Some older travelers swear by long-distance bus trips. Others shudder at the idea. For long-haul travelers in the US and Canada, Greyhound Lines, connecting major cities from coast to coast, offers the largest selection of destinations and departures.
There are several advantages to traveling by bus. You don’t have to rent a car or pay parking fees in the big city. Avoid the stress of driving in unfamiliar places. Best of all, you often pay less to take a bus than to fly or take the train.
For example, a one-way Amtrak ticket between Baltimore and New York City costs between $ 49 and $ 276, depending on how far in advance you book your ticket and whether or not you qualify for a senior discount or other type of travel. discount. Greyhound fare between Baltimore and New York ranges from $ 11 to $ 55 each way. (Airfares start at $ 100 to Long Island / Islip, which is a Southwest Airlines “Wanna Get Away” fare, and go from there.)
Greyhound Bus Trip Facts
- Some buses stop only once or twice between the departure and destination cities. Other routes include several intermediate stops.
- Buses generally have a bathroom on board, but the bathroom is intended for emergency use only.
- All types of people travel by bus. This could include parents with young children, passengers listening to loud music, or people who are ill.
- Your route may include layovers, which can last between five minutes and an hour or more.
- Greyhound and several regional bus operators have bundled some of their routes together. Your fare will not be affected, and you can easily see which operator operates on which route by looking at the Greyhound website.
If you are considering a Greyhound bus trip, here are some things you need to know.
Pros
- You can request a 5% senior discount on regular rates (20% on Greyhound Canada). This discount cannot be combined with other discounts.
- Greyhound offers 15% to 40% discount on one-way midweek fares with a 14-day advance purchase.
- You can reserve your tickets in advance or buy them up to an hour before the bus leaves.
- Greyhound will provide assistance to disabled passengers 48 hours in advance.
- Fares between New York and other large cities on the East Coast are comparable to those offered by discounted buses if you purchase advance tickets online.
Cons
- Greyhound stations tend to be in less-than-tasty downtown locations. If you need to change buses, try to schedule your stopovers during the day.
- Even if you reserve a ticket in advance, you are not guaranteed a seat. Greyhound operates on a first come, first serve basis.
- Holiday weekends are especially busy.
- Stations may not have any food available, or may only offer vending machines.
- You may need to transfer between buses. If so, you will need to bring your own luggage.
- Greyhound buses generally have only two spaces with wheelchair tie-downs. If you use a wheelchair or scooter, buy your ticket as far in advance as possible and tell Greyhound that you use a mobility device with wheels.
- If your bus is late, Greyhound will not give you a refund.
Alternatives
Discount bus lines such as BoltBus and Megabus offer alternatives to traditional Greyhound service. BoltBus routes are concentrated on the east and west coasts of the US and Canada, connecting travelers in Virginia with Philadelphia, New York City and New England and offering West Coast bus service from Vancouver. and British Columbia to Seattle, Portland, and cities in California and Nevada. Megabus offers service in the eastern, midwest, and southern US, in addition to service in California and Nevada.
Both bus lines offer heavily discounted fares for travelers who can purchase advance sale tickets online. Because these bus lines focus on busy routes, they can offer low-cost fares, as well as free WiFi, free inflight entertainment (via a smartphone app or locally available WiFi), charging outlets, and more. Long Lasting Amenities -More bearable bus travel distance.
BoltBus and Megabus limitations include destination and time restrictions. Low-cost bus companies tend to focus on high-demand routes, although they expand to more cities if they think they can sell enough tickets to make a profit.
