How to survive a long bus ride

Choose a reliable carrier

Before buying tickets, do a little research and familiarize yourself with the carrier’s reputation. Learn about transportation safety and service standards, and read reviews from other passengers.

Assess the safety of the route

Try to learn about the route you’ll be traveling using any available sources of information. If there are frequent bus derailments, robberies or other accidents along the route, it may be worth considering safer options. Or at the very least, choose a daytime departure time.

Download yourself movies, books, and a map of the area in advance

Keep in mind that you may not have internet: not all buses have on-board Wi-Fi. So prepare a playlist with your favorite music and download movies, TV series, podcasts and audiobooks to your device in advance.

Pack a bag with your essentials

Stack things in such a way that the most essential items are easy to reach. For example, it’s best to place food and drinks closer to the top so you don’t have to sort through all your luggage every time you grab a bite to eat. Put your most valuable items like money, documents and electronics in a small purse, wallet or backpack and keep them with you at all times without leaving them unattended.