Bus Traveling Tips Part #2

Grey Hound Travel Continued Part #2

~Restroom
The Best Advice: DO NOT USE IT! Trust me on this one, just don’t use it. I had to use it once...and I have been scarred ever since!(I have horror stories) Instead us the facilities at the designated meal stops and smoking breaks.

~Packing
It is very important if you want to make your greyhound trip enjoyable to be able to access all your important stuff right when you need it. My "Important List" consists of: Water, Wallet, snacks, IPod, Camera, Bible and books, Spoon to eat canned foods, ticket info, sweats and sweatshirt, pen, paper, sunglasses, Pillow, gum, deodorant,

~Carry-On Bags
The Grey Hound is very lenient when it comes to Carry-Ons, there website says that you are allowed two carry-ons up to 25 pounds. Really if you can carry your Carry-Ons and not get in anyone else’s way then you are ok. This means for example that you can have 2 Carry-Ons up to, say 45 pounds, plus a pillow and a blanket with maybe a plastic grocery bag also and be fine.

~Bus Drivers
On the route from Washington to North Dakota the bus drivers from the west coast till about half way thru Montana are all very grumpy! However, once your get into eastern Montana and North Dakota they seem to get a lot nicer! Try not to get the bus drive mad at you, they can make things ruff....in the same way don’t get mad at the bus driver, he/she normally isn’t the one to blame for problems (such as a bus breaking down). And besides, they want to get to the next stop just as much as you so they normally drive as fast as they are allowed. Which brings me to the last comment I have about bus drivers; if you are sitting in the first two rows, make sure that they are awake! Carla (my sister) told me about once when she was ridding the bus to ND, the night bus driver thru Montana was pinching his cheeks and slapping his legs to stay awake! Normally a loud cough followed by a loud clearing of the throat works.

~Bus Stations/Layovers
Make sure you use the restroom, fill your water bottle up, and are in line early so you can get those front seats! If you have a layover of any time over an hour make sure that you are awake for your bus departure and ask someone whose on the same bus as you to make sure your on. Two years ago I was coming home from N.D. and missed my connecting bus in Seattle(Seattle’s bus station is by far the worst station I have been in yet). Anyways, I would have had to spend another 12hrs waiting for the next bus. But thankfully my brother who was working in Seattle was able to come pick me up and drive me home. :) Also if you have ipod/cell phone/laptop make sure you charge them while in the stations.

That’s about all the advice I have...Other then that, everyone needs to at least take one long bus ride(over 24hours). It builds character...and shows you a different side of American culture.... :)