Most people will already know the drill here, but despite what train companies and car running costs would have you believe, long-distance travel needn't exclude the skint thanks to the basic delights of Megabus. The buses themselves are cramped and, if full, can be something of a waking nightmare, but they usually manage to reek approximately 57 per cent less of stale urine than old rivals National Express and prices do, after all, start from a quid. Starting/terminating at Kingsway, they will also pick up/drop off at Cardiff University on the Park Place side of the Students' Union. Serving Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester and the North East (Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland) from Cardiff, the most popular route is to and from the English capital, around 10 times to choose from in each direction per day. If you're unfortunate enough to be heading to the farthest destinations, you'll be stuck on the coach for the sort of duration more readily associated with a long-haul flight to America. But while it's nip and tuck between Megabus and National Express in terms of advance booking prices, Megabus is almost always cheapest if you're buying a ticket near or on the day of travel. read more