You’re all packed for your next big trip. From family vacations and school field trips to sports tournaments and corporate events, you can travel with confidence to any destination knowing that Price4Limo is providing the transportation. But there’s one thing that can quickly make any bus ride unpleasant: motion sickness.
Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. It's more common in children, but it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Motion sickness in a bus isn't just an annoyance—it can quickly ruin a trip. You can experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and cold sweats. Avoiding situations that trigger motion sickness is the best way to prevent it—but that’s not always an option.
Luckily, there are several ways to prevent motion sickness on a charter bus without medicine. We’ve put together this expert guide to help you plan a smooth and comfortable ride for you and your group, so everyone can enjoy the journey to your destination.
Be Careful What You Eat and Drink Before Your Trip
Feeling queasy in a moving vehicle? Your food choices could be a major influence. Heavy, greasy, acidic, and spicy foods slow down digestion and can exacerbate symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Be sure to avoid these if you’re prone to motion sickness!
On the day of your trip, choose light foods that are easier on your stomach—like toast, crackers, cereal, or apples. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated, but avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks. Water is always your best bet!
Don’t Stare at Digital Screens Too Long
On a long charter bus ride from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas, it’s tempting to get lost in a movie or TV show while your bus rolls on down the highway, especially if your charter bus rental includes onboard TVs. However, focusing your eyes on something up close can make motion sickness even worse.
This happens because of sensory disconnect—your inner ear senses the movement of the vehicle while your eyes are telling your brain that you’re still. Rather than staring at a screen the entire time, opt for listening to music or audiobooks to give your eyes a break. You can even bring a book along to read and avoid any eye strain altogether.
Choose a Seat in the Front of the Bus
Sitting in the very front of your bus is one of the best ways to prevent motion sickness. You’ll not only have a wider field of vision, but you’ll also feel less movement than in other parts of the bus. If possible, try to reserve a seat directly behind the driver for the smoothest possible ride.
Pick a Window Seat
Looking out the window can help prevent motion sickness by giving your brain a reference point. If your bus has panoramic windows, try to snag a seat on the left side of the bus so you can see the horizon in the distance—it’ll help even more.
Try Shutting Your Eyes
This is a simple solution for a complex issue. If you’re feeling a little nauseous, try to rest your eyes for a few minutes. This will eliminate the visual disconnect that can happen while the bus is moving.
Focus on the Horizon
Keeping your gaze fixed on a stationary object, such as the horizon, can help reduce sensory disconnect. This will give your brain a better reference point for movement and may reduce feelings of nausea. If you can’t see the horizon, pick another object to focus on—like a distant tree or telephone pole.
Sleep If You Can
Catching a quick bus nap is a surefire way to avoid motion sickness. Just find a comfortable position, put on your headphones to avoid outside noises, and let your driver handle the rest. You’ll feel refreshed and energized once your bus arrives.
Try and Distract Yourself with Activities
Focusing on activities that don’t involve screens or looking at things up close will give your mind a much-needed break and minimize motion sickness symptoms. Have a chat with a friend on the bus or play a game with your family (here are some of our favorite bus games for inspiration). This will keep your attention away from feelings of nausea and help the bus ride go by more quickly.
Use Flavored Lozenges
Flavored candies, hard candies, and lozenges may not magically stop motion sickness, but sucking on them can help alleviate feelings of nausea. Certain flavors like mint, ginger, and cinnamon have been known to reduce nausea, but whatever flavor you like best will suffice.
Keep Your Head Still
Sudden movements can make motion sickness worse. To minimize extra movement, use a small pillow, a rolled up sweatshirt, or a neck pillow to keep your head as still as possible.
Here are some charter bus packing tips to keep in mind — one super important thing is that you cannot access the under bus storage while on the road. So, make sure you have your pillow with you on the bus!
Take an Antihistamine
Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine like Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) or Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can help prevent or alleviate motion sickness. These medicines may cause drowsiness, so plan to take them about 30 to 60 minutes before your trip, and don’t operate heavy machinery.
Always talk to your doctor or medical professional to make sure it’s safe for you to take an antihistamine before your trip and get advice on what the correct dose would be for you.
Try Ginger
Ginger is known for helping with nausea and is often taken by people who are prone to motion sickness.
Try Something Sweet
If ginger isn’t your thing, simple sugar can also help alleviate motion sickness symptoms. A sip of juice or a few bites of a granola bar can help reduce feelings of nausea, especially when combined with a light snack like crackers or cereal. Just make sure if drinks are allowed on the bus you rent!
Travel with Price4Limo
Whenever you travel with Price4Limo, you can rest assured knowing you’re being transported with the country’s leading group transportation provider. Our reservation team has worked with clients of all kinds, from local universities and youth groups to corporate leaders, government officials, wedding planners, and everyone in-between!
We understand how stressful coordinating group travel can be, so we’ll handle all the transportation logistics for you. Price4Limo has a vast network of charter bus and minibus rentals, so you have your pick of any type of vehicle. We also offer differentamenities to enhance your experience, so you’re sure to have a comfortable ride even before you reach your destination.
Planning to travel for an overnight sports event and want a bus with recliners, WiFi, and charging ports for your players to rest? No problem! Or maybe your school group is heading to an early morning educational tour and you want a coach with TV monitors, a DVD player, and plenty of overhead storage space for everyone’s backpacks? Just tell us what you need!
When you’re ready, just give our team a call at 1-866-265-5479 for a free, personalized quote for your next trip. We’ll find the perfect bus rental for you!