I have not taken a bus anywhere other than in the US. I get the impression that Bus travel has remarkably improved in other countries, whereas in the US it is still a pretty dismal experience.

Beyond the "bus bathroom" smell that seems to permeate any bus here, most of our buses have seats so tightly spaced that you are lucky you can fit your legs between the seats; the seat design (I have no idea why they all seem to use the same seats) are the most poorly sculpted things I have ever experienced, temperatures are hard to control (either freezing arms as they rest against the window, OR way overheated); Few are maintained to any sensible degree; and the worst part is how tipsy and bouncy they are.

I am positive they can do better, why they have not done this in the Us I do not know. If you are an hour away it is one thing. but a five hour drive? Especially if you are only going to be waiting for ten hours AND they put you up in a hotel? I wouldn't even consider teh bus as a contender in that contest.