Traveling via the Greyhound Bus – Still the Best Way to See America
In the past four years I’ve been traveling by GreyhoundâÂ?¦. Yes, that bus line that stops in the dead center of the biggest American cities and introduces you to the “most interesting” people and areas of a major USA city you really don’t want to know, let alone see with your very own eyes.
But surprisingly, the reason why I do this is because though I want a fast trip, better yet it is a leisurely trip through the United States and to be able to see this vast country, I’ve discovered Greyhound is the best way to do it. Greyhound has provided its customers with reliable bus service for decades and though they generally live up to that reputation, you’ll usually not see Greyhound at the top of the “on-time” charts.
As an American who lives in Spain, I find European bus lines and especially in Spain are very exacting to their published schedules. I am amazed how year-long they can run on a tight schedule through tourist off-seasons and during holidays… during both holidays I have experienced Greyhound drivers in the past who have used such events and situations as the reason for their constant tardiness. Well, if the European drivers can accomplish it and still suffer through narrow roads and traffic-congested city streets why can’t the American drivers do the same?
I’ve discovered European drivers load up their buses before their scheduled departure times and when that time approaches, they depart on time. They don’t wait and they don’t start checking tires ten minutes after their scheduled departure times as do their American counterparts. On past trips on Greyhound, I rode a single bus in the NW during a two-month Greyhound journey that was the only driver/bus on time and that driver was a female driver! I did inform her of my opinion that I thought it amazing how she would be the most on-time driver over her male counterparts.
In over two months spent on buses during the years 2003 and just recently three weeks in 2006, I found Greyhound drivers waste time by going back and forth between the bus and the dispatch or driver’s offices after their scheduled departure times, or still checking the bus after the scheduled time of departure. Most recently, I saw drivers still walking back and forth (seemingly doing nothing but walking) 15 minutes after the time the bus was supposed to be on the road.
But if you have all the time in the world, like a short (or long) adventure, and still have the time to relax and leave the driving to “them” then you’ll be in for a treat. You can see great sights enroute and the nights aren’t too shabby either. In my first trip in 2003, I rode Greyhound from Dover to Baltimore, then to London, KY, then continuing north to Chicago, IL while stopping for a photo shoot with a model in Salina, KS. My sight-seeing continued from Chicago to Salt Lake City, UT, then over the picturesque mountains toward Sacramento, CA and stopping at San Francisco to see friends and family. I then stepped up again to get to Portland, OR for another photo shoot with a short side-trip to Seattle, WA for a weekend photo workshop, then back down to Portland, OR when I continued by bus to Durham, NC for a few days before continuing my adventure to Cleveland, OH then east to Philadelphia, PA for the last photo shoots and ending my bus trip at New York City to fly home to Spain.
Isn’t it a long ride though, one may ask? Well, if you have time to waste, it’s a great way to see a bit of Americana. I love seeing the small country towns the bus sneaks through sometimes during the early mornings or late nights. I get a peek at country-living without the need to be familiar with anyone or anything. I enjoy acting out the role of an unseen traveller getting these special glimpses into various communities and scenes. Or we can be gunning down the highways into big cities to see the hassle and bustle of these major citiesâÂ?¦.. before long I know I’ll be gone again.
If I want to jump ship and stay a while, I can do that. On my recent trip just ending in mid-July, my ticket consisted of a trip from Sacramento, CA to Philadelphia, PA and had me departing and arriving from these extreme points within three days. I instead decided on staying at one of my stops (Salt Lake City) to visit with an internet friend and get a tour of the city. In fact, any Greyhound traveller can stop at any of their stops, claim their bag and stay for awhile. If the purchased ticket is a round-trip journey, they can take up to several months to continue their travels. Just ask at any bus counter in any of the stops and they can give you more information on extending your trip. It’s a great way to see America!!
As a photographer who loves to also capture landscape scenics and unique locations, Greyhound offers me a way to get someplace where I usually won’t find other photographers. Besides, they also save me money plus I get to devote all of my attention on the scenery that flashes by my wide windows instead of worrying about the highway driving!
If I were to travel more extensively, I’d look into buying a pass which offers me the possibility of traveling with ticket purchases and the ability to literally jump on and off buses as I please. Okay, almost as I please! The passes Greyhound offer are grouped into the number of days the pass will be used and are for traveling throughout the United States and/or Canada, and are really priced to move. The passes must be purchased prior to using them and need to be validated before use. Once validated, those days available through the pass start counting downâÂ?¦ so plan your trip well to get the most out of your passes. Prices and other details are also listed in their website at www.greyhound.com.
There’s good news if you’re a military veteran like me! Unlike Amtrak, Greyhound does offer military discounts for those who serve in the military and extends these discounts to military retirees also. When taking advantage of this option, you must show a military identification card when purchasing your ticket. If you’re buying online, just click the military discount fare button when the screen displays fares and discounts available, then later show your military ID card when picking up your tickets; it’s as simple as that!
So now you’re sold on a low-priced ticket with this bus line and raring to see the countryâÂ?¦ what can you expect? Expect to encounter a lot of other travelers if you’re thinking of traveling during the summer. The seats are comparable to those found in airlines, so you don’t lose or gain any legroom. As in any type of travel anywhere, you’re bound to meet some great people and also those you’d rather forget right away.
What to take with you? The Greyhound buses are normally equipped with a toilet but I like jumping off the bus at the rest stops every two hours or so. That way I get a chance to stretch my old bones, breathe some fresh air (not in major cities) and look around. There have been many places the bus has stopped for a few minutes and I’ve decided the area was worth returning to see again as a possible photo destination. What you do need is a bottle of water and maybe one of those travel pillows to get really comfortable during those long two-days or more hauls across the state or country! If you take food or snacks with you, remember that these takes a lot of hands to carry, along with your bags and other stuff you’ll be taking with you as you sit on the bus. While taking snacks with you can save lots of money and waiting in line at the rest stops, it’s just another thing you have to carryâÂ?¦.. only you can decide what’s best. Having a MP3 player to listen to your favorite tunes to pass the time is good but be sure to use headphones with the volume down to not disturb others. And remember that it’s a federal offense to smoke onboard or anywhere on a Greyhound bus, so you can’t sneak inside the toilet to smoke. If you’re discovered, you’ll be removed instantly from the busâÂ?¦.. better to just wait for the many rest stops to smoke with the others.
So, start planning that next trip of yours�. there are real advantages to consider when traveling by Greyhound, and the biggest being for the majority of us Greyhound is still a good ride at great low prices that travels to more cities than the airlines, plus being a great way to see America!
