Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 913

Bus
Greyhound ( 800-231-2222; www.greyhound.com ) service is relatively good but infre-
quent, especially in more remote areas. Greyhound buses largely stick to the interstate-
freeway system, while regional carriers provide service to outlying areas. In almost all
cases, these smaller bus lines share depots and information services with Greyhound.
Generally, buses are clean, comfortable and reliable. Amenities include on-board lavat-
ories, air-conditioning and slightly reclining seats. Smoking is not permitted. Buses break
for meals every three to four hours, usually at fast-food restaurants or cafeteria-style truck
stops. When you buy tickets a week in advance, discounts apply.
Bus stations are often dreary places. In small towns, where there is no station, buses
stop in front of a specific business; in these cases, be prepared to pay the driver with ex-
act change.
Car & Motorcycle
Unless you're traveling between major cities, car travel is practically a must in the Pacific
Northwest. Getting to all those outdoor destinations is often impossible without your own
wheels, especially if you're camping. Also, gasoline is relatively inexpensive. Use of seat
belts is mandatory in the USA and Canada.
For tips and rules on driving in the USA, get an Oregon or Washington Driver Handbook
at any Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, or check online at www.dol.wa.gov/
driverslicense/docs/driverguide-en.pdf (Washington) and www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/
37.pdf (Oregon). For tips on driving in Canada, see www.driving-in.com/canada .
Keep in mind that Oregon law prohibits you from pumping your own gasoline (except on
some Indian reservations); all stations are full service, so just sit back and enjoy it.
Automobile Associations
The American Automobile Association (AAA; 800-222-4357, 800-444-8091;
www.aaa.com ) and Canadian Automobile Association (CAA; 604-268-5500;
www.caa.ca ) provide useful information, free maps, travel discounts and routine road ser-
vices such as tire repair and towing (free within a limited radius) for their members. Simil-
ar benefits or discounts are extended to the members of foreign affiliates, such as the
Automobile Association in the UK; bring your membership card from your country of ori-
gin.
Driver's Licenses
It's highly recommended that foreigners driving in the Pacific Northwest get an Interna-
tional Driving Permit (IDP) to supplement their national or state driver's license. Note that