sandy456

Washington DC-Philadelphia with a Chinatown bus?

Philadelphia (city center) to DC on the cheap. Greyhound is $25, and the duration time varies (roughly 3 hours - DC-Philly). My question is has anyone taken the so called Chinatown bus from DC to Philly? If so, how much, and how long does it take. Also, what time does it depart?

On a sidenote, where is the Greyhound station in DC? I think it's called Main station (as opposed to Union station, which is a train station, but Greyhound stops there).

Is there a Metro stop near the MAIN Greyhound station in DC?

Van_Ness

We've taken what's been called the Chinatown bus to both New York and Philly. It was cheap, clean, comfortable and pleasant. I think we paid $20 but it's probably gone up since then. You'll have to google. It is called Chinatown bus because the first cheap ones went from the Chinatown of D.C. to the Chinatown of NYC, mostly for Asians. But the cheap fares caught on and soon everyone was riding them. Many more companies do it now. The Greyhound bus station in D.C. is at 1005 1st St. NE, behind Union Station. It's called the Greyhound bus station.

wyatt92

The Chinatown bus that goes from Boston to NYC, it's called the Fung Wah, has had numerous accidents and safety violations. I would take the Greyhound.

FauxSteMarie

My son takes the Chinatown bus all the time ($35 round trip), as he goes to school in NYC and his parents live outside DC. Fine inexpensive way to travel.

For a group of people, I recommend checking out a one way car rental from airport to airport because it may be less money.

Please note that tolls between NYC and DC run about $25 (rough estimate; I haven't driven it in awhile).

RuthMc

As the Greyhound station is near Union Station, you can use that stop for it. It's also not too far from the new stop at Florida Ave, near NY Ave, but Union Station is closer.

I think the Chinatown buses (at least some of them) leave from 15th St. just north of K St. I walk around that corner often to see a line of people with bags waiting. Anyone know for sure?

Second what wyat92 says about reported safety violations and accidents, though.

FauxSteMarie

The DC Chinatown bus leaves from Chinatown on H St., NW

SPQR

The Washington Deluxe Bus leaves from 15th and K and stops outside Penn Station in NYC. Vamoose used to stop at 14th H, but now stops only in Bethesda and Arlington.

vjpblovesitaly

Here is a website which might be helpful.

http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/

I took the Chinatown bus to NYC from DC last year. It was fine, but after reading about safety issues, I am not sure if I would do it again unless Greyhound was a lot more expensive when I want to go.

Ryan

FYI,
The current issue of NY Magazine has an article on the Chinatown buses. On a scale of 0-100, with zero being the best, Greyhound got a zero for its Chinatown service. Most of the Chinatown companies got above 75.

Caveat emptor.

MikeT

I'd take one of the name brands. They are matching the Chinatown bus prices, but don't have the horrowing safety and reliability records.