Fist off the bus came 45 minutes late at San Jose. My son called me from Tejon rest area( 75 miles from LA ) Subway at around 7pm that the bus broke down and the driver pulled into the Lebec Road. They waited and waited until 2 AM , Finally five of the them including my son took a taxi cab from Tejon to downtown LA, ended paying through the nose . It took more than 14 hours to reach LA from Bay area and created a lot of anxious moments. Do not know what happened to the rest of the stranded passengers Please share your experience if you were one of those read more

I decided to take CA shuttle because greyhound kept giving me trouble but either way I get screwed over. The bus arrived 30 minutes late. Then they say that the entire trip is an hour and a half behind. The driver then has the nerve to ask for tips for him and the other bus driver (we had to switch buses halfway through because it wasn't the CA shuttle bus). I understand tips are part of their income but I refuse to tip for bad service. How ridiculous. read more

This is a great ride for a great price! The bus was on time, it took only about 7 hours The bus drivers are very friendly It's perfect for somebody who has the time to travel for the low cost read more

I booked a round trip from SF to LA. The bus ran very late and we ended up arriving in LA hours behind schedule. Then, the night before my return trip, they called me and said I couldn't ride back with them the next day because the bus was supposed to undergo maintenance. They suggested I take Greyhound and promised a refund for the return trip. Pretty annoying but I got home OK. What really upset me was that they never refunded my money. I called the guy a bunch of times and each time he promised to do it and never did. So they nearly ruined my trip and on top of that kept my money. Not cool. I highly recommend Greyhound over these guys.. more professional/reliable service, more flexible schedules, and not really that much more expensive. read more

Are they still in business? The 877 number is a voice mail...Full. All seats, anytime, even Feb 2011 are: NO SEATS AVAILABLE. They maybe defunct. read more

A lot of the reviews on here are way out of date so I thought I'd evaluate this service based on my experience as of August, 2011. Nice clean full-size buses with friendly drivers. One bus has small video screens; the other has wi-fii. It's a congenial company with a charismatic leader and you can tell that a lot of intelligence and creativity has gone into making this a pleasant travel experience. It is ideal for trekking from youth hostel to youth hostel -- but it's very risky for most of us because there is virtually zero emphasis on timely arrivals. Every bus I've taken has started out a half-hour behind and gotten later and later throughout the day. When you approximate an 8:00 PM arrival and don't get there 'til 10:30, it's a serious problem for those whose "picking-us-up" relatives like to be in bed by 10 PM. Local buses in Santa Monica and elsewhere also stop running about that time and it's really too late to call friends for help. SUGGESTIONS: Update the website to eliminate the long-gone door-to-door pickup & the old $25 lowest fare, (It's now $35, I believe and very rare -- I expect to pay $40, or up to $49, as the bus gets filled.) Change the word on the online order form from "noon" to "midday" which, since it's intended to be an approximation, would be more accurate. Give the drivers scripts for their rest stop & meal announcements so they can be fully understood. (The drivers are friendly but not at all skilled in public speaking so they can really confuse passengers!) MOST IMPORTANT: When the bus is already running 15 minutes late, how about giving a 3 minute PR speech instead of the standard 10 minute one? Finally, ask the drivers to take a $7.20 meal penalty for skipping that 15 minute break. This can still be a pleasant journey with some intelligently applied hustle when necessary. Trying your best to keep to the schedule will guarantee that this is a very successful venture! read more

Review modified 9-29-08: I just talked to Calif. Shuttle and received a full refund for the abortive trip described below. Calif Shuttle states that they are leasing buses from a different company now and service is going to be better. Lets have some more reviews to learn if service is indeed better 9-13-08: First of all, this story is still unfolding as I write this! My wife boarded the Santa Monica shuttle to the North Hollywood pickup point to catch the San Francisco bound bus at 12:30 pm, today 9-13-08. the bus broke down after leaving Union station and didn't get to the North Hollywood pickup point until 3:15 pm. She called me from her cell at 3:20 and said that they are finally on their way to S.F. At 4pm I get another call from her that the bus is stopped on highway 5 at Sylmar and that the bus engine is on fire!!! Everyone and their stuff is safely off the bus sitting at the side of the busiest freeway in California! While I'm talking to her I hear the firetruck sirens approaching (CHP is already trying to put the fire out) ..I hear a bang and she says there was a small explosion at the rear of the bus which is burning and smoking nicely. The freeway is stopped! I'll continue this narrative as I get more news. It is 4:30pm and My wife called again. The fire is out, the freeway is starting to move and California Shuttle is sending a passenger van to somehow transport 15 people to San francisco. My wife won't be a passenger!! Our son is driving from Santa Monica to get her and she will take Amtrak . read more

WARNING!!! Avoid this bus company! I booked a trip back to LA for my friend's engagement party to depart from SF at 11:20pm. They charged my credit card two days before the departure date. I went to the pick up location in SF at 10pm, called them to make sure I was waiting at the right spot in front of Carl's Jr., and the man on the phone, Kaz, told me that they didn't have a bus running at that time!...WTF!!! I had my printed confirmation and everything was correct! Apparently, they had the same situation happen to another person a week before and blamed it on their computer error! BULL SHIT! They didn't have the common courtesy to inform me that they cancelled the bus schedule before charging my credit card. It's been over two week, several phone calls and e-mails to the company, and they still haven't refunded my $74 back! Worst of all, having been the bridesmaid, I missed out on my friend's engagement party because this mindless bus company couldn't operate professionally! DON'T GO WITH THEM!!! read more

Dear CA Shuttle Bus, I appreciate the apology, but I stand by my review. I arrived at the Santa Monica location at 11:45am for a bus I was told was leaving at 12pm. I was told the bus had already left and when I called I was given a nonchalant reply that guests are expected to show up 30 minutes prior to take-off. I was given credit for another bus ride, but the process of using that credit was like pulling teeth. The staff member ("Kaz") was rude and short with me. After several exchanges I was told to "not waste his [my] time." A business should treat every respectful customer with the same kind of cordial, friendly manner that they wish to be treated. My review was not just for the untimely bus departure, but for the poor customer service as well. However, I appreciate your response. I rarely review on Yelp, but working with CA Shuttle Bus was a pretty negative impression that was worth warning customers about and one that I will never do again. Sincerely, Tristan read more

Took us 15 hours to get from SJ to LA. No wifi, no AC, when the bathroom door is opened the whole bus smells like its contents. Don't take this bus - spend a little bit extra and take Megabus. read more

Below is a copy of what I posted to their facebook forum: --- I will never ever take this bus again. Spend the couple extra dollars to take Amtrak just to avoid having a horrible experience at the hands of this company, who obviously do not care about their customers. Yesterday (06.23.10) I took the bus from LA to San Francisco. I was the first pick-up in LA and when I boarded the bus it smelled funny, no, it smelled horrible. Myself and the other passengers commented on it and found that if we sunk low in the seats it didn't smell quite so potent. The smell was hanging in the air. I late found out, when I went to use the bathroom, that the source of the smell was vomit that had not been cleaned up. It was sprayed all over the back wall behind the toilet. And as if that was not bad enough, there was a sign telling passengers not to flush toilet tissue. Instead, you were to put the used toilet tissue in a plastic bag by the door that was literally overflowing. Being such a small space it was impossible not to brush against the bag and dump more used toilet tissue onto the floor. There was no hand sanitizer provided. Luckily I had brought my own but now, a day later, I am sick. Thanks CA Shuttle Bus. I don't even expect a refund, having read other reviews on Yelp warning me not to get my hopes up, but perhaps others will be spared. Avoid this company at all costs! --- I would also add to that indictment an unsatisfactory phone call I had with one of the owners of the bus. I gave him the bus number and began telling him that when I boarded the bus it smelled, at which point he interrupted me to apologize because there had been a problem flushing the toilet or emptying the waste from the bus or something. I politely said that this was not the cause of the smell and went on to tell him about the vomit. He said they couldn't have cleaned it during the trip. I said it must have occurred before the trip because it was there when I boarded! And then his tone changed. I feel like if I was the owner of a company where someone had such a horrible experience I would ask very few questions, listen attentively, apologize profusely, and refund money promptly. read more

I took the CSB a long time ago (5-6 years) when they used Ford extended vans...without bathrooms. In those days I think they packed around 10 people in those vans. Mainly young people. I took it several times...maybe a dozen. I was generally pleased. Back then it was $45? and I thought that was a bargain since one of the drop off points in S.CA at that time was Pasadena which was only 10 min from my home. I got to know the owner/operator who was a really friendly guy. When he was finished with his route in SF he would drive me back down to my place in RWC for another $10. Literally door to door service. I considered that a bargain...no need to bother anyone to pick me up or take Cal Train. I have not taken it since because I have settled in Palo Alto and have not gone down to S.Ca in a long time but when I do it will probably be CSB! read more

This should get extra points just for not being Greyhound! I really appreciate the service, but.... I took the bus twice, SF-LA and then LA-SF. No problems with the bus itself, nor with the drivers or owner, who boards the bus in San Jose to confirm your reservation or accept your payment. In fact, they were all really, really nice and I want to give this a great review. But...both pickups were really late. I mean, more than 30 minutes. I understand that there may be traffic, I understand that the bus makes multiple pickups in different locations, but showing up late seems to be a common theme. Either change the pickup time (cuz you know I'm there early to make sure I make the bus, which translates into me waiting for an hour) or leave earlier to accommodate the traffic. I would totally recommend this service though, just be aware that you may be waiting a while for that bus to roll up. After my experience with the hell that is Greyhound customer service (read employees that hate their customers and probably their lives) the drivers are awesome and I really appeciate their friendliness. It's best to reserve online, but you can call their number to confirm or ask questions. They are very nice! read more

I would have given this 5 stars because of the long time i've been riding this bus. I use to travel with dogs on this bus since they are allowed in a carrier. I bought a seat for my little dog so that no one would bother us. There was a new driver who started bitching about the dogs and then he bitched to the owner about me. once i started speaking to him in Spanish (the driver), he quickly apologized. but this is only after the owner came into the bus in san jose and told me off for having two small dogs (both have their shots and paperwork and carriers and they are small) not to mention i had been riding the bus with them for over two years. how did this guy not remember me? i remember the owner of this bus being so nice. i was humiliated by how he yelled at me and i have not ridden this bus since. i want to take a trip to la soon and would like to take my dogs, i would appreciate it if i could take them on this bus without being told off. it does state in the website that animals are allowed. Also, it would be great if they did night time again. Not sure if that's still going on. The pricing is fair. I would up the star rate if the owner or someone from this company apologizes. that's all i have to say. read more

The shuttle is an easy-going relaxed arrangement that I will continue using. It may not suit everyone. Trip from San Francisco had a strange start. From Powell Street the bus took the usual route to the freeway ramp, but then turned away and began a circle through heavy traffic on S.F.'s hills and narrow streets to pick up two passengers at the USA hostel (not listed as a stop on the web-site). It was a one-hour detour which, like Einstein's drunk, ended where it started, at that same freeway ramp. Then the bus did enter the freeway. No good explanation was given for the unusual side-trip. Nonetheless, the bus reached L.A. at a reasonable hour. read more

This company sucks! They change the rules mid-ride. Parked at the Bayfair Bart in San Leandro for the cheap parking. On the way back they weren't going to stop in San Leandro. I insisted that they needed to take us there since we left our car there. I assumed a round trip ticket included a pick-up and drop-off in the same place. This company is definately NOT the way to go! read more

For the most part, this bus is decent. I've gone on a few rides since 2011 and 2012 and i've had mostly OKAY experiences. I usually use it for last minute traveling to either L.A. or SF (clients in both cities). pros: 1) no shady folks usually ride this bus... I haven't met any crack heads or any shifty cats like you would in some OTHER bus service... maybe a few, but not many. 2) for the most part, you get to your destination on time. 3) when the dvd works, you get a decent movie to watch. 4) the drivers (except one of em) are usually friendly cons: 1) no sanitizer or soap (or even working sink) in bathroom, bring your own sanitizer 2) it's always pretty late. you're told to arrive 30 minutes before hand, and every time I got there 30 minutes before hand, I end up waiting an hour or more. 3) I've had friends take the bus that have complained about rude owners and drivers. 4) the customer service is pretty bad.... When I tried to postpone a trip that I already paid for, I emailed asking if I could postpone my trip to a later date than what the website allows you to schedule. (you can't seem to click anything past a certain date) They responded saying, "just reply on this email the date". I did and asked for a confirmation email letting me know that It was okay. I never got a response. I emailed them again a few days later... asking if I could get some type of answer about it. no response. I wouldn't mind paying the extra 10 bucks again to change the date... I even said that on the email. Waited a few days, no response. I emailed again. I called a few times. They never picked up (although it could be an old number). I emailed today again, called and still nothing. They already got my 45 bucks. Lesson learned, don't ever try to postpone to a later date manually with these guys. I would have given em 3 stars before this incident, but now it's 2. Honestly, I'd only ride if I couldn't find an affordable flight to L.A. or S.F. Instead of this, you could also check alternative ways of ride sharing =) read more

I was quite surprised to see that some customers found the "California Shuttle Bus" to not be a wonderful service. From my own experience i have rode this bus many, many times over the past 6 years and found them to be exceptional in almost every aspect, especially when it came to transport from San Francisco to Los Angeles or transport from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The Advantages Of California Shuttle Bus in Comparsion To Greyhound is overwhelming (About $15 cheaper each way) Greyhound will weigh and charge you extra for everything, on the California Shuttle an extra suitcase or Backpack is free. On buses going Northbound or Southbound Greyhound will pack you in like rats so as every seat is occupied. I have had two seats to myself almost every time i have traveled on California Shuttle bus. I am not as concerned with the people around me because the Calif. Shuttle Bus seems to get so many college age tourists from abroad & it feels so much better & Safer to me in every aspect i can think of compared to the horrible Greydog. Greyhound stations are the worst & it is every man for himself. I do travel greyhound when going to some destinations because it is the only bus line going, But to Los Angeles Or to San Francisco I am relieved there is such a wonderful service like "California Shuttle Bus". This bus always seems to make it to its destination on time, unless traffic prevents it from doing so. The owner is a kind & Gracious Host to People from all countries & he personally welcomes everybody to this "Beautiful Country Of Ours". He is a great guy. Now let me think if there is anything negative i can say about this Dependable Bus Service. Yeah there is a few things, 1) Only some of the drivers put in a movie to watch and the viewing Monitors are not great and 2) there is no internet connection (Wi-Fi) while on board the bus, (I don't know of any buses that have an internet connection while you travel) 3) This is a wonderful bus service & it is to bad it does not go to Reno or Las Vegas. read more

I rode once from No.Hollywood that was enough hassel for me Took Megabus home for $17.00. Great no hassel service. Check Megabus first. You will be happy. read more

Clean, safe, efficient, friendly and super cheap- I'm amazes this bus isn't full on every journey it's a fantastic service. Thank you for the help and safe travel!! read more

Absolutely the WORST experience of my life. The driver from LA was very nice & helpful, however halfway through the trip, we stopped & switched drivers to finish the trip to San Francisco. That driver, Abraham, (calls himself Dr Love) was the rudest, most ignorant person I have ever met. For the majority of the trip, he kept glancing at the movie that was playing instead of watching the road, making many of the passengers nervous & scared for our lives. Then, we were an hour & 40 mins late, and according to the company's website, we should've been the 2nd drop off once we arrived in San Fran. So when we were not, another chaperone (my mother) asked why he was not following the schedule his company provided us with. He said "that's how it is." So she continued to ask WHY we were not being dropped off when we should've already reached our destination (and had a $150/hr bus waiting on us there) and the so-called "dr love" began to yell at her and told her to SHUT UP. I do not appreciate the rudeness, and the fact that she is my mother and I had 18 children with me sent me over the edge. DO NOT GIVE THIS COMPANY YOUR BUSINESS unless you are ok with paying for a service that puts your life at risk & then yells at you & tells you to shut up. I immediately called the company, and the person who answered the phone was hardly apologetic. Absolute ridiculousness. If I could give them less than 1 star, I would. read more

I got to Bayfair BART at 10:15 PM when I could have easily been there by 6:30 or 7 PM. I'll tell you exactly what happened. I was picked up by the shuttle and was dropped off where the big bus was supposed to pick everyone up. You would think that you would get on the bus immediately right? I ended up waiting around 2 and a half hours waiting for the bus to come, sitting in the hot sun and swatting away annoying flies landing in my hair. The bus finally came and about 20 minutes into the trip, smoke started coming from the back. It turned out the back of the bus was on fire and the fire department had to put the fire out not to mention we had only gone as far as Sylmar and San Francisco was still some 300 miles away. All the people on the bus had to go to a Denny's off the exit of the freeway to wait for another bus. We ended up going on the shuttle without four people who didn't want to continue. The only good thing is that I got my money back so that was nice of them. read more