With dollar parity favouring travel to the US for shopping trips, many people are trying to figure out the most convenient ways of traveling there.

Many people find carpooling convenient and flexible.  Drivers can alternate and rest.  You can pick how long you want to stay at different attractions.

However, many people find that taking a bus is a cost-effective way to cross the border.  You also don’t have to worry about driving if you decide to consume some of your Duty Free alcohol after a long day of shopping.

A good number of people travel with independent bus tour companies such as Sandy’s Bus Tours.  Independent outfits tend to have better local expertise than charter buses, especially when it comes to border procedures and customs (as always, you can review our customs allowances page.)  They also tend to be knowledgeable about deals near where the bus travels.

Buses usually have multiple pick-up points per region.  Check with representatives for more information.  You can also review our article with some useful travel tips for bargain hunting and discount offers.

Another relatively cheap way to make a shopping trip to the US  is to organize your own bus tour.   Some groups of people network and organize multiple bus tours every year for friends, family, and coworkers.  Booking the buses and hotel rooms and planing the routes will help keep your group organized and focused on having the best time possible.

Especially with Labour Day weekend coming up and many US retailers expecting less American tourists for this year’s long weekend, it seems like a perfect time for Canadians to travel South.