While traveling by bus or coach is arguably not the most glamorous way to travel, it is an affordable way to get around, especially when you are just starting out in your travels. Whether you’re on a budget or in a country where you’re not comfortable driving, or if you just want to sip a drink or two on your day trip, coach travel may be for you. Read on for 10 tips for surviving bus travel and take control of your drive, even when you’re not behind the wheel:
- If scenery is important to you, take a look at a map and see which direction you’ll be traveling so you can pick a window seat on the coastal side of the bus. Remember that they sometimes drive on the opposite side of the road of what you are used to, depending on where you are from.
- Avoid taking these trips if you are alone and do not want to sit next to strangers. Because they are the cheapest form of transportation, they almost always fill up.
- Pack hand sanitizer and coins for public restrooms. Some require coins for entry. Toilet paper is also suggested in case you’re in a pinch.
- Don’t forget your adapter! Many restaurants and stops, as well as some buses, have outlets, but they are fitted for the country’s plugs, not necessarily your plugs.
- Pack a power pack. These trips are long and you usually use your phone, Kindle or iPad more than you would on another sightseeing day, so having the cord and an extra charge or two can be the difference between hell and serviceable transportation.
- Most of these trips/tours will not allow you to take hot food or beverages on board for your safety and the safety of others. Sip your coffee and slurp your soup before boarding the coach to avoid crying when they make your pour out your $4 latte. (I cry over expensive spilled milk. IDK about you).
- Pre-book your trip! Since these are more affordable, they book up more quickly.
- Not sure which company to choose? Read reviews before you book. Many competing companies offer similar trips, but reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, or personal blogs, can help you determine the benefits of choosing one company over another.
- Looking to take pictures out of the window on a bus trip? Turn the clicking sound off to avoid being attacked by other passengers. But more importantly, turn your ISO up to the highest setting possible to allow for clear pictures, even while driving. Even though this reduces the resolution of the photo, it makes it possible to avoid the blurry mess that usually looks like a diagram of the Doppler Effect. Remember to keep your camera as close to the window as possible to avoid glare and consider wearing dark solid colors so your reflection is less visible if there is a light glare.
- Wear layers. Public transportation is notoriously terrible for temperatures because it simply cannot accommodate every passenger. Some adorable, frail elder person will always be cold and I will always be drowning in a puddle of my own sweat. Wearing layers gives you some flexibility on how you handle a 5 hour ride in a 90 degree bus (hint: the answer is not bogarting their air vent).
Want more travel tips like these? Check out 5 Smartphone Apps Every Traveler Needs.
