I tried Vonlane, a luxury bus service operating between major Texas cities for $109 one way, and it was one of the most relaxing coach rides I've been on

Brittany Chang/Insider

• I took Vonlane, a luxury motorcoach company that operates between major Texas cities, from Dallas to Austin.
• The $109 bus ride was comfortable and filled with complimentary WiFi, foods, and beverages.

Why take a personal car when you can take a bus.

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Unless you're a public transit enthusiast, you might not hear that very often.

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But when the bus run by Vonlane, I bet you'd be more inclined to agree.

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Vonlane is a luxury intercity motorcoach service that operates between major Lone Star State cities for $109.

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This ticket price can be double, maybe even quadruple, the price of your typical Megabus or Greyhound ticket …

Two Megabus buses in New York in 2012.      Hyungwon Kang/Reuters

… but that's because Vonlane isn't your average discount bus service.

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"I was never very happy with what I saw on the inside of a motorcoach," Alex Danza, founder and CEO of the company, told Insider. "It was almost worse than a commercial aircraft."

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On Vonlane, there are no crowded rows, slow Wifi, or uncomfortable fabric seats that are often associated with budget motorcoach companies.

A Greyhound bus in Texas in 2021.      Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Instead, picture plush leather seats, complimentary snacks, and a friendly attendant. A sort of "private jet on wheels," according to the company.

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The Texas-based company isn't the only bus service targeting the luxury segment.

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Source: Vonlane

In fall 2021, the Jet launched a luxury motorcoach service with motion-canceling seats starting at $99.

The Jet on a cold January morning.      Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

But unlike Vonlane, which was founded much earlier in 2014, the Jet only operates between Washington, DC and New York City.

The Jet on a cold January morning.      Brittany Chang/Insider

Source: Insider

And the two companies service different markets and target customers.

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Vonlane picks up and drops off its passengers at hotels in Texas cities like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio …

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…as well as a stop in Oklahoma City …

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… providing Texans an alternative to Amtrak, budget bus services, and personal cars.

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"We've got a really good position in Texas. We're very defendable" Danza said, citing Vonlane's "robust" schedule.

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The company is now also exploring routes outside of Texas, including plans to begin services between Nashville and Atlanta this year.

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After the Nashville and Atlanta launch, it'll potentially begin a route between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.

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And while the Jet targets leisure travelers, Vonlane's biggest customer base before the COVID-19 pandemic was business travelers, a once steady repeat customer base, Danza said.

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Before Vonlane, most Texans either drove themselves or flew between cities, an "exhausting endeavor" for busy business travelers, Danza said.

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But unlike flying, Vonlane doesn't have any long security lines, boarding wait times, and slow WFi, saving travelers hours in their day.

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However, the once-reliable business traveler base became practically nonexistent overnight with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Vonlane was forced to cut back its schedules.

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In an attempt to supplement this slow-to-recover segment, the company has begun targeting leisure travelers by offering more weekend routes.

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At the start of the pandemic, Vonlane's customers were approximately 70% business and 30% leisure travelers. Now, that's been flipped.

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Regardless, Vonlane's services and amenities could appeal to any traveler.

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I decided to try the service from Dallas to Austin, Texas, and my ride's driver Marvin and coach attendant Liz were two of the friendliest and warmest people I met on my Texas trip.

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I was so comfortable, it felt like my nearly three-and-a-half hours on the road went by in a flash.

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Think of Vonlane as a business class plane ride on wheels, albeit much slower.

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There's even a safety video at the start of the ride reminiscent of the ones played on airplanes.

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Vonlane also has an onboard attendant that functions similarly to a flight attendant …

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… a clean, well-sized bathroom …

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… complimentary snacks, beverages, and, on select rides, meals …

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… and stable WiFi that was strong enough for me to feed my TikTok addiction.

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There were also plenty of outlets right by my seat.

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Liz was the point person for all things amenities and services related: She checked the passengers in, passed out snacks and beverages, and patiently fielded every question.

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She was chipper and accommodating throughout the entire journey, and checked up on the passengers more than most flight attendants do.

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She even asked to hang my coat in the closet for me, a luxury I've never experienced on a motorcoach.

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The bus is separated by rows of single and double seats, which means there are no middle seats.

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I opted for a single-seat, leaving me neighbor-free and relaxed during my approximately three-and-a-half hours on the Texas road.

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And thankfully, the passenger seats were more comfortable than any budget bus I've ever been on.

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The leather seat was so large, it felt like I was being swallowed by the plush sides.

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When my seat was reclined and my footrest was up, it felt like I was sitting on an old but comfortable lounge chair.

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Vonlane also offers its customers noise-canceling headsets, blankets, and pillows, creating a cocoon of plush padding and relaxation.

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Source: Vonlane

But if I had wanted to work during the ride, I could've used the tabletop stored in the seatback in front of me. All you have to do is pull it out and click it into your seat.

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And while the rows weren't as spaced out as the Jet, I still had a comfortable distance from all the other passengers.

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The seats were great, but in my opinion, Vonlane's strongest suit was its complimentary mid-ride offerings.

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While I didn't take everything that was offered, it was nice knowing I had the option to.

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At the start of the trip, Liz offered the passengers a tray of items like eye masks, tissues, earplugs, toothbrushes, and Advil.

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She then came around and offered us an assortment of snacks like Oreos, granola bars, and nuts …

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… as well as a variety of beverages like sodas, juices, and water. I ended up ordering hot tea to soothe my travelers stress.

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Passengers were also given several options for lunch, including my pick of a satisfyingly sweet croissant sandwich that was big enough for two meals.

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And towards the trip, Liz offered us a piping hot hand towel, the perfect send-off after hours on the road.

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But the ride was so comfortable, I could've easily spent another hour or two on the road with no complaints, and I've been known to get carsick.

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And unlike flying, I didn't have to spend hours in a security line and at the terminal. All I did was check in with Liz and find my pre-booked seat.

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My Vonlane experience had all of the luxuries of flying business class, but none of the airport lines, downtime, or inconveniences.

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All in all, my ride with the Texan service was one of the most relaxing coach rides I've ever been on.

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But in my opinion, Vonlane's small touches — from the attendant to the seemingly endless options of food — made riding in the motorcoach a truly luxurious experience worthy of the $109 ticket.

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