safety in Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington
Mar 29th, 2012, 09:37 AM
#21
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I was looking into flying to Charleston, but I would still have to take a bus to savannah and Wilmington. Flying to Savannah would be possible, I would have to transfer in memphis or atlanta. not that that is a problem. but If I go by bus the busstation is right across from the hotel...
Mar 29th, 2012, 11:55 AM
#22
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But my dear, If you fly to Atlanta you have at the very least a 4 hour nasty bus ride--undoubtedly a good bit longer.
Yes, apparently you will need to take the bus to Savannah, but that may be only a couple of hours--which you would have to do anyway if you took the bus From Atlanta to Charleston, and then travelled on to Savannah.
If you can fly direct to Charleston, why wouldn't you do that?
I'm not sure how we can say it more plainly--the LESS you have to take the bus is best, and Atlanta to SC would be "less".
Yes, apparently you will need to take the bus to Savannah, but that may be only a couple of hours--which you would have to do anyway if you took the bus From Atlanta to Charleston, and then travelled on to Savannah.
If you can fly direct to Charleston, why wouldn't you do that?
I'm not sure how we can say it more plainly--the LESS you have to take the bus is best, and Atlanta to SC would be "less".
Mar 29th, 2012, 04:13 PM
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Greyhound now has an Express bus from Atlanta to Savannah, via Macon -- at least that's the way it looks. Apparently comes with wi-fi! Four hours and I suspect that it may cost more, and therefore be less sketchy than the milk truck route.
Admit I haven't been on a bus for a long time, but I did the 99 days for 99 dollars and probably put 9900 miles on one summer. As a young European, I suspect the OP's tolerance for buses is probably higher than either mine these days, or most of the posters' here.
Admit I haven't been on a bus for a long time, but I did the 99 days for 99 dollars and probably put 9900 miles on one summer. As a young European, I suspect the OP's tolerance for buses is probably higher than either mine these days, or most of the posters' here.
Mar 30th, 2012, 04:01 AM
#25
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Is it quicker and cheaper than flying directly to Charleston. And adding another fare? It is interesting to know however.
The one time I put my daughter on a Greyhound bus cured me--and her for a lifetime. Sad to say, I ued to ride a bus a lot back and forth from college.
Yes, it is possible to put up with anything, if it is necessary, the latter being key, to me.
The one time I put my daughter on a Greyhound bus cured me--and her for a lifetime. Sad to say, I ued to ride a bus a lot back and forth from college.
Yes, it is possible to put up with anything, if it is necessary, the latter being key, to me.
Mar 30th, 2012, 05:05 AM
#26
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I often ride Greyhound and similar buses in my travels. That being said, the bus ride I took from Atlanta to Savannah was awful, in part because it left a couple hours late (and according to someone I talked to who rides this route, it's always horribly late), in part because the air conditioner was stuck on, and in part because the drivers were flat-out incompetent.
I took the train between Savannah and Charleston, which ran only a little late.
Definitely take a cab from the train station in North Charleston into Charleston, as the station area (and in fact a good chunk of North Charleston) are not good at all.
Re safety in Savannah and Charleston -- you should be fine as long as you stick to the tourist areas. Check before heading outside them, though, as both cities have dicey areas outside of here.
I took the train between Savannah and Charleston, which ran only a little late.
Definitely take a cab from the train station in North Charleston into Charleston, as the station area (and in fact a good chunk of North Charleston) are not good at all.
Re safety in Savannah and Charleston -- you should be fine as long as you stick to the tourist areas. Check before heading outside them, though, as both cities have dicey areas outside of here.
Mar 31st, 2012, 11:38 AM
#27
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So I've been looking into possibilities to avoid the bus. I can fly to Savannah. What about traveling by train? there is a train going from Savannah to Charleston and it is even cheaper then the bus. Also it says, reserved seat. I read that for a greyhound bus its first come first serve and that you have to be there an hour in advance. not fun if your bus leaves at 8 in the morning. are Amtrak seats reserved seats? or you you still have to be there hours before it actually leaves? and again: is it a safe way to travel?
Mar 31st, 2012, 12:16 PM
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Yes, it is safe. And if it is cheaper, go for it. And I think you have good info from a poster above who has actually done it. It shouldn't be a long trip--it's only about a 2 hour drive between Charleston and Savannah. I would not think the train will be over crowded, and if it says reserved seat, then it will be. All good info for all of us who do not use public transportation much in this country. Good luck. You will be MUCH happier just flying to one of your real destination cities and not using the bus as much.
Apr 1st, 2012, 05:56 AM
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Hi Sharon_vanManen,
Just be aware that there are only two Amtrak trains daily that go from Savannah to Charleston: the Palmetto and the Silver Meteor. I've taken both, and if you fly into Savannah as you're saying, I'd recommend going with the Palmetto train, since it originates out of Savannah so is far more likely to be on-time than the Silver Meteor which originates in Miami.
If you decide to take the train southbound from Charleston to Savannah for whatever reason, just be aware there's a greater likelihood for delay as both Palmetto and Silver Meteor begin in New York City. As much as I love trains, I'd probably go with a bus if I were to take the southbound journey between the two cities (the southbound Silver Meteor passes through during the wee hours of the morning and the Palmetto arrives around 7pm, if on-time).
Do note there's one Greyhound bus only daily between Charleston and Savannah. You'll also have to take a bus if you go to Wilmington; again one daily, a four hour trip with a change in Myrtle Beach required. Maybe someone else will know if there's another bus that does these routes?
Perhaps I'm too much of a pessimist, but I'd probably skip Wilmington given my experience with Greyhound-- sometimes things get delayed and if you miss your connection in Myrtle Beach...given that there's one bus daily to Wilmington... you're just out of luck. Another warning is that Greyhound is first-come-first-serve and sometimes they overbook... I had hotel reservations in San Antonio and had to change buses in Baton Rouge coming from New Orleans. I was the *last person* they let on in Baton Rouge, with about 10 people behind me stranded in the Louisiana capital. (If they overbook for the Charleston-Savannah bus, you'll be fine, since you can still take the Palmetto train (which in my experience will have plenty of free seats for that last stretch) from the train station if need be.)
Be warned: The southern U.S. is car culture. Public transportation is almost (and sometimes completely) non-existent even between relatively sizeable population centers, perhaps mind-blowingly so to some Europeans.
Have a great time! (Charleston is a beautiful city!) Daniel
Just be aware that there are only two Amtrak trains daily that go from Savannah to Charleston: the Palmetto and the Silver Meteor. I've taken both, and if you fly into Savannah as you're saying, I'd recommend going with the Palmetto train, since it originates out of Savannah so is far more likely to be on-time than the Silver Meteor which originates in Miami.
If you decide to take the train southbound from Charleston to Savannah for whatever reason, just be aware there's a greater likelihood for delay as both Palmetto and Silver Meteor begin in New York City. As much as I love trains, I'd probably go with a bus if I were to take the southbound journey between the two cities (the southbound Silver Meteor passes through during the wee hours of the morning and the Palmetto arrives around 7pm, if on-time).
Do note there's one Greyhound bus only daily between Charleston and Savannah. You'll also have to take a bus if you go to Wilmington; again one daily, a four hour trip with a change in Myrtle Beach required. Maybe someone else will know if there's another bus that does these routes?
Perhaps I'm too much of a pessimist, but I'd probably skip Wilmington given my experience with Greyhound-- sometimes things get delayed and if you miss your connection in Myrtle Beach...given that there's one bus daily to Wilmington... you're just out of luck. Another warning is that Greyhound is first-come-first-serve and sometimes they overbook... I had hotel reservations in San Antonio and had to change buses in Baton Rouge coming from New Orleans. I was the *last person* they let on in Baton Rouge, with about 10 people behind me stranded in the Louisiana capital. (If they overbook for the Charleston-Savannah bus, you'll be fine, since you can still take the Palmetto train (which in my experience will have plenty of free seats for that last stretch) from the train station if need be.)
Be warned: The southern U.S. is car culture. Public transportation is almost (and sometimes completely) non-existent even between relatively sizeable population centers, perhaps mind-blowingly so to some Europeans.
Have a great time! (Charleston is a beautiful city!) Daniel
Apr 1st, 2012, 09:35 AM
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I found this: "Bus service to and from Wilmington is via Carolina Trailways, a subsidiary of Greyhound [4]. Buses connect Wilmington to Charleston, Goldsboro, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh and Savannah. The station is located at 201 Harnett Street in downtown Wilmington. Service is infrequent, with only four arrivals and departures per day, and the station is open for limited hours: 9AM-1PM, and 4PM-6PM."
Fair Use, HTTY
Fair Use, HTTY
Apr 1st, 2012, 11:01 AM
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Yes, it would be impossibly expensive to take a taxi from Charleston to Wilmington. It costs $75 to take a taxi from the Myrtle beach airport to Pawley's Island (30 minutes/20 miles) It is a 3 hour drive Charleston to Wilmington in a car with no traffic.
Wilmington is a nice town. The town itself is a good little way from its beach--Wrightsville Beach. You mentioned taking a taxi there. "Where" would you take it to on the beach? Where would you be staying in Wilmington.
Wilmington is a nice town. The town itself is a good little way from its beach--Wrightsville Beach. You mentioned taking a taxi there. "Where" would you take it to on the beach? Where would you be staying in Wilmington.
Apr 1st, 2012, 11:05 AM
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Apr 1st, 2012, 12:27 PM
#37
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@Gretchen, I had found that list too. It is part of why I really don't want to miss wilmington. I think it would be awesome to take a day and see some of these places. A lot of them are in the historic district 
Most of the housed used in the series are probably a bit too far out of the historic district for me to see.
Most of the housed used in the series are probably a bit too far out of the historic district for me to see.
Apr 1st, 2012, 12:34 PM
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I just don't even know that show, so have no background. If you are a fan, it would be fun. Wilmington is a lovely town, as I said. BUT being sure you get there with the iffy bus schedule that someone helped you with may be something else.
Apr 1st, 2012, 01:12 PM
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Hi Sharon,
Go to the Greyhound web site (www.greyhound.com) and you'll find (I arbitrarily selected a few days later in April as travel day) there's one route daily and that route requires switching buses.
8:35 am bus #1 leaves Charleston.
Bus #1 arrives in Myrtle Beach at 11:00 am. (In Myrtle Beach, you have to switch buses.)
Bus #2 leaves Myrtle Beach at 11:15 am, arrives in Wilmington NC at 12:50 pm.
As htty wrote, it seems there are 4 buses that stop daily in Wilmington, but the other three appear to be from points elsewhere (Raleigh NC, Richmond, VA).
Without your own car, I'm afraid to say that this two-bus strategy that occurs once daily (pray you don't miss your connection in Myrtle Beach) appears to be your *only* not-hugely-expensive choice. I hope I'm mistaken, but I think this is all.
Best wishes, Daniel
Go to the Greyhound web site (www.greyhound.com) and you'll find (I arbitrarily selected a few days later in April as travel day) there's one route daily and that route requires switching buses.
8:35 am bus #1 leaves Charleston.
Bus #1 arrives in Myrtle Beach at 11:00 am. (In Myrtle Beach, you have to switch buses.)
Bus #2 leaves Myrtle Beach at 11:15 am, arrives in Wilmington NC at 12:50 pm.
As htty wrote, it seems there are 4 buses that stop daily in Wilmington, but the other three appear to be from points elsewhere (Raleigh NC, Richmond, VA).
Without your own car, I'm afraid to say that this two-bus strategy that occurs once daily (pray you don't miss your connection in Myrtle Beach) appears to be your *only* not-hugely-expensive choice. I hope I'm mistaken, but I think this is all.
Best wishes, Daniel
