Equipped with bunk beds intercity buses “cars-lits” they have been the dominant vehicle in large parts of it for decades. Latin America And her Asia. However, in the US, this media never became popular, despite the extensive network of highways.

Relatively successful are lines of 14-seat luxury buses that connect downtown Washington to Manhattan. Their seats slide out and they have high speed internet. However, their price is competitive.

“Their ads never use the word ‘bus’. They only talk about a first-class experience,” says Pennsylvania State University professor Anides Rajbari. The luxury bus company that runs the service between Washington DC and Nashville, Tennessee, is the only one that offers fully reclining seat beds for the 11-hour journey. Owner Dan Aronoff understands that many travelers may not prefer an 11-hour trip when they can opt for a two-hour Nashville-Washington flight.

However, Aronoff reminds us how exhausting it is to work at the airport. The passenger will need to be at the terminal a few hours before departure, go through security checks and wait at the boarding gate. “And all this until the flight is delayed,” emphasizes Aronoff and invites doubters to imagine a night on an anatomical mattress, covered with a soft blanket.

Low costs

With passenger railroads unable to penetrate the US Southwest and air travel still a problem, it seems like the perfect time to launch long-distance luxury minibus travel. Intercity bus companies have lower operating costs than railroads and airlines.

Traveling in a luxury coach requires a crew of two drivers and a flight attendant. The company can easily cover its costs even if its buses run at half capacity.

Intercity bus companies have lower operating costs than railroads and airlines.

Aronoff, 29, who attended Oxford University, says he chose Nashville because of its popularity with American tourists and the state’s lack of public transportation. “The idea is innovative and takes time to catch on,” says Aronoff, who hopes to add new lines between Atlanta, New York, Washington and Boston.

As soon as I got on the bus, I lowered my seat into bed position, pulled up the partitions, and covered myself with a rich blanket provided by the attendant. Aronoff explains that people up to two meters tall can sleep in chair beds.

Each passenger received a case containing a toothbrush and toothpaste, a make-up remover wipe, ear plugs and a sleep mask. The trip started at 10 pm and I woke up for a few minutes at 2 am. I tried to hear if anyone was snoring, but the steady hum of the engine and tires on the pavement acted like a lullaby. We were in Nashville for 36 hours and the return trip was also uneventful. “I could go anywhere on this bus,” said one of my fellow travelers, stretching. “The experience was amazing. I have never been so comfortable riding a bus,” commented an elderly passenger. When asked if he would take the bus from Washington to Nashville again, the passenger replied that he would gladly do so if the ticket price was lower The cost of a plane ticket: A plane ticket would cost over $300 due to high fuel prices and high demand in Nashville, while Aronoff’s luxury bus ticket only costs $100.