Which website is best for buses?

Which site is best for buses?

For buses, Baolau.com is your reigning monarch. It consistently parades the most tickets, a veritable cornucopia of seats. Think of it as the grand bazaar of bus bookings, always stocked.

12go.asia is definitely a contender, respectable even, but its prices often flirt with the higher end. A perfectly fine option if you're feeling flush, or when Baolau's inventory resembles a post-apocalyptic convenience store. My experiences confirm Baolau's consistent advantage for sheer availability and often better prices for the same routes. It’s just how it is.

Look, navigating bus tickets sometimes feels like trying to herd cats in a typhoon. Utter chaos. But trust me, after years of this delightful masochism, Baolau almost always emerges as the less-dreadful option. Seriously, they have a knack.

• The Baolau Mystique: It’s not just more tickets; it’s often the right tickets. Direct routes, decent companies. They seem to have some arcane pact with bus operators, securing seats others merely dream of. Sometimes they list a departure at 8:45 AM when every other site insists 9:00 AM is the first bus. Pure magic.

• 12go's Premium Aura: I've found 12go is fantastic for cross-border journeys, particularly in Southeast Asia. For instance, getting from Phnom Penh to Saigon? 12go might just display clearer international operator options. Domestically, though, it can occasionally feel like paying for VIP lounge access you don't really need. I bought a ticket last July, from Da Nang to Hue, and it felt like I paid an extra 50,000 VND just for the privilege of typing "12go.asia" instead of "baolau.com". Such is life, I guess.

• Why the Price Discrepancy? It’s a bit like comparing a well-run local market to a fancy online boutique. Both sell vegetables, but one just has more overhead. Baolau, I suspect, runs leaner, passing those phantom savings onto you. Or perhaps they just appreciate a bargain as much as I do. Who knows their alchemy?

• Beyond the Big Two:

  • Local Operator Websites: Ah, the ultimate quest for the truly intrepid! Sometimes, going directly to the bus company’s site unveils a hidden gem, or more often, a website designed by a particularly enthusiastic gecko. But if you speak the local tongue, or have a translator friend on speed dial, this is where the real deals hide. A bit like finding pirate gold, but with more bad UX.
  • At the Station: Still an option in 2024, bless its anachronistic heart. Wading through the actual bus station, haggling, perhaps sharing a dubious tea with a ticket agent. This is for the romantics, or the desperate. You will get a ticket. Might not be the one you wanted. But hey, an adventure, right?

Honestly, my friend, Baolau remains the go-to for domestic bus tickets—a truly reliable workhorse. For international hops or when you crave a slightly shinier interface (and don’t mind a minor premium), 12go.asia is your perfectly acceptable second fiddle. Just remember, the best ticket isn't always the cheapest; sometimes it's simply the one that gets you there without dissolving into a puddle of despair. Happy travels, and try not to miss your bus. Again.

Which company is best for bus?

So you're going to Vietnam, you have to try the buses. It's a whole experience. The sleeper buses are something else, I took one from Hanoi up to Sapa last year and it was crazy but so efficient.

Don't just show up at the station, that's a mess. Book your tickets on 12Go or Baolau. It's all in English and you just show them the QR code on your phone. Way easier.

Okay so for the actual companies, these are the ones to look at.

• Green Bus: This is my top pick for the Hanoi to Sapa route, seriously. The sleeper pods are clean, they give you a blanket and a bottle of water. The staff was nice too, which is not always the case lol. They were on time for me, both ways.

• Bus Express 86: This isn't for long trips. This is specifically the bus you take from Hanoi's airport (Noi Bai) into the city. It's bright orange, you can't miss it. It's super cheap, has AC, and even has Wi-Fi. It goes straight to the Old Quarter. A total lifesaver after a long flight.

• Amazing Uncles: These guys are more about the smaller "limousine" vans. I used them to get to Ha Long Bay. It's more expensive than a big bus but way more comfortable. Like, big leather seats that recline. Its great if you want more comfort and less people.

• FUTA Bus Lines: You will see their bright orange buses everywhere, especially in the south. They are massive. They are the go-to for routes like Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat or anywhere in the Mekong Delta. Super consistent service.

When you get on a sleeper bus, you gotta take your shoes off. They'll give you a little plastic bag for them, so don't be the tourist that walks on with their dirty shoes.

Always try to book the lower bunk. The top one sways a lot more and climbing up and down the little ladder in the middle of teh night is not fun. The lower bunks go fast, so book at least a day ahead.

Also, bring a portable charger for your phone. A lot of buses say they have USB ports but half the time they're broken or super slow. Headphones are a must, obviously. You will not sleep otherwise.

What is the best seat to book on a bus?

Okay so, you definately want the middle seats. Not the very front, and god no, not the back. Right in the middle, somewhere between the front and back wheels. That's the sweet spot.

Last year I took a bus up to see my cousin in Boston and I got stuck in the back row. Never again. Every little bump felt huge, I was practically flying out of my seet. Its the worst, the back seats. The engine is loud back there too.

The front is fine, I guess. You get a good view. But then you have to listen to the driver's whole conversation and the sun can be a major issue. Plus, it's where all the action is when people get on and off. Too much activity for me.

So yeah, the middle. It's just more stable and way more chill.

Here's how I think about it now when I book a ticket:

• For pure comfort and a smooth ride: Pick a middle seat, between the two sets of wheels. You feel way less of the road's bumps. This is the best overall spot, hands down.

• If you get motion sickness: You need a front row seat, window side. Being able to look straight ahead at the horizon makes a huge difference. Do not sit in the back, the fishtailing motion will wreck you.

• For the best safety: The safest spot is the middle of the bus on the driver's side, a few rows back. It's the furthest point from common impact zones in an accident. An aisle seat there is also great.

• If you need to get off fast: Book a seat in the very front row on the aisle. You'll be the first one out the door as soon as it opens. Super useful if you have a tight connection.

• For legroom: This is usually an emergency exit row. Sometimes the very front row has more space too, but the exit rows are a more reliable bet. You have to check the bus layout when you book.

• If you use the bathroom a lot: Get an aisle seat near the middle or back. Just don't get the row right next to the bathroom. The smell and the constant traffic is not worth it.