How To Travel Around The USA?
November 21, 2008 - Posted in Travel
The US is full of ways to travel efficiently around it. Since in this country fuel is cheap, commuting by road makes more sense than taking a train. If you are going further then flying is probably your best method and the internal services the States can provide are second to none. However there are many situations where taking the bus makes more sense but then how is one supposed to gauge which to take and when? To know more details keep your eyes on this page.
Bus travel in the US.
S. In reality, there are a number of services to suit all budgets from basic to luxury but this will depend on the carrier. There is only one company in the US, Greyhound, which rules the industry operating bus transportation services across the country. There are a couple of other large names, such as: Trailways and Coach USA but these are just networks of smaller privately owned carriers that have decided to share the same livery and marketing arrangement. In some areas thee are other regional companies who, on occasion, use greyhound in certain areas to share the service they provide.
If you are traveling on a budget you may also have the option to use what is referred to as a ‘Chinatown Bus’ which operate at the budget end of the spectrum running routes that can be sustained through the large volume of travelers they have. Originally they were used more by the Chinese migrant community - hence the name - but in recent times this low-cost form of travel has begun to appeal to a larger audience. Another trend in the bus industry is luxury service that competes more directly with the airlines. If you are someone who is no further than about 6 hours from your destination, this option may appeal as this type of bus service offer and excellent 1st class service so you will not feel as if you are traveling ‘budget class’.
There are a number of questions you may have so you can decide if this is the service for you - they are mentioned below: If money is an issue the bus will beat just about anyone on price. S.
Would you require a car on arrival at your destination? There is no need to lumber yourself with a car if it is not necessary and many US cities have, in recent years, become less accommodating to car users which can be a real problem.
What most people don’t realise is just how much time is wasted at airports ‘waiting’ and of course there are the increased security checks so for journeys of under 6 hours, the bus is the best bet. Another advantage is a bus will likely have stop-off points in the center of the city and not on the outskirts like you experience at an airport.
What is your destination? Remember most of the people in the US find traveling by bus more convenient even if it is to the remote area of the country as this is the only viable means of pub transport. Buses also allow you to see a bit of the country you might not normally see if there is no rush involved then this might be a pleasant way to travel. If you are running out of time, then bus journeys may not be quite feasible as there are always the traffic snarl ups and a bus in any case takes longer time compared to other means of transport. If you are a visitor and intend to visit some of the more remote destinations, the bus is still the best way for you to do this. As gas prices rise and train services see more cuts, it will undoubtedly be an even more popular way to get around.
