station in San Francisco was absolutely apocalyptic. People passed out on the bathroom floor, etc. It turned out that when someone was causing trouble in other cities, the police would offer them the choice between a Greyhound ticket to LA/SF or jail. Since a lot of those people weren’t exactly equipped to build a new life, it usually ended badly.
I did this! I’m a people person…and found it very interesting. I met a cowboy running away from parole warrant, would play his Guitar on long stops. Then a young mother with 2 babies (that worked the back seat😮),a 375lb guy who knew every liquor store near every major bus stop, and would gladly take orders while he dashed! Those were the only the ones who went the long haul. A whole plethora of other shorter distance characters. Never boring to say the least.
As a retired Greyhound driver (Chicago) I am appalled at what the company has become. I’m only at the Indy terminal section and to find out that passengers have to wait 4 hours for a driver, In a city that would take 4 hours to walk across. And, I’m like seriously ! The days of Greyhound (Dial Corp) are gone. F.Y.I. Greyhound was owned at one time by the Dial Soap company. Mr. Happy complete….Wow! Not only do you not talk to the passengers like that, but that is not acceptable. Not sure, but the buses had intercom systems when I drove, to talk to the people. Mr. Happy part 2….What a friggen pig ! Totally unprofessional looking. He needs to be removed as a driver. Yes, I have had to kick people off the bus, for the safety of the others on the bus. I have also been pulled over by U.S. Marshall’s looking for escaped convicts. Military Police looking for a Sailor that was A.W.O.L., Various state police looking for drugs…And yes they found them. Child abduction and yes a hooker working her way from Memphis to Chicago …in the back of the bus. One of the other passengers complained about it going on, is how I found out about it. Not all was bad. I had some great times on the bus as well.
Years ago, before I got my license and was comfortable enough to make the drive myself, I was a regular customer at Greyhound’s “sketch” section in New York’s Port Authority terminal so many times either going to my long-distance girlfriend or picking her up. It’s both good and bad to see that the Greyhound section has not changed a bit in the years since we stopped using it.
I used to take greyhound from downtown los Angeles to Sacramento. I have nightmares from those trips! From 3 hour delays because the bus broke down 30 minutes in the freeway to crazy people getting on. One guy who wasn’t ticketed got on and delayed the bus by 2 hours because he refused to get off. We had to wait until the cops got there in the middle of no where. 🙃🙃
I took a bus ride from St. Petersburg to Grozny to visit my girlfriend’s family, as she’s from there. Her Father, being the amazing man he is, rode with me even though he was already in Grozny. He said, and I quote, “I’m not leaving an American to ride by himself through Russia and into Chechnya; trouble will happen.” The bus was surprisingly very nice, and I have no complaints about it. The trip was surprisingly very smooth.
Once I took a Greyhound from Las Vegas to Grand Rapids, Michigan. It took three buses a little over three days. First bus was totally fine! It was difficult to get any sleep but thanks to an entertaining passenger in front of me with a ton of stories to share, it was easy to ignore being tired. Second bus the lights failed (including low and high beams, meaning no one else on the road could see the bus headed their way), so we were on the road for three hours in pitch darkness at the whim of our driver’s thankfully excellent night vision. Once leaving this bus there was a layover and unfortunately the staff at this station (Chicago) was not friendly. Then of course Michigan was totally fine. I will say I think I got maybe 8 hours sleep total.
My Boyfriend and I took this trip at the start of 2024, for 6 days we were in hell on that bus and vowed we would never take a greyhound again. Apart from the start in NY to Philly to springfield all the way to st louis is where we differed in our trip, we went through st louis and went down through texas, new mexico, into arizona then LA. 9 hours we were stuck on the side of the road outside of phoenix arizona, just HOPING AND PRAYING we would get to LA by morning. i can say and my boyfriend can vouch greyhound was the worst thing we ever had to endure, the amount of leg cramps when we got home in LA were REDICULOUS i applaud u for taking this trip with a smile for the most part because truth be told i wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy
Bus travel will always remind me of that great scene in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. After already having been through travel hell, Dell and Neal find themselves at the Greyhound station: Dell: “So I guess you’re not in a very good mood right now?” Neal: “No.” Dell: “Well, your mood is not going to improve…”
I’m South African and spent 8 months or so in the US in 92/ 93. I has a driveway car from Rochester, New York to Schreveport. Got 7 day pass stopped in Denver and Colorado Springs for a nite. Then went from Colorado Springs to San Francisco ” non-stop” Spent my 30th birthday on the Greyhound from Little Rock. Absolute nightmare. Also don’t go through nice scenery like Amtrak just the interstates. Bus travel no different in South Africa. Instead of sending Trump to jail stick him on a Greyhound to criss-cross the US.
I had to watch this article. A few decades back, I made a similar trip, from Seattle to Bangor (Maine). That trip was totally unplanned and was supposed to be four days but ended up being five due to getting snowed in at montana for 36 hours. Along the way i made friends, heard some funky stories, almost got in a bar fight, had a hippie chick tell me stories about meeting vampires and faeries. At one point, my checked luggage went to Florida while i went to Maine though I did recover it later. Bathing in bus station sinks, just to freshen up a bit was fun. When I got to Maine, my family (who I was visiting) asked what I wanted to do first. the only thing i could say was, “Take a shower”. Not only did I do this trip once, but twice when I had to do the return trip about a month later. The trip back was so much easier than the trip there. I had already done it once so knew what to expect. I think the fact that I was returning home also helped. What was cool, both ways, is perusal people connect. From strangers, to “watch my bag” to exchanging numbers when parting ways.
I loved this article so much! I travelled a bunch on the Greyhound when I spent 3 months travelling the States a few years back, and it is so true to the experience! In many ways, it’s the most reliable travel experience in the US – you know for a fact there will be delays, drivers screaming at passengers, drug/drink-addled riders, miscarriages of justice and extreme discomfort. You can guarantee you will spend at least some time standing on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold. And at least one extraordinary thing will happen, whether it’s someone passing out, or hitting a deer, or losing a driver, or what have you! I was especially tickled to see the Indianapolis station featured prominently – I remember that one very well, because when boarding the bus to get there, my friend and travelling partner somehow managed to get bullied off the bus by the driver due to seating issues (surprise surprise), and it drove off without him, but with myself and his backpack still on board! So while he desperately tried to get another Greyhound to Indianapolis, I ended up taking the trip alone and having to lug both our extremely heavy bags around too. Had to spend hours waiting there for him to arrive so we could take our train connection from the same station. I can’t quite believe it, but I almost went to the same White Castle you did, but ultimately bottled it because it was just tricky with the two bags. I really regret it now that I know it was good food XD Ultimately despite how unpleasant an experience it is, it’s pretty magical to cross such large distances as you get in the US for as little money as the Greyhound costs, and it’s a godsend for travellers on a shoestring budget.
Years ago my brother and I were on a trip and we took a bus from las Vegas to LA and there was a girl who was clearly in a gang yelling in her phone about what there were going to do to some girl for talking smack about her mom… she was super sweet to us and then she got right back on her phone and when we got off she waved and said “have a fun time guys!” Man she was nuts lol
I love how this article really highlights how kind people can be. All the folks you ran into seem very nice and genuine, and its a shame that they were being treated so poorly by greyhound. I really wish that they treated their customers better, since its clear that lower income individuals rely on them to get to where they have to be.
As a former Greyhound driver, i am not surprised by your journey across the US. Unfortunately, customer service is long gone. Greyhound is now owned by Flixbus after purchasing them from First Group. First Group held onto the real estate and have been slowly but surely selling every terminal, which is why most stops are in the middle of nowhere or curbside. The drivers wearing black and white uniforms have recently completed training, and one would hope their customer service skills were better. I left in 2020 as I realized the direction that the company was headed. Kudos to you for surviving the trip and not giving up along the way.
I took the greyhound from East Lansing, Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky. After we got to the Detroit station there was no driver for the next leg of the trip. The only thing greyhound said is the next bus was scheduled for in the morning and this was late afternoon. They finally found a driver right as security was about to kick all of us out of the station at midnight in Detroit because they were closing. People asked the security guard why he was going to throw us out and he said it wasn’t his problem. Avoid greyhound like the plague!
All of the things that went wrong on your trip are reasons that I travel by Amtrak. If some thing goes wrong they bend over backward to be helpful. I was once delayed for 7 hours in western Minnesota because of an issue with the train. They went out and brought us all Pizza and sub sandwiches for two meals. We ended up pulling into Portland 20 minutes behind schedule.
Years agoI took a greyhound bus from Seattle to Houston and got violently sick In Montana with snow 6 feet high. The bus driver was so awesome! Turns out it was a seizure! I had no idea! I am here today because of that driver. I owe him my life.❤❤❤❤❤❤ Greyhound is completely different now and I pray I never have to use them again.
I appreciate the fact he mentioned how awful Greyhound so called “customer service” was towards customers. It doesn’t matter how much or little you spend on travel, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, not yelled at or talked to like they’re stupid. I can’t even believe Greyhound still exists in 2024.
This brings back so many memories…when I got out of the Marine Corps in ’87, I sold my plane ticket and took a bus from Virginia to Los Angeles…I LOVED it…met some fun party folks, met a girl that was very fun, and met some weird, weird people. a great sociological study. I was a young man then, I don’t think I’d do it again, but at the time, it was perfect.
Brings back memories going from Baltimore to Denver. Being 18 years old with no real world travel experience, certainly was a trip I will never forget. From every single Greyhound terminal being in a sketchy area, the terminals being filthy, customer service being non-existent, getting left behind in Effingham Illinois to meeting some of the most genuine, intriguing and kind people I never imagined I would encounter. I also didn’t eat McDonalds for about six months after that trip.
When I was 18 i lived in Maryland and my father was missing from a homeless shelter in San Diego, CA. I had no I.D. and made the decision I was going to try and find him and had to travel 4 days on the greyhound bus to California. I ended up finding him within 3 days he was at a shelter called Father Joes right by the baseball stadium in San Diego. He had been on meth and had sores all over his body and looked like a completely different person than I had remembered. I decided to take him back with me to Maryland because I thought he would die at the shelter. I took another 4 day trip back to Maryland in the same week. The ride from West coast to the East coast was WAY worse! It was a unbelievable experience I will never forget! But at least I got to see the whole United States.
This brings back memories of when I took a Greyhound in 1984 from Connecticut to Berkeley, CA to spend the summer with my sister who lived there. For the most part I enjoyed the trip like it was an adventure although it’s rough on your body and there was the occasional pain in the ass passenger and driver. In Illinois, there was one obnoxious drunk who got the driver so pissed, he stopped the bus, went and then dragged him down the aisle and literally threw him out the door and leaving him behind in the middle of a cornfield. Everybody in the bus cheered as he pulled away. I’m sure he wasn’t supposed to do that, but he didn’t care. Then there was the psychotic angry driver in Utah who was going 90mph down the mountain passes. Everybody was quiet, probably a lot of praying going on. After seeing this article, I can’t imagine doing this trip. The disrespect towards the passengers by Greyhound is a disgrace.
There’s one thing I admire about this article is how absolutely friendly, kind, and even understanding to everyone you come across on your trip. From the passengers, to the staff at restaurants, hotels, and the drivers no matter the circumstances. It’s really nice to see. I really wish there were more people like you in this world. Also it was amazing how much of an adventure it was seeing you travel across the country like this! ♥ You just earned a sub!
I traveleld on Greyhound twice in my life. Once I decided to see my country US and all its countryside. It was my freshman year of college. I wasn’t that confident driving for long hours so I decided to take a greyhound. I studied in North Dakota and decided to visit my cousin in Virginia. It was a 3 night long hell. Then when I joined the US army and I was stationed in California. I was back from foreign visit I landed in LAX. My duty station was this place called Fort Irwin which was in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town, Barstow was like 50 mins away. So I took greyhound from LA to Barstow and I would be picked by my friend from Barstow. I shared my seat with a guy who was wearing three piece suit and a panama hat in the middle of a desert. He was talking about how he is in a militia and how he wants to fight the government and all. Then he took a pocket knife out and started playing with it. I was so scared . I thought i was gonna get stabbed. I prayed that Barstow would come ASAP and I will bid this weird dude farewell. Greyhound overall is horrible and dangerous.
“Imagine if an airline treated their customers this way” THANK YOU! It’s easy for us to laugh about how terrible and unreliable Greyhound is…but for a lot of the people you met Greyhound is their only way to get where they need to go….and they deserve the same basic respect as someone flying in business class.
My parents sent me and my sister on a greyhound bus in 1997 to Chicago from Columbus Ohio. Half the bus was people just released from prison, and the other half was what appeared to be “the real village people” a trucker, a guy literally wearing a hard hat with safety goggles, a biker, an Indian, and mentally ill midget. Today we call them “spirit airlines”
I sincerely hope that someone from Greyhound corporate sees this article. Public transportation in the US has to get better. It shouldn’t matter whether you drive, fly, take a train or ride the bus – there should be a level of respect and professionalism afforded to everyone. Everyone should be able to enjoy travel no matter your social economic background. I’m old enough to remember that the Greyhound of old was not like this.
Quick story: My brother and I drove down from Cleveland, Ohio to Greensboro, North Carolina to visit family. I had to return home earlier than him so he offered to buy me a plane ticket. Now, I had an irrational fear of flying and I flat refused so we settled on Greyhound. Worst. Mistake. Ever. He dropped me off at the station around noon on a Thursday. The departure time was scheduled for 1:00 P.M. The bus was delayed due to lack of driver so we didn’t even leave until after 3. Thanks to the delay we were behind schedule and each stop tacked on an additional 20+ minutes. Some of our changeovers were in BFE, so there we were at 2 a.m. standing around outside in 40-degree weather (it was March) waiting on the next bus. I start chatting up this guy who is traveling to Columbus who seemed ok. When we got on the bus we sat together and just bullshited, but then he started making lewd comments and wanted to fool around so I noped out of there to a different seat. Anywho, around 9 a.m. Friday morning we pull into Columbus. Great, right? Well, the departure bus for Cleveland was at 8 a.m., and the next bus wasn’t till 4 in the afternoon. So there I am, stranded, tired af, and on the verge of a nervous breakdown when luckily I noticed a state bus schedule. Now, those local buses are the ones that make stops in the small towns across the state, and one made a stop in Wayne County, where I grew up. So the nice clerk switched my ticket, and off I went. Then from Shreve, a friend took me home to Cleveland where I arrived a little after 3 P.
Thanks for making the second attempt on riding “The dog” cross country. Even though different regions of the country have better bus lines, Greyhound is the only one that covers the whole country. And there is a need for that still. They are also closing a lot of stations and switching to street corner stops like the others. You got the good, the bad and the ugly for the full experience. Greyhound has a long proud history. Its a shame their customers are treated this way.
In 1980, my 10-year-old daughter and I took a Greyhound from the Bay Area in California to Calais, Maine. And back! It was 4 days each way and we had a wonderful time. In Salt Lake City, we had a 12-hour layover so we went sightseeing for a while. In New York, we had an 8-hour layover so we took a taxi around town. Our driver was a terrific tour guide and gave us tips on where we would be safe until we headed back to the bus station. Maybe we were lucky and maybe times have changed, but we both have great memories of that trip.
My uncle was a Greyhound bus driver back in the day when drivers wore (think military type) uniforms, had to be well groomed and polite. Then again back then the passengers were also well groomed and polite. I liked the guy out of prison who just used the bus to get where he could hop on freight trains.
The last time I rode greyhound was 1975. From Killeen Texas to the port authority in Manhattan. Everyone was friendly and almost normal. A nice young woman from Queens got on in Kansas and we talked for twenty two hours. A few days later she came and visited me at my sister’s apartment in Manhattan. We talked for four more hours and then she was gone. I can’t remember her name or exactly what she looked like. As near as I can figure she would be about seventy two years old now.
I did a 3 day Greyhound ride in 1981 from Seattle to Detroit. It was the worst travel experience in my life. I later served 3 active years in the Army and nothing in the military was that bad. People smoked on the bus and the only fresh air I could get was to put my nose in the window ledge. Every bump hit transferred to hit me in the face. All you could smell was body odor and the toilet in the back was the nastiest I ever saw. Every time you were grateful the bus got moving on the highway it would pull off to some 1 horse town to deliver a tiny box. I slept with my knees bent a lot, then there was a bus change in Chicago at 2am. I had to get off the bus and my legs didn’t work, I had to crawl off. No shower or good meal or bed for 3 days. I only ate M+Ms and drank orange crush soda. I looked like a mess on arrival, greasy hair messed up, dark circle eyes and wrinkled clothes smelling.
I took a greyhound from Columbus Ohio to Chicago. It wasn’t terrible but we encountered no major hiccups and the bus was quiet and fairly empty. It took around 7 hours and we arrived at the greyhound station around 4 AM. We ended up flying back, as I had already booked flights for home in case I hated the greyhound. For context, I was a single mother and had my two teenagers on this trip and my twins, who I think were seven at that time. They are both autistic. They did really well on the bus but again, no major issues or delays. I’d never recommend going on a trip with greyhound if it’s longer than 5-6 hours, and even then, do your due diligence and think carefully about your departure time, as well as any stopover you have. We only had a few breaks but never had to actually get off the bus for any stop. Though you could if you needed a restroom or food. Just like the article stated, the customer service is terrible. I saw several people upset at the ticket counters inside the station. There was a very heated argument when we arrived and the staff didn’t seem to care if your family is stranded. Luckily, nothing happened to my family but it was an extremely risky situation and I couldn’t recommend it to someone. The greyhound station in Chicago was so bad I immediately put my family into two taxis to get to our hotel. I did not feel comfortable waiting there as a single woman with children. Unfortunately, just as the article states, it is terrible customer service if anything goes wrong.
It’s actually very impressive the amount of failures that happened all across the board at every level of this trip. Like it takes serious work to make something fail so constantly and consistently. I’m impressed and disgusted at the service offered by Greyhound and I feel so bad for the people who have no choice but to travel with Greyhound.
As one of the the top driver’s for greyhound during my career I love the fact that you kept it 💯 percent authentic. I always treated everyone as family no matter who was on the bus. It was not easy having 50 different personalities while driving and keeping everyone safe bit I loved every single moment good and long days. Sorry for the horrible customer service that you all had to experience and disgraceful driver’s that everyone had to deal with.
When I was 10 back in 1984 I took a Greyhound with my mom and my grandma from Central California to Roanoke Virginia. It was a 3-day trip. What I remember the most was stopping at strange times in the late night or early morning and waking up to eat food out of vending machines. One great memory I have is cans of RC Cola from the vending machine were 25 cents and a Snickers bar from the vending machine was 40 cents. I also remember on the rare stop that had a nearby McDonald’s I would get a Big Mac meal, I think it was called a Value Pack and it was around $2.50 Thanks for the nostalgia.
Hahaha this article gave me so many flashbacks. 14 years ago I traveled through the states when I was 21. I often used Greyhound because it was the cheapest solution. Maaaan… missing bus drivers, “invalid” tickets, sketchy bus stations, people coming fresh out of jail, drunks, people shouting, stops in the middle of nowhere, many very lovely people, police showing up picking up some random person…. EVERYTHING in this article I experienced myself. It’s good to see, that in this crazy world, one constant still exist – the madness that is Greyhound. Thanks for the article, I had a blast!
11 years ago I rode a Greyhound Baltimore to San Francisco. The ride itself was 4 days and no real issues. But 4 days without sleeping much, eating much, and not sleeping horizontally- my back hurt for weeks after that. The stations look like they have gotten a lot nicer since then. Thanks for sharing your trip.
This brought back so many memories. I took a Greyhound from Alabama to Massachusetts, and it was the worst/best trip I’ve ever done. Like your trip, it was plagued with delays and crazy people/stories that will last a lifetime. Our first bus was delayed and finally arrived with no A/C. Because we were delayed we were always late to the next stop, so smaller stops got bypassed and we had to grab whatever seats were available when we could. We had a drug bust in a rest stop in PA (lost 2 passengers there), and I had a bum crossline me from Greyhound to Peter Pan in New York, saving me hours of sitting around the station. The whole trip took about 24hrs.
Back in the early 90s I needed to reposition multiple cars about 400 miles across the state. I took a Greyhound bus one-way. I was a cop at the time and was traveling with my badge and gun. Even armed, I felt less safe in the bus terminal and in the surrounding areas of the cities than I did while working. It was the most miserable travel experience of my almost six decades. I’d hitchhike before riding a public bus service again.
A friend of mine was the Customer Service Manager at a Greyhound location and he told me about the things they find on buses and homeless people hanging out at the bus stations. He would get them to clean the buses and if they found liquor left on the bus they could keep it. I went by and went to lunch with him a few times and what a dump. The entire environment was simply bad. What some rude employees. Totally unprofessional. Just because people can’t afford to fly doesn’t mean they should be treated like crap.
I’m thinking about applying for a driving position with Greyhound; after perusal this article, I’m beginning to rethink it. I love driving, and I enjoy helping people but if Greyhound workers don’t even want to assist or support other workers I don’t think it will work out for me. Definitely has me rethinking it. Thanks for the article Noel!!
Years ago I rode Greyhound from Albany, NY to Miami, FL. At one point, the bus was packed, and I had to sit next to a guy who looked like he was a few days a way from being on the national news for a spree of some sort. We ignored each other for a long while, but suddenly I was confronted with an eye-watering stench. You could hear each subsequent row react with shock to the invisible cloud as it oozed along. One guy yelled, “You oughtta sell that to the government!” 💨 It was obvious the guy next to me had let a massively noxious fart. He handled this by turning to me, and loudly exclaiming, “I can’t believe you did that!” That was it for me. I moved to the back and sat on the floor. Made some new friends.
In 2010 I was taking a Greyhound with a connection in Toronto. The first bus was wildly late and I missed my connection. When I went to the service desk they started making calls, and in an hour they had chartered an entire bus just for me. Was one of the most interesting nights of my life. Sad to see how far they’ve fallen!
I take the greyhound very frequently from the port authority terminal usually to Boston, DC, or Maine. Your experience is very quite emblematic of traveling in such a manner. The DELAYS are by far the most infuriating part of using the bus; however, it’s so incredibly cheap compared to taking a train, which can easily be 4-5X more expensive in my experience. The dehumanizing of passengers by Greyhound is ubiquitous across all my trips on the bus line. Glad to see you made it safely. Excellent article, m8. Cheers!
Hey Noel, great article thank you. I did the Greyhound Bus in 1973 on a 30 day ‘AmeriPass’ NY-San Francisco – LA – NY (along Route 66 as the Stones sang) with diversions to Lake Tahoe, the Grand Canyon and Winslow, Arizona where I stood on a corner …..). Looks like things were a lot better in 1973 but the camaraderie of the passengers and the landscape remains the same. I kept a diary but it reads like drivel now. It was truly an adventure, driving thro the unfenced wheat fields of the mid west with the Rockies in the distance, the scene not changing for hours, arriving in the early hours in a small town on the border of Utah and Nevada, the state line running down main st. The Utah side in darkness and the Nevada side neon lights, slot machines everywhere and madness. Ive been in love with the idea of the USA ever since. Thanks Noel for allowing me to revisit this trip.
Back in the 60’s Greyhound had a promotion that you could ride the bus unlimited times anywhere in the US for $31 for 30 days. I had an aunt who actually rode coast to coast and North and South in that 30 days. She wasn’t quite right to begin with, but was the kind of person who thought it was a wonderful experience!
Amtrak’s motto (and possibly Spirit Airlines’s as well): “At least we’re not Greyhound”. Okay, Amtrak actually isn’t that bad, especially not if you’re willing to pay for a sleeper room (though in coach class it’s another story). Greyhound meanwhile…yeah, you have to be a masochist to travel such a long distance with them.
In the 1980’s I rode the bus, the brand then was “Ansett-Pioneer” (maybe owned by Greyhound ?) from Melbourne in southeastern Australia, to Perth in Western Australia. Distance 3,400 kms about the same as NewYork to Phoenix Arizona which is about 2,200 dinosaur road mileage units. There was a stop for a few hours in Adelaide, South Australia, chance for a shower at the bus station. Then onto another bus. They didn’t have speed limiters in those days, and you stay on the same bus, as pony-express style, at certain stops the drivers change over with a driver who was from the previous bus, who’s had a sleep period at the occasional motels and roadhouses along the way. About every 3 hours the bus stopped at Roadhouses, with alternate stops being short, just to buy food/drink at the shop and jump back on the bus or some long enough for a quick sit-down meal. Especially when running across the main outback run through western South Australia state, and eastern Western Australia state, the bus was doing I estimate 130kmh / 80 mph (the speed limit being 100 kmh). At night, through the genuine outback, the bus runs down the middle of the road, when no other vehicles are within sight (literally not another vehicle on the road for 5 miles or more). This gives them more room to manoeuvre to avoid wayward ‘roos, emus or camels which may be on the road. The drivers always warned folks that if out of your seat, especially at night, going to/from the loo or the chilled water dispenser at the back, to always have a hand on a seat back to steady oneself.
I spent 56 hours on a Greyhound bus from Downtown Los Angeles to Asheville, North Carolina. The LA bus station was frightening and filled with the sketchiest assortment of humans I’ve ever been around. I took the trip with about $30 so I barely ate or slept and definitely didn’t get to shower. With delays and stops it took 6 days. Pure hell but kinda fun at the same time.
This is so crazy, what the hell happened to the Greyhound?? I actually rode LA to Chicago and LA to NY with my mom as a kid back in the 90s and it was nothing like this. Except for the dude getting kicked off by police on the first leg of the trip. I’m pretty sure that just comes complimentary with every Greyhound ride.
I know your pain. My wife and I took an Amtrak trip around the country just a couple of months ago. Problem was, we needed to get from Nashville to Little Rock on one segment of the trip. No Amtrak train. We saw that Greyhound did serve that route, so we decided to take a chance. Problem is that there is no longer a stop in Little Rock (I had originally booked passage to Little Rock, but the ticket was cancelled because Greyhound no longer stops there…some dispute with the city about where they can stop, as there is no longer a bus station in Little Rock). The nearest stop is Malvern, Arkansas, 45 minutes south. The bus arriving in Nashville was 2 hours late. We were scheduled to have a long stop in Memphis for a driver change and fueling. Everyone had to get off. The current driver gave out passes for continuing passengers so they could board ahead of new passengers, along with the announcement that we could board again in 25 minutes. That time passed, then 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours and we finally learned that the replacement driver was on vacation and no one seemed to realize it until he was supposed to be there. At 5 hours (in the Memphis station) a driver was located and we were on our way, 7 hours late on a scheduled 7 hour trip. More problems at Malvern that I won’t get into, other than those issues were a direct result of the Greyhound mess. I will finish by saying that we rode in the back of a police patrol car for the first times in our lives.
I spent 3 days on a greyhound and it was by far the worst travel experience of my life. It involved broken down busses, late busses, being put on the wrong bus going the wrong way, fist fights between the bus driver and people on the bus, stuck in a station for 24 hours, a random stranger who sold me acid followed by a 10 hour long acid trip on the bus, almost getting murdered in Philly at the greyhound station, a 3 hour long debate on religion that the entire bus was participating in, the worst migraine of my life, and it concluded with me abandoning the bus and being stranded 300 miles from home at a casino. Never again, lmao.
It’s been nearly 20 years since I rode a Greyhound. I had the nicest conversation with a man who stole my window seat for five hours between LA and Oakland where he would be getting off. He told me as we were parting to go on our separate ways, that he had just been released from a six year prison stint and he had no idea whom he was going to meet out in the world. He expected me to be mad about taking my seat, tossing my pillow capriciously in the aisle seat, while mugging arrogantly, and admittedly, initially I was, but as I momentarily seethed, the notion came as to the best way to play it and possibly annoy him most, was be the “chatty, nice White lady”. So I turned to him, introduced myself, while extended my hand to shake his, adding enthusiastically “It looks like we’re going to be seat-mates!”. We talked and agreed about a lot of things on many topics typically not talked about among polite company, despite our lots being so different. He then told me I had nothing to worry about in this life because I had a good heart and was crazy as hell! He thanked me for being so decent to him despite taking my window seat. After six years in prison, I imagine he was relishing a view I have always taken for granted.
Last year I decided to finally visit my friends in San Diego. First time in the US (I’m from Europe). Me and my boyfriend decided to risk it and rely on Amtrak and Greyhound as means of transportation since we didn’t feel to comfortable driving a car in a foreign country (over here in Vienna we don’t actually need one). The Amtrak was amazing. As for Greyhound… well I had prepared myself mentally, but first thing that happened was, our driver in Las Vegas managed to crash our bus into one of those concrete pillars you see around the 35 min mark in this article, before our trip had even started. From there on, it actually went pretty smoothly. By Greyhound standards, that is. Bus drivers shouting at you for no reason, humongous amounts of trash on the floor after a 2 hour ride, a driver who mistakes his bus for a racecar, rancid bus stations and non-existent customer service are to be expected.
Everyone should take a Greyhound cross country at least once in their life. You’ll see parts of the country you’d probably never see otherwise. 25 years ago, I moved from NJ to Los Angeles. My wife had gone ahead of me and found an apartment while I packed up the rest of our things and shipped them out. At that time, airlines didn’t sell one-way tickets (at least not affordably), so the train was her only option. When I went out, I took Greyhound. I got a special deal and the whole trip was $70. My trip wasn’t tough is this one, but it was a challenge. I loved every moment of it.
Glad to see you finally made this journey. I’m a transit driver myself and have taken several bus journeys by choice simply because I like busses and my experience with Greyhound has been very mixed. A good driver can really make the experience worthwhile but there are obviously a lot of issues beyond any single person’s control as you mentioned and it’s business model doesn’t seem to offer any incentive to fix them from those at the top who do have the leverage. To the disrespectful staff aspect, I’m not justifying it but I can kind of see where it’s coming from. Being a transit bus driver myself, there inevitably are a small but noticeable subgroup among the marginalized who do have antisocial tendencies and untreated mental health issues (I’d argue there are probably more among the rich, but they can mask it with money and, hell, even make more money off of it) and unlike an airline, there aren’t the support and resources to deal with them so a lot of the staff adopt “prison guard” mentality in hopes it will send a flag “don’t act the fool or else”. Of course, this doesn’t work with those who can’t comprehend reality and in actuality, tends to just incite needless conflict and inflame everyone else who would have been on your side. Again, not justifying it, just sharing what I’ve personally observed in my equivalent line of work. It’s hard to talk about busses and not have it pivot into bigger socio-political issues in the US.
Just be thankful that you had $ for food and a hotel. There were times when I traveled two days with $10 and long lay overs sleeping in the terminal. One time, in Southern Oregon, we all were delayed from 9pm to 6am while it was 15 degrees outside. The worst part was they closed the terminal from 10pn to 5am.Everyone was huddled up in the doorways.
I took a Greyhound from San Antonio to Detroit. Right around the Dallas area there is a prison. The greyhound stopped near the prison and about 20 inmates got on. Om talking laundry bags and Bibles. One female sat next to me and explained how she was locked up for 5 years and I’m the first person she’s interacted with from outside the prison. These prior inmates didn’t have anything. No cell phones, no watches, and one was even crying as she had no family or friend to pick her up in Dallas.
This is why you are my favorite aviation YouTuber. From first class suites to greyhound! I have had the privilege to fly in international first class, but also have had to resort to riding Greyhound (thankfully just from SF to LA) in my younger years. Appreciated the part where you spoke about the shoddy service and how the people who have to ride that dont deserve that, I totally agree.
I’ve been everywhere on Greyhound. East to West isn’t bad, it slowly gets better with fewer people everyday. West to East is extra draining as the busses get denser. Favorite bus trip was through Kansas at night during a storm… pitch black until lightning lights up and you see forever. I’ve hit that White Castle in Ondianapolis so many times. It was still pleasant up to mid 90s.
My longest Greyhound trip was 2 months after I graduated from high school. The bus departed from St Paul on an August evening in 1962, arriving in Chicago in the early morning the next day. This part of the trip took about 8 hours and I boarded the Miami Express after a brief layover in Chicago. The St Paul to Chicago bus was the older model with the small windows but the bus to Florida was the beautiful two-level Scenic Cruiser. This bus traveled through Kentucky, Tennessee & Georgia enroute to my final destination of Orange City, FL where I would be visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins. I really enjoyed the scenery since I had never been to these states. As the bus traveled through southern Georgia I began to see palm trees for the first time. Before then I had only seen them in photos and movies. I remember the roundtrip ticket costing $78 & I decided to take a different route on the return trip which was even more scenic. Unlike the southbound trip through Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta & Macon the northbound route included Augusta, Ashville, Knoxville & Cincinnati. About a year later I took a nonstop Northwest flight to DC where I visited another aunt & uncle. I was uneasy the entire flight since it was a Lockheed L-188 Electra which had been involved in at least 2 crashes. On the return trip I decided to take the Greyhound to Boston where I sightseed for a day and took another Greyhound to Buffalo where I spent the night before continuing on to Chicago and St Paul. Traveling by Greyhound was really enjoyable back then and the passengers were well-dressed, some in business suits.
This article completely sums up my experience with a 28 hour greyhound bus ride from Atlanta, Georgia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that turned into a 3 day journey due to terrible, almost non existent custiner service and constant delays. But like Noel i met many good people from all walks of life during my adventure. Somehow stumbled into a ticket scalper who traveled the country selling tickets and he just so happened to have tickets to my favorite band at the time. For no cost at all he gave my twin brother and myself VIP tickets to the show. Overall it was chaotic yet extremely memorable.
I was born and raised in San Francisco Bay Area. In August of 1967 I spent two and a half days going to Chicago IL and I learned About the change of seasons at the hundredth meridian which changes everything from green to Brown (CA) and Brown to green (IL) quite a surprise for me. And yes it was a horrible trip but one I will never forget.
American bus travel at its finest! What an invigorating trek across this prosperous, culturally rewarding land. You’ve experienced the real American experience, its safe and welcoming cities, delicious food, and its erudite and ultra polite people. I am betting the world is green with envy from perusal your experience!
In High School in the 1990’s, me and my friends would take a Greyhound from Detroit, Michigan to Daytona Beach, Florida both years for Spring Break and man was it a blast and we saved tons of money traveling that way. We could sleep, drink at the rest stations, not have to pay for gas, but the 24 hour travel time to get across country was pretty brutal! haha never again. We met some interesting people to say the least. Poets, Musicians, Runaway Teens, very interesting way to meet people!
In 1980 riding Greyhound busses, I went from Vancouver BC Canada down the west coast to LA, stopping overnight in San Fransisco. Spent the night in LA and then caught a bus to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. Spent a couple of nights there and then a bus over the next few days directly to Charlotte NC, trying to sleep on the bus. It was a long and tiring journey but well worth it. The service was much, much better than what you experienced so it seems a lot has changed in the last 43 years. Being from Australia, many people were happy to talk to me, even the bus driver on one long section of road. I’ll always remember that trip as a good one.
Best kept secret… the bathrooms on the bus are pristine. They stay that way because it’s the driver’s job to keep them clean. Therefore they warn everybody how awful they are so that they use the station rest rooms lol Very effective. Once a driver “helped me out” (I’m disabled) by “checking” my luggage for me – I never saw that suitcase again. And also, ALWAYS demand and keep a printed out copy of your ticket lol