I wrote this post on the bus on the way home from Winkies and saved it to post sometime. At least two other people used Greyhound to get to Winkies this year and I had some suggestions I wish I could have shared with them ahead of time. While it might be awhile before you might be using the advice here, I thought it might be worth posting sooner than later.
I recall that my mother once told me she saw
a Greyhound bus with a celebratory Wizard of Oz wrap decorating it.
I've never seen further confirmation, but it is true that Greyhound
is an option to get you to your favorite Oz events. Perhaps you don't
want to drive your car that far, or perhaps you don't want to fly, or
maybe you've deemed it the more viable option over Amtrak.
But anyway, whether you're traveling
from another city or halfway across the country, having traveled to
Winkies by this service for five years, I have some advice.
ARRIVE EARLY
Greyhound is notorious for running
late. Don't aim for a tight arrival and travel to location time.
Choose an earlier route so you aren't pressed for time on arrival. I
now attempt to arrive at least the day before the event so if I'm
late, I'm not missing anything.
THE TICKET COST IS JUST ONE COST
The cost of your ticket can be quite
nice compared to competitors. However, Greyhound will only get you to
your destination. However, you will want a snack or a drink at some
point, unless your trip is only a few hours. Greyhound does make
stops to allow you to purchase food. Alternatively, you can bring
your own snacks, but note that you will have to carry these in your
carry on and you're allowed one piece. So, budget for stops or
prepare something to take along.
PATIENCE
As said, Greyhound is notorious for
running late. While sometimes the driver might have gone a different
route or made a mistake, more often than not, it's out of their
hands. Losing your cool at the driver can have consequences,
including being stranded or further delayed.
You are also going to be traveling on a bus with other people. Sometimes you will have to share a seat with someone or be subject to loud passengers or even rowdy children. If you are traveling alone, you might want to bring some headphones and a music player to drown out the sounds a bit.
Always be courteous to other
passengers. If they're not so courteous, ignore them and try to enjoy the trip as best as you can. There's no point in starting a war on the bus.
BAGGAGE
If you're carrying luggage (and you
probably are) ALWAYS make sure it's transferred when you change
buses. Unless they explicitly tell you they are moving it for you,
claim it and carry it to your new bus yourself. Lost luggage from not
being claimed usually arrives on the next trip, but they are
notorious for not notifying you unless you actually visit. A little
vigilance goes a long way towards saving you trouble here.
If you're bringing something for sale
and you can't fit it with your luggage, you might arrange to ship it
to someone to bring, or Greyhound offers a package service and can
ship it with you for a fee. Definitely do not attempt to transport
fragile items like this.
Finally, if you have a lot of new
treasures to take home, you might consider shipping them through the
mail if they can't fit in your luggage.
RESEARCH LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Greyhound only travels from station to
station, so once you arrive, you still have to get to the site of the
event yourself. You could get a taxi, or maybe someone else going
might help you out, but a cost effective way is to check local public
transportation. It's never been easier as Google Maps has the routes
of many public transportation systems added to their site and even
tells you how much the fare will be.
Most smartphones have Google Maps and
other navigation apps to help you find your way using GPS capability.
For those without a smartphone, you can look up directions ahead of
time and print them out.
Definitely do your research ahead of
time. A good number of Greyhound stations are adjacent to public
transportation, but this is not a rule. You don't want to get there
and wonder what to do next.
If you are traveling with a lot of
luggage, then I'd definitely suggest calling a cab. You should
research services and prices ahead of time.
Note: if you'd like to try asking a friend who is also attending to pick you up, ask around and make plans quite a bit of time in advance (try a month or two), and it's always nice if you can chip in a little for gas. Don't blame a friend if they can't do it. In many cases, they have their plans, and so do you, and sometimes they don't quite work well with each other.
OTHER TIPS
If you use your phone quite a bit, I
would recommend investing in a portable power bank to give it an
extra charge. A lot of new Greyhound buses include outlets for
charging devices (and so-so WiFi), but not all do and some of these
outlets (and WiFi) prove faulty. They do not promise these services, so you really shouldn't complain if you find you can't use these amenities or if they are not available on your bus. A number of stations also offer free WiFi and charging stations, so if you need to watch your data plan, you might want to limit your phone use to when you're at one.
If you often get headaches or nauseous,
carry some cheap ibuprofen and bismuth tablets. Some supermarkets and
grocery stores sell value brand packages of these for as low as $1
each. (Note: I do not suggest abuse of over-the-counter medication. Use only as directed and if you're not sure if it's safe for you, consult a doctor.)
Enjoy the view of the country!
