by Hannah Curtis

Created on: November 17, 2008

Travelling by bus has become an important part of my life in recent months. My fiance and I are separated by two hundred miles, consequently I spend roughly eighteen hours a month travelling up to his home town. Thus I have perfected how I can make my long bus trip more comfortable for myself.

Initially I make sure that I book my return tickets at least a week before in advance, and have them sent to my mobile and also carry a printed confirmation of them in case anything untoward happens to the phone. Not only does this mean that I get cheaper deals, but it also means that this one less worry and pressure on the day of travel. It is important that you make certain that you have a seat on the bus booked advance, for although it is possible to turn up and hope for a spare seat bound to your destination, it is a risky business. There is no guarantee of a place and could involve many hours sitting around waiting between buses.

Each journey I take by bus is also planned in advance, co-ordinating the train journey with the bus journey. I make sure that I have plenty of time to walk at my own pace from the train to the bus station, and I allow thirty minutes for once I arrive at the station. This means I have time to buy what I need for the journey, and choose my favourite seat. This way there is no stress added to my five hour journey, and I can enjoy the trip.

Another way of making my bus ride more comfortable is to keep my luggage down to the minimum. This makes the journey easier, and means that I can fit the small bag in the overhead rack, so I can keep an eye on my belongings. I have a further couple of hours to travel once the bus has reached its destination, thus the less I have to carry, the better.

A further way to make your journey easier and more comfortable is to ensure that you have plenty of refreshment with you. Having plenty of water, food and sweets with you is very important on a lengthy journey. A drink and sweets can help to stave of travel sickness and headaches. Also having refreshments is always a good idea in case the journey is prolonged for any reason.

These are general ways to make everyone's bus journey easier, not just mine. There are other things that I do to ensure my personal comfort, which may not be applicable for everyone. I carry a pillow in my luggage as I am fortunate in that I can sleep whilst travelling. Also I make sure that I have plenty of books, music, and writing materials to help pass the time. Some find travelling tedious, miserable, boring, however I always see it as an adventure and take these precautions so to make the journey as stress and pressure free as possible and more comfortable.

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