Two weeks ago, I was almost left stranded in Manchester because of the rail strikes. I don't begrudge anybody going on strike for fair pay, so I certainly wasn't angry about it.
But with the need to get from Manchester to Heathrow Airport for a pre-booked holiday, I needed to find an alternative. I first thought about driving, but the thought of paying £100+ for airport parking along with the four hour journey back with jet lag didn't take me at all (nor did it seem overly safe).
Then somebody asked me if I'd thought of getting a bus down. In all honesty, I'm quite a high maintenance person, so the thought of being sat on a sweaty, packed coach wasn't ringing my bell.
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But when I looked it up and saw I could get a direct Megabus from Manchester to Heathrow airport in four and a half hours, my mind began to change. Then I noticed the price.
A Megabus was £20 - whereas a train would have cost me £90. I was sold.
As I write this, I can already see the eye-rolling comments on a self-professed high maintenance girl getting a bus instead of a train for the first time - and I get it. But honestly, there are so many people out there who are so used to the train, a bus would never be their first thought (I met PLENTY on the bus), and this is why I'm sharing my experience.
We're all trying to save money right now, so if I can share my experience of something that is considerably cheaper - and actually, sometimes, more convenient - I will.
Anyway, back to the Megabus. It was actually not a bad journey there at all. Unlike getting the train, there were no changes between Manchester and Heathrow airport, so I didn't have to lug my 28kg suitcase around.
Some people weren't so lucky. One of the downsides of getting the Megabus is that you're only allowed to take one suitcase and one piece of hand luggage on board because of limited space.
A family trying to board the bus with around 8-10 suitcases got into a spat with the driver, and we're eventually turned away. The coach was, on this particular day, at full capacity due to the rail strikes, so I think they were probably being more strict than usual - but that's worth bearing in mind.
The coach had phone charging ports so I could happily watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta for the entire journey, which took about four and a half hours, without having to worry about my battery. Another plus point was a stop at the service station halfway through the journey.
It meant I didn't have to use the on board toilet, which was music to my ears. I did have a little peek inside and it was clean enough, but if I can avoid using those things, I will.
The coach arrived into Heathrow around 30 minutes late, but as I'd booked one to arrive way ahead of time, it wasn't a stress. You do have to remember there may be serious delays when getting the coach, which is a big downside, so plan ahead.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are affected by the rail strikes, and still need to be somewhere, it's well worth a look. You can buy tickets on the Megabus website here.
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