What’s not to love about overnight bus journeys – the soothing lullaby of the motor engine hum, the ambience of airy loud whispers and muffled coughs, along with the jaw-dropping views of total darkness.
Booking an overnight journey is always a strategic cost-saving and time-saving decision. By doing so, you:
- Save money on fares; overnight journey fares tend to be much cheaper.
- Save money on a night’s accommodation; your seat is your bed.
- Save time; you’re on the move to another destination whilst sleeping, often arriving early in the morning for a potential full day of activities at your new destination.
Overnight bus journeys via sleeper beds (such as in India and many South East Asian countries) where you can lie and sleep on a bed are normally comfortable. Sleeping on a standard upright bus seat, however, isn’t the most comfortable experience where you actually get some good sleep.
Overnight bus journeys, or any other transport method where you are the passenger over a long distance while sitting on an upright seat, can be made a bit more comfortable and bearable so you arrive at your destination less panda-eyed and more panda ready to party.
If you’re planning or have booked an overnight bus, here are some tips to help you survive the tiring long night journey and early morning.
Know where you’re going once you disembark at the new destination
Where will you arrive exactly in the morning?
Do you know how you will get to your new place of stay (if you plan on dropping off your luggage for initial storage)?
Can you walk there or do you need private or public transport? If you need transport, where can you get it from?
It is recommended that you plan and mark such destinations on a map app (whether online or offline) on your smartphone to make the morning a little less stressful.
Have a bottle of water with you
It can be quite hot or dry (especially during summer) in a confined space so make sure you have a bottle of water to keep you hydrated on the overnight journey.
Bring a breakfast snack or two
Fuel your body for the new day ahead once you wake up near your final destination (And yes, chocolate counts – no judge!).
Have ear plugs and an eye mask
Ear plugs are your tiny ear mufflers – it can make that pair of friends yapping away at the back less audible and more tolerable.
Take a jacket!
You can use it as a blanket if the environment is (or gets) cold.
Don’t sit near the toilet
No one likes the putrid smell coming from the toilet, nor having their sleep interrupted by the noise of periodic flushing and the opening and shutting of the toilet door (of course, it maybe unavoidable if there is assigned seating where you cannot change seats).
Sit by an aisle seat (if there is no allocated seating)
If you wake up in the middle of the journey and need to go to the toilet, it is easier to go there instead of having to awkwardly wake the passenger sleeping next to you (though as not as awkward as trying to climb over the person and the person waking up mid-climb).
Set an alarm
If your destination is actually in the middle of the bus journey (not the end) and you plan on sleeping, set an alarm on your smartphone, preferably on vibrate and placed somewhere close to your body so you can feel the alarm.
As travel times can vary due to traffic, it can be recommended that you set the alarm time 30-45 minutes before the stated arrival time at the destination so you have a chance to be somewhat alert and ready. It’s a good idea to also check on a map app on your phone as to where you are relative to your destination when you have awoken.
Drivers also frequently shout over the intercom the upcoming destination – be aware of this.
Have your passport accessible (but also secured)
If you are crossing country borders where there is border control, keep your passport close to you where it is secure (such as inside a zipped pocket) and also conveniently accessible for you to take out and show border control staff.
Go to the toilet before arriving at the new destination
If you’re not immediately going to your accommodation, you may never know where the next (free) public toilet will be, especially if you are travelling around Europe as free use of public toilets are notoriously hard to come by.
Never keep all your bank or credit cards and cash all in one place!
Always keep them in separated in different places so if your cards ever get lost or stolen, at least you will have other cards and cash in your possession.
Always call your bank if your card gets lost or stolen.
When are you embarking on an overnight bus journey while in a standard non-sleeper seat, make sure to do the following for a comfortable journey and arrival:
- Know where you’re going before you disembark at the new destination (and how you will get there)
- Have a bottle of water with you
- Bring a breakfast snack or two
- Have an eye mask and a pair of ear plugs
- Take a jacket to keep warm!
- Don’t sit near the toilet
- Sit by an aisle seat (if there is no allocated seating)
- Set an alarm(s)
- Have your passport accessible (but also secured)
- Go to the toilet before arriving at the new destination
Have you taken the overnight bus? What do you do or take to make the night journey experience a bit more endurable?
Comment below to let other travellers and myself know!
Do you know someone who is embarking on overnight bus journey soon?
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