If you are planning a family vacation or staycation and keeping to a tight budget, intercity buses are the fastest and perhaps the cheapest way to travel.
The only downside to traveling by bus for your family vacation is that bus trips are not always comfortable and can cause stress for adults, not to mention children.
We will tell you how to make sure that this does not happen.
How to Travel by Bus for Your Family Vacation Stress Free
No matter whether your trip is a family vacation or even a solo trip, going on holiday can be stressful. If you are planning to travel by bus for your family holiday, check out our top 6 tips to help make the vacation as stress-free as possible.
1. Take Into Account How Your Children Usually Enjoy Travel
First and foremost, consider how your child typically reacts when usually traveling for every day and shorter journeys.
If he gets sick in a car or does not enjoy the constraints of being on a plane, the likely outcome when traveling by bus will be the same.
Look at ways to break up the journey to the end destination. In 4–5 hours, you can safely drive to any city and look at various sights or architectural monuments to take a break and then perhaps catch another bus to continue the journey.
If the children fall asleep calmly in the car taking them on a long journey may be easier and traveling overnight is a great way to wake up in the morning in another corner of the country.
Traveling by bus means that it can cost you one and a half times less than a train or plane ticket.
2. Find a Comfortable Bus or Charter Bus Rental
Buses are divided into classes depending on the length of the vehicle. Regardless of age, transportation of children in interregional traffic is allowed on any of them.
Often on sites for buying tickets, there is a rating of carriers and passenger reviews – when choosing, you can focus on them.
Even though you do as much research ahead of traveling, there can also be surprises.
Sometimes carriers, if few tickets are sold for a bus route, send a small minibus instead of the large bus indicated on the website.
If this is a fundamental point for you, it is better to call the transport company on the eve of the trip just in case and clarify all the details. Then, if necessary, you can return or exchange tickets with minimal losses.
To avoid these unpleasant surprises, consider renting a bus.
Many corporate bus rental companies can help you choose any option you like. If you are going to travel in a big group, BCS Bus Charter rental will be very convenient.
3. Documentation That You May Need
There are no specific documents required for traveling by bus with children in the USA, but it is always advisable to have a form of identification for each traveler.
In general, it depends on the specific bus company’s policy. Some carriers allow children under 14 to travel on their own, while others may require an accompanying adult or a minimum age.
For children under the age of 18, it is recommended that they travel with a letter of consent from a parent or guardian if they are not accompanied by an adult.
It’s always best to check with the company bus service for their specific requirements.
4. What To Pack for the Bus Journey
- Food: Take with you a supply of drinking water and food so that your child can have snacks along the way. Easy-eating snacks such as apples or cookies are great.
- Medication: Be sure to take a first aid kit with a minimum set of medicines: painkillers, band-aids, wound disinfectant, wet and dry wipes, sanitizer, diapers (if necessary), diarrhea medicines, and a couple of small bags or in case the child does get sick on the way.
- Entertainment: To help your child not be bored during the journey, take toys, and books, and download cartoons to your tablet or smartphone. Don’t forget your headphones so you don’t disturb other passengers. If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, take those too, especially if you have a long trip ahead of you.
- Extra Set of Clothes: Anything can happen on the road so having a set of extra clothes to change into if need be is great to have close to hand.
- Travel Blanket: Buses can either be hot or cold, make sure to pack a travel blanket that is lightweight and portable so that you can pull it out when you need.
5. How To Get Ready for Your Trip
It is best to have a good night’s sleep the night before the journey. If any travelers suffer from motion sickness, take a pill in advance. Be sure to consult with your doctor or paediatrician beforehand to make sure you are getting the correct medical advice.
Think about what to wear. Clothing should be comfortable and loose-fitting, dress in layers so that you can easily take something off or put it on, shoes should also be easy to put on and take off.
Explain to your child where you’re going and why.
Tell your child how many exciting things await them at the end of the journey; this will help make the bus trip more exciting and fun.
6. Prepare for Stops Along the Bus Journey
As a rule, buses make several stops so that both the driver and passengers can take a break, have a snack, go to the toilet, and relax.
Usually, they are made in specially organized places – at gas stations, roadside cafes, and shopping centers where there is usually a toilet, a shop, and sometimes children’s rooms.
All stops are carried out according to a predetermined schedule. Make sure to explain to your child in advance that the bus cannot stop at every request and that it is better to go to the toilet at bus stops.
Final Thoughts
Use these 6 top tips to help you make your family vacation less stressful when traveling by bus. With careful planning and thought any family vacation can be fun and entertaining no matter the mode of transport.
