Greyhound

Greyhound travel may have lost some of its glamour. The cutback in services after a lengthy drivers strike can mean overcrowding and disappointed travellers missing connections; if they were lucky enough to be near the front of a sweaty line to begin with.

Baggage is tagged to the final destination, but will it be on the same bus as you when you arrive; jaded, with smelly feet and a horrible taste in your mouth?

At Boston International Airport, waiting for a connection on North West Airlines, you hear a steady flow of apologies: an aircraft is 'delayed because of a cable being attached to a door mechanism'; then a further announcement is made and 'another plane is sought' for your aircraft, which obviously has a major problem. Cut-price airfares, and quick turnarounds of aircraft, seem to be having their toll.

Further announcements say that a plane to Minneapolis, and another to Hyannis have been cancelled: 'due to mechanical problems', and you start to wonder if The Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) will regret their partnership deal within the NorthWest market. At least with its wheels on the ground, Greyhound is far from parked up.

A Greyhound Pass also allows free passage between Toronto and Detroit, and Seattle and Vancouver, so a taste of Canada is included in the grand tour of US 94.