Travelling Greyhound in Canada
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Travelling Greyhound in Canada
I was thinking of making a Greyhound trip (this'll be my first..) 5 hours worth, leaving from Grand Prairie.
Would be glad to hear if 5 hours on a Greyhound in Canada is comfortable, OK, or not a good idea....
Thanks
D.
Would be glad to hear if 5 hours on a Greyhound in Canada is comfortable, OK, or not a good idea....
Thanks
D.
#2
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I'd go with "ok". (not particularly comfortable, but ok for a few hours).
I'd say Greyhound has a slightly better reputation in Canada than in the US, i.e. it's generally safe and you may find a decent number of "normal" people onboard (students, tourists, seniors who no longer drive).
I'd say Greyhound has a slightly better reputation in Canada than in the US, i.e. it's generally safe and you may find a decent number of "normal" people onboard (students, tourists, seniors who no longer drive).
#3
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
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Sadly Greyhound is the only option for intercity travel (without a private vehicle) in many parts of Canada. In those places, it's generally OK if not overly comfortable. However, for long-haul travel (i.e. routes also served by air carriers), it's not advisable. Routes like Edmonton-Vancouver are rife with problems like people shooting heroin in the bathrooms, buses breaking down 200 km from anywhere and pax stranded on the side of the highway for hours, etc.
In general, Greyhound pax are people who can't afford to fly and can't afford a vehicle, which is 95% normal working-class people, but the 5% mentally unstable/criminals/drug addicts ruin it for everyone.
In general, Greyhound pax are people who can't afford to fly and can't afford a vehicle, which is 95% normal working-class people, but the 5% mentally unstable/criminals/drug addicts ruin it for everyone.
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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I tried to book a couple of times on the greyhound.ca site - was not accepting my credit cards.
Called the helpdesk - truly terrible. Offshore somewhere, possible Philippines, operator had difficulty with English and was unfamiliar with station names in Canada.
Tried busbud and after a couple of attempt managed to buy a ticket. Why is this so much more difficult than buying an air ticket ???
Called the helpdesk - truly terrible. Offshore somewhere, possible Philippines, operator had difficulty with English and was unfamiliar with station names in Canada.
Tried busbud and after a couple of attempt managed to buy a ticket. Why is this so much more difficult than buying an air ticket ???
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
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Posts: 11,874
I tried to book a couple of times on the greyhound.ca site - was not accepting my credit cards.
Called the helpdesk - truly terrible. Offshore somewhere, possible Philippines, operator had difficulty with English and was unfamiliar with station names in Canada.
Tried busbud and after a couple of attempt managed to buy a ticket. Why is this so much more difficult than buying an air ticket ???
Called the helpdesk - truly terrible. Offshore somewhere, possible Philippines, operator had difficulty with English and was unfamiliar with station names in Canada.
Tried busbud and after a couple of attempt managed to buy a ticket. Why is this so much more difficult than buying an air ticket ???
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
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There have been relatively few episodes of passenger beheadings and cannibalism on Greyhound in Canada. Go for it!
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...icle-1.1962579
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...icle-1.1962579
#7
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Sadly, Greyhound Canada had to cover up a whole bunch of billboards with "You've never heard of bus rage."
And when you say relatively few, you mean EXACTLY ONE ...
Just think how many would be dead if it were Greyhound US and it were a gun .... oh wait, that would not be news ....
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,103
The Greyhound Canada experience
AND reporting back.
The ride was not all that bad at all. The Greyhound station at Grand Prairie must've looked fine in 40 odd years ago, but needs renovation/expanding/a cleaning by now.
Boarding was no problem, my luggage was given a nice tag with lots of information and a tear-off stub to ostensibly claim it at the other end - which no-one paid any attention to.... Still, luggage for different stops was stored in different compartments, so you could probably rest easy without worrying about your luggage going walkabout.
The bus was comfortable-ish. Fair recline, no tray tables (pity...) but working wifi and power outlets. Lights were turned off to allow sleeping when dark. On board toilet was reasonably clean. Driver was polite and efficient. 5 hours went by quickly.
SO overall - good ride, would do it again.
D.
ps no, no beheading or cannibalism seen, unless they did so very discreetly.
The ride was not all that bad at all. The Greyhound station at Grand Prairie must've looked fine in 40 odd years ago, but needs renovation/expanding/a cleaning by now.
Boarding was no problem, my luggage was given a nice tag with lots of information and a tear-off stub to ostensibly claim it at the other end - which no-one paid any attention to.... Still, luggage for different stops was stored in different compartments, so you could probably rest easy without worrying about your luggage going walkabout.
The bus was comfortable-ish. Fair recline, no tray tables (pity...) but working wifi and power outlets. Lights were turned off to allow sleeping when dark. On board toilet was reasonably clean. Driver was polite and efficient. 5 hours went by quickly.
SO overall - good ride, would do it again.
D.
ps no, no beheading or cannibalism seen, unless they did so very discreetly.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
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....and now for the next trip...
Having survived my first trip, I am thinking of trying the same route again, but in mid-Feb.
Do Greyhound often cancel buses when the weather gets tough ? (northern Alberta...) Based on highway police travel advisories only ?
If your trip does get cancelled, what then ? I assume no more than a refund ?
Do Greyhound often cancel buses when the weather gets tough ? (northern Alberta...) Based on highway police travel advisories only ?
If your trip does get cancelled, what then ? I assume no more than a refund ?
#11
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Having survived my first trip, I am thinking of trying the same route again, but in mid-Feb.
Do Greyhound often cancel buses when the weather gets tough ? (northern Alberta...) Based on highway police travel advisories only ?
If your trip does get cancelled, what then ? I assume no more than a refund ?
Do Greyhound often cancel buses when the weather gets tough ? (northern Alberta...) Based on highway police travel advisories only ?
If your trip does get cancelled, what then ? I assume no more than a refund ?