MegaBus: My First (and probably last) Experience

People aren't lying or exaggerating when they say that bus stations are disgusting, but Santiago and I didn't have much of a choice this time around. Usually we drive down to Miami, but issues with our vehicles lead us to taking a bus round-trip.

Thursday, Independence Day, we arrive to the MegaBus station/office in Orlando around sunrise. Originally, we planned on departing at 7 am, but Santiago mistakenly booked a 7 pm bus and didn't notice until last minute. We were able to switch our reservation for an earlier bus that would be leaving at noon, which was lucky, but we were basically stuck there waiting for another five hours.

We walked to the McDonald's in the same parking lot and grab some breakfast and chilled out for a bit in there, rather than in the bus waiting area. Sometime around 8:00, McDonald's starting getting packed, so we went to the station's indoor waiting room.

There was only one power outlet in that entire room that actually worked, and we were lucky enough to claim it before someone else could. Over time more people came in and also discovered that there were no power outlets that worked, but we wouldn't budge from our spot to give up ours. Our phones were low on battery due to us watching the new season of Stranger Things and just doing anything to kill time.

We were just minding our own business when this person walks in and asks us to purchase them a bus ticket to Jacksonville in exchange for cash,(MegaBus doesn't take cash). Santiago and I are looking at this person thinking it's a man at first.

I tell him that I don't have my card on me because it was super sketchy. We literally saw this guy at McDonald's taking a nap on one of the booths the whole time we were there. You won't see me submitting to something or someone like that. A homeless guy in New York was hanging around JFK airport and asked for my almost expired MetroCard and I declined. I just imagine these people being where they shouldn't and causing harm to myself or others.

Santiago agreed to help him out,(which I was not thrilled about), and goes outside to buy his ticket for the twenty dollar bill that looked very questionable to us. I stayed inside with our bags and the whole time I'm just thinking to myself; 'Oh my God, he's going to try to mug him and steal his wallet and Gucci slides.' Ten minutes later he comes back in perfectly fine and the man sits down on the opposite side of the room from us.

Later on, I made the mistake of looking up at him to see that he was a she. How did I figure that out? Well, how many guys do you know wear pink bras?

She was wearing all men's clothes, but she had her jacket unzipped with her breast very exposed. I quickly look away because it was very disturbing to see her rubbing on her own exposed nipple in public like that while she was looking at us, I was absolutely disgusted. I nudge Santiago to get his attention and he's equally disgusted by what I saw. We never looked up again after that.

Finally our bus comes and the air conditioner was out of order. Four hours we spent on that bus sweating like pigs the whole way to Miami. We also wouldn't dare to use the restroom on the bus because that's just asking for some kind of disease.

After our weekend in Miami, we board our bus to go back home to Orlando. The air conditioner thankfully worked, but the ride felt longer this time. We were already behind schedule and when we were only thirty minutes away from our destination, the driver pulls over on I-95 to use the restroom. I had to go too, but if I can hold it I think she can too. Other people were irritated about that too because we ended up arriving a half hour later than planned.

This was my first time taking a bus ever and I can confidently say that there won't be a next time.

I prefer the New York Subways over MegaBus any day. For the price you're paying to take a four hour bus trip under these circumstances, I promise you that it isn't worth it.