Bus to NYC - what am I missing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The buses leave every hour or so— there’s no way it’s “easier” to drive yourself than take a bus. If you don’t like buses that’s fine but different.

They do but better times are more expensive and it makes a difference if it’s 1 or 2 people traveling vs a family of 4 or 5. For a family of 4-5 the logistics of just throwing things in the car and driving are much simpler than ubering to a bus stop, repacking to a bus, and doing the same at the other end, and ends up cheaper or same as paying for 4 round trip bus tickets, especially if not booked months in advance and traveling at a busy time. So no major savings with taking the bus especially if going for a weekend. Calculation would change if staying longer of course.

I’ve done both with and without kids. Both have their advantages and I choose different options in different circumstances. Op is traveling with dh so for them, either option could work. But I doubt if they’re not booking months in advance they’ll go much below 160$ round trip for both.

[Anonymous]

Thats a lot and I usually don't book in advance. Are you saying it was $125 round trip each? I have usually seen more like $35 to $50 each way, so $70-100 range

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

?

Are people afraid of city driving? So weird.

Anyway, I think posters are saying it’s easy to drive to the city (rather than take a bus or train or plane), park, and then explore on foot, by taxi, etc.

Nobody has suggested driving around the city (although sometimes that makes sense, depending on where you are going).

NYer here, please do not come and try to drive into NYC. Please. The city is not meant for that, we have tons of ways to get here without bringing your car. And fyi, there are tons of ticket traps around the city. If you truly need to drive, drive to NJ and park and take the PATH train into the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

?

Are people afraid of city driving? So weird.

Anyway, I think posters are saying it’s easy to drive to the city (rather than take a bus or train or plane), park, and then explore on foot, by taxi, etc.

Nobody has suggested driving around the city (although sometimes that makes sense, depending on where you are going).

NYer here, please do not come and try to drive into NYC. Please. The city is not meant for that, we have tons of ways to get here without bringing your car. And fyi, there are tons of ticket traps around the city. If you truly need to drive, drive to NJ and park and take the PATH train into the city.

Weird.

Nobody wants to park in NJ and navigate public transportation into the city when you can valet park at a hotel.

[Anonymous]

Noone mentioned that when you take the bus, you don't need to worry about drinking and driving. I enjoy having a few drinks in NYC and maybe even on the bus ride home.

[Anonymous]

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

there are tons of places in Times Square that will hold your luggage for like $10 a day. we do this all the time.

[Anonymous]

I am a fan of flying for work, but be aware that ubers from the airport have gotten expensive - like $75+ each way. So for personal travel I am more likely to take the train. My kids take the Vamoose bus from Bethesda.

[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. .

Wrong. Bought in October for Easter weekend and it was $49 each way for normal times. Not Acela, but still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

?

Are people afraid of city driving? So weird.

Anyway, I think posters are saying it’s easy to drive to the city (rather than take a bus or train or plane), park, and then explore on foot, by taxi, etc.

Nobody has suggested driving around the city (although sometimes that makes sense, depending on where you are going).

NYer here, please do not come and try to drive into NYC. Please. The city is not meant for that, we have tons of ways to get here without bringing your car. And fyi, there are tons of ticket traps around the city. If you truly need to drive, drive to NJ and park and take the PATH train into the city.

NYC is my favorite city to drive in. People there actually know how to drive, unlike DC. And I agree with PP that nobody wants to park in NJ and take the PATH.

OP, bus from Chinatown or Bethesda should be cheaper than that. Can you tweak your dates or times?
—relocated suburban New Yorker

[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. .

Wrong. Bought in October for Easter weekend and it was $49 each way for normal times. Not Acela, but still.

Right, so $49 each way equals...about $100 roundtrip as posted.

[Anonymous]

I took the bus from Tysons once and it was really late getting home due to traffic. 3 hours late and the seats are so narrow and uncomfortable. I use Amtrak now.

[Anonymous]

I'm old enough to remeber the Eastern Airlines shuttles from National to LaGuadrdia. No reserverations--just show up at the airport and buy a ticket. Also immortalized in Nora Ephron's novel Heartburn...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

?

Are people afraid of city driving? So weird.

Anyway, I think posters are saying it’s easy to drive to the city (rather than take a bus or train or plane), park, and then explore on foot, by taxi, etc.

Nobody has suggested driving around the city (although sometimes that makes sense, depending on where you are going).

NYer here, please do not come and try to drive into NYC. Please. The city is not meant for that, we have tons of ways to get here without bringing your car. And fyi, there are tons of ticket traps around the city. If you truly need to drive, drive to NJ and park and take the PATH train into the city.

Weird.

Nobody wants to park in NJ and navigate public transportation into the city when you can valet park at a hotel.

Plenty of people would rather navigate public transportation to save $80+ a night on valet parking.

I imagine you do actually know this and thought your comment would make you sound rich and sophisticated but it definitely just makes you sound like an out of touch striver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

Not having a car makes it feel more like a vacation too. I barely want to drive in my day to day life (thankfully I’m in a walkable area a couple blocks from metro), but have to do it for some things like getting kids to their activities. If I am bringing a car on vacation it’s because we’re going somewhere more rural like renting a cabin or skiing. Otherwise I don’t want the hassle of a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. We took a bus once from Bethesda and there was a mandatory stop at the JR Biden roadside rest in DE and the hassle of driving to and through the Lincoln Tunnel.

I like Amtrak almost as much as Pres. Biden. Great subway, metro connections in both NY and DC. Acceptable bathrooms. Not necessarily great WiFi. The ability to walk around and buy coffee is great. Few delays, but some delays.

In the past, we drove and in the distant past, there were $29 shuttle flights I used.

So I have used every way possible and, for me, train wins.

And, as a Manhattanite, you do not want to drive and park a car in NYC…if extenuating circumstances, such as a physical limitation, getting a car with someone to drive you around is the way to go, if possible.

I cant believe people are actually saying they will drive in nyc or dc….that’s utterly ridiculous. You don’t drive in the city.

?

Are people afraid of city driving? So weird.

Anyway, I think posters are saying it’s easy to drive to the city (rather than take a bus or train or plane), park, and then explore on foot, by taxi, etc.

Nobody has suggested driving around the city (although sometimes that makes sense, depending on where you are going).

NYer here, please do not come and try to drive into NYC. Please. The city is not meant for that, we have tons of ways to get here without bringing your car. And fyi, there are tons of ticket traps around the city. If you truly need to drive, drive to NJ and park and take the PATH train into the city.

Weird.

Nobody wants to park in NJ and navigate public transportation into the city when you can valet park at a hotel.

Plenty of people would rather navigate public transportation to save $80+ a night on valet parking.

I imagine you do actually know this and thought your comment would make you sound rich and sophisticated but it definitely just makes you sound like an out of touch striver.

?

So now driving to nyc is a class warfare issue? Never change, dcum :0)

Piling your family into a minivan and driving to nyc and parking at your hotel is usually cheaper than 4 or 5 or 6 Amtrak tickets.

Fwiw the select few people I know who park in NJ have told me they are afraid of driving in nyc. They just aren’t used to city driving I guess.

But everyone I know drives to nyc and parks at their hotel when traveling with their kids. Couples might opt for the train or plane, but even they tend to just drive and valet park.

This isn’t a striver thing. It’s just a comfort and convenience thing.

There is a hassle factor in both time and tedium when you compare parking in NJ vs valet parking in nyc. Most of us prefer to avoid the hassle and $80 seems like a fair price to avoid upwards of an hour+ of hassle.