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ksea's avatar

Greyhound offers a 60 day US-CAN bus pass, would you do that with a friend?

Asked by ksea (72points) March 24th, 2009

GREYHOUND DISCOVERY PASS – 60DAY $750.00 That’s 12.5USD per day, what would it be like to circumnavigate the US-CAN in sixty days?

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17 Answers

dynamicduo's avatar

Considering the amount of time you would be on the bus traveling, and considering you would be limited to voyaging wherever Greyhound goes. I’m not really sure if that’s worth it in my mind. Plus you would have to spend money on cabs, or learn different public transport systems for each stop, to go from the terminal to any interesting places in the city.

TenaciousDenny's avatar

Greyhound is one of my company’s sister companies, so I think everyone here should do it.

marinelife's avatar

My brother recently crossed the U.S. on Greyhound. It took six days. He said to me, “I will never do that again.” I offer that for what it is worth.

There is also this rather gruesome incident.

dynamicduo's avatar

@Marina – Guess what! Our Canadian government has chosen NOT to prosecute that Greyhound killer. Instead, I, the taxpayer, get to pay for him to be locked in jail and rehabilitated for the rest of his life. The government says that going onto a bus with a serrated hunting knife in your bag and attacking a random person with it does not demonstrate murderous intent.

Dr_C's avatar

is that an invitation?

Lightlyseared's avatar

Yes I’d love to do this sort of thing and end up in all sorts of out of the way places (Perfection, New Mexico for example).

marinelife's avatar

@dynamicduo I did not know that. I am shocked. On the other hand, there are many other things I like about the Canadian system of justice, particularly curbing the media while cases are in process.

YARNLADY's avatar

If it were a lot less $$, I would be interested. I’m thinking more like $300. I would buy a pass at that amoutn.

ksea's avatar

@dynamicduo sounds like bus isn’t your idea of fun.

erinstlou's avatar

It’s been awhile since I rode Greyhound – all I remember is uncomfortable seats (my legs are too long), crying babies and stinky people – me included. However, if I wanted to disappear for a couple months – riding a bus is certainly somewhere no one would look for me :)

ksea's avatar

it’s just an idea, and I’m still interested because it’s wierd.

YARNLADY's avatar

Yes, I would love to, but only if someone pays my way, or the prices come way down.

ksea's avatar

i get the price consideration, but at 12.5USD per day @ 60 days, i can’t figure if it’s fun or foolish, how can you evaluate the deal?? even useing the bus to sleep at night is cheaper than hotels and you get somewhere while you sleep?

YARNLADY's avatar

When you look at the daily cost, it does look like a good deal, but I would have a hard time coming up with the full price.

buster's avatar

Im going to do the 30 day pass this summer from Tennessee to definitely Colorado, Arizona, Cali, Oregon, Washington, and maybe B.C. Im excited. I like getting out in strange cities with my backpack and skateboard and getting lost.

shaun_de_leer's avatar

I normally road-tour with a converted Merc Sprinter van in Europe but Greyhound is good in the US due to the distances/reliability – been round four times now by bus and train. It works well if you want to actually see something of the country and people, but can be cramped if you’re planning to use the bus as an overnight accommodation option. Not withstanding Greyhound gets 5 stars in terms of doing what it says on the can and you can’t take that away from them. Problem here is the $750 cost – yes – only $12.50/day – however most people will be wanting to use that pass only once or twice very few days or even once a week – so then the cost becomes high pro-rata to the usage amount. I’d say it’s just about possible to get full value out of the 30 day pass before exhaustion sets in – but that Greyhound have got it wrong by charging so much more for a 60 day pass. Given that bus-pass holders are tending to use up vacant seats for Greyhound most of the time, I would say that $300 is about right for a 30 day pass and 400–450 tops for a 60 day pass. 750 is too high – particularly if there are two of you or you’re quite handy with tools and so on – better to buy a used Dodge minivan with 15 seats, windows all round and a towbar for 1500 fro US Autotrader or Ebay – add an old caravan to tow behind for 200–300 dollars from Ebay and collect up some tools from a yard sale or carboot. Convert the Dodge into a campervan using the innards of the caravan that you are towing behind – turn that caravan into a box trailer for carboot sales as you go – create a complete carboot compliment inc spare seats from Dodge by collecting up at end of carboots from give away sellers etc. Sell the box trailer and improved Dodge camper van condition for $200 + $2000–3000 depending on how good a job you do of fitting the caravan stuff into the Dodge camper. Through having the van/camper with you 24/60 you can get a good night’s sleep anytime anywhere without ever having to pay for any type of campsite/motel/restaurant etc. The $750 bus-pass includes none of those costs.

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