Greyhound - it isn't just for weirdos (Greyhound (USA))

Member Name: cezzybunny

Product:	Greyhound (USA)
Date:	26/05/09 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, easy, meet interesting people, eat McDonalds in lots of different states

Disadvantages: Meet interesting people, eat lots of fast food, sometimes unreliable, stops sometimes far from town

The first Greyhound I ever caught was from New York City to Marion, Virginia, at the tender age of 19. As a female travelling on her own, it was certainly an experience...! The Greyhound is the National Express of the USA, apart from without the comfort and with plenty of interesting characters. It's ridiculously cheap, with a NYC - San Francisco bus ticket available for just $99 if you book a few weeks in advance. Of course, it takes 4 days, and it's likely at least one axle will fall off before you leave New Jersey, but for that money you can just laugh it off.

Since my first experience, I've taken Greyhounds all over the USA. It really isn't the most comfy way to travel, and Amtrak (train) is the preferred option. However, there are limited Amtrak stops whereas Greyhounds will stop in relatively unknown towns. If you're setting off into the unknown, it's worth checking where the stop is, as with the more obscure towns, it may be in a service station just off the interstate, making getting into the town centre pretty tricky.

The most interesting ride I've had involved sitting next to a huge guy from Harlem, who wrote me a rap about how I executed my boyfriend in the back of the head for cheating on me while I was pregnant. Yep, you have been warned.

The bus stops every 4 hours or so, usually at fast food outlets, so take fruit or your own food if you fancy a change from this! If you're on a quiet bus, taking the back seat means you can lie down, but you do have to sit next to the toilet which could prove an interesting experience. Make sure how long the breaks are before getting off the bus - they will leave without you. Some stations are a bit dodgy after night - Washington DC and Philadelphia are the ones I've been warned about.

Greyhound buses also go into Canada. A 30 day discovery pass, allowing you to catch any bus in the USA or Canada within 30 days, costs $399, which is a bargain if you have lots of travel planned. But remember the earplugs.

Summary: Good if you're on a budget, have a good mp3 player and are relatively tolerant!