Bus to NYC - what am I missing

[Anonymous]

My husband and I want to take a weekend trip to NYC. We've heard there are cheap busses that regularly leave from DC. I checked several companies it's over $250 for a roundtrip ticket for both of us. Not horrible, but not 'cheap.' Am I missing something? Is this the new rate? We're willing to leave from DC, Arlington, or Lorton.

[Anonymous]

Have you checked megabus and vamoose. There are others. But yes you’re missing the deals.

Amtrak is an option too but cheap fares require early purchasing.

[Anonymous]

You have to book really far in advance. It’s dynamic pricing. If you do it last minute it’s more expensive. Same with the Amtrak. If you book 2+ months out you can get the Amtrak for $50 each or so.

[Anonymous]

What dates are you putting in? Megabus shows $45/person each way. With taxes and fees, $194 round trip for 2 people.

Are you getting $250 total or $250 each? Same dates on Amtrak show $200-300 per person, so the bus is half price.

[Anonymous]

Have fun schlepping your luggage around the city pre and post bus trip.

[Anonymous]

You have to book far in advance. You can get rates for vamoose that’s closer to $39-44 one way if you book early. This is cheaper than gas, tolls and parking if you drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to book really far in advance. It’s dynamic pricing. If you do it last minute it’s more expensive. Same with the Amtrak. If you book 2+ months out you can get the Amtrak for $50 each or so.

Each way . Roundtrip Amtrak usually $100+ even in advance, up to around $140 on weekends unless you go pretty early in the morning. .

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of people who fly to nyc. You can often find cheap flights. Some will fly up and take the train back depending on ticket prices and schedules.

If you live near an airport and don’t check a bag, the airport is easy.

[Anonymous]

Flying is stupid because even assuming you live next door to your DMV airport you aren’t arriving in NYC you are at the airport.

I have had no problems taking the bus (or traveling around NYC with small bags). It’s more relaxing and cheaper than driving/parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to book really far in advance. It’s dynamic pricing. If you do it last minute it’s more expensive. Same with the Amtrak. If you book 2+ months out you can get the Amtrak for $50 each or so.

Each way . Roundtrip Amtrak usually $100+ even in advance, up to around $140 on weekends unless you go pretty early in the morning. .

Not true. I just bought round trip on Amtrak for 4th of July weekend for $75 and that was flex fare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to book really far in advance. It’s dynamic pricing. If you do it last minute it’s more expensive. Same with the Amtrak. If you book 2+ months out you can get the Amtrak for $50 each or so.

Each way . Roundtrip Amtrak usually $100+ even in advance, up to around $140 on weekends unless you go pretty early in the morning. .

Not true. I just bought round trip on Amtrak for 4th of July weekend for $75 and that was flex fare

Very nice deal! 4 months in advance is a lot further than I usually book, but for a holiday weekend that's a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flying is stupid because even assuming you live next door to your DMV airport you aren’t arriving in NYC you are at the airport.

I have had no problems taking the bus (or traveling around NYC with small bags). It’s more relaxing and cheaper than driving/parking.

I often fly when I can get a cheap flight on American. And last time I checked, Queens was in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to book really far in advance. It’s dynamic pricing. If you do it last minute it’s more expensive. Same with the Amtrak. If you book 2+ months out you can get the Amtrak for $50 each or so.

Each way . Roundtrip Amtrak usually $100+ even in advance, up to around $140 on weekends unless you go pretty early in the morning. .

Not true. I just bought round trip on Amtrak for 4th of July weekend for $75 and that was flex fare

Very nice deal! 4 months in advance is a lot further than I usually book, but for a holiday weekend that's a good one.

I have family in NYC and travel every two months. I buy flex fare tickets for holiday weekends at least 2-3months out and never pay more than $100 roundtrip.

[Anonymous]

One driving option we do is to drive to Secaucus NJ and then park there and take the local train (NJ Transit) in. There are huge secured lots there, and the train is something like $6 since it's used by commuters.

[Anonymous]

All it took was one trip on the bus trapped next to someone with horrible BO for me to swear off buses forever. On Amtrak, you can move your seat and entire train car if you don’t like your seat mate. No where to go on a sold out bus. Never again.