megabus.com

Megabus is a fantastic bus service. I was £4 return to go to Glasgow and back for a day trip shopping. Its simple to book, although you do have to book online. My friend came along with us on the day of the trip but didnt have a ticket and they let him on by just paying the bus driver on site at no extra cost. This was completely unexpected.

With the cheap deals I expected the bus to be overcrowded but it wasnt. Even though there is not much leg room for much of the journey from Aberdeen to Glasgow, and back we managed to take two seats each.

The toilet did leave a lot to be desired but then i never seen a clean bus toilet!!!!!!!!And what do you expect for £2 each way.

The bus to Glasgow dropped us almost in the centre of town. Less than a five minute walk away from the St Enoch Centre. It was perfect and was just in time for the shops opening at 9am

It is a long journey about 3.15 hours and this would have only been 2.15 in the car but wih friends it doesnt really matter.

It was however, the homeward journey that put me off travelling with Megabus ever again. We'd stocked up on sweets and crisps for the journey home and were all set to leave (my shopping bags clutched close to me!) After about an hours journey we started munching away. And I was eating a packet of Walkers Sensations Crisps. I have a huge history of allergies and eggs, fish and nuts will send me into anaphylactic shock and I will need medical attention immediately. Just to warn anyone out there with a similar problem some Walkers Sensation Crisps have egg yolk in them.

As i began to sweat and lose breath I knew that i was going to hvae to get my boyfriend to give me my injection and so he led me to the minascule toilet. I then managed to collapse (almost down the toilet) and go into a panic attack. The bus had to be stopped and an ambulance called. The bus driver however, was unable to tell my boyfriend exactly where we were and what worried me was that he didnt bother to really give him a description to give to the ambulance drivers!

The ambulance came and me and my boyfriend spent the night in Ninewells hospital.

All is now well but I dont think i shall ever travel by megabus again!!!!!

Nevertheless it is a fantastic service (if you dont eat on the bus). The website is so clear as well. You dont have to fill out a huge form to just make a booking or spend hours writing your details and registering to the site. Your ticket is emailed to you and you get it almost immediately which is convenient.

This has the great advantage that the ticket is the only mail you will receive from them rather than tonnes of junk emails which many companies tend to send you.

A map is provided of the area where the bus will arrive however, this is very basic and only gives a couple of streets which are surrounding. UNless you know the city its quite hard to place where you will be dropped off. In dundee the bus stop is basically the side of the road for example! But it gives you the basics and from my experience and by word of mouth it seems to always be within walking distance of the town centre (it is in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee)

The price of the tickets do vary and they are more expensive as you get closer to the day of travel however, this is only by a couple of pounds.

There is a 50p booking fee but this is just per transaction, not per person which again keeps costs down. In fact my friend was cheaper just getting his ticket at the bus stop as he did not have to pay this.

I went to Glasgow in September with the Megabus my sister went to Dundee just recently and I booked the tickets for her. The site has not changed at all which is for me a really good thing because you know what to expect and exactly what to do.

Although I wouldnt feel safe travelling with them i do think it is a wonderful scheme and would advice people that it is a cheap and cheerful trip. It also allows more spending money for that much needed retail therapy once you arrive at your destination!!!!