Okay, I'll be frank, I haven't taken a bus trip in almost 20 years, so I was definitely a little rusty on how this whole thing works.
I traveled from Rochester, NY, to Hornell, NY, to visit a friend. Her driving up here or me driving down there for a day trip would have been a bit much, so she got me a bus ticket instead. And honestly? For a short trip, it's really not a bad way to go, and the prices are fair.
The terminal itself is nothing fancy. It's cream-colored, pretty sparse and has more of a "this is a bus terminal, folks" vibe than anything else. They do have vending machines for food and drinks, places to sit, bathrooms, and a ticket counter where you can actually speak to a person and purchase tickets.
Since I hadn't done this in forever, I wasn't exactly sure what the procedure was, so I went to the ticket desk and asked. When your bus is called, you go to the designated area, line up and show your ticket. You can have it on your phone through email or the app, or bring a printed ticket.
You can put larger luggage underneath the bus, while you can bring a handbag or smaller bag onto the bus. There's also room underneath your seat for a smaller bag.
The buses have USB charging connections, which is a nice touch--but apparently my cords and their USB ports were not destined to become friends. None of mine worked. If you're going on a longer trip, I'd definitely recommend bringing a portable charger. Luckily, I was only traveling a short distance and was able to charge everything up at my friend's house.
One thing I found a little confusing is that depending on your destination, your stop may basically be a regular bus stop or even a gas station. I think they could do a better job with signage because what if you've never been there before and have absolutely no idea where you're supposed to catch the bus?
Thankfully, I asked my driver where I needed to go for my return trip, and fortunately it was the same place where I was dropped off. Crisis averted.
Also, just so you know, the buses are Trailways buses even if you purchased your ticket through Megabus.
The terminal is conveniently located across the street from the Amtrak station, and there is a small parking lot.
The staff were fine. I'd describe them as slightly salty in a "I've been doing this job forever and I have seen some things" kind of way. Not rude--just not exactly bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm.
All in all, for a trip of less than two hours, I'd definitely recommend taking the bus. It was reasonably priced, convenient and got me where I needed to go without having to spend a good chunk of the day driving.
If you're heading somewhere like NYC, though, just be prepared for a much longer journey, especially if you have to transfer to another bus and make multiple stops.
For a short trip? I'd do it again. read more