With larger and more comfortable seats than airlines and the promise of no airport congestion, traveling by bus is a totally different experience than what it used to be,
As the New York Times reported last week, these businesses “are betting that Americans will abandon the image of the rumbling, cramped bus as the transport of last resort for the cash-strapped and embrace long-haul coach travel.”
Check out 4 luxury bus routes below:
The Jet
- Route: New York City (near Hudson Yards) to Washington, DC (near Metro Center) and back
- Departure Days: Every day except Tuesdays, 6 days a week.
- 4 hours and 15 minutes.
- One-way tickets start at $99 and go up from there.
This luxury coach is designed to look like a private jet. With a 135-degree recline and a “motion-canceling sitting” that consists of a gel foam pad and memory foam backrest, you’ll be lulled to sleep in these 22-inch seats. Alternatively, you can use high-speed Wi-Fi to stream your own entertainment.
The rows of seats are 6 inches apart, so you’ll have plenty of legroom, and the vehicle has a bathroom more reminiscent of a luxury hotel than an airplane. The bus is equipped to offer meals from an on-board menu, but that is not yet operational. However, complimentary beer and wine are offered. Two checked bags and two carry-on bags are allowed, but children under the age of six are not permitted.
Napaway
- Route: Washington, DC to Nashville (via Knoxville) and back
- Departure Times: the buses leave Washington at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Nashville at 7.30 p.m. on Sundays. On Wednesdays and Thursdays in November and December, additional schedule will be added.
- Duration: 10-12 hours (depending on departure city)
- Prices begin at $125.
There is an airline-style restroom on the bus. Bring your own food on board and take advantage of the high-speed Wi-Fi and constant entertainment. The first two checked bags are free; each additional bag is $25. You can also bring anything that will fit in your personal suite or backpack-sized overhead bins.
Vonlane
- Route: various service routes in Texas serving Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, as well as Atlanta to Nashville and back.
- Departure Days: Daily, with peak days giving four to eight departures every day.
- Duration: varying times between cities
- Fares range from $99 to $119.
Vonlane was designed with business travelers in mind and resembles a premium train rather than a bus. Its 22 seats also offer a limited number of facing seats and the ability to install a tablet table to enhance collaboration among coworkers. The 20-inch leather couch reclines up to 140 degrees so you can rest or watch the satellite TV with the noise-canceling headphones offered.
Snacks and drinks are complimentary, beer, wine and spirits are sold separately, and sandwiches, salads and wraps are also offered at some locations. You can bring two pieces of luggage weighing less than 50 pounds and one carry-on that fits in the overhead compartment. You do not have to leave your dog at home, as a small dog under 10 pounds is allowed in a carry-on bag.
Red Coach
- Route: Several stops in Texas and Florida. Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, Tallahassee, Gainsville, and West Palm Beach are among the Florida destinations. Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Richardson, Katy, and College Station are among the Texas destinations.
- Days of departure: Daily scheduled bus services
- Duration: 4-4.5 hours from Miami International Airport to Orlando; around 3 hours from Dallas to Austin; and anywhere between 3 hours 45 minutes and 7 hours 30 minutes from Dallas to Houston, depending on the time of day.
- Bus tickets in Red Coach First Class and Red Coach Business range in price from $19.00 to $129.00 depending on the trip.
Red Coach has three different classes, which determine the size of the bus, just like the airlines. There are 27 First Class seats that are 21 inches wide, 38 Business Class seats that are 18 inches wide, and 56 Economy Class seats that are 16 inches wide and do not recline. With Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment, this cheaper option offers comfy seats that recline up to 140 degrees. One free carry-on bag and two free checked bags are available to passengers.