It may seem strange to you the very idea that you will have to "survive" on the bus while traveling, but believe me: the road from point A to point B, which seemed very short on the map, will in fact turn out to be exhausting, exhausting uncomfortable posture, stuffy-windy night moving.
Of course, bus transfers have several huge advantages that so entice tourists: you really get where you need to, and do not pay too much, you sleep while driving and do not spend money on hotels. It seems that here it is - perfect option, special offer and golden mean... Well, this may be true, but we all recommend reading our tips so as not to turn this night move into a nightmare.
In this article, we have collected tips on how to get to your destination as alive, healthy and cheerful as possible. Let's face it, if bus seats were more comfortable than beds, we would have given up on hotels altogether, but this is not happening.
Deciding whether to go by bus or not.
Here are just a few factors to consider when making this decision:
Safety
Don't underestimate the stories you hear from your travel friends, people on the internet, or your aunt who is afraid for you. If you are told that buses sometimes fly off the road, or that they are attacked by armed gangs, you should conduct a mini-research and determine which of these is true and to what extent. Of course, no one likes alarmists, especially those who like to exaggerate from scratch, but this does not mean that there is not a grain of truth in their words. It is better to know in advance that the country in which you will travel is safe and calm, the drivers change and have enough time to rest - then it will be easier for you to decide.
Time and money
You will significantly save time on the fact that you will move in space while you sleep and wake up in a new place, and you will definitely save money on this, because a bus is a unique combination of a place of residence and vehicle... But look at such a move from afar: how much will a domestic flight cost? Sometimes it happens that an inconvenient night transfer by bus, leaving shortly before midnight, is even more expensive than a two-hour flight by plane, if you book your ticket in advance. Remember that planning early can save more than giving up on your comfort, and always check ahead of time to see if there are other options - you don't know the nuances that greatly affect the price.
Comfort
This is where the worst and most acrimonious stories you hear begin. Shakes violently? Are you seasick? Closely? Is it stuffy? Is it blowing? A trip on dirt roads would be worth showing in humorous TV shows, but believe me, after a seven-hour ride in bouncing mode on sadistically uncomfortable chairs with sharp and uncomfortable protruding armrests, you will not be at all funny. In addition, regardless of the name of the carrier whose services you use, you need to look at the number seats... How comfortable will you be able to sit if there are forty-five people on the bus besides you? Not very convenient. Often, there is an option to choose a seat inside the bus. Remember that the most comfortable seats are usually in the front and on the second floor (if the bus is double-decker, of course).
So, let's say that you still appreciate all three of these critical factors and are ready to try traveling by bus with night crossings. From this moment the chain of your adventures begins.
So, practical advice for moving and baggage:
At the bus station
Usually bus tours are calculated so that crossings fall at night, so the departure takes place late in the evening. This means that you, completely hung with bags and with luggage in each hand and under your arms, will have to end up at the bus station. And here is the most important advice about your luggage: keep in touch with it constantly. Visual and physical contact. Better, of course, to keep physical contact with each of the bags and suitcases, but this can be difficult. The most comfortable position: your main luggage is in front of you, or you are sitting on it, and your hand luggage (in which today it is customary to put various electronic devices) - in your hands. Documents and other important, but small things should be on the chest.
This advice may seem stupid and even paranoid, but this is where you exercise maximum control over your luggage. No one will be able to sneak up on you unnoticed and just as unnoticed leave with your things. Be aware that according to statistics, everyone, absolutely everyone, who had any things stolen at bus stations, lost them just because they did not follow the things at the time of theft. Do not repeat their mistake and do not add sad statistics.
In the bus
And finally, they announced boarding the bus, you enter, see your pre-selected dream seat by the window, settle down, try to sit this way and that, you understand that the place is really comfortable ... Stop! Let's slow down at this moment. Know that it is easiest to be a victim of theft - even before the bus even starts! When you get on the bus for the first time, you still do not even know which of all these people is in reality your travel companion and who is your escort. And after all, among the people seeing off, there may well be a lover of taking someone else's out of bags while stowing the luggage of his imaginary mother who is traveling with you on the same flight. And it is easiest for him to hide, because the bus will take you somewhere far away, where you will find the loss, and he will remain here and will be free to disappear in any direction. Be very careful. Take all the most valuable and important things with you in your carry-on baggage, and place the carry-on baggage in front of your feet or even hold it in your hands until the bus starts to move.
But when the bus starts to move, the situation will be much better in terms of luggage. After all, you are now locked in one space, so trying to commit any illegal actions here is a hopeless undertaking. And now you, together with forty-five other seekers of new sensations, begin to experience all the hardships and hardships of moving by bus, gradually gaining mutual understanding and forming a “road brotherhood”.
What to bring and what to wear
Clothing and food
Think of the bus ride, despite its seeming simplicity, as a small expedition in extreme conditions for survival. You will need to dress in layers. What does it mean? This means that you must arrange the order of different forms of clothing for all possible weather and temperature conditions and put all these forms of clothing on yourself, or keep them in close proximity. At the very least, you need to minimize changing clothes - after all, doing this on the bus is very inconvenient and unpleasant. You will sleep on the bus, so be sure to think about what you need in a dream: a blanket or a blanket, a travel air pillow, or your long jacket will be enough for you, which will perform its usual role during the day and the role of a blanket at night. You will most likely need water along the way. It is better to take water with you in bottles with a narrow neck and not fill it up with a “slide”, otherwise you may unexpectedly take a small shower on bumps. Afraid of motion sickness? Don't forget to take your pills with you. If you want to put on makeup - take your makeup with you. As for food, try not to take with you food that will be difficult or inconvenient to eat - this not only increases the number of items that you take with you to the salon, but also makes the eating process extremely inconvenient.
Other
You will most likely need something to keep you entertained on the road. It is very good if your friend will play this role, but remember that the MP3 player takes up much less space and never goes into conflict. Bring earplugs with you - they will protect your light sleep from snoring from the next seat, crying babies, loud skirmishes of other passengers, loud TV sound and even the rattle and squeak of the clutch that accompany some particularly "pumped" buses. Do not forget a sleep mask, which will not only add some mystery to your appearance, but also protect you from the useless knowledge of how close the oncoming lights fly from your bus traffic flow... Perhaps, it's not worth mentioning toilet paper - it should be your faithful companion anyway, always and everywhere, because, in addition to its main task, it will be used for wiping, soaking, collecting everything that you spill or spill. And if it suddenly becomes unbearably cold, then toilet paper will serve as an excellent means for starting a fire (but, of course, not in the cabin of the bus).
Sleep positions
How exactly should you sleep if you have injured your shoulder so that it heals faster? The question does not make sense until another question is resolved: how exactly can the immutability of the sleeping person's posture be controlled? Whoever answers this question most likely will not need money for the rest of his life. So you won't be able to control your posture on the bus, but you know that you can try:
Straight and relaxed. Sit in the chair the way you sat: legs down, head up. Lack of lumbar support will cause back pain, but no one will look at you with suspicion.
Shrimp pose. Fold the back of the seat back as far as possible and lie on one side, bent at the waist and pulling your legs towards you. If your neighbor (or better, if your neighbor is your significant other, or at least a friend) does not decide to sleep in the same way, you will be completely closed off from the world. In this position, your neck is likely to feel numb, but your back will not hurt.
On the back of a neighbor. If the back of the next seat is installed higher than yours, you can use its end as a cushion. This is not very comfortable in terms of shaking, so use something as a pillow.
In the spacer. Pull your knees up and rest them against the back of the front seat, and sit down yourself. Please note that this will annoy the person sitting in front of you, so you need to do it timidly and carefully, smoothly so that he does not notice. Attention! If the person sitting in front changes the position of the back, you risk either being pinned to your own knees, or falling to the floor. In addition, it is in this position that little things fall out of the pockets.
Night stops
At some point in the night, or early in the morning, the bus will have to stop to replenish water supplies, go to the toilet and more. In case of a stop, you will most likely want to go for a walk. If you go out, remember the most important rule: keep eye contact. In addition, if there are several buses at this stop besides yours, remember the obvious signs of your particular bus (red stripe all over the board, for example) in order to quickly identify it among others. If you are traveling alone, always keep in the field of attention the passenger who says in a pleading voice: "Please do not leave without me."
Arrival
And now, you have finally arrived at your destination. At this moment, you need to smoothly get out of the chosen sleeping position and bring yourself into the waking position. Now you need to quickly check your belongings and the people with whom you entered the bus. Disembark from the bus, but stay alert and keep an eye on everything, despite feeling unwell after sleep. Get your luggage in its entirety, check that everything that you put at the beginning of the trip has reached its end, and go to the city. Your journey is over, you deserve a shower and peace.
Hello dear friends. A couple of days after the wedding, we were going on a honeymoon trip closer to the mountains and the sea. Without thinking twice, we went to rest in the city of Gelendzhik. Since we were in no hurry, we chose the train as our means of transportation. Those who have ever traveled on long-distance trains know that in order not to die of boredom, you need to do something. Okay, if you do not go half a day, and even sat down at night, and in the morning already in the city you need. We had to go for two and a half days, and therefore the problem of what to do on the train this time hung over us!
1. Conversation with a loved one
First of all, this applies to those who are not traveling alone, but with friends. I went with my beloved wife. We had a lot to talk about, about what: where we will go and where we will visit.
2. Conversation with fellow travelers
A great excuse to make an acquaintance. Perhaps in the future you will become friends or you will have a new hobby. What if you learn something new, about the place where you are going or about the places where the interlocutor is from. Or they will share with you an interesting life experience. Don't miss this opportunity!
3. Acquaintance with a representative of the opposite sex
Great for single people. The train car is not a place to meet. Who knows, maybe you will find a soul mate here to spend your life with!
4. Electronic communication
If you do not like the neighbors, are tired of communicating with them, or you are so shy that it is difficult to meet and talk with fellow travelers, then feel free to communicate with friends and family via SMS, ICQ social networks. The main thing is for the gadget to stay connected.
What to do on the train, how not to sleep, but sleep is an important and useful activity. For those who often whine that they are not getting enough sleep, it is a great opportunity to finally get some sleep longer. If suddenly the ambient noise bothers you, put earplugs in your ears and go to sleep!
There was still no man who eats only air! 😀 We are all living people and we need food! Sitting at a table, get food supplies and eat.
7. Listen to music
Pump up music on your phone and music players before driving and sit and listen until you reach your destination. In addition to music, download audiobooks and listen, educate yourself! Well, here as you like.
8. Playing cards
A popular game of cards can rightfully be considered a game of the fool. Play with your friends or neighbors you just met. If there are no cards, it doesn't matter, look around. I'm sure that at least one company plays for the whole car. Do not hesitate to ask to play together, I think you will not be denied.
9. Play electronic games
If you have your phone, laptop or PSP with you, why not play. The main thing is that the battery lasts for a long time. Although modern carriages have no problems with charging their electronic gadgets.
10. Watching a movie, favorite TV series
If you have already taken electronic gadgets with you. Why not watch your favorite TV series on the road. If at home on the sofa watching the TV time does not fly by, then why not take advantage of this idea here.
11. Reading a book, magazine
You will have a great time if you took a book with you or bought an interesting magazine on the way. It's time to read. Reading didn’t harm anyone, but on the contrary, it did good. Personally, I took Freud's book with me. For me, as a techie, such books are taken hard. Only 75 pages will be mastered for the trip. Why didn't I take something from technical literature, or at least from adventures.
12. Drawing
Great job even if you are not an artist! The main thing is not to forget to take paper and pencils with you. If suddenly you are eating with a child, then do not forget to take a coloring book with you. A good way to keep your child busy for a couple of hours and remember his youth! 😀
13. Study, self-education
14. Personal diary
In case you are keeping a diary, then this is an opportunity to write something new or read the old one and remember what happened to you last week.
15. Planning
Spend a lot of free time planning your trip, vacation, or the current year. While driving, we thought about where and when it is better to go, what to see, where to go.
16. Look out the window
Since childhood, Lenka and I cannot be taken away from the window when we go to new places. For some reason, it seems to me that it will be interesting for you to sit and just look out the window. Observe how nature changes in different areas. Look at the towns passing by, appreciate the architecture and observe the life of local people.
17. Folding origami figures
If suddenly you took a certain number of sheets of paper with you, put the figures of cranes, frogs, fish and whatever your heart desires. Great train experience.
18. Solving puzzles
Have a puzzle with you, make your brain work. For example, those who go numb to solve the Rubik's Cube will spend hours on it. Combinations to collect a great variety. When I got this cube for the first time, I sat for a day to collect it completely. It's a pity I didn't think to take it with me on the train.
19. Memories
Lying on your bed, remember what happened to you over the past month. After thinking about it, draw the appropriate conclusions. If you do this constantly, you can in the future
20. Body workouts
Believe it or not, it is possible to train your body even in the carriage. The main thing is to turn on the imagination. At least pump up the press and do push-ups, you can calmly.
21. Needlework
Cross-stitching, knitting, weaving bracelets, all this can be done on the train, and why not. All this can be done on the train. You can knit socks in 2.5 days! 😀
22. Gnaw on seeds
Believe it or not, turning gray and gnawing on seeds can also kill a couple of hours. Seeds are such an infection that it is difficult to stop until they run out. So take a package with you and more!
23. Solving crosswords
Still thinking about what to do on the train, when everything is tired, get out at the nearest parking lot and buy yourself a crossword puzzle and sit and tell fortunes. You can also connect your neighbors if you find it difficult to answer some questions.
24. Sex, kisses, hugs
If you are eating in a compartment together with your beloved half, then why not do it. Sex is like communication, time will fly by! 😀
25. Work
If you go somewhere for work, then partly, if possible, do it on the train. And if suddenly you are a freelancer, then spend this huge amount of time doing your current job.
26. Write poetry, stories, blog posts
If I were traveling alone, and even home from vacation, I would definitely start writing posts in my favorite photo blog.
27. Take a walk at the bus stop
Be sure to get off the train at long stops for a walk! It’s very difficult for me to sit and lie for days on end. And a breath of fresh air and a walk did not stop anyone. When leaving the car, be sure to ask the conductor how long the parking lasts at the station, and then, depending on the time, decide how far you can walk.
I think it's time to stop there, or even so I wrote 27 points. If you are suddenly planning to travel somewhere by train, be sure to read this post again to refresh your memory of what to do on the train. Do not take the time that you have to spend on the way with bitterness, but take it as a gift, and use it wisely! If you suddenly have new ideas, be sure to leave them in the comments!
If you liked my article, or find it useful and interesting, then be sure to share it with your friends on your social networks:
Not all notions that are recommended for travelers on the road are suitable for traveling on a bus, because there is no place in it to play cards of cards, play checkers or backgammon, solve crosswords. After next to seats bags with small luggage or souvenirs appear, there is no free space at all. Compact gaming gadgets are suitable for the bus if you are interested in such entertainment.
Step 2
If electronic toys do not belong to your hobby, then time will brighten up reading literature, both specialized, for example, in the field of work, and fiction. If you don't want to strain your eyes, pay attention to audiobooks that can be downloaded to your phone or tablet. Headphones will protect you from extraneous noise, and listening to the audio performance will give you pleasure, because in everyday life you will not always find time for this.
Step 3
You can spend time learning a language even more fruitfully. Especially this will be the case if you went on a tour abroad. You can learn a previously unfamiliar language with the help of a phrasebook, or improve your knowledge. Not only a book will help, but also audio files.
Step 4
If you are traveling without companions or your interlocutor dozed off, then you can devote time to self-training. Learn techniques for training attention or memory, grab a brochure on the development of logic or thinking on the road, solving such problems is exciting and useful. Time on the road will pass quickly.
Step 5
On a sightseeing bus trip, time on the road can be devoted to photo processing. Free time on the road is ideal for sorting pictures, deleting unsuccessful shots, and if you have a tablet or laptop with you, then edit photos, make captions on them while memories are still fresh, compose a photo album of the trip. Upon returning home, hands do not reach this for a long time, and so everything will be ready on the way.
Step 6
A bus ride differs from other types of transport in that the route can run through forests, fields, plantations, bridges over rivers and other interesting places, as well as, unlike railroad, across settlements... You can watch life, surroundings, the riot of nature looking out the window. This might be more interesting than anything else.
Unfortunately, teleportation technology is not yet available to us, and therefore, before a vacation in another city or country, we have to toil for several hours on the road. Is there any way to brighten up this watch? The range of possible entertainments on the road will depend on the type of transport. Let's talk about what to do in the car.
Of course, if you are a driver, you do not have to think about what to do in the car: you will drive the road, radio and conversations with fellow travelers remain from the available entertainment. Those who sit in the passenger seats have a wider choice, although in a cramped car you will not roam like, for example,.
The easiest way to spend time on the road is to sleep. (especially if you left early in the morning or did not get enough sleep the day before). It's just that you don't always want to sleep, and not everyone finds it comfortable to sleep in the car - it's easier for them to stay awake than to try to get comfortable on the seat or shoulder of a neighbor. What to do in the car if sleep, as luck would have it, is not in one eye?
Many people take a book on the road - in the hectic working days, there is not always time to read. However doctors do not recommend reading in a car: the condition of our roads is poor, so the car is likely to shake on the way. The book will "dance" before your eyes, and this is very harmful to your eyesight. So if you want to devote time on the road to acquaintance with the world's literary heritage, it is better to download to your MP3 player audiobooks.
Well, at the same time, before the trip, you can update your music collection: often we do not have time to listen to new albums of our favorite artists, they play best case background while we are doing something. And in a few hours spent on the road, you can listen to everything. You can also learn a foreign language on the road by downloading audio lessons to the player... Just remember to fully charge your player before heading out.
And if you have a netbook, tablet or at least a smartphone, you are hardly interested in what to do in the car: you have games, movies at your disposal, and if you have a modem with mobile Internet access, you have almost unlimited possibilities for entertainment (with the exception of when you will pass out-of-coverage areas). Movies can also be watched on a portable DVD player.
It's just not too polite to sit all the way, plugging your ears with headphones or burying yourself in the screen of a tablet (laptop, player), if you have fellow travelers. What to do in the car if you are traveling with a company?
Usually, a company always has topics for conversation, but after a few hours on the way, they can dry up, even if the company is close-knit and friendly. In this case, you can play. Of course, card and board games are not the best choice for traveling in a car (on back seat you can still contrive and play, but then the driver and the person on front seat will remain "overboard"). So your choice is word games.
The first game that comes to mind is the game "Cities", which has become boring to everyone (although you can try to modernize it, instead of cities choosing other themes). Therefore, you can try other games, for example, game "Telepath"... The rules are very simple: one of the players thinks of a letter, and the rest try to guess it. To do this, they call various words, and the one who guessed says whether there is a hidden letter in them or not.
Here's another game. Pick an item and take turns calling possible ways its use for other than its intended purpose. If a player repeats or thinks longer than the prescribed time, he is out of the game. The winner is the one who named the last method. Or you can play Guess the Tune: just turn on the radio and compete, who will be the first to guess the name and artist of the song currently playing.
When traveling by car, be sure to consider one point: at least one person must be constantly awake, except for the driverespecially if you are driving late at night, at night or early in the morning. His task is to entertain the driver with conversations so that he does not accidentally fall asleep. It is best for this person to sit in the front seat next to the driver.
As you can see, there is more than one option for what to do in the car on a long journey. Easy and boring way for you!
The life of a modern person is more and more associated with travel, business trips, travel. If the trip lasts several hours, then the forced inactivity begins to tire. It is not always possible to fall asleep and not everyone likes to sleep on the road. Many try to occupy themselves with something so as not to get bored. What things can you do on a long bus trip?
Ways to spend time on a bus trip
Let's consider the most common ways to entertain yourself on the bus:
- Books. It is not always convenient to take a printed version of a work with you due to excess weight... Doctors do not recommend reading on the road - it is harmful to the eyes. Best option - audiobook. You need a player and good headphones.
- Music and films. A great pastime is listening to any music or watching interesting films. On most buses today, you can watch a movie on a shared screen. But if you don't like it, take your tablet or laptop with you, headphones and enjoy your favorite movie.
- Conversations with fellow travelers. The trip is a great opportunity to meet new people. On the road, people love to tell something about themselves, and you can expand your knowledge about life and people. Time will fly by while talking.
- Games. You can play games on your laptop if you are driving alone. But if you are traveling with someone, it is always interesting to remember the game of sea battle, chess, checkers, backgammon. To do this, you will need travel play sets with magnets, and there is always a sheet of paper and a pencil.
- Study. If you want to learn a foreign language, audio lessons will help you spend your travel time discreetly and profitably.
- Sketch on the road, even if you don't know how to draw. You do it for yourself. Write down your travel experiences and thoughts on paper. From such notes, interesting story... Many little things, if not written down, are easily forgotten.
When going on a trip, think not only about what you need to take, but also plan in advance what you will do on the bus. In this case, you will definitely not be bored.
