Megabus - am I missing something or..

[All that jazz]

..are National Express just really expensive?

I need to get from Leeds to Devon next week to pick up a car and public transport is looking likely. Trains are stupidly expensive so I'm left with National Express and Megabus. Cheapest with National Express is just over £60 but the journey to Exeter takes a whopping 12 hrs 35 mins, leaving Leeds late evening, dumping you at Manchester for 4 hours in the middle of the night, then leaving there at the crack of dawn to get you there just before noon the next day!

Megabus, on the other hand, have a direct route leaving Leeds at the crack of dawn and arriving Exeter early afternoon (journey time 7hrs 50 mins). And the price for this convenience and luxury? A mere £5.

Are there a whole bunch of horror stories from Megabus users that I should be aware of or is National Express just really expensive?

[Soovy]

They're basic, but good, apparently.

Take a cushion.

[williredale]

I was on one where the toilet door was broken and the whole bus smelt of wee...

Cheap though!

[stoocake]

I used a MegaBus once from Birmingham to London, paid less than £10 I think and it was comfortable, quiet, decent coach and reasonably quick. Recommended.

[crispyshark]

+1 on the cushion idea, seats are basic, very basic.

Can't knock the price though!

[Charlie Michael]

All that jazz said:

..are National Express just really expensive?

I need to get from Leeds to Devon next week to pick up a car and public transport is looking likely. Trains are stupidly expensive so I'm left with National Express and Megabus. Cheapest with National Express is just over £60 but the journey to Exeter takes a whopping 12 hrs 35 mins, leaving Leeds late evening, dumping you at Manchester for 4 hours in the middle of the night, then leaving there at the crack of dawn to get you there just before noon the next day!

Megabus, on the other hand, have a direct route leaving Leeds at the crack of dawn and arriving Exeter early afternoon (journey time 7hrs 50 mins). And the price for this convenience and luxury? A mere £5.

Are there a whole bunch of horror stories from Megabus users that I should be aware of or is National Express just really expensive?

PH default answer - go with a friend in their car and then drive back together in convoy?

[jdw1234]

How bad can it be? Its not India!!

[Dr Interceptor]

Used them when I was a student in Bristol... spent a lot of time getting to know the hard shoulder of the M4.

In fairness, they were a fairly new company back then, and had acquired a load of old buses to get started.

[Six Fiend]

Very popular with friends going from Bristol to London and back. Can be "interesting" people on board. Great when on time

[HustleRussell]

Charlie Michael said:

PH default answer - go with a friend in their car and then drive back together in convoy?what's a bus?

• EFA

[TheForceV4]

Megabus??? National Express???

Isnt there meant to be a screening process for membership here?

[nicanary]

Six Fiend said:

Very popular with friends going from Bristol to London and back. Can be "interesting" people on board. Great when on time

The sort who stare at you whilst polishing their knife, and slowly say " she asked for it, you know".

[GTIR]

Don't forget to bring your electronic cigarette for the journey.

[All that jazz]

Charlie Michael said:

PH default answer - go with a friend in their car and then drive back together in convoy?

Not an option unfortunately. Best friend 1 doesn't drive and best friend 2 doesn't enjoy driving at all, but will go to about a 50 mile radius at a push. Also, let's not under estimate the time and distance involved here, it's nearly a 500 mile round trip from where I am and realistically an 8hr+ day. I love driving (I do it for a living) but that's a lot of driving and time, not to mention 1.5 lots of fuel costs on top (back of beer mat calc I reckon £100 of fuel).

[All that jazz]

TheForceV4 said:

Megabus??? National Express???

Isnt there meant to be a screening process for membership here?

[SirSamuelBuca]

I took megabus from brum to Paris. Never again. But for 5quid it's all good

[4key]

Take a cushion, a couple of sleeping tablets and a full face crash helmet. Helmet is incase you sleep with your mouth open, its the national express ones that crash.

[Roo]

£60?

Jeez, I just sent someone by train from Maidstone to Perth for £40.

[davidsc]

I took one from Penzance to Brum (to buy a car) - took about 8 hours and we swapped to a rubbish double decker that was hacking it down the motorway but for £6 I was laughing.

The thing I wasn't laughing about was £4k cash in my pocket and the very interesting people getting on!

[RUSSELLM]

davidsc said:

The thing I wasn't laughing about was £4k cash in my pocket and the very interesting people getting on!

I used one from Brum to Manchester for a footy match & you're right. I'm a scumbag, but felt quite posh in comparison to the other punters.

Leg room's a bit tight in comparison to National Express & NE's coaches seemed fitted out better, but you pays your money.