If you are considering purchasing a bus pass the technique for choosing the right pass for you is very similar to the advice on how to chose the right train pass. Firstly, bus passes are not available in all countries and regions. Places where bus passes tend to be popular include Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
When making a decision regarding a pass, it is always a good idea to draft out a rough itinerary that you expect to follow for your trip. Then use the company website to establish which pass will best suit your journey. You should then get the price for each individual journey in order to establish which option will be best for you. Remember, a bus pass can offer a great deal of flexibility, so even if it is marginally more expensive it may still be a better option in the long run.
In Europe Eurolines operate international bus journeys between 43 European cities. They sell 15 and 30 passes valid for travel between these cities with prices starting at 175 euros. As Eurolines allow unlimited travel for the duration of the pass this can compare favourably to a rail pass if the places you want to visit are among the 43 destinations served. The only restriction to be aware of is that Eurolines only operate international routes, so the pass will not cover internal travel within the countries you visit. The only exception to this rule is the Madrid Barcelona service, which is covered on the pass.
Both Australia and the USA have extensive bus networks operated by Greyhound. Passes can be very flexible, particularly in Australia where passes can be bought by the route, length of time or number of kilometers travelled. If you are planning on using Greyhound USA or Greyhound Australia it is well worth considering a bus pass.
If you are interested in bus travel, you may also like to consider jump on jump off backpackers bus services.
