Greyhound

[Guest mondo]

Anyone actually taken a bus lately? A friend of mine wants me to drive to New Orleans (from Los Angeles) with him. I really don't feel like driving and he won't fly. A train is so expensive and the route is like a blind person put it together.

 

I told him if he wants to pick up my ticket / hotel room (I am all heart) I might consider a bus ... but now I'm having second thoughts.

[+ Hoover42]

It makes a huge difference if you're with someone you like and if you can get an "express" bus. Otherwise, you end up sitting next to a wide variety of generally unpleasant strangers and making countless stops in the middle of nowhere.

 

My last long solo bus trip in the US, at over 2200 miles, was one of the most horrible trips I've ever taken.

 

p.s. I never imagined there could be so many so many drab, dusty, antique stores; I must passed a hundred of them on that trip.

[Guest Merlin]

A friend of mine rides the bus often. The seats are small and the people are the dregs of society. I would not consider it for a long trip. Driving sounds like the best choice.

[Justice]

If you're going to do it, I would go for an express run so that you can get it over with as quickly as possible. Thelast bus trip that I took was from Binghamton, NY to New York, NY. It's a fairly short trip, so it wasn't that bad. One of my colleagues recently took one from Newark, NJ to Virginia Beach. She bought a round trip ticket and wound up flying home. She said that she never encountered so many "strange" people in her life! Just my 2 cents.

[OneFinger]

I've used the bus numerous times when I had more time than money or needed to make a one-way trip. I really enjoyed it and would do it again. But NEVER do a long trip without taking the express bus. Makes a world of difference. It's also a big plus that you'll have a traveling companion.

 

Be sure to check for specials. You can often get great discounts 2-3 weeks in advance or buying a 30-day pass. They often offer companion fares where the companion rides free or at a deeply discounted rate.

 

Below are suggestions:

 

1. Take cards, electronic games, books, and music (with headphones).

 

2. Pack your own snacks like fruit, granoloa bars, etc. The bus usually stops at fast food, greasy spoon places.

 

3. Use the restrooms at places where you stop for meals. The restrooms at the bus stations are usually very gross.

 

4. Keep a jacket handy in case the AC gets too cold. Also take along an airline-style blow-up pillow. These can be purchased at places like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, etc. for under $10.

 

5. When changing buses (especially in large cities like Chicago or NYC) get in line EARLY. People start standing in line 1-2 hours before departure to get the best seats.

 

6. Beware of pickpockets, drug dealers, and thieves at the bus stations. These are not safe places in the larger cities. Also be careful about carrying large sums of money and DON'T fall for the "spare change" cons.

 

7. Go exploring during rest stops. While traveling through Omaha, for example, we had a 2-hour rest stop WITHOUT a bus change. Since we already had seats didn't have to wait in line (see #5 above) I went walking around the downtown area. I found a great gay bar for a couple of afternoon beers. Also found some neat outdoor cafes in another city. Just be sure you know what time the bus is leaving.

 

This could be a great experience and a way to see rural parts of the country.

[eastbayguy]

>Anyone actually taken a bus lately? A friend of mine wants me

>to drive to New Orleans (from Los Angeles) with him. I really

>don't feel like driving and he won't fly. A train is so

>expensive and the route is like a blind person put it

>together.

 

TAKE THE TRAIN!!

 

My ex and I used to ride the LA-Oakland "Coast Starlight" regularly just to get away and enjoy the scenery. Trains take you past things you'll never see otherwise, both good and bad. You see the real America out the windows of a train.

 

Go to a travel agent who knows how to book train trips. They can get you a better fare. Plus, they can brief you on all the inside Amtrak rules that will make your trip more pleasant. For instance, if you ask to upgrade to a roomette (small, sleeping compartment) after you are on board, the price to do so is trivial, and meals are included. There are almost always roomettes available due to cancelations, etc. Plus, most of the sleeping car attendants are gay and some are really hot. Jeffy and I had at least a couple of memorable three-ways while cruising up the coast.

 

Even if you stay in coach on the long-haul Amtrak trains, the seats are big, roomy and comfy. Plenty of leg room. Lots of interesting people. You can get up and roam around all over the train and check things out. Instead of being stuck in a seat, there are whole other CARS to explore and hang out in. We rode on one train that had an actual, if small, movie theater below the lounge area. Great idea, but the scenery out the windows was better.

 

--EBG

[Guest mondo]

Thanks guys for the info. I need to find out if we can get a express bus from LA to NO. It seems like a major route so possibly they have one.

 

EBG your train experience peaked my interest. I might check with a travel agent just to find out if I am missing something using AMTRAK's website.

 

Also you're right about all of the attendents being Gay. A close friend of mine is a well known shrink who is contracted by major companies like AMTRAK, United Airlines and the like. Whilst my friend is straight he knows I'm gay and told me that AMTRAK employees in general have a far higher percentage of gay men than any major firm he has worked with. He also thought the train might be fun.

 

I too had thought about taking the train for my own pleasure from LA to SF but it ends in Oakland and then I have to get on a bus for like an hour. AMTRAK'S routes are very odd compared with places I have visited in Europe over the years.

 

Anyway it seems I'm doing all the work while my pal who won't fly is just kicking back ... so I might rethink the entire trip unless he gets a bit more active in the planning.

 

Lastly I was a little surprised to see that at least a few of you still take and the bus ... not a bad think just a little surprised.

[OneFinger]

>...I might check with a travel agent just to find out if I am missing something using AMTRAK's website.

 

eBay and/or half.com also sells discounted AMTRAK tickets. But, you have to be careful to check the blackout dates and limitations. When on the East coast, I usually travel AMTRAK between DC, NYC, Boston, etc. Great way to go.

 

But, I've always thought that long distance travel on AMTRAK was close to the same price as airfare. Not quite the same bargin as Europe. :-(

[+ deej]

>But, I've always thought that long distance travel on AMTRAK

>was close to the same price as airfare. Not quite the same

>bargin as Europe. :-(

 

Not quite the same price, but it can serve other useful purposes. It takes longer. For a week-long vacation, I knew a full week with Mom wouldn't work. We'd be at each other's throats. Taking the train from NYC to Chicago lopped a day off of either end, was very relaxing, and I got to see some fabulous scenery in the Shenandoah Valley in one direction and upstate NY in the other.

 

I've also used Amtrack for short trips up/down the eastern seaboard. Very relaxing, scenic, and the trains have electric outlets so you don't have to worry about laptop battery life.

 

As for Greyhound, I'm firmly convinced that they have a corporate policy of pissing off every customer. I used them as an only choice several times and walked away from every encounter with a "service" person feeling slimed.

[Guest mondo]

>Not quite the same price, but it can serve other useful

>purposes. It takes longer. For a week-long vacation, I knew a

>full week with Mom wouldn't work. We'd be at each other's

>throats. Taking the train from NYC to Chicago lopped a day off

>of either end,

 

LOL Deej I will have to make note of this little tip on how to shorten time with Mom next time she heads this way.

[Kippy]

WOW!! Thanks guys.... I really have enjoyed the exchange on travel, I've never taken the train but it looks even more appealing now!

 

Kisses and hugs,

 

Kippy

 

P.S. This thread was very pleasant-- I'm glad pussy stayed at home!

[Flower]

Take the train

 

I agree--TAKE THE TRAIN. I love trains and for about the same price as airfare, maybe a little more, you can get a small sleeper with a fold down bed--for more, a full room--you'll be amazed at how relaxing the clikety clack of the rails can be at bedtime

[Guest pyell]

RE: Take the train

 

Speaking as a visitor to US shores, I agree with the others who have said - TAKE THE TRAIN!!!!

 

In my experience, Amtrak is the single most undervalued method of travel in the USA.

 

It is extremely comfortable, especially on the ultra long distance runs using Superliners, where the legroom in coach is phenomenal and the quietness and smoothness of the upper deck of the double deck coaches is astonishing.

 

And in the North East Corridor it eludes me why anybody would fly. Amtrak from, say, New York to Washington is vastly superior to the plane, travelling at not far short of European speeds and with comfort levels equal to anything in Europe. Which means, of course, comfort levels far in excess of any plane.

 

Even if it's a bit more expensive than the very cheap airlines, what price do you put on a civilised and pleasant journey that takes just as long on the short-haul routes?

 

Most people these days know how to arrive at a destination, but very few know how to travel to it. Flying is not travelling: it's endurance. But a good train: now that's travelling!