With bus fares starting as low as $1, Megabus is one way to travel on a budget. Megabus.com describes its company as “a non-stop inter-city express bus company that offers fares to travelers as low as $1, via the internet.” The Megabus makes daily trips to and from Chicago to 12 Midwest cities including St. Louis, Minneapolis, Detroit and Milwaukee. Should you happen to find yourself on the West coast, Megabus also recently launched a Los Angeles hub, offering services to seven different cities, including Las Vegas and San Diego.
In September, Megabus invested $10 million in bringing the first fleet of closed-top double-decker buses to America. Each of the 17 buses seats 79 passengers and is equipped with a full-service bathroom and a wheelchair ramp.
With gas prices constantly on the rise, Megabus can be an alternative to driving or flying. Coach USA conducted a survey of 1600 of its customers and found that 45 percent of them previously used their car to travel. Of all passengers polled, 94 percent reported that the service offers a great value for their money spent and that they would use Mega Bus again.
So how does it work? First, you need to purchase your ticket from either Megabus.com or by calling (877) GO-2-MEGA. From Chicago, the Megabus makes trips to pick up travelers from Union Station at least five times every day. Buses depart as early as 9:30 a.m. and as late as 10:30 p.m. The bus makes stops at designated cities ,and maps of each drop-off location are provided on the website.
The earlier you book your tickets, the cheaper they are. “Passengers who book travel far enough in advance will have the opportunity to receive low-cost tickets,” says Brian Souter, CEO of Stagecoach Group. Book far enough in advance and you can score tickets as low as $1 one way.