The heavily traveled Washington DC to New York corridor is widely considered a tedious drive, but there are numerous cheap travel options for those opting not to drive or fly.
Taking the train from Washington DC to New York is generally about as expensive as flying. The really good bargains are offered by bus companies which have sprung up to capitalize on the success of the old Chinatown buses that once offered cheap $10 fares between these cities. While Chinatown buses continue to operate, the newer companies competing with them offer cheaper fares than the Chinatown buses offer in most circumstances.
The determination which company offers the cheapest bus fare changes periodically. Currently, Megabus seems to deserve the distinction, but for a trip next month, one of the other bus lines may prove cheapest.
Bargain hunters seeking a cheap bus ride to New York from Washington DC should plan in advance for the lowest fares. The price structure on some of the cheap buses running this route is designed so that the first riders to commit to a bus get incredibly low fares while those signing up later for seats pay more.
Megabus
With advance planning and less popular departure times, cheap fares on Megabus can be as low as $1 each way. $8 is more typical.
Bolt Bus
Like Megabus, Bolt also offers fares as low as $1 on its popular Washington DC to New York route. Its super cheap fares are hard to come by, though, with fares of $17.50 to $19 more common.
Tripper buses to New York leave from Bethesda, Maryland and Arlington, Virginia, in the close-in DC suburbs. Tripper’s fare schedule is similar to Megabus and Bolt, with lowest fares going to the earliest customers. Tripper offers fares as low as $1. A $10 one-way fare is more typical for a trip planned two months in advance, while the same trip planned a week or two in advance is likely to cost $25.
“Chinatown Buses”
Chinatown-bus website advises that there is still controversy in the industry about the safety of the so-called Chinatown buses. The site describes operators as both legitimate growing businesses and fly-by-nighters. Users of these cheap bus services should evaluate them carefully before jumping on the bargain fares. The buses themselves are usually quite presentable, while the services lack frills.
Vamoose runs to New York from Bethesda, Maryland and Arlington Virginia for a fixed price of $30 each way. It is often possible to travel for less than half that fare on one of the other bus lines. Frequent travelers on the Washington DC to New York route may benefit from Vamoose’s ride 4 one way trips, get one one-way ride free program.
MVP
MVP also offers fixed price service from Washington DC to New York. The price is $20 one-way and $35 round trip on weekdays, with higher prices possible on weekends.
Washington Deluxe
Washington Deluxe charges $21 on Sundays through Fridays for one-way, $40 for round-trip bus rides between Washington DC and New York. Saturday fare is $25 each way. Washington Deluxe is advertising both a collect 8 one-way fare tickets and ride free one-way offer and a collect 4 one-way tickets and ride free one-way offer.
New Century Travel
New Century travel offers round trip fares of $35 for Washington DC to New York travel.
Eastern Travel
Eastern Travel offers fares run $20 each way on its Washington DC to New York route.
Sources:
http://www.chinatown-bus.org/; http://www.vamoosebus.com/site/modules/promotions/promotions.aspx#deal_2;n
http://www.tripperbus.com/
http://www.mvpbus.com/
http://www.easternshuttle.com/
http://www.2000coach.com/
http://www.washny.com/
https://www.boltbus.com/
http://us.megabus.com/?news=google09sale&gclid;=CJ3h6em116ICFV195QodvRS8wg.
