Cheap Bus Tickets

Cheap bus tickets are available from both regional and nationwide bus systems. Travelers of all ages and lifestyles can experience big savings if they know where to look.

Cheap bus tickets can still mean high quality travel.

Bus travel is gaining in popularity as travelers start to realize the benefits over other forms of travel. Pleasure travelers enjoy the world streaming by their window. Business travelers enjoy the savings and the opportunity to work in comfort as they leisurely ride to or from their last presentation.

• Less costly and more convenient than airline travel - Bus travel is significantly less expensive than airline travel. Passengers also have the convenience of traveling directly to many smaller towns that would not be serviced by an airport.
• Less stressful and less expensive than auto travel – Business and pleasure travelers can sit back and enjoy the comfort of the bus and the vistas from the large bus windows without having to be stressed out with traffic congestion or the price of gasoline.

As the popularity of bus travel has increased, so have the many bus travel opportunities. Large nationwide carriers such as Greyhound and Trailways still play a commanding role in the number of bus passengers carried each year in the United States. However, smaller, more regionalized bus companies are also entering the picture to provide lower cost bus transportation. This increased competition has resulted in the increased availability of cheap bus tickets.

Cheap bus tickets can be found if you follow one of these four strategies:

• Look for special discounts
• Use a discount bus company
• Purchase your ticket early
• Purchase your ticket online

Greyhound offers special discounts that can amount to a sizeable fare reduction. For example:

• Child – Children under the age of two ride free and children ages two to twelve ride for 40 percent off the regular adult fare.
• Student – Students can ride for 15 percent off the unrestricted walk-up fare by showing their student travel discount card.
• Military – Active and retired military will receive a 10 percent discount off the unrestricted walk-up fare, up to a maximum of a $198 round trip anywhere in the continental United States. All children of military personnel receive a 40 percent discount.
• Veterans – All veterans receive 15 percent off unrestricted walk-up or online fares. Patients of Veteran's Administration or military hospitals receive a 25 percent discount on one-way fares.
• Seniors – Passengers age 62 and older will receive a 5 percent discount.

Discount bus companies are growing in popularity and have expanded their routes. They offer basic, low-cost service on high-traffic bus routes such as New York to Niagara Falls or Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Rates are often as little as one-fourth the price of airline travel to the same destination.

These low-frills providers save money by reducing their operations costs. They pick up passengers at pre-arranged bus stops instead of at bus stations. The driver sells the ticket and provides limited customer service help such as baggage loading. They usually only allow one bag per passenger, so you need to pack smart!

Some of the most popular discount bus companies include:

• BoltBus – This low cost bus service provide Wi-Fi connections and prides itself on a comfortable ride. Their prices are very low and, the earlier you book, the lower the fare.
• MegaBus – This company is owned by a large Scottish transportation company. It operates out of two hubs – Chicago which serves several Midwestern cities and New York City which serves several large cities in the north east. The rates are very cheap, with the first one to purchase a ticket often only paying $1 with rates increasing up until the bus leaves for its destination.
• ChinatownBus – This is a company encompassing many small bus companies that provide regional service out of several east coast and west coast cities. They were one of the original discount bus companies, providing very low cost service between major metropolitan areas. The customer service is minimal and drivers may only speak limited English.

As with most modes of transportation, purchasing tickets early can reduce the cost of the ticket. For example, Greyhound offers a 20 percent reduction off the regular ticket price if a passenger books seven days in advance on routes of 450 miles or less. This discount is not available in New York; however, New York Greyhound passengers can receive sizeable savings with the New York State Special if they book online 14 days in advance.

Purchasing a bus ticket online can often result in major savings. By using an online marketplace for bus tickets such as NeoTravel.com and Gotobus.com, a passenger can review the schedules, rates and pickup/drop off locations of many bus companies throughout the United States.

Greyhound offers a 10 percent discount for any bus ticket purchased online. This discount is in addition to the special discounts that they offer for age, student and military status.

With a little research or a willingness to give up a few conveniences such as a bus station, a passenger can enjoy major cost savings on their bus ride. Shop for the best rate combined with the most convenient schedule and pickup/drop off point. Since many of these discount bus carriers are local operators, it is always a good idea to check references. You can check references on any bus company by searching the Internet and the local Better Business Bureau for any negative comments.

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