TRAVEL
VANCOUVER
Ways to Get There
Travelling Western Canada by Bus
Adeline Panamaroff
The joys of travel often involve expensive plane tickets , a rush to the airport , long lines , hustling through security checks — and possibly air sickness .
Then the same events in reverse at the end of the flight . Or , what about long car trips spent driving among hundreds of cars , trucks , and long-haul semi-trailers on crowded highways ?
Why not choose a more leisurely pace to get from here to there when travelling to local destinations ? Underrated , but much more affordable , are the privately run bus lines that crisscross our province and also venture into British Columbia , Saskatchewan , and beyond .
Services like Rider Express , Red Arrow , Ebus , and FlixBus have been taking me on more relaxed trips in and out of the province . As I am not a strong driver , I enjoy the convenience and comfortable travel experience that these bus companies offer while still reliably getting me there and home again .
Rider Express has routes that hit most of the major cities of Western Canada . From Vancouver
to Winnipeg , they can get you there . Their staff are friendly , and the buses are clean with comfortable seating , power outlets , and Wi-Fi . With a round trip from Vancouver to Winnipeg running about $ 440 per person — and the opportunity to view the transition from coastal Canada , through mountains , to prairies along the way — it ' s well worth the ticket price .
Red Arrow offers a mostly Alberta route from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray ( with an unconnected route in Ontario ). This bus line offers a luxury experience with more spacious seating , including extra leg room . Charging stations are available at each seat as are free snacks and drinks . There are also wheelchair and reduced-mobility seating options for those that need accommodation . While a full run from their northernmost stop at Fort McMurray to Lethbridge would require an overnight stay in either Edmonton or Calgary , as well as a transfer to another bus , the ticket
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