the former president of antarctica ([info]smashingjoker) wrote in [info]washingtondc,
@ 2005-11-04 10:35:00
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Cheap buses to NYC? I've heard about the Chinatown bus, but the reviews have been excessively negative. I was told there was a cheap one that leaves near the Tenleytown Metro station. Does anyone know the name of this line?

Any other suggestions? Metro accessible is a must.

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[info]phigmentor
2005-11-04 03:44 pm UTC (link)
avoid chinabus.

Everytime I have taken it, I have gotten so sick.

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[info]matic
2005-11-04 09:30 pm UTC (link)
bird flu!

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[info]phigmentor
2005-11-05 02:13 am UTC (link)
I was going to say something like that... but I thought I might get decked. :)

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[info]triplee
2005-11-04 03:45 pm UTC (link)
Near Tenleytown is Vamoose, which I believe does not run on Saturday. Never used them, so I can't really give a review.

http://www.vamoosebus.com/

Also, I've been on the Chinatown buses several times, and I think they're actually pretty good. Granted, I usually sleep the whole way, but I've never had a problem.

~EEE~

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[info]crazykawaii
2005-11-04 05:22 pm UTC (link)
I've used Vamoose a couple of times - the time schedule is pretty limited, but I've had no problems with it. It leaves from right across the street from the Tenleytown Metro stop.

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[info]cchan8
2005-11-04 03:49 pm UTC (link)
I had more problem with Washington Deluxe than with the Chinatown buses. They were disorganized, the bus driver was crabby, the website claimed to drop off at Union Station but it was three blocks away.

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[info]kaylaraine
2005-11-04 03:49 pm UTC (link)
I have no idea why the Chinatown buses have gotten bad reviews. I've had good experiences everytime, arriving in 4 hours. The ones I've rode in (mostly 2000coach.com) have been clean, too.

As an alternative, I know there is a bus called the Washington Deluxe that leaves from 15th St., I think.

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[info]t_grrl
2005-11-04 03:50 pm UTC (link)
actually, the greyhound/peter pan is only 40 bucks roundtrip including tax if you purchase tickets online. don't think the chinatown is that much cheaper.

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read all aboot it.
[info]didotwite
2005-11-04 03:50 pm UTC (link)
http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/

hey, i'm not too proud to take the pauper's limo home for t-giving.

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[info]volvocowgirl99
2005-11-04 03:51 pm UTC (link)
Washington Deluxe is great - it picks up right near McPherson Square metro station - and drops off in front of Penn Station, and one other stop in NYC, I'm not sure what (I always get off at Penn) and also two stops in Brooklyn. I really had a good experience and it was only $30 round trip!

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[info]mokey4
2005-11-04 04:16 pm UTC (link)
I've taken Washington Deluxe, two different Chinatown busses, and Greyhound numerous times over the last 4 years I've lived in DC (I'm from NY). I have had very smooth, comfortable rides on each of them at different times, and I've also had some bad rides. Washington Deluxe tends to be at its most disorganized leaving NYC- it's better if you can pick it up at one of the stops before 34th St, like Brooklyn. Still, the service itself is fairly consistent, and as long as you have that reservation number you will always have a seat. The Chinatown bus has always seemed less comfortable to me, and I'm not sure why. The first time I took it we had to wait an hour because something was wrong with the bus, but they wouldn't tell us what the problem was and it was pretty frustrating.

Greyhound is probably the most consistent service, and you'll never have to wait for a bus outside in the cold. But they don't guarantee your seat (as I understand from the last time I rode it 2 years ago, this could have changed), so even if you have a "reservation" you still just wait in the line and if the bus is full before you get on it, you wait for the next one, which can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half.

In conclusion, riding any of the busses is going to be hectic during holiday times, but in the off season any of them should be ok. I personally prefer Washington Deluxe, but that's because their drop-off locations are most convenient for me and I've had the best overall service from them.

Of course, since I got a car last spring I hardly ever ride the bus to NY anymore, so what do I know?

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[info]mokey4
2005-11-04 04:17 pm UTC (link)
Btw, you can get schedules & buy tickets for all of the NYC-DC busses at www.ivymedia.com.

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[info]mokey4
2005-11-04 04:17 pm UTC (link)
Except greyhound, duh :)

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[info]kaylaraine
2005-11-04 04:50 pm UTC (link)
One of the Chinatown buses has a dropoff in midtown...I forget which one though, but I believe it has "Eastern" in the title.

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[info]c4bl3fl4m3
2005-11-04 08:56 pm UTC (link)
"But they don't guarantee your seat (as I understand from the last time I rode it 2 years ago, this could have changed) so even if you have a "reservation" you still just wait in the line and if the bus is full before you get on it, you wait for the next one, which can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half."

No, it hasn't changed, much to my chagrin.

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[info]apologiesqueen
2005-11-04 04:45 pm UTC (link)
There are some related posts on this topic in the memories under "Metro/transportation/directions."

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[info]macguyver
2005-11-04 04:55 pm UTC (link)
I think Greyhound has been consistently worse than Apex Bus (one of the Chinatown Bus companies), especially with the Washington Greyhound station being such a dive.

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[info]flyingoctopus
2005-11-04 06:37 pm UTC (link)
I usually take Apex and have always been happy with them. They also make a stop in Baltimore.

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[info]carolinezilla
2005-11-04 05:00 pm UTC (link)
I've heard good things from friends and family about the Chinatown bus, and I'm considering taking it home for Thanksgiving (I made the above post before seeing this one, coincidentally). I guess it depends on how high your standards are-- I'll take poorer travel conditions to save a dollar.

Just be sure you know your way around NYC, because it's a real Chinatown (unlike here) and people unfamiliar with it tend to get lost after being dropped off.

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[info]pechey203
2005-11-04 05:01 pm UTC (link)
I've heard good things about the china town bus going to NYC and going to Philly, and I know a lot of people who have taken the Vamoose bus from Tenley town and they have all liked it. If I remember correctly it leaves around 3pm friday afternoons and comes back sunday nights. Hope this helps, good luck!

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[info]penchantnyc
2005-11-04 05:13 pm UTC (link)
http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/ lists them all.I take Washington Deluxe, which leaves from Mcphereson and union station. Mcphereson is the better (first) stop.

I only took a chinatown bus once, new century, and it was ok.

Wash Deluxe and Vamoopse are orthodox jewish and do not run saturdays.

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[info]heldc
2005-11-04 08:52 pm UTC (link)
I took the cheap greyhound DC-NYC express, that leaves from next to union station. It was fine, clean bus, quick trip, $30 round trip, bathroom didn't even smell. This was in May of this year. http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/TicketCenter/esavers.asp

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[info]heldc
2005-11-04 08:53 pm UTC (link)
It seems the prices have gone up a bit since, but, still $20 one way, $40 round trip, not that bad.

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[info]c4bl3fl4m3
2005-11-04 08:54 pm UTC (link)
I also recommend Greyhound, buying the eFare online. http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/TicketCenter/esavers.asp

$35 round trip is only like $5 more than the Chinatown bus. And I think it's only $40 round trip from downtown Silver Spring (Ride-On bus accessible) or New Carrolton.

I only go Greyhound. But then again, Greyhound in Silver Spring is only a 20 minute walk from my house.

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[info]shinyredtype
2005-11-05 06:29 am UTC (link)
I like Greyhound for the convenience of the fact that it leaves hourly (especially now that they have the cheaper online fare, as linked above). However, I've also taken the Vamoose a bunch of times, and they rock.

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