First Time Greyhound rider......tips?

Question

So next weekend, I'll be taking a 5 and a half hour greyhound trip for the first time. I have a couple of questions.......First of all, I notice they have baggage limits.... I was planning on taking a medium and a small suitcase to store below the bus, and bringing a backpack and laptop carry case as carry on....Oh, and I wanted to bring my pillow on the bus too.... . Will I need to pay extra?

My second question is that...... I noticed there is A LOT of prohibited items, even if you dont carry them on. Like... razors? Can I seriously not bring a razor in my suitcase which will be stored in the buses storage compartment?

And my last question I guess is concerning safety. I'll be traveling in the morning from Minneapolis to Wisconsin. I've heard crazy stories.....but what are your tips for staying safe? Besides staying awake on the bus.

Answer 1

www.greyhound.com/baggage information/prohibited items. On page 1 it states you can take safety razors in carry on and checked baggage. On page 2 it states you cannot take razor TYPE blades. Read the lists more carefully. As to your pillow, call them and ask them, they might not let you carry a third item aboard. Can you stuff it in the backpack? It seems as if Greyhound stations, especially in large cities, are in parts of town one would usually avoid. Watch your stuff at all times. I'm sure you'll meet some "interesting" people.

Answer 2

I used to be a regular Greyhound traveler in the past, but I haven't been on it recently, so I am not sure as to the baggage limits nowadays.  I used to take 2 wheeled suitcases for underneath, and my carry-ons were a suitcase and laptop bag for the overhead compartments. I did not take a pillow, but surely, they wouldn't count such a thing as a 3rd piece? Calling the station and asking may definitely be a good idea.

It is a terribly boring ride, but 5.5 hours should be bearable. I have taken the bus cross-country many times, spanning days. My one advice to you is to avoid using the bathroom as much as possible. It can be absolutely horrifying there. Plus, the aisle is SO narrow, that it is difficult to get to the bathroom without tripping on someone or something. Another bit of advice is that if the driver stops to give you a break (at a McDonald's or similar place), make sure you get back on the bus as soon as you can. I have seen many cases where people got left behind, with all their belongings still on the bus. The driver will tell you, "Be back on the bus in 15 minutes, or you get left behind."

Also, I have seen many cases of people standing on the bus when they run out of seats, and that is definitely something you want to avoid.  You will probably not encounter that problem, as you are departing from a real station. If you were to be picked up at a stop somewhere by an already full bus, you would be standing. And sometimes for a LONG time. But just to be sure, I would literally rush up to as close to the front of the line as possible when they start boarding. Just to secure a seat. If you ride the Metro Transit bus in the Twin Cities, you probably know that any potential trouble-makers sit in the backseats. I would aim for something up close to the driver. I always find that sitting at the front of the bus is better temperature-wise, and the air is cleaner. If you leave in the early morning, the back of the bus can smell awful (some ghastly mixture of morning breath and BO).

I think the worst case scenario you could encounter with the Greyhound is if you have to transfer busses at any point, and your first bus is so late (due to rush hour, etc.) that you miss your second bus. You probably won't have to transfer for your particular trip, but if your itinerary says you do have to change busses at some point, make sure you stay alert.

If you have headphones or just decide to nap, your trip should be faster. Sometimes, the most annoying thing might actually be the harmless guy sitting next to you, trying to talk to you. And in being polite, you end up having to talk to him the entire way. I always used to put my headphones on the moment I sat down and leaned into the window.

I have traveled from the Minneapolis station a few times -- my brother went to MCAD. I remember a lot of Univ. students were onboard to go home to Milwaukee. I actually thought the Minneapolis station was lovely and in a nice part of downtown. It's an excellent station to depart from. All in all, I am sure you will find the Greyhound an affordable alternative and a convenient one. Good luck to you!