by Catherine M. Harris

Created on: January 16, 2011   Last Updated: January 19, 2011

There are many reasons why a person would choose to travel long distance by bus, low cost and the frequency of buses are certainly high up on the list.  Students and seniors especially find this method of travel a reasonable way to go if time is not a big issue.  There are also other advantages to taking the bus long distance:  saving wear and tear on your car, time to relax, and most of all getting the chance to really see the cities, towns and countryside you pass through.

Though traveling by bus may be relatively inexpensive and convenient, there are certainly drawbacks.  These include crowding, having to wait for stops to get food and stretch your legs, noise and aggravating seatmates.  There are ways to alleviate this and that will help make your trip by bus enjoyable.

Crowded buses for long distances can be unpleasant; planning when and what time will help with that.  Knowing when the busy travel days are and booking your trip either before the big travel day or the day after will improve your chances for a less crowded bus.  Taking the bus at an unusual time like 4 a.m. also means there will be fewer passengers.

The longer the trip the more likely you'll have to change buses but using the trip guides and selecting different start times will give you some options - you will notice that some routes are "milk runs" stopping at every little town, while others are express routes.  If the trip you're taking involves switching buses, try to to keep it between express routes - this can save hours, even a day or two in your trip if it's a really long distance you're traveling.

Now that you've chosen your route and times, comfort is the main thing.  This is one time not to dress to impress; wear loose clothing and running shoes.  Having layered clothing also helps; a t-shirt and sweater is a good combination so that if it gets too hot you can take off the sweater. 

Have a little mini-medicine chest in your purse or travel bag.  Items that are good to bring along are some band-aids, headache pills, anti-nausea pills and antacids.  A small bottle of hand sterilizer and a tissue packet are also good things to have on hand.

A big problem with bus travel is noise.  From chatty neighbors to loud talkers and crying babies, you should bring at least one solution to drown out the noise.  A pocket device with ear buds is great for that as long as you have sufficiently charged batteries and spare batteries or a charger if there's a way to charge it in transit.  Also very useful for this and highly recommended for sleeping is ear plugs.

For entertainment, aside from a music or video device, bring along something to read.  These should be light - a paperback book or two, a few magazines, a small laptop or e-book reader will all be welcome diversions.  Try not to overload yourself with too many heavy or bulky items though because your carry on bag will get very heavy if you have a lot of bus switching or walking around waiting for the next one.

Last, but not least, is food and drink.  Meal replacement bars are a great way to keep hunger at bay and don't take up a  lot of space; some snacks that include fresh fruit is good.  Avoid too many salty foods as they will make you thirsty.  Bring a bottle or two of water to sip; try to avoid caffeinated beverages before travel and while on the bus as they tend to make frequent trips to the washroom necessary and let's face it, bus toilets aren't places you'll want to visit often.

Follow these tips, bring a camera and a cellphone and enjoy your bus trip.  They can be a great way to meet people and relax.

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