Some countries have extensive rail services while other countries/regions of the world have extensive bus services. Here is a listing of web sites for bus travel.
Europe:
A note about European buses. With the rise of FlixBus and their ever expanding purchase of other bus companies, some of the below listed bus platforms may or may not have better prices or available routes to select.
Europe Wide: FLiXBUS. This bus operator has one of the most extensive routes throughout Europe. Their web site is easy to navigate and pricing seems very reasonable. Their coaches and services are excellent as well. The only negative is some routes may have limited service but you can always book a bus from another source if that is an issue. Seat selection is available after you make the initial booking and continue to the next page to complete the booking process.
A note about European buses. With the rise of FlixBus and their ever expanding purchase of other bus companies, some of the below listed bus platforms may or may not have better prices or available routes to select.
Europe Wide: FLiXBUS. This bus operator has one of the most extensive routes throughout Europe. Their web site is easy to navigate and pricing seems very reasonable. Their coaches and services are excellent as well. The only negative is some routes may have limited service but you can always book a bus from another source if that is an issue. Seat selection is available after you make the initial booking and continue to the next page to complete the booking process.
Italy: SII - Public Transportation. I present this even though I ride the trains. It seems to be a good comprehensive web site and they now have it in English.
Spain: ALSA. I have personally used this web site and it is very good. It gives options for multiple languages.
Multiple Countries: Movelia. This web site allows booking for a variety of countries in Europe. Your best option is to select the "advanced search" option on the left hand section of the main page.
Portugal: Rede Nacional de Expressos. When the main page opens select Porgssegiur Para O Site which will take you to the page you need then you can select English language.
Poland. PolskBus. PolskiBus has joined forces with FLiXBus so your search will be routed to that web site. This means that you have access to the full routes that FLiXBUS serves. internal bus routes within Poland based on their available routes and schedules and the buses used are new with a lot of nice features any traveler would like like WiFi.. The link takes you to their English language page.
Czech Republic. Student Travel. This is a relatively easy to use bus company which you can make a booking and pay online with a credit card.
Romania. Autogari.ro This is a good resource for online booking and payment for buses within the country.
Poland. PolskBus. PolskiBus has joined forces with FLiXBus so your search will be routed to that web site. This means that you have access to the full routes that FLiXBUS serves. internal bus routes within Poland based on their available routes and schedules and the buses used are new with a lot of nice features any traveler would like like WiFi.. The link takes you to their English language page.
Czech Republic. Student Travel. This is a relatively easy to use bus company which you can make a booking and pay online with a credit card.
Romania. Autogari.ro This is a good resource for online booking and payment for buses within the country.
Middle East:
Israel: Egged - Israel Bus Company. This one even though has some English can be difficult to use but worth visiting. It can provide useful information on routes and schedules. One note, bus travel on Friday will not run as it is their Holy day.
Egypt: Minimar.com. There is no real web site for booking however, I have included one good link which does provide routes and timetables for buses in Egypt. Use this as a guide for booking buses only. The best recommendation is to review the web site then go to the bus terminal because not all times are listed here nor are all the routes.
Africa:
East & Central Africa:: Scandinavia Express Services. This web site allows viewing routes, fares and schedules and does have the ability to make bookings online but I have never used the online booking so I can not provide information as to the effectiveness.. The web site has routes for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. It is also one of the only bus companies I could find with an internet web site. Go to the bottom of the web page and click the "routes & schedules" button to find more specific details.
South Africa: Greyhound Bus Lines. Here you can look/book online. To book and get cost information click the big red arrow on the main page which will take you to their new booking engine.
Africa:
East & Central Africa:: Scandinavia Express Services. This web site allows viewing routes, fares and schedules and does have the ability to make bookings online but I have never used the online booking so I can not provide information as to the effectiveness.. The web site has routes for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. It is also one of the only bus companies I could find with an internet web site. Go to the bottom of the web page and click the "routes & schedules" button to find more specific details.
South Africa: Greyhound Bus Lines. Here you can look/book online. To book and get cost information click the big red arrow on the main page which will take you to their new booking engine.
South America:
South America has extensive and excellent buses or should I say Argentina, Chile and Peru. As you travel north the nature of bus travel changes and so do the quality of buses. Most South American bus company web sites are strictly in Spanish, most require a user account to book but I have used these extensively when possible and I have found these to be relatively easy and very good. Also, not all bus companies will travel to all regions. **Note** Many of these web sites do not support all web browsers and in some cases the computer you use will need the latest browser version installed. Online transactions are safe and secure.
Argentina: Via Bariloche. This is an excellent regional bus company which I have used.
Argentina: Platforma10. This another good site. It plugs you into many different regional bus providers. I have also personally used this web site with excellent results.
Argentina: Andesmar Argentina. This is another good regional bus company I have used. The main page has a link for English language.
Argentina: El Rapido Argentina. I have also used this web site and bus company. You must take a few links to get to the correct page for bookings, scroll the page down and locate "buy your ticket now", then click there and you will taken to their booking page.
Argentina: Retiro Bus Terminal Buenos Aires. This web site provides information for buses going to different regions of Argentina which depart from Buenos Aries main bus terminal. Enter the site, click the map for the region you desire, then you will find a listing of of cities in that region. Click the desired city and the web site provides a detailed listing of bus companies that go there, phone number and the booking desk number in the main terminal. This is an excellent resource for finding out which bus company goes where from Buenos Aires.
Chile: Pullman Bus. One of a few online bus companies where you can purchase tickets for Chile.
Peru: Cruz del Sur. An excellent bus company with luxury coaches like Argentina. This company runs from the south of the country to Lima. I use them when in Peru. Unfortunately, their website keeps having difficulties and does not seem to load. I can only suggest that you use the many other websites that sell their bus tickets.
Peru: Oltursa Bus. A good quality bus company operating mostly in the southern region of Peru to points such as Aerquipa, Cusco, other southern cities as well as service to Lima. Tickets can be booked and paid for online. You can select an English language version.
Central America:
Costa Rica: Graylines. This is an interesting bus company which will provide door to door mini van bus transportation. They are also promoting specials for multi-day unlimited usage fares. It is worth you time to visit this web site if you are looking for something different than the usual buses in Costa Rica. Another web site which offers shuttle bus service is InterBus. This will be similar to Graylines in services.
Mexico:
If you are going to Mexico you need to be extremely careful where you go. There are reports of extreme violence occurring even in the southern tourist areas such as Cancun and Pacific coastal regions.
Peru: Oltursa Bus. A good quality bus company operating mostly in the southern region of Peru to points such as Aerquipa, Cusco, other southern cities as well as service to Lima. Tickets can be booked and paid for online. You can select an English language version.
Central America:
Costa Rica: Graylines. This is an interesting bus company which will provide door to door mini van bus transportation. They are also promoting specials for multi-day unlimited usage fares. It is worth you time to visit this web site if you are looking for something different than the usual buses in Costa Rica. Another web site which offers shuttle bus service is InterBus. This will be similar to Graylines in services.
Mexico:
If you are going to Mexico you need to be extremely careful where you go. There are reports of extreme violence occurring even in the southern tourist areas such as Cancun and Pacific coastal regions.
United States:
So you are going to America for a visit. Unfortunately the quality of long distance bus travel in this country is not the best. One company which operates and it seems that those passengers are the ones who have either been released from jail or have some sort of mental illness. Bus travel is mostly used by the poorer class of Americans, those who can not afford an automobile or to fly.
Greyhound Bus Lines. If you can afford the airplane, I suggest that you fly.
Fortunately a new company has begun service in the US and has a somewhat extensive route. The buses are similar, but not as luxurious to the ones being used in countries like Argentina, Chile and Peru and these are the double deck style buses. Click the link below and it will take you to this new companies web site. Bookings can only be done via computer or smart phone.
Megabus is the name of the company, however they travel a limited route.
SE Asia:
Malaysia: There are a number of online booking companies now, one is called EasiBook and their web site seems to have a large number of bus companies and destinations from which to choose. This web site appears to be a booking portal for a large number of high quality bus companies in Malaysia.
Another company is called Plusliner and is a part of an integrated company called KTB. KTB has four different bus lines that they operate. Click this link to the Plusliner online booking engine. Another bus company provided by KTB is called Nice and click this link for their online booking engine. You can also visit the KTB web site directly, click here and it will take you to the page for their coach services.
Kuala Lumpur: Depending on which airline you fly there may be a inexpensive way to get from the airport to the city. Assuming that you fly on the regional low cost airline of AirAsia you have an excellent option. AirAsia has their own fleet of shuttle buses which will transport you into the city to the bus terminal KL Sentral which is not too far from the city center. From KL Sentral you can get a taxi to your final destination for very little money. Their shuttle service is known as the SkyBus. You can visit their link and view the times both going to and coming from KL Sentral. AirAsia flights arrive at their own terminal called LCCT. The cost of the shuttle is only 9RM which is very inexpensive considering the taxi ride can cost close to 250RM. The transit time is about one hours time. A final note, the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) is located nearby the KLIA terminal, which is their international terminal can take up to one half hour to go between terminals and is costly as well, however, SkyBus does have a shuttle service between terminals which currently cost 60RM one way.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy
Fortunately a new company has begun service in the US and has a somewhat extensive route. The buses are similar, but not as luxurious to the ones being used in countries like Argentina, Chile and Peru and these are the double deck style buses. Click the link below and it will take you to this new companies web site. Bookings can only be done via computer or smart phone.
Megabus is the name of the company, however they travel a limited route.
SE Asia:
Malaysia: There are a number of online booking companies now, one is called EasiBook and their web site seems to have a large number of bus companies and destinations from which to choose. This web site appears to be a booking portal for a large number of high quality bus companies in Malaysia.
Another company is called Plusliner and is a part of an integrated company called KTB. KTB has four different bus lines that they operate. Click this link to the Plusliner online booking engine. Another bus company provided by KTB is called Nice and click this link for their online booking engine. You can also visit the KTB web site directly, click here and it will take you to the page for their coach services.
Kuala Lumpur: Depending on which airline you fly there may be a inexpensive way to get from the airport to the city. Assuming that you fly on the regional low cost airline of AirAsia you have an excellent option. AirAsia has their own fleet of shuttle buses which will transport you into the city to the bus terminal KL Sentral which is not too far from the city center. From KL Sentral you can get a taxi to your final destination for very little money. Their shuttle service is known as the SkyBus. You can visit their link and view the times both going to and coming from KL Sentral. AirAsia flights arrive at their own terminal called LCCT. The cost of the shuttle is only 9RM which is very inexpensive considering the taxi ride can cost close to 250RM. The transit time is about one hours time. A final note, the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) is located nearby the KLIA terminal, which is their international terminal can take up to one half hour to go between terminals and is costly as well, however, SkyBus does have a shuttle service between terminals which currently cost 60RM one way.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy