DGarcia

I'm going to be in New York City over Labor Day weekend and am looking to take a day trip to watch a game in Fenway Park. I've heard of cheap bus trips ($10 each way) between Chinatowns. I'm thinking of taking the train from NYC to Boston and a bus back at night after the game. I'm from the west coast and am wondering if the scenery along the train route is worthwhile or should I just stick with the bus both ways. Thanks for any insights you can provide!

Anonymous

I'd just take the bus both ways.

The train route follows the coastline but unlike the west coast, the coastline on this part of the east coast is flat and most of it is not preserved and scenic, but rather given over to practical things like boatyards, light industry, and railroad rights-of-way. It's more interesting than the highway, but not worth the extra $$ (IMHO).

Check the bus schedule to make sure it's running late enough for you to catch it after a long game.

MariaNYC

I would totally take the train - I have done both several times and the buses take forever because of traffic! It once took me 6 hours to get to boston from nyc. There is nothing in teh way of scenery either way....and although i have never taken the chinatown bus (Greyhound is only 5 bucks more expensive if you get it more than 24 hours in advance), my firneds who have taken it have had HUGE problems, i.e. when they oversell out their buses by 200 people...take the train, it's worth the extra money!

nytraveler

I would be sure to check the train schedule before you make the trip if this is a night game. I was once stuck in Boston overnight when the airport closed due to an ice storm and the last train for NY had already left.

acwsf

Just a note: It will take around 4+ hours one way to get from NYC to Boston, which doesn't make for an easy day trip. A bus ride will be 4.5 hours one way and a train a little less. Being from the west coast, I don't know if you realize how far they actually are from each other. (On a side note, it reminds me how when I lived in NYC people would say, "Oh, you're from SF. Did you go out in LA?" b/c they thought the two cities were very close to one another. They were often shocked when I said that it takes about 5.5 hours to get to LA by car.)

I've taken the Fung Wah Bus from NYC Chinatown to Boston Chinatown. The website is www.fungwahbus.com. The ticket booth in NYC is right at the base of the Manhattan Bridge on the east side of Bowery (cross Canal Street). The ticket booth in Boston is in a Bakery (I don't know the street, but it is by the big gate - you can't miss it as Chinatown Boston can't be more than three square blocks). It seems they have lowered the price since I last took it. It is now $10 (wow!). It used to be about $24 one way.

I would take the bus as it is CONSIDERABLY cheaper than the train.

Good Luck!

DGarcia

Thanks, all, for the feedback. I do realize the distance, but it's no big deal for a day trip as I've often driven between SF and Lake Tahoe, not quite 4 hours each way. BTW, the game at Fenway is a 2pm start on a Sunday. Being a west coaster, I rarely take a train, except a subway, so I thought it'd be a nice change to travel by train, at least one way (one way is $57 approx.)--just want to make sure it's worth it.

bx3

i have taken the train between NY and boston and would highly recommend it. i disagree with the above post re: scenery. while there are some industrial areas, there are also some quaint seaside towns along the way.

Anonymous

Sunday evenings are a very popular time for the Chinatown buses -- if you decide to use them, you should book online in advance.

nytraveler

The same is true for the trains - Friday and Sunday nights can be mobbed with weekenders - be sure to get tickets in advance.

travel_jones

To buy your tickets in advance for the bus we have a great centralized booking site (over 100 bus companies)
http://www.gotobus.com/

suehoff

As a fellow pacific northwesterner (with a daughter in Boston), I vote for the train, although I've been stuck on it and missed an appt in NYC. The train can take longer sometimes but is far superior in comfort IMO. Have a great time. We saw the Mariners play in Fenway (and Yankee stadium) it was great!!

TKT

An AAA card will give you an amtrak discount. The Amtrak.com page usually has other specials as well. I find that Labor day Amtrak travel is best if you travel the Thursday before Labor day or the Tuesday after.
As a tall person I greatly prefer the train.