New Yorkers have the unique benefit of living in what is arguably the greatest city in the world, while maintaining easy access to nearby cities. New Yorkers have limited access to cars and therefore have to consider alternative options for visiting these nearby east coast cities. While some people choose to fly, many others choose to take the train. But with train ticket prices soaring and flights becoming less pleasant by the minute, it is bus travel that seems to be catching on. So far, the bus system seems to be most popular with the under-30 crowd, as business travelers and people over 30 are more willing to pay a premium for leg room and better attended bathrooms. Business travelers will likely continue to travel by plane and train, especially when clients are paying, but the bus can be a great option for people of any age who are cost-conscious, particularly if they have a flexible schedule.
Just a few years ago, the best bet for bus travel along the northeastern corridor was the Chinatown bus—$10 to get from Chinatown in one city, to Chinatown in another. Whether it’s because Chinatown isn’t always the most convenient neighborhood or because the amenities aren’t that great on those buses, competition has picked up in the last couple of years.
Bolt Bus and Megabus are the two bus services that market themselves as having tickets starting at just $1. If you purchase your ticket far enough in advance, and during less popular travel times, you can travel for $1 from one city to the next. Both of these companies also provide free wireless internet on all of their buses, though it has been known to fail on occasion.
Bolt Bus also offers power outlets on all of their buses, so if you’re doing work on the bus and you hit traffic, you won’t be stalled by the battery life of your laptop. Megabus is a favorite for people that love to stare out the window and aren’t afraid of heights. They have double-decker buses that do many of the runs between New York and Washington, allowing them to take on more passengers. While Bolt Bus covers Baltimore, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, Megabus services those cities as well as several others. For a full list of cities and schedules, visit the websites at www.boltbus.com and www.megabus.com.
DC2NY (www.dc2ny.com) is a bus service that travels only between Washington, DC and New York. This is for the slightly less cost-conscious traveler—the one willing to spend a whooping $25 to travel—and includes a few more amenities. Aside from free internet access, there are also free snacks and bottled water passed around at the start of the trip by a staff member. Also, at the beginning of the trip the passengers vote on whether to watch a movie, and then the movie is also determined by passenger vote. This service has two stops in DC , one downtown and one in Dupont Circle. It is worth noting that Megabus and Bolt Bus only have stops in downtown DC, whereas DC2NY services the much more residential Dupont Circle.
Another option for travel between New York and Washington, DC, is the Vamoose Bus (www.vamoosebus.com). The advantage to this bus is that the stops in DC are in the suburbs, Arlington, VA and Bethesda, MD. If getting dropped off in your destination suburb is your main priority, then this is a good choice. However, since the fare is $30 each way and the DC metro runs to both suburbs, travelers may be better off going with one of the less expensive options.
So as the New Year kicks off and people vow to spend less, buses may be a good alternative for any upcoming east coast travel. Of course those that are willing to pay a significant premium for more leg room, no traffic delays, and multiple bathrooms, will be happy to hear that Amtrak is still in business.
