Bus to NYC from DC

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:16pm

Has anyone ever taken the Washington Deluxe bus from DC to NYC? I see it's really cheap, but curious to read any experiences people out there have had with this service.

Thanks.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:19pm

Amtrak or fly here -- sorry can't help out....my experainces with busses between any cities has not been good (or recent).

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:23pm

I take Amtrak as well, but I saw that this particular bus service is $35 round trip. I'm looking to economize as my hotel room is $200/night. The hotel I'm staying at has cheaper rooms, but they're all booked. I'm hoping someone cancels by the time I get there.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:24pm

take a look and the Fung Wah bus service. I believe it's $10 each way.

[BT]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:25pm

What hotel are you staying at Dottie? I haven't taken the bus in years, but if you don't mind the long ride, it isn't too bad.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:26pm

Dottie...I went onto Priceline and got a room in the City for $122 a night....and it was a beautiful Hotel.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:27pm

Chelsea Savoy (23rd & 7th). They're single rooms are about $119, but I'm in a room that can sleep 4 (that is sharing 2 beds). A friend of mine also suggested checking out the Y on the upper west side.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:30pm

I know!!! The places I usually stayed at are booked solid. It's not like I made up my mind last minute, I made these plans about a month ago.

I could also stay with my parents in CT, but I don't want to have to go back and forth (that takes all the fun out of it).

A friend of mine used to have a 2 bedroom apt. on W 57th Street, so I always had a place to stay until he moved to California!!! How dare he do that to me!!!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:31pm

The bus is four to four and half hours out of your life and you will save a bundle. I went to DC twice over the summer (on day trips no less for two of the Tennessee Williams plays) and I remembered several times that it was not years but only hours.

Its still a bus, but its a lot of money in your pocket.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 2:51pm

I've taken the bus - its ok if you don't mind being sandwiched between a 400 lb biblethumping christian and a screaming baby for a little over 4 hours...sometimes you're lucky and there's an awful movie to take your mind off the trip. I've heard that the bus from Chinatown is only 10 dollars - quite a cheap ride. But I've never taken that one.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 3:04pm

Friends from DC just came up to visit me using the Chinatown bus and they thought it was great. $20 roundtrip, just 3 hours or so on the bus and they had flexibility as to when they went back because there was a bus departing pretty much every hour.

I'm an Amtrak person, myself, but the Chinatown bus certainly sounds like a great deal.

[CJR]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 3:23pm

I've taken the bus from NYC to DC... it cost me $65 round trip and the ride down actually wasn't so bad -- we made it there in under 4 hours. The ride back was longer though.... we hit mass amounts of traffic and sat for over an hour. It took us 5 hours and some change..

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 3:29pm

I've taken the Washington Deluxe and I will do so again. It's INCREDIBLY better than Greyhound. Beautiful big new tour buses and a very comfortable ride into NY. Also the bus terminals are at 15th Street NW in DC and Penn Station in NY. LOADS better than the Greyhound station here and Port Authority in NY.

Price is $20 one way and $35 round trip.
Washington Deluxe

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 3:32pm

It's fine--the Chinatown buses (there are a few different companies) are usually $20 each way and $35 round trip. And there are often midtown pick-up/dropoffs as well in addition to down in Chinatown.

It's worth the serious savings compared to a shuttle, train, or Port Authority bus....my one suggestion is to bring a discman or ipod b/c they play REALLY cheesy and loud action films with the volume up all over the bus. (When I went, we were treated to a Segal pic and one of those interchangable 90s Nic Cage ones.)

You can reserve and pay online so you are sure to have a ticket and seat. Bottom line, you'll be a little cramped and annoyed for 4 hours, but it's a great deal.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 4:55pm

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will more than likely take the bus and search for another hotel through priceline. This is turning out better than I thought.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 4:59pm

I'm not reading this whole thread so if someone already mentioned this, disregard it.

Vamoose Bus Lines picks up from either the McPherson Square metro or Friendship Heights metro and drops you off at Madison Square Garden. The buses those deluxe busses with comfortable seats and they show movies there and back. $20 one way, $35 round trip. I take it whenever I go up to NYC and can tell you it's the best deal in town.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 4:59pm

Thanks Matt G. How did the move go?

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:02pm

when using priceline be sure to go to www.biddingfortravel.com
It is a forum of priceline users -- they tell you the hotels that typically come up in the neighborhoods at the various star levels and people post what their bid history/winning bids are -- it is VERY HELPFUL!

[BT]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:02pm

Matt decided he couldn't leave me so he's staying in DC a few extra days.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:03pm

Um Hmm. Yeah, BT. That's why I'm still here. lol

[BT]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:05pm

Well it took a lot of wrangling to keep you here - I had to bribe the movers and everything...

[Matt_G]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:07pm

You sonofabitch. I knew you had something to do with it.

And can I get my boxers back sometime before I leave?

[BT]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:12pm

You'll have to rip em off me, bud, I haven't taken them off since you left me.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:15pm

Boys...behave or I will make you both come to my ouse to wash tose boxers!

[BT]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 5:17pm

K- don't you EVEN tease about your washing maching. You know what it does to me. the thought that you might invite Matt over to do laundry has me green with envy.