Chinatown buses offer cheap travel between West Coast cities
Posted by admin on Jul 29, 2009
Chinatown buses have long been beloved by budget-conscious travelers on the East Coast. Once a treasured secret of college students and backpackers, the inexpensive bus routes have recently become a favored mode of transportation for anyone looking to travel between major cities cheaply and efficiently. Now, several Chinatown bus lines are also offering service on the West Coast, and for many travelers, their notoriously dirt-cheap fares are well worth the no-frills service.
The bus companies keep fares low by forgoing traditional advertising in favor of word-of-mouth buzz, by using street corners or pre-existing bus stops (usually located in a given city’s Chinatown, of course) rather than bus stations, and by having virtually no customer service — so keep in mind that there usually isn’t a number to call if you have questions or an issue with your ticket. They also keep costs down by being very streamlined and efficient, so frequently the driver is also the ticket collector, and may even be the company owner. Many drivers won’t speak much English, so don’t expect a tour guide, and it’s important to note that the buses tend to adhere to posted schedules very loosely, so it’s wise to arrive very early and expect some delays. Buses are almost always full, and if you miss your bus, most bus companies retain the right to refuse to allow you on another bus.
The buses themselves are usually quite clean and comfortable, with big, cushy seats, a fair amount of leg room, and bathrooms on board. Some even have televisions and play videos throughout the course of the trip (though they frequently aren’t in English!). Rest stops tend to be infrequent and food options are often limited to mini-marts or fast food, so it’s a good idea to bring your own snacks and plenty of water. When you do have a rest stop, don’t be late returning to the bus — drivers will not count heads before getting back on the road.
From San Francisco, you can catch a ride to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Yosemite, or Los Angeles, and in L.A. it’s possible to transfer to buses bound for various other Western cities — like Phoenix and Tijuana — for exceptionally low fares. One-way fares from San Francisco to L.A. are currently posted at $19, with roundtrip fares at $38. Current fares can be found at chinatown-bus.org or gotobus.com.
The bus station in San Francisco’s Chinatown is located at 944 Stockton Street, which is just 0.7 miles from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel, and about a mile from the San Francisco City Center Hostel. There’s also a bus stop serving select routes at 333 O’Farrell Street, which is less than a block from the Downtown Hostel, and just half a mile from the City Center Hostel. Some bus lines also offer select services from San Francisco’s Powell BART and Caltrain stations.