The seats on the bus turn into foam beds.
Between Washington, DC and Nashville, Tennessee, there is an overnight motorcoach service.
For a long-haul route, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the ride.
It's not the most comfortable experience to travel on a budget bus.
It doesn't make sense for a road trip to have packed rows of seats, a lack of internet, and broken foot rest.
You are not alone in your fear of sitting on a budget bus for hours at a time.
Daniel Aronov decided to start a bus that was lined with private suites to give passengers a relaxing and comfortable long haul journey.
Aronov acknowledges that there has been a growing number of premium motorcoach services in the US.
Vonlane has been a luxury bus operator in Texas for a long time.
The source is Insider.
Between Washington DC and New York City, there's the Jet, a new airline that's been booking well with the help of its motion-canceling seats.
The source is Insider.
Vonlane and the Jet are only available between two nearby cities.
The main route is between Washington, DC and Nashville, Tennessee.
The seats on the Jet and Vonlane are more plush than the seats on the bus.
One step further and flatter, that's what Napaway brings.
Laying down is the best way to sit down. It is lined with seats that can convert into beds.
Aronov realized after watching his friend sleep on a business class flight that the key to a good night's sleep is laying fully horizontal.
He tried to duplicate that with the sleeping suites.
The seats are not just leaning back a few inches. They are lying flat.
According to Aronov, these coaches don't provide the size, comfort level, or personal space that Americans want.
To create its row of spacious bedrooms on wheels, Napaway tapped a Chinese aircraft and motor coach seating manufacturer.
The Butterfly Flexible Seating Solutions is a source.
A separate coach conversion company was hired by the startup to retrofit the interior of a used charter bus.
Aronov said that the team spent a few years designing and making the interior of the coach.
The installation process was very efficient because there was no need for renovations.
Spending over nine hours on a bus from DC to Tennessee sounds like my personal hell.
Nine hours on the road in a private suite? I might be able to be persuaded.
I reserve my seat for the Friday night route from DC to Nashville a month in advance through the website.
When I got to the DC pickup location, there was a dark parking lot with a loud sound of "Top 100" coming from the bar next door.
Aronov and two bus drivers welcomed me at the bus stop.
Before I boarded the bus, I changed into my loungewear and brushed my teeth. By the time I got to my bedroom, all I had to do was put my bed up.
The small bathroom at the rear can be used by people who don't have time to prepare.
After learning how to convert my two seats into a bed, we were on our way home.
I was scared before I boarded. The small suite felt like a home to me.
There are two seats in each suite.
The tray tables have phone holders so you can use your phone to access the onboard entertainment.
I may have used it wrong, but my phone couldn't stay in the phone holders.
That was fine with me. I have learned to stay away from screens while traveling in a motorcoach since I got carsick while working on the Jet.
I didn't feel like scrolling through social media or watching a movie at 10 p.m. because of the spotty onboard internet.
My two seats were turned into a bedroom after a few minutes of sitting upright.
I only set up the bed for a short time. The only thing I had to do was lock the seats flat.
The base of my nest was created by unfurling the memory foam mattress at the head of the bed.
I had my own bedroom on wheels after setting up my pillows, sheets, and blankets.
I put down a large but thin opaque screen in order to make my room feel more secluded.
I was able to fit on the bed even though I had to lie at an angle.
I've never experienced a memory foam bed like the one I found at the Napaway.
After a little over an hour on the road, I began drifting off to the sounds of passing cars and the sway of the motorcoach as it drove down the freeway.
The thick mattress pad, cozy blanket, and rocking motion of the bus made me feel like I was sleeping.
I wasn't able to sleep the entire time I was on the ride.
As the bus pulled into its two pit stops just a few hours apart, I was half- awake and aware of my surroundings.
I had a longer and better night's sleep than I have had in the past.
It gets brighter in the morning. Each suite has an amenities kit that includes an eye mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, face wipe, and ear plugs.
We arrived in Nashville at around 7:45 a.m.
Even though I didn't sleep through the whole night, I still had enough energy to get through the day.
Aronov said that having the full day at both your origin and destination points is a good way to go. You don't lose days when you leave in the evening and arrive in the morning.
Aronov said that the reception to the concept has been positive.
There is only a weekend service with departures from Washington DC to Nashville, Tennessee on Friday and Sunday.
The majority of its customers have been leisure travelers.
As the startup expands, this demographic could change.
With the goal of operating a national network, more routes will be considered in the southeast, midwest, or upstate New York.
The company would like to run shorter daytime routes.
Aronov isn't saying when or where the service will be brought to.
The startup doesn't see other coach services as a threat because of its current route.
Aronov says it's competing with airlines and people who drive their own cars.
He said that people who hear about it tend to get it. When you consider the amount of crazy mess flying this summer, I think it's relevant.
Air travel has been a nightmare this summer.
Thousands of flights have been canceled, baggage claims have gone up, and security lines have grown.
If you have the chance to pass on air travel for a more convenient, cheaper option, why not?
I woke up refreshed and ready for my day after showing up early, boarding the bus, and sleeping. The travel experience was very pleasant.
Large crowds, long security lines, and boring terminals are what we've come to expect of summer air travel.
Business Insider has an article on it.
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