Bus travel is becoming more popular in the United States. In fact, the number of people traveling by bus increased by about 7.5% between 2011 and 2012. This jump made it the fastest growing way to travel. Tourists traveling by bus add about $55 billion to the economy every year. This means this industry employs nearly 800,000 people. But why are people choosing to travel on busses rather than take other forms of transportation? What are bus companies doing differently?
There are a lot of reasons people are now opting to take buses over flying or driving. Here are some of the benefits to taking a bus.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not check bus passengers. The TSA has an important job but even they will tell you that going through their security is not fun for anyone. When you take a bus, you can get on with more than three ounces of water, leave your shoes and belt on and not deal with the hassles that accompany air travel. Most bus companies include power outlets and free WifFi for their passengers. The experience is just more enjoyable. The added amenities mean you can catch up on work while you get to your destination safely.
You can leave the driving to someone else. If you need to get somewhere, you may be tempted to drive but that puts a lot of wear and tear on you and your car. You also have the added aggravation of dealing with traffic and dealing with the speed limit. You will arrive at your location rested and ready after a bus trip.
Buses offer more flexibility. When you fly, you have to book your ticket pretty far in advance. If you are looking to travel over the holidays, that is especially crucial. When you travel by bus, you can make your reservations much later. This may cost a little more but because many routes, such as the one from New York City to Washington, DC, have more buses than planes, you can get one for the day and time you want pretty easily. This makes it possible to plan a last minute weekend away easier and more spontaneous.
Bring more people along with a charter bus.If you have a group of people who all want to go to the same place, hiring a charter may be the best way to do it. Say you are in northern California and have a group that wants to see and experience the wine country, chartering a bus is a great way to do that. There are many bus companies that specialize in this kind of trip. It will save you time and money but also provide a safer way for everyone to enjoy a trip. This is also an environmentally friendly way to plan group excursions. You also know everyone will arrive when they need to for tours and other activities. A charter bus company can also provide shorter trips for groups. If you have a group visiting a city, you can hire cheap charter buses to make sure everyone gets to see all of the sights. This can great when not everyone in your group is as mobile as they once were.
The price cannot be beat. Many bus companies have really good deals on their trips. They can afford to be more flexible with their pricing because they do have more buses than there are trains or planes. If you have taken a train recently, you know that often traveling by train is as expensive as by air. Trains also offer fewer amenities.
Bus travel used to be frowned upon. Taking the bus seemed like a scary idea. The buses were dirty and crowded. You always faced the chance that yours would break down somewhere along the route. These concerns should be left where they belong, in the past. Today, bus companies provide a nice, reliable and comfortable way to travel around the country. Because they have more routes and options, you can find many going to and from cities that are not served by a train or have a nearby airport. This makes traveling by bus a great option for many more people than ever before.
