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Travel — Mexico

Choosing Economy Over Comfort: My Bus Story

The cheapest ticket may save money, but it is not worth it for comfort, in my experience.

Photo by Author

First of all, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I just got back from my last trip of 2023 — a spontaneous decision to visit a friend in Tlaxcala with my husband. It was actually planned for Monday; our excitement led us to pack in a rush, and on Sunday, we found ourselves heading to Terminal TAPO to get last-minute tickets.

Metro San Lázaro, Mexico City. Photo by Author

That’s what I love most about riding a bus: I can decide on the spot where and when to go. No fuss with bookings; just show up, grab a ticket, and off I go, day or night; it doesn’t matter to me.

Plus, Mexican buses are great options for traveling across the country — affordable, connecting numerous cities and rural areas. They are typically divided into two classes: first class and economy.

To get to Tlaxcala, I always buy a 220 Mexican peso ticket, a double-decker bus with comfortable seats and charging ports.

But when I returned to Mexico City, the ticket seller gave me the cheapest ticket for 190 pesos, leaving me with 60 pesos extra for buying two tickets. “Why not!” I said.

Then the bus showed up — a regular bus, but it looked older than the usual one. And as I entered it, a bad smell hit me. I knew maybe I was unlucky that day. Yet, to save 30 pesos, I ended up sacrificing my comfort.

This is not my first bad experience choosing an affordable ticket. When I went to San Miguel de Allende, opting for the cheapest ticket turned a 4-hour journey into nearly 6, thanks to countless stops. I haven’t learned from my mistake; the price blinds my mind.

See you at the next story….

Thank you for reading this story ❤

Travel
Travel Writing
Mexico
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Experience
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