Most tourist packets are usually connected to bus rides. Being on a bus in our small country is not really a problem, but while travelling abroad or across Europe, it’s a good idea to be prepared for such a long journey – especially if it will take several days.
Night on bad roads (in some countries) are not a good thing, for most tragic accidents occur in such circumstances. It’s good to know, that usually the front seats on the chauffeur’s side are the most dangerous. Those who have trouble sleeping should not be near a TV set, for it might disturb them. If you get travelling sickness easily, you shouldn’t be near the wheels, for you’ll feel the bumps on the road more that way. It’s always advisable to have some snacks and drinks for a longer journey, and maybe a magazine or even a game. You should take care of personal comfort by wearing loose clothes and have a pillow with you to support your head for a nap. Since most buses have AC, you need to be prepared for low temperatures even in summertime, so you should have a pullover or a blanket with you.
A long drive can be tiresome both physically and mentally, so have regular breaks with stretching. It might be enough to get up and stretch your arms and legs, to get the blood circulating better. You should also try switching the sitting position and toning your leg and lower back muscles.
Always be on a lookout for petty thieves, for they are active on busses and bus stops. Never leave valuable objects without supervision. Take care of your cash and documents, that they should not be an easy grab for somebody. You might wake up to a big headache if you fall asleep with your wallet pointing out of your back-pack.
Travelling long distances with a bus (if alone), is cheaper than travelling by car. Compared to train it depends from a country to a country, so we should take the costs into consideration. Regular bus lines offer the possibility of booking a seat, but that means an extra cost for reservation – and some companies also charge extra for luggage. Extra costs can be arriving in late hours and the location of the last stop (it might be far from the city centre). Some bus companies also sell weekly or monthly passes for all their lines (such as Eurolines or Greyhoud). Purchasing such a pass is sensible only if we plan to travel a lot.