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Bus Travel / Buses / Budget Travel / Greyhound / → All Tags

Old and Busted: The Jet Set; New Hotness: The Bus Set

There's nothing like flying to cover long distances in a flash, and train travel is a smooth, hassle-free way to get around as well, but for many Americans, it's time to take another look at the bus. Long the preferred mode of transport for bums, winos, and the recently paroled, the economic meltdown has made Greyhound and other bus lines a serious option for the traveling masses whose transportation budgets have evaporated along with so many jobs. Seeing an opportunity to capture a new market, Greyhound has rolled out what it calls a Travel Stimulus Package, with serious savings on service to its more than 2,300 destinations. The package includes a variety of deals, from Friends and Family Companion Fares, where up to three companions can travel at up to 50% off with the purchase of one standard walk-up fare, to Deeply Discounted Advance Purchase Fares, with savings of up to 75% with a ten-day advance purchase.

Take it from me, a notorious cheapskate and bus aficionado: these are good deals. But I've got to warn you, if you've never before stooped to taking an interstate bus trip, your ego might take a hit at first. Bus stations like New York's Port Authority are notoriously scuzzy places, and your seatmate's personal hygiene habits might not measure up to your high standards. In many ways, however, Greyhound is competitive with the more elite methods of travel. The cheapest Amtrak ticket between New York and Washington, D.C. is about triple what you'd pay for the bus, and it barely saves you an hour. Flying is a lot faster, of course, but both airports are far from the city center. So swallow your pride, collect the change that has slipped beneath the couch cushions, and get traveling. You can use the money you saved to drink away the unpleasant memories of the journey when you get to your destination.

[Photo: Bargain John]

Related Stories:
· Greyhound Introduces New 'Travel Stimulus Package' [PR Newswire]
· Greyhound [Official Site]
· Bus Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

Greyhound / Bad Seatmates / Crime / Buses / → All Tags

Terrifying Travel: Bus Beheading Trial Moving Forward

Remember earlier this summer when horrified bus passengers in Canada watched as a guy allegedly stabbed and decapitated his 22-year-old seatmate? Well, a Manitoba court determined that the suspect in the case, Vince Weiguang Li, is mentally fit to stand trail.

While Li, who's been charged with second-degree murder, will see his case return to court on November 6, a defense attorney says there's more to it than just this psychiatric assessment:

I agree that he is fit to stand trial, but the issue is whether he is criminally responsible for his actions. My position would be in court that he's not criminally responsible for his actions and he did not know what he was doing was wrong.

It will be for a court to determine whether that's correct or not.

Related Stories:
· Canada Bus Beheading Suspect Can Stand Trial [AP, via Google]
· Staycation Travel: The Ultimate Bus Horror Story [Jaunted]

[Photo: Stephen Rees]

Greyhound / Bad Seatmates / Crime / → All Tags

Staycation Travel: The Ultimate Bus Horror Story

Your bus was late? The bathroom wasn't working? Your driver veered from lane to lane? We don't wanna hear it anymore. Nothing can compare to the horror story told by passengers on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba: They watched as one passenger decapitated another as he slept leaning against a window.

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Greyhound / Budget Travel / Bus Travel / Buses / → All Tags

First-Person Bus Reviews: Why I Actually Paid Greyhound More Money Than Necessary

Jaunted's own Ellen Wernecke just got back from a bus trip. Don't worry: She's recovering.

You know how they always say not to throw good money after bad? Nowhere can the adage be more keenly felt than at the Greyhound desk at the Port Authority in New York, where I decided to try out the veteran bus service's new "Priority Seating" offer.

For $5, I would get to board my bus to Boston first and stand in a special line and... that's it. So why would I pay for something I could just get if I waited long enough? Because I'm a sucker, and I will probably be a sucker again. Why would paying what amounts to a 20 percent surcharge on my already overpriced bus ticket be a good idea?

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Bus Travel / Greyhound / BoltBus / Buses / Deals / Budget Travel / David Leach / → All Tags

Greyhound CEO Promises to Save the Day as Buses and Stock Prices Crash

It's been a rough month for Greyhound. The bus line has been hit with multiple accidents, stranded passengers and money problems. Meanwhile, Greyhound CEO David Leach says that his company is going to be A-OK despite a plunging stock price and rising fuel costs--because the recession is a good thing for bus travel. Leach also thinks Greyhound has nothing to worry about despite rising competition from low cost rivals because he's got a "secret" new marketing strategy.

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Buses / Fare Wars / BoltBus / Megabus / NeOn / Greyhound / Budget Travel / → All Tags

Bus Travel: The $1 Fare Wars Continue

You know about Megabus. You know about BoltBus. But now Greyhound wants a piece of the $1 promo fare action, too. And not content to just offer short hops for a buck, the bus company is selling tickets between Toronto and New York for as little as $1 each way. Crazy.

We know what you're thinking: I wouldn't spend nine minutes on a Greyhound bus, let alone nine hours. But these special NeOn coaches will be tricked out with video entertainment, power plugs and free WiFi. One would hope the bus bathrooms will be working, too.

Obviously, this is a promotional price, though from May 22-25 every seat is going for $1. If you book in a hurry, you'll still be able to lock in fares as low as a buck for departures later this summer.

Related Stories:
· NeOn Booking Page [Official Site, via]
· First Person Bus Reviews: BoltBus [Jaunted]
· Fare Wars: Buses Battle for Your Stripper Money [Jaunted]