BRING DISTRACTION
Charge your iPod, or iPad, bring your book and night light, and think of games to play with travelers. It helps to keep busy if you can’t sleep. It’s all part of the journey.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BUS
The amount of times my overnight bus has been due in at 7/8 am in the morning and gets in at 3/4 am is ridiculous. It’s great getting in early of course, but it means jumped up taxi rates due to it being in the middle of the night and a hotel won’t always be open to leaving your stuff. be prepared for your overnight bus to arrive early or late. Best not to arrange any close connecting buses or trains to be safe.
BRING BISCUITS AND FOOD
Most overnight buses will stop for a food break, but you never know where you’re going to stop. bring some essential snacks and water and biscuits (Oreos are the best) this way if you’re peckish in the night, you can eat something which won’t give you the runs. That’s the last thing you need on a long overnight bus travel journey.
TAKE ESSENTIALS WITH YOU
Pack a carry-on of essentials and your valuables and always take it with you. Especially when your bus makes rest stops. If you ever miss your bus or return too late to find it gone, you’ll have your money and essentials on you, as your luggage goes onward to your destination without you.
REMEMBER IMPORTANT CLUES
Rest stop parking lots can be filled with buses and thus, it can be easy to lose track of your bus. Observe as many things as you can about it. Here are some things I’ve used to recognize my bus:
1. Recognize your bus company name & logo
2. Remember where your bus is parked.
3. Notice fellow passengers.
ALWAYS BRING TISSUES AND HAND SANITIZER
At your absolute worst, the rest stops can be made on the side of a dark highway road or at a grungy bus station, where you don’t want to touch anything.