bus company - NY to DC
Sep 3rd, 2009, 01:56 AM
#2
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Greyhound takes ~5 hours. They do run their new busses on this route. More legroom, free wifi, power outlets, etc....
Amtrak takes ~4 hours with the regular service and ~3 hours with the Acela high speed service. Acela is probably ~2x the cost of the regular service and 4x the cost of the Greyhound service.
Amtrak takes ~4 hours with the regular service and ~3 hours with the Acela high speed service. Acela is probably ~2x the cost of the regular service and 4x the cost of the Greyhound service.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 03:47 AM
#3
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There are really cheap buses, if you make reservations in advance. I have read about it with a friend on another board. Seems to work really well.
http://www.tripperbus.com/?kwmid=433...FQkIswodQhcCOw
http://www.tripperbus.com/?kwmid=433...FQkIswodQhcCOw
Sep 3rd, 2009, 03:50 AM
#4
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Bolt and Megabus are both reputable and offer comforts like free WiFi, in fact one of them is run by Greyhound and I was surprised to read in the earlier post that Greyhound is also offering WiFi. Both Bolt and Megabus have a gimmick that steeply discounts a few seats on each run, as little as $1, so plan ahead if you can!
Sep 3rd, 2009, 04:55 AM
#5
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Amtrak is very expensive between NYC and DC (probably 5 to 6 times more expensive than the cheaper alternatives of Bolt and Megabus). Either of the latter would be a good choice. I have somewhat less confidence in Fung Wah and the Chinatown buses.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 05:06 AM
#7
The Washington Post had an article on the bus service from DC to NYC in its Sunday travel section
http://tiny.cc/jcNzZ
http://tiny.cc/jcNzZ
Sep 3rd, 2009, 06:32 PM
#9
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ac291, only a very limited # of tickets are sold at $1. The rest are sold at incremental prices. However, I agree, even if they sell another 35 tickets at $20 each, they still do make much money considering how much they have to pay for gas, toll, & the driver.
Sep 4th, 2009, 02:21 AM
#11
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The New York Times just did a special on the NYC/DC buses. It's the Aug. 31 Sunday edition. DH and I took the megabus. We parked at White Marsh for free. You need to book ahead on-line. The further in advance, the better the rates. Worked fine for us. Oh, and you print out your voucher and a parking pass.
Sep 4th, 2009, 03:21 AM
#12
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Megabus is a UK based company owned by StagecoachGroup. I believe they started out in Scotland about 10 years ago. About 5 years ago they crossed the big pond and set up their first US ops in the midwest, Chicago being the center of all ops. It was just recently that they expended to the east coast. I actually talked to one of their business reps about Florida. I'm thinking about investing with the company. It would seem a natural for them. Something like a circle of Miami-Daytona Beach-Orlando-Tampa-Ft.Myers-Miami, going both directions would probably attract many tourists and locals.
Apparently their business plan is working and they are making money.
Apparently their business plan is working and they are making money.
Sep 4th, 2009, 06:56 AM
#14
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Another way that they make money despite selling $1 tickets is that many of those $1 tickets are never used. The less you have to pay for a ticket, the more willing you are to change your plans and sacrifice your investment. Or the more wiling you are to say, "Let's go to NY next month" and then not follow through at all.
At this very moment I am on Bolt bus on my way from Boston to NYC (my cost, $27 RT). Since it's Friday of a long weekend, tickets were sold out days ago. Yet when good fortune on the subway delivered me to the gate a full hour ahead of my ticketed departure, I and 6 others who were not ticketed for that run (including one gal who had missed an earlier one) were able to board. Does this count as arriving at my destination an hour ahead of schedule? That would never happen with Amtrak or even Limoliner.
I do not know whether the bargain-priced buses oversell their trips, as airlines are wont to do, but they must have loads of data that would enable them to do a bit of this, strategically.
At this very moment I am on Bolt bus on my way from Boston to NYC (my cost, $27 RT). Since it's Friday of a long weekend, tickets were sold out days ago. Yet when good fortune on the subway delivered me to the gate a full hour ahead of my ticketed departure, I and 6 others who were not ticketed for that run (including one gal who had missed an earlier one) were able to board. Does this count as arriving at my destination an hour ahead of schedule? That would never happen with Amtrak or even Limoliner.
I do not know whether the bargain-priced buses oversell their trips, as airlines are wont to do, but they must have loads of data that would enable them to do a bit of this, strategically.
Sep 4th, 2009, 07:34 AM
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Definitely check out the articles in the Post and the Times. Low-cost buses are definitely growing in popularity!
I take the bus between NYC and DC quite frequently, and have tried most of the companies. Here's a recent post on another thread about the breakdowns I've found: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...wn-parking.cfm
My top choice is generally Bolt, although I did just book my next trip on Mega, since the ticket was only $9 during prime travel hrs. There are enough well-run options (Bolt, Mega, DC2NY, Vamoose...etc) that you shouldn't have to use the Fung Wah/Apex/other Chinatown ones, or Greyhound, which doesn't drop you off in the best neighborhood in DC. Check out busjunction.com for deals.
I take the bus between NYC and DC quite frequently, and have tried most of the companies. Here's a recent post on another thread about the breakdowns I've found: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...wn-parking.cfm
My top choice is generally Bolt, although I did just book my next trip on Mega, since the ticket was only $9 during prime travel hrs. There are enough well-run options (Bolt, Mega, DC2NY, Vamoose...etc) that you shouldn't have to use the Fung Wah/Apex/other Chinatown ones, or Greyhound, which doesn't drop you off in the best neighborhood in DC. Check out busjunction.com for deals.
Sep 4th, 2009, 09:21 AM
#17
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ac291, Lucky you!
Most people that ride Megabus and the like don't plan their trips to DC or NYC months in advance. I suspect 95% don't know they are going until it's a few weeks (or days) away. Certainly the case with me...
Most people that ride Megabus and the like don't plan their trips to DC or NYC months in advance. I suspect 95% don't know they are going until it's a few weeks (or days) away. Certainly the case with me...
Sep 6th, 2009, 04:32 PM
#18
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Does anyone know if you can park on the street near Mega Bus' departure point in DC on a Saturday? Also, we are planning to take the last bus back from NYC (10:30 p.m.) to DC (arrives around 3 a.m.). Is that bus crowded? Is the drop-off lot in DC totally deserted at that hour? Can you park your car there all day (we are planning to leave DC at 9 a.m. or so) and get it out at 3 a.m.? Thanks.
