10 tips to make a long bus ride more comfortable

Long, multi-hour bus trips can always be turned from boring looking out the window into a comfortable trip, leaving you with energy and a positive attitude to explore new places.

Here are life hacks that will help you feel comfortable during long bus journeys. 

Plan your route in advance.

Book bus tickets as soon as you know that you need to go somewhere - it will be more relaxed. If the road is very long, and you are not sure that you will be able to carry it easily, think about breaking the route into several points with the possibility of spending the night somewhere and gaining strength. 

On the day of departure, make sure you don't forget anything and arrive at the boarding point at least half an hour before departure in order to have enough time to board, load your luggage and set up your seat. 

Choose a comfortable bus for your trip. 

A lot depends on the comfort of the bus on a long journey. When booking tickets on the carrier's website, see what model the bus is, what its capacity is, and what amenities it has. The newer the bus, the better, as a rule, they are the most spacious, they have USB ports for charging phones, WI-FI, or even mini TVs with headphones in the seats. And a lot of things are decided when the bus has wide seats, a lot of space in the leg area and good air conditioning or heating.

Prepare comfortable clothes and shoes for the trip. 

There is no point in wearing the best clothes, even though you are going to a new, unfamiliar city. The main priority for you in the many-hour journey by bus is to be comfortable, not cold and not hot. Therefore, wear loose, breathable and soft clothes.

If it is a cold season, fleece suits are perfect - they are warm and pleasant to the touch. In the summer, light shorts, a T-shirt and some kind of sweater are enough, in case it gets cool in the evening. And the most comfortable shoes for traveling by bus are loose and light sneakers that do not squeeze the legs, sandals or warm slippers with a strong sole. 

Take snacks and water with you on the way. 

It often happens that as soon as you get on a bus that will take you on a long journey, you immediately wake up with a voracious appetite. It is probably connected with positive emotions and delight at the prospect of new adventures. So make sure you have a snack - ideally something that won't leak, crumble or have a strong smell. 

Bring sandwiches, nuts, cookies, crackers, or bars. During long stops at gas stations or cafes, order first or second courses, so that the stomach also receives the usual healthy food. And don't forget to drink water - have at least a liter of water with you. 

Think about what you can do on the road. 

A long bus ride is a great opportunity to take time for yourself, which is always lacking. You will have the opportunity to read a book that you have been putting off, listen to an interesting podcast, watch a movie or series, or simply relax and melt into the music in headphones. 

When traveling with a group, take board games that don't take up much space, cards, Uno, or pens and paper to play "sea battle" or other fun games. 

The main thing, when entering the excitement, during the game do not make noise and do not disturb other passengers.

Do not forget to get off the bus during stops 

Sometimes, the weather outside is such that you don't even want to stick your nose out of the cozy interior of the bus. When outside the window it is raining, snowing or vice versa - the sun is burning. But we advise you to follow this rule: there is a stop - get out to warm up, take a walk, breathe fresh air, go to the toilet, wash your face or drink coffee. Just during the time when all the passengers are resting on the "pause", fresh air will also enter the bus, and when you return to it, it will be more pleasant to ride, which means that the long journey will be easier. 

Take personal hygiene products with you on the road.

On the way, we visit many crowded places, touch handrails, count cash, tie shoelaces, etc. That's why sometimes on a long journey you feel like you want to wash your hands. Be sure to have an antiseptic, wet and dry wipes with you. Wipe your hands with them before and after eating. 

It will also not be superfluous to have chewing gum or peppermint candies with you for fresh breath

Optimally use your gadgets on the road.

Charge your phone, power bank and headphones if they are rechargeable. Be prepared that not all buses have USB charging, so it makes sense to save battery power on devices.

If the road is long and you feel that the gadgets may not make it to the destination, switch the phone to energy-saving mode or flight mode and use it only when you need to make a call or send an important message. 

Take only necessary things on the road. 

Put all bulky items that you will not need in a suitcase that will go in the luggage compartment. And take with you what is called "hand luggage" when boarding the plane - a small bag or backpack with water, a snack, a power bank, a wallet, documents and a change of clothes just in case.

Take a pillow under your neck with you

For many, surprisingly, a long bus ride is an opportunity to sleep. Let it be sitting, let it sometimes shake, but if the body wants rest, it will fall asleep anywhere. Therefore, you will need a travel pillow for a comfortable sleep on the bus. 

It comes in different shapes, materials, filled with something soft or inflatable. The main thing is that you will have something to lay your head on, your neck will not hurt, and your sleep will be stronger.

And for very small travelers there are helmet-shaped pillows to protect the head from any impacts. Can be made in different colors that the child will like, with different designs and additions of drawings. Such children's travel pillows fix the cervical vertebrae well to protect against sudden stops and to prevent injuries.

Take these tips into account, plan a new trip and hit the road. Now you know how to make it more comfortable. 

We almost forgot - the main thing that you should definitely take with you on the road is a good mood. And don't forget to share it with other passengers, be considerate and polite!