Montreal/New York by Bus
 

Hey, guys it's me again...father of the new McGill student. My son is planning to accompany his American friend @ McGill, who is going home to NY during the Xmas break - Dec 18 to Jan 3. Any tips on the best carrier, transit time, cost, etc. via Bus?
He has an Asian passport, with a 5 year multiple visit US visa. Any immigration hassles at the border ckeckpoint? Point of entry into the US? Thanks....

8 hours plus/minus, you enter NY state at Lacolle, Quebec. Greyhound is THE carrier, although there are charters; depending when you buy your ticket, roughly $65 each way, roughly 6 buses a day. Usually it's a 1/2 hour to an hour to process the whole bus at the border, although I wouldn't cut it too close to Xmas if your son has the option, as the border-crossing process can get long due to multiple buses/cars passing through Lacolle at once. Ride through Adirondacks is pretty in portions.

I'm planning on going by bus to NYC to see my aunt at Xmastime, and then on to DC, so I possibly might be on the same bus.

Best wishes, DAN

I will be seeing my (McGill student) son this weekend in Montreal and will ask him for any tips. He and his girlfriend took the bus to NYC last February. I think there may be some reductions in price for advance purchase of bus tickets, not sure about student discount.
On bus trips across the border the bus usually stops and requires all passengers to get out and show IDs, passports. I think your son should be fine but there can be delays if anyone else does not have documents in order.

My son and his friend decided to return from NY by train (the Amtrak Adirondack line goes from NYC to Montreal once a day, daily) and found that trip more comfortable than the bus. Both rides are fairly long but with the train you have more leg room and can walk around. There are usually lower fares by train if you reserve a few days early (ticket prices for Amtrak are complicated). I think the cost is similar to the bus, about $61 one way

I will post again if I get any new info from my son

It is nice your son has an invitation for Christmas. Hope he enjoys NY.

Hey Rambo,

I'm a McGill student, and I took the bus to NYC this summer. I took an overnight Greyhound bus and it took approx. 9hrs. We had to switch busses in Newark, New Jersey. The bus was pretty comfy, I found the driver drove a little quick for my liking but we were stuck at the border for almost 2hrs so i guess he was trying his best to keep us on schedule.

We also picked up other passengers in Albany, and due to passenger requests we stopped off at a Starbucks in the early morning hours to get our caffeine fixes :)

My ticket was one-way as my BF was already in NYC and I was driving home with him, it cost me 85$, but I think the return tickets were going for 135$.

Hope he has a great trip!!

Layla %%-

My daughter (just a bit older than your son) has done this trip several times. She thinks it is a fine option and always finds someone interesting to chat with. She did suggest that your son bring some of his own food to round out the fast-food options. Maybe some apples, carrot sticks, favourite cheese?

"Maybe some apples, carrot sticks, favourite cheese?"

Just be aware that you must declare all meats, fruits and vegetables on entry to the US and that they are subject to inspection and possible seizure.

Thanks so very much, Dan, Vt (my ever-dependable, full-time advisor), Layla (my favourite Eric Clapton track keeps playing in my mind when I hear that name), LJ, and laverendrye. Invaluable info!

Laverndrye: With respect, while you are are technically correct in principle, the reality, based on MANY recent trips in a car back and forth across the US/CDN border, is that they are not the least concerned about picnic food or snacks for personal consumption; the law is in place to prevent mass consumption problems and/or the invasion of pests. I don't really think it is going to be an issue with Rambo's son and his lunch!

I can't say about that side of the country, but on a recent trip to the US, I was told by the bus driver that one of his passengers had been dinged with a significant fine for not mentioning the fact that she had a roast beef sandwich. I am asked about food when I take a bus across the border. Last year, when we mentioned a can of chili, the border officer immediately asked if there was meat in it (but it was vegetarian).

Okay, I must revoke my earlier advice, based on the updates...sounds like border is tightening up on against the threat of rampant trafficing in snack carrots!

Good luck, Rambo's son and have a good meal before you leave to innoculate yourself against bus stop food.

On the west coast they are adamant about red apples, but green apples are good to go. Don't know what colour the carrot sticks need to be.
Granola bars are a safe bet as are pbj sandwiches.

Hey Rambo,

lol...i was named after that song! haha!

With regards to the snacks, when I did the same trip in the summer i brought fruits and a subway chicken sub and no one asked or cared...but that doesn't mean that another traveller might have a different experience. Just thought I would share my experience :)

Layla %%-

Lively debate...very enjoyable :-)
I have emailed this to my son....he's very grateful to all of you, too.

I asked my son and his girlfriend for any additional tips on the bus to NY.
She thought there might be a discount on the ticket if it is bought a week to 10 days in advance but my son said he had asked at Greyhound for any deals and they did not offer a discount for advance purchase.
The round trip bus trip seems to be the most economical way to go to/from NY altho they did feel the train trip they took back was a much more comfortable ride

They usually take buses to New England (Vt and Boston) and have sometimes been delayed at busy travel times. The companies don't always have extra buses waiting so if one fills up there can be a wait. I don't think that would be a problem during the day on December 18 but the best way for your son to be sure is to get there early so he would be on the first bus out.

As for the food/snack controversy, US customs does ask about vegetables, fruit and meat. (There are big signs now at the border crossings for cars saying you must declare these items.) We have been able to take Canadian produce (apples and pears) over ok but I know my sister could not take grapefruit over the border. My son's girlfriend had some grapes confiscated on a recent bus trip.

Rambo, I hope your son is adjusting ok to the Canadian winter weather. It was definitely cold this past weekend, especially Friday, and sidewalks were icy. We saw people sledding in the Mont Royal park, so maybe your son can start trying some winter activities.

One Greyhound discount that is available is called the Companion Fare. Basically the second person rides for half-price. The Companion Fares do have to be bought some time in advance - I think two weeks, but double-check. But for one person, I don't know of any discount other than the standard student and military ones.

I do know the Companion fares don't work from Montreal to points south in the US
http://www.greyhound.ca/en/deals/companion_fare.shtml

Bottom line is your son should ask well in advance if there are any specials he can use for the trip

I get the companion fares by booking (for Vancouver, BC to Seattle or Vancouver, BC to Portland) by booking on the greyhound.com site, not the .ca site.

Hey all, they've checked....no discounts applicable, except maybe the student one. The 2 boys are picking up their Greyhound tickets on Saturday. Will post once I know the exact fare. Adjusting to the winter....he's a brave boy...says he's doing fine, but I know he's never experienced anything close to even + 10 degrees Celsius before this.....and we're in sub-zero already....hallelujah ! :-)
Complains sometimes only about the food @ McGill though....he's on a 1st year meal plan...
By the way, he'll need to find / share an apartment from his 2nd year, beginning Aug/Sept 2008. Preferably on University, or thereabouts...walking distance to campus.

Rambo--The housing office at McGill offers lots of supports for students looking for apartments after first year. Most students live right near campus

Since my son is a senior he knows a lot of people who will be giving up apartments after graduation, so maybe we could coordinate information early next (calendar) year.

The most traditional "moving day" in Montreal is July 1st but apartments come up at other times, too. Lots of students with leases running through the summer try to sublet apartments during the summer.

We are getting ready for some real winter weather here -- looks as though your son will experience his first big snowstorm tonight into tomorrow.

Thanks, Vt. Just got off Skype video with him (1.30 am Montreal - burning the midnight oil - exams start this Friday), and he turned his camera out the dorm window, so I could see the snow....looks quite lovely, though totally different to when I was there in August!
Btw, the bus fare to NYC is $119 round trip.
Housing: appreciate whatever help we can get. Once exams are over end-April '08, he'll fly back home for the long summer break. Plan was for him to go back end-August, just in time for classes beginning the day after Labor Day. Maybe we talk in January, and if necessary, change the plan if he needs to be back in Montreal a little before that? Thanks. He did say something about "fraternity" help in finding housing?