Coaches are a reliably cheap mode of transport around the world. Unfortunately, they are not the most glamorous form of transport. They are often much slower than trains, and can be cramped and hot. Long journeys can become very tedious very quickly if you don’t know how to survice in long coach journey. However, there are some ways to spice up your journey, turning it into an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Below are just a few tips for beating tedium on a coach.
First, familiarize yourself with the coach amenities
When planning what to take on the coach and how to occupy yourself, it could be important to first look into what amenities your coach has. A few things to look into could include:
- Wi-Fi: In some cases, you may be lucky enough to have Wi-Fi in a coach. This could allow you to use social media, stream music and movies, or even play games.
- Charging ports: Some coaches have USB or standard household plug sockets, which can be useful for charging up smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets on the go. These ports can be temperamental in some cheaper coaches, so consider also bringing a portable power bank if you plan to use your devices a lot.
- Heating/air conditioning: This is standard in most modern coaches, but older coaches in some countries may not have any form of climate control.
- Toilets: Most long-distance coaches have a toilet, but some don’t and instead make regular stops. Be careful how much liquid you consume when going on a coach without a toilet.
Select the right seat
In some bus coaches, you may be able to choose your own seat. This seat choice could affect your comfort and views.
Window seats are a great option if you enjoy gazing out the window and admiring the scenery. They can also provide a less disturbed journey for sleeping. You don’t have to worry about standing up to let other passengers in and out.
Aisle seats don’t have such great views and can be more disruptive. However, you do have easier access to the toilet, plus taller people may find that they have more legroom to help them relax.
Not all coaches allow you to reserve seats in advance, and those that do may require you to pay an additional fee when booking. For standard coaches without reserved seating, plan to arrive early at the coach stop so you may have more choice of available seats.
Explore these ways to occupy your time
There are so many different ways to occupy yourself on a coach. Below are a few inspiring ideas.
Turn your journey into entertainment time
Planning some entertainment is recommended. You could consider mixing and matching a few of the following forms of entertainment.
- Watch a movie/TV show: You should download a couple of movies or TV episodes onto your smartphone or tablet to stream offline (this is recommended even if your coach has Wi-Fi, as videos may not always stream well).
- Listen to music/podcasts: You can create a playlist or look for a podcast to listen to. Downloading songs or podcasts will allow you to listen to them offline. You can bring some noise-cancelling headphones for the best listening experience.
- Play card games: If you are with a friend, bring a deck of cards and consider playing some card games. Travelling solo? You can still entertain yourself with a game of solitaire (play through sites and apps if you’re unlikely to have space to lay out cards)
- Solve a puzzle: A puzzle book full of crosswords and sudokus could give you a break from screens while keeping you stimulated.
- Do some colouring in: A colouring-in book or colouring-in app could provide a peaceful way to pass the time.
Take the time to write, reflect, and plan
Rather than distracting yourself from your travels, you could use a long coach journey to think about where you’ve been and where you are going.
A travel journal could be excellent for recording your journey so far. By bringing a notepad and a pen, you can disconnect from screens for a bit.
Another way to spend the trip could be to go through your photos and videos: it could be a good time to edit and upload your favourite snaps, or to make room for photos you’re yet to take.
If you have still got your whole journey ahead of you or are halfway through, you could even use this as a chance to plan. This could include planning future routes on maps or researching attractions. There are online sites and maps you can use for this, or you can use traditional maps and guidebooks if you have no internet.
Bring some reading material
You could also spend your coach journey catching up on books you have been planning to read. You can choose a physical book if you want to get away from screens, or bring an e-reader such as a Kindle if you want the option of reading lots of books, but want to save space in your backpack.
Audiobooks are also an option. Take some headphones and consider downloading the audiobook beforehand.
If you suffer from travel sickness while reading in a vehicle, make sure to bring motion sickness medication.
Optimise your journey for sleep
If your coach journey is over 24 hours, you are going to have to sleep on it at some point. To make yourself more comfortable, consider packing a few of the following accessories:
- A neck pillow to help reduce neck stain
- An eye mask to block out the light
- Noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out noise
Pass the time by talking to other passengers
You may be able to strike up a conversation and make some new friends. Not everyone will be in the mood to talk, but you may find some people are happy to chat.
How do you get talking to someone on a coach? Asking questions about genuine concerns you may have is often the best way to get talking to people, as most people will want to help. Even if they don’t know the answer, you’ve started a conversation.
When travelling in a country that speaks another language, consider bringing a phrasebook to help you to test out your language skills or download a translation app. English is spoken in most countries, but there could still be some places around the world where many people don’t speak it.
Lastly, look after your body
Food and physical activity are important. You should plan to bring some snacks and drinks with you to keep you hydrated and energised. When choosing food and drinks, it could be important to make some of the following considerations:
- Consider the coach’s rules. You may not be allowed certain foods and drinks (such as alcoholic beverages) on some coaches.
- Think about smell and mess. It is best to avoid strong-smelling foods or snacks that drip/create a lot of crumbs.
- Make sure that foods won’t spoil. If you’re bringing fruit, plan to eat it early.
- Try to pack some healthy foods so that you’re not just eating junk.
You should make sure to stretch your legs often to avoid circulation problems. Many coaches will have stops where you can get off and have a good walk around.
