The Wheels on the Bus

One of the things I like about living outside of Washington, DC is how easy it is to get to one of my favorite places - New York City! Plane, bus, train, you definitely have your options on how to get there. If I had my choice, it would be Amtrak every time, preferably in the peace and quiet of business class. With that being said, train fares tend to be pretty high, unless you book very far in advance or are willing to leave at approximately 3 o'clock in the morning. Normally, my booking only comes a few weeks in advance and let's just say me and 3 AM are not really acquainted (nor do we really intend to meet). Planes are a quick option, but I much prefer to arrive right in Manhattan, not out in Queens or New Jersey. Therefore, my typical mode of transportation is by one of the many buses available to those of us in the DMV.

I've basically taken them all - Vamoose, Bolt, MegaBus, and Tripper. I don't really have a preference. This isn't meant to be a review on one or the other, it's more a curiosity about which buses other people choose and why. Is one bus really better than the next? Or are you more like me and decide based on price and schedule availability as to which one you book?

I recently saw an article or blog post about a new luxury bus to New York called Royal Sprinter. It's a Mercedes Sprinter that holds eight people. Each person has their own "row" as well as a tray, power outlet, light, cup holder and TV.  (You can check out the Royal Sprinter at https://www.royalsprinter.com)

Photo Credit: Tafi s.r.o.

The cost of the trip is $90 each way. I've definitely been tempted to try it out - a quiet ride with seats that recline with a nice foot rest - sounds really nice. My only question is - if a train ride is about $89, why not take Amtrak? Most of the buses have round trip tickets for $50 or so. Is the extra room and "luxury" worth the extra $130.

What I'd like to know from all of you is - have you ever taken this bus to or from New York? If so, what did you think? Worth the extra cash? What about the other buses - do you have a favorite? If you do, which one do you take and why is it the best? Aaaand...go!

Until next time, Suburban Sarah signing off!