Megabus vs. Amtrak

From the title of this post, you'd think that I was pitching a new sci-fi movie about a really big bus getting in a fight with....I don't know...a train.

And that's pretty much what this is. But it's not science fiction - it's HORROR.

Let's say you need to travel and you don't want to drive. What are you going to do?

A) Take the Amtrak
B) Take the Megabus
C) Not travel

I'm here to help you out with that decision! Sort of! I'm basically just here to tell you that I've traveled A LOT since living in Chicago. And I've learned that I don't love driving for 5 hours in my poopy little car alone. So I end up weighing the pros and cons of every possible option. And then, I do all of them in one trip.

Last weekend, I went to Michigan on a whim and I debated not going but that seemed stupid. So, I took the Amtrak to Ann Arbor and then the Megabus from Ann Arbor back to the city. Let's compare the two!

Amtrak

THIS WILL NOT BE YOUR VIEW

Pros:

• Space - When I've taken the Amtrak to Michigan in the past, I have almost always had 2 seats to myself. This means I can sprawl out like a homeless person and take up as much room as possible. Even when you don't have 2 seats to yourself, you have plenty of legroom and can fall asleep.
• Outlets - On Amtrak, you get to have power outlets to charge your shit!
• Snack Car - There is a food car on the train, which means you can get up and wander about all you want!

Cons:

• No Wi-fi - Yes, you have the power needed to charge your shit, but you still can't stream Netflix or browse the web (that's a thing still, right?)
• DELAYS - You will NOT arrive at your scheduled time. You WILL feel bad if someone is picking you up and your arrival keeps getting pushed back til 1am. And while you're delayed, you won't see views of mountains. You will see views of murderous rage.
• Cost - Amtrak is more expensive than Megabus. Because it's a train, you dummie.

Megabus

You are a billboard

Pros:

• Cost - The Megabus is cheap, cheap, cheap! You can ride for like $9 if you're willing to travel in the middle of the night. But even during the day, my ticket was half the price of Amtrak.
• Wi-Fi - There is free wi-fi on this behemoth. Which means you can freely tweet about how terrible your neighbor's dandruff problem is
• On-time!!! - You're riding on a bus, in traffic, which means you have to account for traffic delays but you would have those if you drove yourself too. But the bus won't be delayed due to cracked tracks or anything, so you'll most likely arrive on time!

Cons:

• Space - These seats are small. You will not have legroom, and the bitch in front of you will most likely lean her seat back into your space. You have the option of sitting at a teeny tiny table but it's not any better to have to stare at a stranger while you awkwardly kick their feet for 5 hours.
• Outlets - A power outlet is a "pro" you say? Not when none of the power outlets on the entire bus work! Then they're just taunting you! So, yes, you can stream netflix on your laptop, but you cannot charge said laptop. So, deal with it!
• Smell - I'm not sure if I'm crazy, but this bus SMELLED. We stopped for a rest and half the riders got fast food which just sat on the bus smelling the place up. I think it was because we were all crammed in there like sardines, so the smell just consumed me.
• Temperature - Okay, I was FREEZING on the bus. Like, my feet were just about numb. And I had a blanket on. 

So, overall, both options are FINE. There's not going to be a perfect option that makes you 100% happy. But, if you ask me, I'd prefer the Amtrak (albeit slightly). It all comes down to space, I'm willing to be late if it means I can lay down in my seat and read 2 books (you can read 2 books because you're late, duh). Now, if this travel is happening over a holiday, you may not get 2 seats to yourself. Which would mean you should take the bus.

But really, it also comes down to availability. You may find that a combination of the 2 options allows you to travel in the timeframe you're looking for, so BE FLEXIBLE.

Do you have a story to tell about Amtrak vs. megabus? Share in the comments! You might just save a fellow traveler some trouble.

xoxo

Amanda

Music Monday: Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang

This is a low key little number as I'm not feeling like dancing much today. Maybe you are? If so, check the Music Monday tag and look for a different song to listen to.

Otherwise, get on board with this!

I've just spent the weekend in Michigan with my bff and family. It was amazing and rejuvenating. Until my dad got me sick!

I've got a cold and a little bit of a sore throat now. :( But it's okay. Because I'm back in Chicago, being productive at work and dreaming about life outside.

Back to the song. Look at what a babe Nancy Sinatra is.

And am I the only one who thinks of the movie Now and Then when I hear her name? "How short are those shorts? How tall are those boots?"

(Btw, i thought they said "how tall are those boobs" when I was a kid. I was wrong. I think I have bad hearing)

Anyway! How was your weekend?

xoxo
Amanda

Music Monday: Pharrell Williams - Come Get It Bae

It's finally starting to warm up outside. At least a teeny bit. So let's get into the happy groove by dancing to Pharrell's new album!

Seriously, it's really fun. And upbeat. And makes you long for summer days that might never come. No seriously, I won't believe summer is real until I can put my coat away.

In other news, we bought a new coffee table and pillows for our living room. So I'm feeling a serious sense of renewal on the homefront. And also, I've spammed it like crazy all over social media. Because it's making me that happy.

Anyway, happy Monday, y'all!

xoxo

Amanda

Power Ballad Thursday: The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You

To answer your question, no I have not given up on the Buffy Rewatch. I'm just taking a break to burn through Veronica Mars before the movie comes out. I DO WHAT I WANT!

Anyway!

It's Power Ballad Thursday here on the blog you're reading!

Let's listen to The Preternders. And admire Chrissie Hynde's patriotic star t-shurt!

I'm pretty sure this video is about addiction? I dunno. This guy she's hanging on seems jittery. And then he takes off his shirt. But she stands by him! And mends his shirt! and blocks out the sun from him.

THEN THERE IS A COCKROACH ON IT'S BACK.

And okay, now he seems dead.

Oh, good, he's not. He's just almost dead. But she keeps putting water on him. I think it symbolizes holy water. Totally. But not really.

Whatever, this addict guy has beautiful hair and isn't dead at the end of the video. He's just unconscious. And that's okay! Because eventually he'll get better and leave her! It's cool guys!

Man, there's something off about the way my brain works.

Music Monday: Tegan and Sara - I Won't Be Left

I just bought tickets to see Tegan and Sara in June. Talk about planning ahead!

I listened to SO MUCH Tegan and Sara throughout college. So, it's really hard for me to pick a specific song to share today.

I went back to 2004 with this choice (I listened to it after that) and came up with "I Won't Be Left". It sounds so cute and I'm dancing in my chair. So it must be good.

But in all seriousness, you should listen to everything by them. No just their most recent album. So Jealous is my favorite if you have to pick just one record to play today.

I mean look at these cuties!

Happy Monday!

xoxo
Amanda