Sick of High Airfares? Bus It

by Josh Lew on

“Greyhound” is considered a curse word in some travel circles. With its share of horror stories, America’s most famous bus line has earned a bit of a bad reputation.

I mean, imagine being stuck in a plane for two hours next to a crying baby or someone who thinks you want to hear their life story. Then imagine similar circumstances on a bus where the travel time is multiplied by ten. Bus travel is not for everybody.

Fortunately, Greyhound and others are offering things that are for everybody: cheap fares and free WiFi. Greyhound has launched a budget service called Boltbus. Its competitor, Coach USA, has also put its budget brand, Megabus, on the roadways.

These buses only offer curbside pick-up, a model begun by so-called Chinatown bus companies. This cuts down on costs associated with maintaining a terminal.

Most of the action is on the East Coast where a battle royale is beginning. Boltbus has been offering $1 fares between some cities and Chinatown carriers and Megabus are primed to respond. The result is that it’s cheap to travel up and down the Atlantic Coast by bus. And it’s a hell of a lot easier to put up with crying babies or talkative passengers when you paying such low fares. Maybe you could spend some of your newly saved dough on a good pair of headphones so you can tune everything out.

Megabus coaches to go double decker

by Grant Martin on

Competition for Chinatown bus service out in the Northeast remains high, with Boltbus, Greyhound and Megabus now elbowing their way into the market.

As each carrier tries to outperform the other in costs and amenities, we’ve seen new services like wireless internet, video screens and power ports incorporated into the coaches. I took a Boltbus between Washington DC and New York earlier this year and despite the internet not working correctly (which they claim to have fixed), thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Now Megabus is rolling out a series of new coaches that will operate all over the eastern corridor that feature all of the latest amenities and are double decker.

Sure, double decker buses don’t give you any extra comfort on the road (rather, you have less headroom), but there’s something quaint and fun about riding in the top floor of a bus, especially if you’re in the front seat. Megabus points out that this is an ecologically friendly alternative to driving yourself or flying — the fuel consumed per person on a double decker is only 0.46 gallons versus 2.75 to drive yourself or 3.73 to fly on a 737.

I still can’t figure out how the companies make money by offering so many low fares. On the bus I took earlier this year, there were no more than 10 people onboard. Their fares alone maybe could have covered fuel, but what about operating costs and paying the driver?

Regardless, try out the service while you can — the first double decker Megabuses are scheduled to travel between Washington DC and New York.

$1 Bus Rides to Major American Cities

by Neil Woodburn on

I’ve spent many hours of my life in transit to San Francisco. Back when I was a student in college, I’d make the six hour drive from Los Angeles in my car. My only cost was about $15 for gas. I was quite proud of this and never thought I’d be able to make the journey for any cheaper.

I am happy to now be proven wrong by a company called Megabus.

Megabus currently operates in 21 cities across America. Sure, Greyhound services a lot more places, but do they sell seats for just one buck? Nope, I don’t think so.

Megabus does, however. As long as you book early enough, tickets cost just $1. And no, there aren’t $50 worth of taxes added on like budget airlines tend to do; just a 50 cents per reservation fee. That means I can make the six hour trek from Los Angeles to San Francisco for an incredible $1.50. Another buck will get me to Las Vegas, and yet another will get take me all the way to San Diego.

This, folks, is a great deal!