Riding the Bus

As Joanne writes about a self-drive vacation, I, on the other hand, have spent a combined total of 40hrs over the past week on a bus.

I am currently traveling around Canada and the East Coast of US, thus clocking up the many bus hours.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to taking a bus. The decision to drive, fly or to take a bus depends on your itinerary, budget, comfort level, etc

Taking a bus is usually the cheapest option to travel vast distances. However, do be prepared to stay on the bus for stretches of up to 10-12 hrs. For example, a bus ride from Philadelphia to Boston costs USD20 and takes 9hrs, compared to an hour long flight that will set you back USD 150. In fact, in a bid to save some money during my Varsity days, I have ridden a bus from Singapore all the way to Thailand for just SGD30. After all, it always is the struggle of time versus money.

At the Greyhound station in Philadephia

Traveling on a bus also means that you do not have to navigate foreign road signs, drive on the 'right' side of the road etc. Just board the bus and relax until you arrive at your destination.

For the budget conscious traveler, taking a night bus allows you to save a night of hotel accommodation by sleeping on the bus. However, please do ensure that you are traveling with a reputable bus company as most bus accidents happen at night by sleepy bus drivers.

However, taking the bus is not the most comfortable way to travel. Bus seats are narrow, the ride can be bumpy, crying babies and young kids make bus rides a nightmare. One also needs to know which bus companies maintain a better fleet of buses and provides a more comfortable ride.

Also, some bus routes stop at various destinations en route to your final destination. This information is usually not reflected when you purchase your ticket itinerary and a bus ride can get very uncomfortable when the bus stops every 1hr of your 6hr ride.

Personally, I will not recommend taking a bus if the journey is more than 6hrs.
It is definitely more comfortable and flexible to drive to your destination. If you have more than 4 people in your travel group, the cost of renting a car can sometimes be equal or less than the cost of your bus ticket. You get to enjoy your own personal space in a car instead of being cramp together with 30 other passengers.

Again, whether you choose to drive, to take a bus or fly depends very much on your travel style and needs. This is where Your Travel Beacon helps with your vacation planning by customizing it the way you want.