Megabus
We survived our adventure on the mighty Megabus.
The low cost express bus service added a route between Chicago and Des Moines this week, with one stop in Iowa City on the way. The service has variable pricing, with fares as low as $1. They promise double-deck buses, free wi-fi, power outlets for every seat, and a six-hour trip. Dan had a jazz concert Wednesday night in Chicago that we wanted to see, so we did the Megabus.
We ordered our tickets online. We looked Sunday night and round trip tickets were $13 each. I had to wait until I resolved a potential conflict at work to pull the trigger on Monday, by which time the price had "soared" to $17 for each round trip.
So Vickie and I showed up with our things at the Megabus stop downtown in Des Moines at 10:00 Wednesday morning:
Chatting with the other passengers, it sounds like we were all guinea pigs for others waiting to see whether they should take the ride.
The bus to Chicago was as promised -- a new double decker bus. The crowd was much nicer than the group I remembered from buses back when I last used them 30 years ago -- mostly old ladies and college girls this time, and no smokers, crazy people or dangerous-seeming creepers. The trip was uneventful. The only bad thing -- the free wi-fi was erratic enough to be nearly useless.
We had a great time in Chicago (more on that in another post) and came back this morning. Todays ride was less impressive -- an older single-level bus that was more crowded. With the crowd and a more cramped bus, I couldn't open my (admittedly large) Dell laptop from work all the way, so I gave up trying to work. I was glad for the break at the 15-minute stop in Iowa City next to some vegan hippie coffee shop. Coffee was fine, but I don't much care for the gluten-free vegan cookies.
But we made it back OK. I would do it again for a business trip because when you don't drive you can do other work, but you should bring your own wi-fi card if you want to do computer work, at least until they beef up their wi-fi.
Still, comparing Megabus to riding Jefferson Lines in 1980 is like comparing First Class to riding in a luggage bin.
The low cost express bus service added a route between Chicago and Des Moines this week, with one stop in Iowa City on the way. The service has variable pricing, with fares as low as $1. They promise double-deck buses, free wi-fi, power outlets for every seat, and a six-hour trip. Dan had a jazz concert Wednesday night in Chicago that we wanted to see, so we did the Megabus.
We ordered our tickets online. We looked Sunday night and round trip tickets were $13 each. I had to wait until I resolved a potential conflict at work to pull the trigger on Monday, by which time the price had "soared" to $17 for each round trip.
So Vickie and I showed up with our things at the Megabus stop downtown in Des Moines at 10:00 Wednesday morning:
Chatting with the other passengers, it sounds like we were all guinea pigs for others waiting to see whether they should take the ride.
The bus to Chicago was as promised -- a new double decker bus. The crowd was much nicer than the group I remembered from buses back when I last used them 30 years ago -- mostly old ladies and college girls this time, and no smokers, crazy people or dangerous-seeming creepers. The trip was uneventful. The only bad thing -- the free wi-fi was erratic enough to be nearly useless.
We had a great time in Chicago (more on that in another post) and came back this morning. Todays ride was less impressive -- an older single-level bus that was more crowded. With the crowd and a more cramped bus, I couldn't open my (admittedly large) Dell laptop from work all the way, so I gave up trying to work. I was glad for the break at the 15-minute stop in Iowa City next to some vegan hippie coffee shop. Coffee was fine, but I don't much care for the gluten-free vegan cookies.
But we made it back OK. I would do it again for a business trip because when you don't drive you can do other work, but you should bring your own wi-fi card if you want to do computer work, at least until they beef up their wi-fi.
Still, comparing Megabus to riding Jefferson Lines in 1980 is like comparing First Class to riding in a luggage bin.
posted by Joe at 9:24 PM
2 Comments:
The dear old Jefferson Lines! I took the ride from Minneapolis to Iowa City so many times when I was a kid. It was NOT an express. The bus stopped at every single small town. I remember losing the will to live near Waverly every time. I would like to see a photo of the seats if you and Vickie take that trip again.
Your "will to live" line is the best description ever of that ride.
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