Bus Travel Tips

Travelling in Mexico, and especially by bus, can be daunting for the first time traveller. With this in mind here is a short list of simple tips to make travelling by bus safer and easier:
1. Mexico has two public road systems: the free highway and the toll highway. In certain areas and especially at night, it can be dangerous to travel on the free highway at night. While any large first class bus company will operate long distance trips only on toll highways, smaller companies might operate over free roads. It is a good idea to ask both the bus company and anyone you know from the area whether it is safe to travel on the roads in question at night.
2. Bring food and water. Long distance first class bus trips are long! Generally the bus does not stop anywhere so, if you want food and drink, you need to bring it with you.
3. Bring a semi-donut pillow. Just do it. You will love yourself later. While seats tend to be very comfortable, headrests are no good for sleeping.
4. If it is vacation season (especially Christmas and Semana Santa) book early so you don't end up at the back of the last bus next to a bathroom with a broken door and a guy who passes out with his head in your lap. Happened to me once.
5. Don't worry. Mexicans are always flabbergasted by the American propensity (including on the part of the author) to freak out about things. In Mexico almost everything looks at first like it is going horribly awry but eventually manages to work itself out.