Holy smokes. I would say I've done a good chunk of traveling in my life, to places like India, Laos, Panama etc...... Never would I expect this type of van service in the States!! The packed vans, no ventilation, van switch off thing was something I thought was only done in foreign countries most of them developing.
I've gotta say I was really amused at the situation and quite dumbfounded. Made my booking the day before to leave from Leominster, MA to Brooklyn, NY. They just tell me it's going to be $70 - I say ok that's fine. Online it says leaving at 1pm so I assume they'll pick me up sometime after one depending on the pick up list.
It's about 12:45pm I am packing my things to get checked out - I get a call that just says "come outside." I look at the time and said wow you're a bit early, I'll be right down give me 5 minutes - immediately I get a bark back through the line "NO FIVE MINUTES LOOK AT THE TIME WE ARE LATE!!" Whaaa?
Anyhow that passed.. got in the van, driver barely speaks English, there were 14 people and 2 babies. Totally not legal. It was hot as heck with no ventilation. Put on my headphones and thank god for practice in traveling within developing countries.. knocked out. But I can tell - our driver was a crazy one. And it was raining!
I woke up at our pit stop, where they collect your money. It's cash only, which they do not tell you beforehand, but there is an ATM at the pitstop. (How convenient?)
Before I pay him, I make sure I will be dropped off at the address requested, he tells me I'll have to transfer to another car, but I'll get where I need to get. Fine.
Fast forward an hour we reach New York. He kicks me out into a now normal sedan car with just another driver, tiny bit sketch. I made a mental note of the license haha although I was pretty sure they were are harmless, just hustling to make a quick dollar. My first driver hands my new driver $30 and off we go. I go ok great going to get to my location soon!! No. We make ANOTHER stop to pick up a Jamaican lady from another NY City Express van in the Bronx.
On top of that, the address she has written down cannot be found on my new driver's Garmin GPS system, which is in spanish only. I have to navigate us to her son's house in Queens with my broken spanish, I would say my driver and I bonded. He was actually very impressed with Waze and it's real time no traffic rerouting.
Finally FINALLY we are off to my location. Leaving Leominster at 12:45pm and by 7:20pm, I arrived. I laugh and really was not bothered by this adventure getting here because I always have a knack for finding these "bargain businesses." However, I really do not recommend this service if any of this does not sound appealing to you.
You're better off finding a way to Boston and catching a Mega Bus. All I have to say is - glad that's over with. I've heard that in Manhattan they will opt themselves out of the Door to Door guarantee. Can't say if that's true, but I was delivered to my address in Brooklyn, you just have to be adamant that they HAVE to take you there. read more