any experience of Greyhound?

[chloe 1]

Hi there everyone,

Just a quickie question, to hopefully gather some info, for when I plan my trip over on the K1.

My final destination is Atlanta, but Im planning on my POE being JFK, hopefully to get the temp work authorisation.

Ive been looking at the options of travelling from New York to Atlanta, and one route is via Greyhound...

Now, I know the flight is quicker, but I was thinking that 24 hours on a bus, could be fun.

Id like to see a few states, and my 7 year old would get a chance to see some of the US.

My only experience of a greyhound journey was from NY to NJ, a good few years back,

so I was wondering if anyone here has had experience of a long greyhound trip, and what it was like.

Services, facilities, potential hassle etc...

Many Thanks,

xchloe

Edited November 24, 2006 by chloe

[Kajikit 65]

Hi there everyone,

Just a quickie question, to hopefully gather some info, for when I plan my trip over on the K1.

My final destination is Atlanta, but Im planning on my POE being JFK, hopefully to get the temp work authorisation.

Ive been looking at the options of travelling from New York to Atlanta, and one route is via Greyhound...

Now, I know the flight is quicker, but I was thinking that 24 hours on a bus, could be fun.

Id like to see a few states, and my 7 year old would get a chance to see some of the US.

My only experience of a greyhound journey was from NY to NJ, a good few years back,

so I was wondering if anyone here has had experience of a long greyhound trip, and what it was like.

Services, facilities, potential hassle etc...

Many Thanks,

xchloe

I wouldn't call it 'fun'... we took a bus (not Greyhound) from Madison to Chicago and it was fine, but our hotel driver accidentally dropped us off at the Greyhound terminal instead of the bus stop where we needed to be, and the terminal was FILTHY, and none of the people behind the counter would even help us beyond telling us to call a taxi because our ticket wasn't for Greyhound (thank God)

Our bus ride was 5 hours long and it wasn't a bad experience, but I really wouldn't want to take a longer one.

[mybackpages 0]

Try this site to plan your schedule. The ride from NYC to Atlanta is about 20 hours. (a car could do it in about 12-13 hours). You may or may not have to make transfers. It's not the best way to travel. Maybe fly and then take a family road trip once you settle in?

http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp

[SoL. 0]

Hi,

I don't recommend it specially if you are traveling with a 7 year old kid. I did it once and I don't have good memories from that trip. The drivers are pretty rude and the terminals filthy.... Just my $0.02.

I'd rather pay the extra $ for the plane

Edited November 25, 2006 by Sol-de-Verano

[Alex+R 0]

Pay for the plane! Pay for the plane! Unless your seven-year-old is reaaaalllyyyy exceptionally patient, easily amused and quiet (and so are you), this is not going to be a good experience.

Madison to Chicago I've done too, and Madison to Minneapolis via Greyhound, and the experience wasn't awful. But it was six hours long.

I took a train for 20 hours once from Chicago to NYC and it was one of the worst travel experiences of my life. I was 20 years old, and I don't know how much better a 7-year-old would fare.

Also, there isn't much "America" to see from the freeway. Which is what your very slow Greyhound bus will be on.

Sorry if I'm coming on a little strong here, but I think you'd have an awful time taking this travel option.

PS also consider that the only bathroom available is in the back of the bus or in a filthy Greyhound terminal.

Seriously, long travel of just sitting in a seat staring forward is actually really awful.

[chloe 1]

American Airlines it is , then!!!

thanks for all your experiences, I think Ill get the plane...lol

x Chloe

[fozzie 41]

I've done plenty of long bus trips but I seriously wouldn't reccomend it if you can afford not too!! Especially with a kid in tow. The only time i have ever not dispised long bus journeys was when i was on a bus with fuly reclining seats, a meal, movies, and drinks (inc champagne). Oh....and the lady who is now my wife!

If you want to see some of America why not take a series of shorter trips to places you want to see along the way. Stay in a motel and have aday to explore and your 7 yr old will not go nuts with boredom.

[payxibka 10,047]

Hi there everyone,

Just a quickie question, to hopefully gather some info, for when I plan my trip over on the K1.

My final destination is Atlanta, but Im planning on my POE being JFK, hopefully to get the temp work authorisation.

Ive been looking at the options of travelling from New York to Atlanta, and one route is via Greyhound...

Now, I know the flight is quicker, but I was thinking that 24 hours on a bus, could be fun.

Id like to see a few states, and my 7 year old would get a chance to see some of the US.

My only experience of a greyhound journey was from NY to NJ, a good few years back,

so I was wondering if anyone here has had experience of a long greyhound trip, and what it was like.

Services, facilities, potential hassle etc...

Many Thanks,

xchloe

Plane, train, automobile and then bus in that order.....

[Mags 112]

Yeah, I'm not really looking forward to a 9 hour plane journey with my 12 year old and he's pretty well behaved. I'd hate to then do another 7 hours on a bus!

Edited November 25, 2006 by mags

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Greyhound sucks

[sparkofcreation 0]

I've taken Greyhound from Williamsburg, VA, to Pittsburgh a few times. The seats are much more cramped than you see on buses in other countries, and if you're not going between two hubs, you'll spend hours waiting in dirty, cramped terminals with no seats. The only reason I did it was that they're such out-of-the-way places that it was faster (11 hours versus 14) and cheaper than taking the train, and I couldn't afford to fly.

If you want your son to see the US, try Amtrak.

[edsperfect 25]

Hi,

I don't recommend it specially if you are traveling with a 7 year old kid. I did it once and I don't have good memories from that trip. The drivers are pretty rude and the terminals filthy.... Just my $0.02.

I'd rather pay the extra $ for the plane

Riding a greyhound for more than 2 hours could never be cconsidered fun. You might save a few dollars but then you are going to have to eat in diners all ther way to Atlanta. You are also going to have to get from JFK to the Bus station with luggage and a small kid. By the time you pay for aoo that you won't sdave a dime, will be aggravated like hell because of the bus, trip, kid, stops, food and much more.

TAKE A PLANE

[Fandango 1,440]

How about Amtrak?

[Nikita2Charles 32]

After a cross atlantic flight, I wouldn't recommend to take another long bus ride, maybe if you were traveling solo, but with a child I would no no, their attention span can only be stretch to a certain extent, Unless your partner was picking you up in NY then stay in the city for night, look around town and both of you drive to Atlanta I would consider it. From JFK you would have to take a taxi to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in 42nd street in Manhattan, I recall they had a flat fare for taxi going from JFK to the city, I am not sure if it's still the case. At the Port Authority Bus terminal you will have lot of options not just Greyhound for the eastern Corridor you have several bus companies, Peter Pan, Bonanza, Greyhound, but for Atlanta i am not sure what options you would have. Amtrack might even be a better options since it's a train ride but my 2 cents, FLY to Atlanta, if you look around early enough you can find really cheap flight from NY to Atlanta, AIR TRAN has some nice offers at time, it's a competitive route you never know what fare you might find. Either way Have a save journey.

Edited November 27, 2006 by Nikita2Charles

[CarolineM 0]

Amtrack is the MUCH better option.

A few years ago, Stewart hopped a Greyhound from NC down to FL to see me. About halfway through the trip - the bus was surrounded by a SWAT team - they pulled over, and guns blazing boarded the bus - they apprehended someone off of the FBI's most wanted list. Stewart will never ride a greyhound again.

I've had MANY pleasant experiences with Amtrak, but I kinda agree - spring for the plane. You'll be glad you did.