Okay so far you guys have been a great help. My family and I were planning on taking amtrak to boston to finish our east coast vacation before flying back home. We found out that Amtrak only allows luggage (22x21x14) basically the size of carry on luggage for planes. Along with a 255 price tag.
So we thought of taking Greyhound. We have never taken greyhound and we were wondering if any of you have ever taken the bus up to Boston. The price tag is quite a bit lower (115.00 standard) or (60 non-refund) for a family of 4.
I know how bus stations can be so give me some insight. we are staying in Manhattan near grand central station so we would be leaving from somewhere near there.
Thanks
Soames

The bus is obviously going to be subject to same traffic delays as driving - so if you can, chose carefully your departure/arrival times - try to avoid rush hours in either city, Friday or Sunday evenings. A best bet for travel times would be leaving NYC at about 9 or 10 AM.

Bus terminal location in Boston is downtown - not especially scenic, but area is fine during the day.

There have been some posts here about much cheaper Chinatown bus between Boston-NY. Do not know about origination point in NYC, but there have been problems with capacity, lines, tickets, etc. if starting in Boston described in Boston Globe.

The South Station bus terminal in Boston was completely renovated several years ago. When we picked up our son, it reminded me of an airline terminal. It was clean and modern. You can then take a bus over to Logan. The buses use an upper level. The train station is on ground level. If I have to fly from Logan, I use the bus system to get to and from NH.

I don't know where you got your info about Amtrak, but here is the restrictions on luggage from their site:

Carry-on luggage

Limit of 2 Carry-on Luggage Items: Carry-on luggage is now limited to two (2) pieces per passenger, not exceeding the specified dimensions of a medium-sized Pullman suitcase (28"x22"x14"/70x55x35 cm). Carry-on limits will not apply to briefcases, purses, laptop cases or cosmetics cases (e.g., train cases). Additionally, the limits will not apply to infant paraphernalia, such as car seats, diaper bags or strollers. Passengers are requested to stow such items under seats when practicable, leaving the overhead luggage racks for larger items.

Checked luggage

Amtrak offers checked baggage service at many stations and on many trains and Amtrak Thruway buses throughout the country. Each ticketed passenger may check three pieces, not to exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg) per piece, at no charge.

If you are making the change because of luggage restrictions, then I'd recheck that (or perhaps the New York to Boston route has different restrictions). I travel Amtrak often with two very large suitcases and/or duffel bags and have never had anyone question me. Usually when I'm leaving out of New York's Penn Station, they just ask me do I want a porter to assist me. Also, as the above poster suggested, inquire as to whether checked bag service is available on that particular train.

If, however, you want to change for reasons of cost, then while I have not traveled New York to Boston on Greyhound, I have been in the Boston bus station and in Port Authority in New York and think both would be quite fine for your family traveling through.

You could also use the Fung Wah bus. It is $20 round trip,and goes from New York's Chinatown to Boston's in the heart of the city. We use it all the time to visit my daughter.They have a website and you can purchase tickets on-line.

Alexus, how old are your children? Kids under about age 15 go for half-price on Amtrak; that $255 sounds high. As you were advised earlier, the premium for the "fast" train saves you very little time, though the trains themselves are a bit more luxurious.

I have never taken the Greyhound bus to or from NYC, but I did do a round-trip on the Fung Wah Chinatown bus just last weekend. At $10 per ticket, it can't be beat! I booked the 5 PM Sunday departure online and since the bus sold out and was filled at 4:45, we left early, got into Boston before 9 PM despite the 10-minute bathroom/McDonald's break that they take about 90 minutes out of NYC. The buses are clean and quiet, I believe they have a toilet aboard, though I didn't check.

The Chinatown buses in both cities park on a side street and have no stations or waiting room, you wait outside on the sidewalk.

As mentioned above, South Station in Boston is recently refurbished and quite lovely, in a business neighborhood that is safe; it's the same station you'd come into on Amtrak.

Topping for alexus to put it above the duplicate thread.

I can tell you that I took the Greyhound bus for this route many times in early '90s when I was a college student. I hated it! Main reason being myself traveling alone - and just anxious as to what kind of person will end up sitting next to me. The clientele for Greyhound is the budget traveler type.

How old are your children? If they are young, they might get restless being confined in their Greyhound seats. Whereas on Amtrak, there's more room (per seat) plus one can walk up and down the aisle to stretch one's legs.

I believe the Chinatown buses (fung wah) play movies on the way. I haven't been on the buses myself, but I've heard that sometimes they can play the movies rather loud, which may not be good for young children. I also don't know what kind of movies they play - are they appropriate for children?

And then there is:

www.limoliner.com

little on the expensive side, but worth every penny!

topping for alexusfr

Limoliner is just a fancy bus.

Go ahead and pay seven times as much as for the Fung Wah bus if it's that important for you to have leather seats instead of upholstery, and flowers in the toilet and if you can't live for 4 hours without accessing the internet. They advertise continuous cell phone service; we had no trouble using our phones on the Fung Wah bus. They travel the same roads and take the same amount of time to get to their destination.

You can also check bonanzabus.com for schedules and fares, may be better/cheaper than greyhound

yeah, bonanzabus merged w/ peter pan i guess, there new website is cool! I saw 9 daily buses that leave NYC to BOS, looks like a R/T is 50.00. I dunno about a one way, Ive never traveled with them coming from NYC. So alexusfr your options are more than just greyhound

According to the published timetable, Bonanza (part of Peter Pan now) is $30 one-way between Boston and New York, $5 cheaper than Greyhound or Peter Pan. But it involves a connection in Providence, and slightly longer travel time.