It is almost always the cheapest means of transportation. Greyhound operates most of the nationwide intercity routes. There are also regional companies. For example, the Peter Pan buses run in New England. You can either buy your ticket in advance or before you leave at the bus station; in both cases it’s best to do it as early as possible. You have the right to cancel your trip – you will get a refund. If you buy a long-distance ticket that allows making long stops, then each time you’re going to continue your journey, at the bus station you should stamp the coupon for the ticket (this is done to make sure there is room for you on the bus).
The price of the ticket and the size of the discount depend on the distance you travel, the season, your return date, and other conditions. “Greyhound and Trailways offer discounts for certain categories of passengers: children under 2 years old receive a 40% discount, and people accompanying a disabled person receive a 50% discount. A ticket for seniors is 5% cheaper than a full ticket. Bus schedules throughout the United States are available by calling the toll-free number 800-231-2222.
For residents as well as overseas visitors (i.e. you and me), Greyhound offers a Discovery Pass that allows you to travel across the U.S. on Greyhound and Trailways buses. The pass costs $329 for 7 days, $483 for 15 days, $607 for 30 days and $750 for 60 days. Discovery Passes run from the day of the first trip.
Bus stations, even in the tiniest towns, almost always have restaurants, ticket, baggage and transfer services, travel bureaus, luggage rooms and waiting rooms. But don’t plan on staying there long: the bus station in America is not the safest place to stay.
You can almost always get a quick, though not cheap, bite to eat in the cafeteria or “burger house” at the Trayhound station.
All of the bus station’s automatic luggage lockers are rarely busy, but in a pinch your luggage can be stored ($1.50) in the station’s luggage room for 24 hours.
There is no problem of overcrowded buses in America; if there are not enough seats on one bus, the company is sure to serve a second bus.
If you’re at an intermediate stop and the bus you need rushes past, don’t despair; it means there are no seats available – the next, less full, bus is sure to stop.
Adults are allowed 1 or 2 luggage places for free (total luggage weight up to 45 kg), children – 1 (up to 22 kg). Be sure to attach identification signs (tag, sticker with the name and coordinates) on the luggage – otherwise you have a chance to say goodbye to your things forever. Take valuables and essentials with you on the bus.
For some reason American drivers prefer cold to heat, and the temperature inside the bus can be very cold. You will get a chill if you do not have a jacket, sweater, or pullover with you. The trip from coast to coast, with short stops every 3-4 hours, will take at least 3 days. You will have to sleep on the bus, and a sleeping bag will come in handy for that.
Most bus routes are designed to get you from town to town, and that’s all. The interests of travelers are rarely taken into account. But if you want to make new friends and see the hidden corners of the United States, a trip on a Green Tortoise (Green Tortoise, literally: green turtle) bus might be your best bet.
Slowly and not too purposefully, making countless stops at the most scenic spots, the bus travels from neighborhood to neighborhood, from state to state. There is no itinerary as such. Only the final destination is known, and it’s up to the passengers to decide which nooks and crannies to take as they go.
“The Green Turtle is a mobile home that can accommodate 30-40 people. The bus has sleeping places with mattresses, chairs, even refrigerators and stoves. A tour guide and cook usually travel with the group. Open-air meals can be prepared by the passengers themselves. They spend no more than $11 to $15 a day on food.
A Green Turtle trip from New York or Boston to San Francisco lasts 14 days and costs an average of $930 (including food). “Green Touts also offers circular itineraries that start and end in San Francisco. A three-day trip through Yosemite National Park costs $240 (including meals); a two-day trip costs $180. In Southern California, you’ll spend time on beaches, boating, and windsurfing.