just don't use chinese owned/operated buses. their safety is terrible.

I like Vamoose

Have not tried Tripper but have had excellent service with Vamoose in several trips over several years.

Tripper or Vamoose. Both equally good.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/travel/busreview/ this may help but also may be dated.

Big Vamoose fan here. My wife used to take that down every weekend from NYC ~ 9 years ago. We have used it here and there, but mostly take the train.

Anonymous wrote:I take either Tripper or Vamoose from Bethesda. They're pretty equal, I just choose based on the times they have available and which is cheaper for that date.

This. We take the bus from Bethesda probably 6 times a year and we choose whichever has the more convenient time. Leaving early on a Saturday morning you probably won't have a lot of traffic unless there's an accident. We did it a few weeks ago and we got there in 3 hours and 45 minutes leaving on the 7:30 bus.

Have fun!

Anonymous wrote:favorite bus to NYC option. Have a 2 pm sat show and plan to leave early sat morning from bethesda. There seem to be a ton of busses and want to pick a reliable one. The train is a fortune now for 4 people.

Loved Vamoose - on time, comfortable, and so convenient. It flew to NY - we left at 7 and got in at 11:30 a.m.

We took Best Bus and it was fine for the price.

I take either Tripper or Vamoose from Bethesda. They're pretty equal, I just choose based on the times they have available and which is cheaper for that date.

I love Vamoose! Cheap, friendly, fast, easy. By far the best way to get to New York.

Bus is convenient and inexpensive - and it's totally fine. I've done Tripper and Vamoose. Vamoose has a "gold" bus that is slightly nicer and still cheap so if you care, try that one. It's also much better if you are going alone because it has single seats. Both have been reliable. Both are supposed to have wifi but it can be sketchy on both. I take the bus all the time--- would rather spend my money in NYC.

If you haven't it is still worth checking the train - Amtrak sometimes has deals for kids travelling with parents and you can even combine it with a AAA discount. It is hard to get during peak travel times (Fridays and Sundays) but we've gotten down to about $400 for our family of four a couple of times.

But we've also come in around $1000 and taken the bus which is still cheaper than the $400 but the train is so much nicer than the bus though we've not ridden in the last couple of months with all of the delays so perhaps the gap has closed.

Personally I'd choose the earliest one you can. Many of my bus trips to NYC have taken 6 hours.

I don't think there are drastic differences between the companies.

favorite bus to NYC option. Have a 2 pm sat show and plan to leave early sat morning from bethesda. There seem to be a ton of busses and want to pick a reliable one. The train is a fortune now for 4 people.