Seven staff members at the Washingtonian took seven different ways to NYC to see which method was the best value. Here are their results (in the order of slowest to fastest):
BoltBus ($33)
High: Seats had ample legroom, and the bus was quiet except for one college kid on his cell.
Low: Bus took a long detour around traffic. The AC froze our rider’s window-side arm; it was hard for those in window seats to plug in an electronic device; spotty wi-fi.
Vamoose ($30)
Low: About ten minutes before scheduled departure, our tester received an e-mail saying the bus was delayed 45 minutes. Once en route, passengers were chatty and some children whiny.
High: The bus was clean, and our rider’s seat had an outlet.
MegaBus ($30.50)
High: As with BoltBus and Vamoose, check-in was easy, the bus was clean, and the seats were roomy.
Low: As on the other buses, wi-fi was spotty. The upper level of this double-decker can seem as if it’s swaying—you may feel nauseated if you sit up top.
Car ($104)
Low: Our staffer who drove sat in traffic on DC’s New York Avenue—it took an hour to make it out of downtown. In Manhattan, it cost $38 to park overnight.
High: On the upside, he could listen to whatever he wanted on the radio—and sing along in peace.
Amtrak Regional ($138)
High: The trip itself was fairly uneventful and pleasant.
Low: Arriving at New York’s Penn Station was a different story: The line for a taxi was long and didn’t budge after 25 minutes. So our traveler hoofed it a few blocks in the heat and hailed a cab.
Acela ($242)
Low: Our tester’s seatmate sang to himself the entire trip. Also unfortunate: “The seat was hard; it reminded me of a dentist’s chair. And bring layers—the train was freezing.”
High: If you get hungry, the cafe car’s cheese plate is a good bet.
US Airways
High: Our tester booked a flight just three days before her departure, and there was little difference between coach fare ($418) and first class ($457). She opted for first class, and it was smooth sailing.
Low: The cab from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan cost $40.
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