The Best Tips for Red Eye Tour Bus Trips

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As the bus moved closer and closer to the city, the buildings began to grow larger, and so did the butterflies in my stomach. For the first time ever, I was going to New York City! However, I had already been up for 24 hours by the time the bus pulled over on the street in city. You see, my sister and I (and about 50 other people) had taken a red eye bus tour to New York City! We had just ridden about 9+ hours from Virginia to New York. The lack of sleep didn’t matter anymore though. Once I felt the energy of the city, it kept me going all day long.

I ended up having an amazing trip to New York City and it’s one that I will never forget! (You can read all about my experience here.) However, there are some things you need to know when taking a red eye bus trip to New York City. Now that I’ve experienced a trip of that sort for myself, I want to share the items I used and tips that I learned during my trip. So, if you decide to take a trip like this yourself, you’ll also have an amazing and memorable time, if you follow these tips.

So, let’s get to it!

Before the trip even starts, you need to know what to bring with you. Now, a red eye bus trip means that you’ll be riding on the tour bus overnight. You’ll want to bring items that make the ride comfortable for optimal sleeping or at least resting.

Items to Bring for the Bus Ride

Earbuds

I am so glad I brought a pair of earbuds on the bus with me! These earbuds from Apple are what I brought along with me, but any, I’m sure, will work fine.

I was able to listen to music and not disturb anyone else. It was also helpful to drown out the noise of people talking, moving around, or snoring. The earbuds were especially helpful in drowning out the noise of the squeaky window right next to my seat.

Travel Pillow

I wanted a pillow that fit snug around my neck. It needed to be firm and hold its shape but soft at the same time. This travel pillow is what I ultimately purchased and it helped me get a bit rest on the bus ride!  This pillow ended up being a great purchase for the long bus ride.

Comfy Clothes

I knew I’d want to wear some comfy clothes during the ride to New York City. My “Friends” Sweatshirt is so comfy and it’s what I decided to wear during the bus ride! This one is very similar to my sweatshirt.

I also wore black yoga pants during the bus ride. Mine are super soft and comfy and my favorite yoga pants ever! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find them online, but here are some great yoga pant choices to choose from.

Extra Clothing

While comfy clothes are ideal for the tour bus ride to New York City, I also recommend packing a change of clothes to wear while actually walking around New York City. I changed into stretchy, black jeans, a sweater, and a warm jacket while in the city.

Drinks and Snacks

I carried a small water bottle with me while on the bus and in the city. Mine is similar to these. The size is great for easily carrying in a small pack all day.

I also brought snacks with me, which I recommend if you get hungry on the bus or want to snack while in the city. I packed small, individually wrapped snacks so they wouldn’t get smashed as easily and they were easy to toss into my backpack.

Small Backpack

I brought a Small, black Vera Bradley Backpack to hold my belongings in. I stored my water bottle and snacks inside.

Although I got absolutely no sleep on the bus ride, these items did help me to rest a little during the ride and make it slightly easier.

Remember, this is only a one-day trip. Try not to bring so much that someone else has no room for their things on the bus. Most tour buses however, will let you utilize the storage compartment under the bus to store your items as well.

Tips to Consider During Bus Ride Stops

During the red eye bus tour that I took, we made a few stops at truck stops and at a restaurant. Consider these tips if your red eye bus trip does the same.

• I highly recommend getting off the bus at each stop or at least standing up for a few minutes when the bus makes a stop. It can get so cramped on those tour buses and I found that it helped my body to move a bit during the long ride.

• During one of the last stops the bus makes before entering New York City, go change into the extra clothes you packed for when you’ll actually be in the city. It’s so much easier to change in a bathroom stall than to try to do it in the bus restroom or even at your seat on the bus! Plus, it’s good to change clothes at some point, otherwise you’ll be in the same clothes for over 36 hours.

• Also, put on or fix your makeup while at one of the stops. Take this time to also fix your hair, if needed. Again, it’s so much easier to do this off the bus. Just make it quick so not everyone is waiting on you.

Once the red eye bus tour ride is almost over and you’re approaching New York City, you’ll want to make sure you have the items you’ll be carrying with you ready. When the bus stops along the street in the city, you’ll have to empty the bus as quickly as possible. The city doesn’t want tour buses blocking traffic. It’s best to just be ready to exit the tour bus as soon as it stops.

Here’s a list of some of the items I brought with me (in my backpack) while walking around New York City for the day:

• I carried the Small, black Vera Bradley Backpack I mentioned earlier. It ended up working out great for a day pack in NYC! The size of the backpack was perfect for carrying on my back all day long. It was big enough to hold the I love New York t-shirt and the mug souvenirs I purchased but not so big that it was too bulky to move through the crowded streets.

• I packed the small water bottle I mentioned above. It was great to have access to water throughout the day.

• These are the Duck Boots I wore and honestly, even after walking 11+ miles, my feet didn’t hurt too bad in them! However, wear shoes that are comfortable for you.

• This is the beanie I wore all day long. It kept my head warm and was cute at the same time! I don’t think I took it off all day!

• I wanted a little protection as well so I carried pepper spray too. Thankfully, I didn’t have to use it.

• I also put my bank and credit cards in an RFID blocking wallet similar to this. It protects your card information from getting stolen. I also had my money and cards in separate places so if something happened to the money or cards in one spot, I still had money hidden somewhere else. Again, nothing happened to our cash or cards. We just wanted to be safe.

• This portable phone charger was a lifesaver! I have an older iPhone and I had to charge it about four times while in New York City. I got a good three charges out of it before having to use my sister’s charger. Do not forget this item if you will be using your phone a lot during your trip!

These items really helped make my day in New York City enjoyable. I wasn’t stressed about my phone’s battery, finding something to drink, being cold, or staying safe. I was able to have the best time and enjoy the city!

While in New York City, I also learned some helpful tips that I think may also help others, especially if you are touring areas near Times Square.

A Few Last Tips When Touring New York City

• Don’t shop a lot unless you don’t mind carrying bags all day

• It can be hard to find a restroom while in New York City. There’s one at the Old Navy in Times Square! Go to the back of the second floor and they’ll let you in.

• There are also benches and large windows in that Old Navy so you can rest and people watch at the same time. We did this a few times!

• Rest when you need to. If you find a place to sit for a few minutes, sit! You’re going to be doing a lot of walking in one day.

• There’s a light show on the building at Sak’s Fifth Avenue at night during the holiday season. Don’t miss it! They play the light show about every 15 to 20 minutes, so you have multiple chances to see it during the evening/night.

• Be smart and keep up with your money while in the city.

• Don’t be afraid to ask a local for help. The New Yorkers we came into contact with, were friendly!

Alright! I believe that is all the items and tips I can think of that will be helpful when taking a red eye tour bus trip to New York City.

I hope that these tips will help to make your red eye bus tour amazing! And if nothing else, I hope this has sparked your interest in travel and in the city of New York. It’s an amazing city full of great energy, chaos, culture, and fun. If it’s not on your bucket list, it should be!

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