The plan - a long weekend in NYC. Take Friday off from work and travel in the morning to arrive in time for lunch in the Big Apple, and make my way home on Sunday night so I can get a full night's sleep before the new week begins.
My findings when checking prices 2 weeks and a day prior to departure:
$42.50
Megabus - https://us.megabus.com/
All transactions will incur a $2.50 booking fee
Ticket prices start at $1.00 on all trips.
One piece of luggage up to [20kg/50lbs] and one small piece of hand luggage.
4 hours 15 min estimated journey, no stops scheduled.
Customers are required to be at their departure point at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Double Decker, Reserved Seat Selection options with surcharges ranging from $1-$7 per trip
Boston, MA, South Station - Gate 25 to New York, NY, 7th Ave and 27th St (a few blocks from Penn Station)
Departing Hourly 6am-6pm with additional buses at 10:30am and 11:30am, Ranging in price from $19-$23
New York, NY, 34th St b/t 11th Ave and 12th Ave to Boston, MA, South Station - Gate 13
Departing Hourly on the 40 (6:40am - 6:40pm, with the exception of an 8:10am bus) with additional buses on the 10 at 5:10pm and 7:10pm, Ranging in price from $19-$23
$50, inclusive of $3 service fee
Greyhound - http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-routes/destination/new-york-ny/boston-ma#fare-search
Ticket prices seem to start at $9 on weekdays
$20 change fee to exchange before the date of travel
Boston, MA, South Station to New York, NY 625 8th Ave New York, NY 10018 (by Times Square)
Departing Hourly 7am - 8pm with additional buses at 1am, 11:15am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 10pm, with most routes marked Express (4 hr 20 min - 4 hr 40 min) with no scheduled stops, Ranging in price from $21-$25
New York, NY 625 8th Ave New York, NY 10018 (by Times Square) to Boston, MA, South Station
Departing Hourly 7am - 7pm with additional buses at 12:15am, 3:45am, 4:45am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 9pm, and 10:30pm.
Ranging in price from $19-$28
$54, inclusive of $4 transaction fee
Peter Pan - https://peterpanbus.com/routes/boston-to-new-york-city-bus/
Service from South Station Boston, 700 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110, to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, 625 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018.
Some trips direct, others with a layover.
Boston to New York
Departing on the half hour 8am - 5pm with the exception of 11am and 11:30am and 12:30pm, with additional buses at 6am, 7am, 6pm, 7:30pm, and 8pm.
Ranging in price from $16-$30
New York to Boston
Departing on the half hour 9am - 5:30pm with the exception of 2pm, with additional buses at 7am, 7:45am, 12:15pm, 6:30pm, 7pm, and 8:30pm.
Ranging in price from $16-$29
$50 ($20+$35 3 days prior d-day)
GoBuses - https://www.gobuses.com/
Book ahead for cheapest tickets - Risk free - We offer a full refund up to 24 hours before departure
Customers can bring 2 pieces of luggage totaling no more than 50 lbs to be stored underneath the bus. Bags brought aboard the bus must fit in the overhead bin area. Each passenger is allowed one carry-on bag and one small, personal item. Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat or in our overhead bins.
Free Wifi, Complimentary water.
Alewife to Riverside to Manhattan
Departing on the hour from 7am-9am and 4pm-7pm, and on the 30 from 11:30 am-2:30pm, Ranging in price from $20-30
Departing on the hour from 10am-1pm and on the 30 from 2:30pm-4:30pm with add'l buses at 6am, 8:30am, 5pm, 6:30pm, and 7pm, Ranging in price from $18-$30
Alewife Station
Riverside Station
New York, 451 West 30th Street, Near Penn Station
First they hit Alewife, then half hour later, Riverside Station, then 4 hours 15 min later NYC $28
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE starting from as little as $18 each way
$24, inclusive of $2 transaction fee (and $1 return trip!) or $47 with $2 fee
BoltBus - https://www.boltbus.com/
South Station, Boston, MA - Gate 9 NYC - Gate 10 NWK/PHL
11th Ave. & W. 36th St. (DC, BOS, BAL, PHL)
1st Ave Between 38th & 39th (to BOS only)
1st Ave
8:30am 12:30pm 1:30pm 8:30pm
$21 - $24
7am 12pm 2:30pm 6:30pm
$1 or $18 or $24
11th Ave
On the half hour 6:30-10:30, 11:15am 1 pm 2:30pm 4:30pm 5:30pm
$21-24
8am 9:30am 11am 1:30pm 3:30pm 4pm 4:30pm 5:30pm 7:30pm
$18-24
***
Check in at least 5 min before departure with your Invoice Number.
There's an actual station at Riverside where there's a bathroom and charging station available. Not sure when they close though since it was locked on the return trip.
The ride both to and from Manhattan were okay, and basically timely despite the traffic leaving the city. Passengers were mostly fine with the exception of the one chatting away on the phone during the early morning ride when I was trying to get in some extra Zs.
There's a bathroom in the back.
Tip: They don't announce anything, so stay awake or you might miss your stop. read more