Traveling on a bus overnight is thought of as a daunting and dreaded experience. But really, it has its benefits. Budget travelers can save on a night’s accommodation. For those in a rush, it can save them valuable daylight hours.
Temperatures on Overnight Buses
It does not matter how hot one is before they get on the bus, how hot the country is or how long it has been since a budget traveler has actually been cold on their trip. Bring warm clothes on an overnight bus trip. The most unexpected buses and countries seem to have the air conditioning stuck on high. There is nothing more miserable than being unable to sleep on a bus because it is too cold. Do not underestimate this. And worst-case scenario, if one does not need the warm clothes for temperature regulation, they can be used as pillows.
Where to Sit on an Overnight Bus Journey
To ease the bumpiness of the ride, it is good to sit over the wheels which will absorb some of the shock. Sitting up front tends to be safer for the solo traveler because the bus driver and conductor are there to keep an eye on things, but the rear is less crowed. The rear of the bus is usually the bumpiest part of the ride but the odds of a budget traveler having a seat to themselves in the back of the bus are higher. If there is a bathroom on the bus, keep in mind that if one sits next to it or near it, they will be bumped during the night by passengers headed to use the bathroom.
The Best Food to Bring on an Overnight Bus Trip
Besides the obvious chips and cookies what to bring on a long distance bus trip to eat can be limited. Health conscious travelers may want to stock up on nuts and dried fruit. Sandwiches are always a good idea but hard to keep intact on a long bus ride. Other ideas of food to bring on an overnight bus are hardboiled eggs, granola, yogurt, apples, granola bars, trail mix and cut up veggies. It is a great opportunity to meet locals if one brings enough to share with seatmates. Always bring plenty of drinking water.
Checklist for What to Bring on an Overnight Bus Ride
- Warm clothes
- Earplugs
- Water
- Food
- MP3 player
- Books
- Eye mask (to sleep when its light out)
- Cushion (for bumpier roads)
- Mosquito repellent (depending on the country traveling in)
- Sleeping pills if necessary
The prepared traveler can have a comfortable and even fun overnight bus trip. And if things go poorly, some of the most rewarding times for traveling can be re-counting the bad things that happened later! Remember that half the fun of a trip is the journey itself.
