How to Survive an Overnight Bus in Asia

Traveling around certain regions of Asia is incredibly inexpensive, thanks largely in part to an expansive bus system that lets travelers hop from city to city at affordable prices. Buses are a great alternative to planes and, if you choose to travel overnight, you catch up on some sleep and save money on room and board. Just be careful, because not all night buses are made equally.

VIP versus Sleeper

There are two primary types of buses in Asia — the VIP bus and the Sleeper. The VIP is your traditional bus with rows of seats that lean back slightly and might provide entertainment in the form of local language movies. The Sleeper bus, however, is decked out bunk-bed style and allows you to lie down with a pillow and blanket for the trip.

Bring a Friend

The problem with Sleeper buses is they’re almost always full and they fit two people to a bed. That means unless you’re traveling with a buddy, you’ll find yourself shoulder to shoulder with a random stranger who might not speak your language.

Dress Appropriately

The buses in many areas will crank the air conditioning super high and leave you freezing overnight, while some take the opposite direction and never turn the AC on at all. It’s best to keep a change of clothes on board with you since you never can tell which you’re going to end up with.

Hold Your Valuables

Most importantly, keep your valuables on the bus with you and not under. Occasionally, luggage is known to be broken into when stored underneath the bus and some people reach their destination and find all of their goods missing. Avoid this by being smart and keeping your money and electronics within sight at all times.