Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

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anonforthis
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Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by anonforthis »

The trip is about 960 miles and mega bus website says it will take 21 hours. It costs way less than driving a car. We took many greyhound bus vacations but before kids. Those trips were fun. This will be our first time taking mega bus ( it's a lot cheaper than greyhound). Do you recommend taking mega bus? Thank you.
bungalow10
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by bungalow10 »

How many toddlers? Two? Ages?
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anonforthis
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by anonforthis »

[quote="bungalow10"]How many toddlers? Two? Ages?[/quote

2 toddlers 1.5 and 3 year old. Thank you.
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rob
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by rob »

I have used Megabus a bit but not on those lengths - they are fine (mostly wifi which helps a lot) but not a lot of space and certainly less comfortable seats than a car. However with kids that age I just would not do it vs. driving regardless.... just too much lost flexibility for me.
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barnaclebob
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by barnaclebob »

How much cheaper are we talking here? at 20mpg for 960 each way and $3.50 gas your talking $~340 in gas.
Atilla
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Atilla »

21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.
Louis Winthorpe III
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Louis Winthorpe III »

Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.
Yep.
Andyrunner
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Andyrunner »

I do not look forward to 2hr drives with my 14 month old. I can't imagine being on a bus that long with a toddler. Bad idea, very bad idea.
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serbeer
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by serbeer »

Andyrunner wrote:I do not look forward to 2hr drives with my 14 month old. I can't imagine being on a bus that long with a toddler. Bad idea, very bad idea.
Yes! To clarify: bad for you, very bad for others on the bus.

This is something you'd do if you had no other choice/mode of transportation, and definately not as vacation.
Silence Dogood
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Silence Dogood »

HA!

Assuming this is a joke, this is hilarious.

I can just imagine being one of the other passengers on that bus.

If you're being serious, I would HIGHLY recommend that you don't do this. At least wait a few years until they're older.

I was on a mega bus this summer. Not bad, but certainly not very spacious.
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anonforthis
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by anonforthis »

Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
investor1
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by investor1 »

anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
Then drive your minivan to NYC, park it, and commute around the city just as you would have had you taken the bus to get there.
ciscovp
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by ciscovp »

Yes. Drive to NYC or even to NJ and catch the train into NYC.
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SmileyFace
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by SmileyFace »

anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
LOL - I'd give it a shot. After the 2nd hour you can probably take up a collection from others on the bus and stop at the nearest rental car agency with the collection money!
dgdevil
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by dgdevil »

Oh, what the hell? Take Greyhound. I hear great things about the extended stop in Buffalo at 2:30 am.

Meanwhile, seems you might be a contender for this thread:

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 1&t=129477
cherijoh
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by cherijoh »

anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
Are you nuts? These buses stop very infrequently for breaks. From a practical standpoint, have you considered trying to help your toddler use bathroom facilities the size of an airline restroom while going 65 mph? I guarantee they don't have diaper changing facilities. And there may only be one toilet on board - what if your kid really needs to go and its occupied? I wouldn't take kids at those ages on a 4-hr bus ride much less a 21-hr ride.
John3754
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by John3754 »

Sounds like a nightmare...for everyone around you.
supersharpie
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by supersharpie »

OP - it would be very inconsiderate of you to take your children on this bus ride.
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ResearchMed
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by ResearchMed »

cherijoh wrote:
anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
Are you nuts? These buses stop very infrequently for breaks. From a practical standpoint, have you considered trying to help your toddler use bathroom facilities the size of an airline restroom while going 65 mph? I guarantee they don't have diaper changing facilities. And there may only be one toilet on board - what if your kid really needs to go and its occupied? I wouldn't take kids at those ages on a 4-hr bus ride much less a 21-hr ride.
Exactly my thoughts: "Are you nuts?"

IF you do this, bring LOTS and LOTS of cough syrup, to help them sleep.
"THEM", in this case, would be the other passengers :shock:

And as supersharpie pointed out, it would be very inconsiderate - to your children as well!

On long road trips with young children, we stopped frequently (as often as needed) for bathroom stops and what we called "road races".
These were at some nice grassy area, and involved adults throwing Frisbees as far as reasonable, and children racing off to collect them, and racing back to the adult.
Rinse and repeat. And again....

Then a sandwich or a snack, and the children slept for the next couple of hours :happy
Adults had a peaceful drive then.

RM
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cherijoh
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by cherijoh »

ResearchMed wrote:
cherijoh wrote:
anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
Are you nuts? These buses stop very infrequently for breaks. From a practical standpoint, have you considered trying to help your toddler use bathroom facilities the size of an airline restroom while going 65 mph? I guarantee they don't have diaper changing facilities. And there may only be one toilet on board - what if your kid really needs to go and its occupied? I wouldn't take kids at those ages on a 4-hr bus ride much less a 21-hr ride.
Exactly my thoughts: "Are you nuts?"

IF you do this, bring LOTS and LOTS of cough syrup, to help them sleep.
"THEM", in this case, would be the other passengers :shock:

And as supersharpie pointed out, it would be very inconsiderate - to your children as well!

On long road trips with young children, we stopped frequently (as often as needed) for bathroom stops and what we called "road races".
These were at some nice grassy area, and involved adults throwing Frisbees as far as reasonable, and children racing off to collect them, and racing back to the adult.
Rinse and repeat. And again....

Then a sandwich or a snack, and the children slept for the next couple of hours :happy
Adults had a peaceful drive then.

RM
You are correct, making a 3-yr sit still that long is cruel and unusual punishment. While the bus is moving, everyone must be sitting down in their seats. What if the little one gets cranky and starts crying? You will not be able to get up and walk around with kid to sooth him/her.

I love the road race idea! Most little kids seem to have only 2 speeds - 100% energy or zonked out. It's like the strategy to tire out a puppy :wink:
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ResearchMed
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by ResearchMed »

cherijoh wrote:
ResearchMed wrote:
cherijoh wrote:
anonforthis wrote:
Atilla wrote:21 hours, eh? 1.5 and 3 years old? Dear God, have pity on the rest of the folks on the bus and pay more to drive yourselves.

Lol. I thought that since we are not driving. We will be available to entertain them. Maybe this is a bad idea. We have a brand new mini van and we do not want to drive around NYC with it.
Are you nuts? These buses stop very infrequently for breaks. From a practical standpoint, have you considered trying to help your toddler use bathroom facilities the size of an airline restroom while going 65 mph? I guarantee they don't have diaper changing facilities. And there may only be one toilet on board - what if your kid really needs to go and its occupied? I wouldn't take kids at those ages on a 4-hr bus ride much less a 21-hr ride.
Exactly my thoughts: "Are you nuts?"

IF you do this, bring LOTS and LOTS of cough syrup, to help them sleep.
"THEM", in this case, would be the other passengers :shock:

And as supersharpie pointed out, it would be very inconsiderate - to your children as well!

On long road trips with young children, we stopped frequently (as often as needed) for bathroom stops and what we called "road races".
These were at some nice grassy area, and involved adults throwing Frisbees as far as reasonable, and children racing off to collect them, and racing back to the adult.
Rinse and repeat. And again....

Then a sandwich or a snack, and the children slept for the next couple of hours :happy
Adults had a peaceful drive then.

RM
You are correct, making a 3-yr sit still that long is cruel and unusual punishment. While the bus is moving, everyone must be sitting down in their seats. What if the little one gets cranky and starts crying? You will not be able to get up and walk around with kid to sooth him/her.

I love the road race idea! Most little kids seem to have only 2 speeds - 100% energy or zonked out. It's like the strategy to tire out a puppy :wink:
It's not "like the strategy to tire out a puppy".

It *IS* the strategy to tire out a pup!

:D

And it really, really worked, on short trips, or 3 weeks driving around France.

RM
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Raymond
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Raymond »

In a passenger bus with two toddlers? 21 hours?

Sounds like the trip from hell - for you, your kids, and the people around you.
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Cosmo
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Cosmo »

I agree with most of the posts here. If Megabus is anything close to Greyhound in terms of the types of customers, I would be worried about my safety. Especially at 2:30am in Buffalo -like someone mentioned.

[disturbing content removed by admin alex]

Cosmo
HurdyGurdy
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by HurdyGurdy »

I remember riding an intercity bus, when I was 4 or 5, in an overnight trip, and being thirsty.

MegaBus fills a need. Kid friendly vacation is not one of them.

If you have to, consider breaking the trip (21 hours is just too long), bring plenty of water, a safe mild sedative that you have tried before, and buy enough seats to be comfortable. Take turns with your spouse to sleep, to keep your kids and valuables safe.

To follow barnaclebob, but renting a 30 mpg car, ((960x2) / 30) * 3.5 = $224 in gas.
With a 28 mpg car, ((960x2) / 28) * 3.5 = $240
MSchleicher
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by MSchleicher »

As a young adult, I would do anything possible to avoid a 21 hour bus trip.

Do not put a young child through this trip.
MathWizard
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by MathWizard »

How about an alternate suggestion:

instead of a nearly 1000 mile trip, I would find something much closer to home for children that
age, and use your minivan. We limited trips to 6 hours driving time max (with breaks every 2 hours)
until the youngest was 5 years old. Our first long vacation was about 16 hours, but was spread out
over 3 days, with stops at the Black Hills & Devil's Tower on the way to Yellowstone.

We took longer trips as the boys got older, but always in a large sedan or minivan.
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dodecahedron
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by dodecahedron »

I was on an Amtrak train for two and a half hours yesterday. There was one toddler in our car of the train. She screamed for virtually the whole time. It was really torture. (The train was packed, so none of us had the option to move to another car of the train.) Her mother tried to entertain her but to no avail. She did a bit of toddling (unsteadily) on the moving train, occasionally falling to the filthy floor of the train.

Two toddlers, for 21 hours, in a space even more cramped than an Amtrak train! What a miserable experience for all concerned.
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Re: Mega bus vacation with toddlers.

Post by Alex Frakt »

I'm locking this, there is nothing left to be said about the OP's original question. However, the OP is welcome to start a new thread if he or she wants feedback on an alternate plan.
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