on the go

Luxe bus operator Vonlane launches new service from Plano

Vonlane will offer non-stop routes from Plano to North Austin starting February 28.

Courtesy photo

Popular bus transportation company Vonlane is expanding its Dallas-based services further with the addition of a new route from Plano to Austin.

Starting Friday, February 28, Collin County travelers on the go will be able to depart from a new Vonlane terminal in Plano's Legacy West area, at the Rennaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West Hotel at 6007 Legacy Dr. The route will drop riders in North Austin at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Austin's Arboretum area.

Departures will take place seven days a week at various times. Each one-way trip takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Vonlane is renowned for its non-stop routes using luxury buses equipped with 22 leather seats, ample space for working, complimentary wifi, and an on-board cabin service attendant.

According to Vonlane founder and CEO Alex Danza, this highly anticipated new service will better serve the "exploding population centers" in Collin County and north Travis County.

"With the new direct service between North Dallas and North Austin, we’re bringing first-class travel closer to where people live, work, and play—something airlines can’t do," says Danza in a release. "We’re excited to offer our suburban passengers more convenience, less hassle of driving, and ample free time to get work done or simply to relax aboard one of our coaches. You’ll never have a better experience traveling along Interstate 35."

The North Dallas route is a new addition to Vonlane's current Dallas-area service which includes routes from Dallas (Doubletree Love Field) to downtown Austin (Hyatt Regency).

Introductory fares for one-way trips booked for March and April will cost $109. Normal base fares for one-way trips starting in May will cost $125. All fares are flat rate, and include snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, with meals on select routes. (Alcohol is available for purchase.)

Fares do not include taxes, baggage fees, or change fees.

The departure schedule for Vonlane's North Dallas to North Austin route is as follows:

Monday, Thursday, Friday

Departing North Dallas – 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm
Departing North Austin – 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday

Departing North Dallas - 10 am and 2 pm
Departing North Austin – 10 am and 2 pm

Saturday

Departing North Dallas – 1 pm
Departing North Austin – 9 am

vonlane dallas plano austin transportation

Merry & bright news

Dallas makes Santa's nice list as 2nd most festive U.S. city in 2025

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Dallas sparkles and shines for the holidays.

In merry and bright news, Dallas has landed a coveted spot near the top of a 2025 ranking of America's most festive cities.

Home services platform Thumbtack analyzed holiday light installation requests from customers from October 2024 to 2025 to determine the most festive U.S. cities. Rankings were based on the "relative frequency" of requests after being adjusted for the population of each state and metro area.

Dallas comes in at No. 2.

Dallas has been resting easy at the top of Santa's nice list since 2022. But the city's festive spirit has yet to dethrone Austin, which has held on to the top spot for four years in a row.

There's plenty of dazzling shows illuminating Dallas-Fort Worth for the holidays, including drive-thru light parks and CultureMap's very own ice rink at Main Street Garden in downtown Dallas.

Other festive holiday events happening around Dallas include many more local ice rinks, pop-up bars, plus volunteer opportunities to give back to the local community. Readers can also keep up with all of Dallas' holiday happenings in CultureMap's season-long editorial series.

Other big Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio also all landed top-10 spots, proving the Lone Star State is much more festive than the rest of the country.

"From Texas to Florida, the South is setting the standard for holiday spirit, and in true Texas fashion, bigger is definitely brighter," the report said. "Mild winters and a strong sense of community keep the Lone Star State shining at the top."

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 5 – Sacramento, California
No. 6 – Houston, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 9 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 10 – Atlanta, Georgia

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