The last time I took a bus in the United States, I was heading to Florida from New Orleans. There was a young lady sitting next to me, playing with her child. I noticed a small blinking light, so I looked down. She was wearing not only one, but two ankle monitors.
With such a variety of relatively low-cost airlines in the United States, bus travel is usually secondary, tertiary, or even not thought of at all when it comes to travel. And for usually for the reason mentioned above. However, in many other parts of the world, they are not only a primary form of travel, but clean, safe, and downright enjoyable.
For my busing adventures around the world, I used BusBud.com. They are the Google Flights of buses. However, there are some parts of the world that their bus matrix does not reach. Do a Google search and see what bus companies are offered in your departure area, then if they go to your desired destination.
When you are booking, be sure that they offer mobile tickets. That way, you will not need to find a printer. This is exceptionally hard, especially with international tickets, so if you must print something, ask your accommodation. If they do not have a printer, go to a nearby hotel or business center.
Again, when on the bus, make sure to watch over your things. Especially in Latin America, people get on and off busses a lot, usually at unannounced stops. It is incredibly easy for a purse or small backpack to go missing from an upper rack without you noticing, especially if you are asleep or not paying attention. Might seem overkill, but lock it up or put it in your lap or by your feet.