Reliable bus service to New York City. Arrived approximately 30 minutes early and was about 6th party in line. Check in was friendly, people were orderly about waiting in line, and boarding was exactly on time. They had water bottles and newspapers for those who wanted. Appreciated trash bags on each row since we were constantly snacking and had things to dispose. On the bus, wifi was pretty reliable for me and temperature was good. Driver was really smiley to my toddler and only stopped for one minute to use the restroom. Safe, friendly drive up north! read more

The best way to get to new york and back So easy so comfortable been going with them years .... Love it read more

I rode the premium Gold bus from NYC on July 16. The bus was late to board but early to arrive. In 95°f heat we all were dying to get on the bus. At 6 minutes to 2 we finally started boarding. Once on the full bus we quickly noticed the busses AC was not operating at peak. As we got out on the highway it was apparent that the air conditioning wasn't working. We were dying of heat on the bus and with no means to cool off. People were complaining to the bus driver and finally about 2/3 of the way home he pulled off at a rest area to try to make a call to get a replacement bus which was not available. Then we were told that we could get on standby on other than moose buses going through when they came through. By this time we were a good hour overdue and everyone just decided to get back on the bus and deal with it as we all wanted to get home. I also noticed the same problem on my trip up to New York but not as bad as the trip home and I expected more riding the luxury version of the bus that actually has less people on it. Shame on vamus for cooking its customers in their buses. I highly recommend anyone reading this to avoid using Vamoose in the summer as their buses aren't equipped properly with air conditioning. And to make matters worse there's no customer service number for the Moose when you call them and you have a complaint they direct you to making your complaint online and not with an operator, and of course there's been no response to my complaint. read more

From Bethesda to New York Gold bus was tTERRIBLE. We were told at boarding the driver expected to be replaced half way. We stopped and were told new driver late was late and we would have to wait. Then a half an hour later we were told the bus too hot and would be replaced and that would take an hour. We had broadway tickets and would miss the show. Another bus showed up and two of us asked that driver if they had room for two. We were told yes for two. We got on that bus and it left for NY. We discovered that they actually had 14 empty seats. I am sure many on the first bus would have like to get on that but the drivers did not communicate and were not helpful. read more

I rode the Vamoose Satuday, July 13th the 12:00 noon NYC to Bethesda. An Employees announces to everyone seated that we are to be quiet, not make long cell phone calls, not talk loudly. The driver goes into the back of the bus to use the bathroom before we leave. She comes out and yells out the doors to the Vamoose workers that the toilet is broken. The employee dude standing outside said he didn't have time to go get any water!! I'm thinking we won't be able to wash our hands. WRONG. Just as the bus is pulling away from the curb - the driver announces that the bathroom is not working. She says we can use it for "#1, for pee, but not for #2 !" WHAT?? I'm on this bus for 4 - 5 hours!! I sat in the front seat across from the driver, love looking out the giant windshield. From about Phillie onward to DC, the driver was only using one hand ( several fingers really) on the steering wheel. Bit of a worry, and in that hand she also clutched rosary beads!! OMG !! What happened to hands on 10 & 2 ? Her left hand was busy holding up her blue cellphone cord/mic and she chatting & laughing. This isn't what 'hands free' looks like. Maryland is a hands free state, don't know about the others, didn't feel safe with this driver one iota. read more

Vamoose Bus - Vamoose driver talking into cellphone while holding rosary beads. One hand on the wheel! - Buses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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We were 20 minutes late but maybe not their fault . Otherwise perfect ! We enjoyed the comfortable seats ! read more

Free parking, quiet ride, on time, and so much better than driving to DC, paying to park to travel to NY. And they have a reward service! Get those points towards discount or free travel! Hope they soon offer service to Brooklyn. Even just 1 or 2 days a month. read more

Took the Vamoose Gold bus from NY to Northern Va on a Tuesday afternoon. The bus is very nice inside but wow what a rough; bouncy ride once inside the bus and on the road. This is my reason for knocking off two stars. I've taken the Best Bus Prime on a similar route and the ride was wayyyyy smoother. Otherwise pretty much a quiet ride with people minding their own business. I might travel on this bus again but only if Best Bus Prime isn't available. read more

Vamoose Bus - Vamoose Gold inside of bus. - Buses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

We are currently stranded on the side of the road (Vamoose Bus from Bethesda to NY) with a flat tire. A useless customer service representative named "Sandy" refused to give us details on when we would be moving, if/when someone is coming to help us, claimed there were no managers to speak to, and we would just have to be on the lookout for an email if they refund us. Garbage. EDIT: after 2 hours of us waiting on the side of the road, they sent the world's dirtiest bus to pick us up. Thanks Vamoose! read more

Great bus services between DC and NYC - it's not the most comfortable ride and at times the traffic delay is annoying, but it's still good value. (I do not like that they started charging extra fees though. I feel it was a dishonest practice charging handling fees, but not a huge deal now that i factor it into the price). I like that they announce to passengers in the beginning to be considerate and not to talk much or too loudly in the bus. Unfortunately, some people just keep talking loudly and almost non-stop. I almost wish the bus drivers would stop the bus and tell those people to shut up or get off the bus. for my trip today (5/22), two set of some old ladies talked virtually non-stop, and then another guy talking on the phone loudly. It's very unpleasant. So, wear headphone or something to block out those inconsiderate passengers' nonstop chatting. This is not Vamoose's fault. so, no star deduction. P.S. I hope those non-stop talking ladies and the guy read this review and know how inconsiderate they have been. read more

A solid way to travel between DC and NYC. Clean, on time, and cheap. What more can you ask for in a bus? I have never experienced delays on Vamoose. They have decent WiFi, and some streaming movie options to pass the time. Yes the duration may seem long, but it's not so bad if you consider that you need to show up to an airport early and then wait. Also, if you happen to live in Bethesda, and choose that drop off you will save on Transit time on the other end. If you can afford it you should opt for the gold bus. More comfortable seats, and less crowded. You can typically get one of the single seats and not have to sit next to anyone if you are traveling by yourself. I always recommend Vamoose to people looking for options to the DC suburbs. read more

I usually love this bus because it is an inexpensive, efficient way to travel between Bethesda and New York. However, today I have had a different experience. With a bus load full of people and it raining lightly, the driver has continually talked on the phone loudly. He also stoped the bus for 15 minutes without an explanation. read more

Family member took the Gold bus from NY. Bathroom floor was full of bugs. Air conditioning was not working well. Yuck. Had to shake out bags to make sure no bugs got in. read more

Wonderful customer service! In the past year, I've used Vamoose 1-2 times per month. Whenever I've had to call, the rep who responds is kind, calm, and gracious. The drivers and staff are friendly. Missed my bus once and they let me take the next one (just had to pay the difference). What I like: 1) In-bus bathroom tends to be cleaner compared to other bus services. 2) Website is easy to use and lets you reschedule or put trips on hold. I like that it's not littered with ads. 3) You're allowed to bring 2 pieces of luggage, not just one. Found this particularly helpful when I moved to New York. 4) Gold buses have larger seats and more leg room. Each row only has 3 seats: 2 next to each other and 1 single seat on the other side of the aisle. read more

GOLD BUS: Bethesda to NYC - $60 - Tuesday 11/15 9:40 AM Great ride to NYC. One stop about half way for bathroom/food break. Seats were leather, nice and wide. Bathroom on bus. Trip took about 4 hours exactly, including the stop. Ride was a bit bumpy. Gold bus has a row of 2 seats on the left and a row of single seats on the right. REGULAR BUS: NYC to Bethesda - $30 - Wednesday 11/16 5:30 PM Originally I was scheduled for the 7PM bus. My meeting ended early, so I stopped by and the Vamoose attendants let me switch to the earlier bus for no fee. It was rush hour, so the early traffic wasn't a surprise. Took about 4 hours and 15 min to get home with no stop. Regular bus has 2 rows of 2 seats each. Seats are cloth. Power outlets for each. Seemed to be a faster driver with a smoother ride. I will definitely take Vamoose next time I visit NYC without a car. Also notable (although I didnt see it on my trip): If you can hold your well-behaved dog on your lap, you're allowed to bring them! read more

'Love riding this bus going to and from NYC and Bethesda.. 'Hadn't encountered any problem since i started using Vamoose.. highly recommended.... read more

My first time taking the Vamoose Bus was in July. I live less than two miles from the pick up location, so with that and the great reviews I booked a reservation on line. I noticed the price fluctuated as time went on. The price each way varies by the departure time, or if you book on a Gold bus. My round trip tix cost me $75, which was not the cheapest, but I had a comfortable stress-free ride to NYC. The bus was clean. The seats were plush. The AC was working. There was a plug to charge my phone right in front of me and free WiFi. I booked an 8am seat on the way there so I could take a metro bus up the road to the pick up location. There was a Gold (premium) bus getting ready to depart. I had quite a wait, but other riders were courteous and queued up in the order they arrived. The folks checking us in, were very efficient. You didn't even need to show your reservation as they had you on their list. The NYC arrival point outside Penn Station could not have been anymore perfect. It was about a seven minute walk to my hotel in Chelsea. It took 4.5 to get there, due to numerous vehicles being pulled over after the toll both in NJ. (Some new law about paying the toll). It only took 4 hours on the return, leaving NYC at 2:00pm. I will definitely take the Vamoose Bus again. read more

Should the idea of riding a bus conjure up images of shady bus depots with even shadier characters, spending 5 hours with a load of unsavory fellow passengers, wacky bus drivers with questionable maneuvering skills or a malodorous box on wheels I implore you to free your mind! Vamoose is DIFFERENT! I was as skeptical as the next would-be passenger when I made my reservation for a ride from DC to NY. I arrived at the Bethesda Metro, walked a block to where the bus picks up, sat on a bench until it arrived and then boarded. Up to that point the sketchy factor often associated with bus travel was nil. Believe it or not that's how things continued for the ENTIRE RIDE. I had a nice chat to the Life Coach in the seat next to me, got out in Delaware to stretch my legs, nibbled on the organic popcorn and local cantaloupe I'd brought on board to tide me over and before I knew it I was in New York. All this for $25! What's not to love? read more

Vamoose is excellent. I can only compare it to Bolt Bus since that's the only other busline I've used. More leg room, cleaner bathrooms, very organized friendlier service, etc. Took a trip to NYC this past weekend (from Bethesda to Penn Station) which only took about 4 hours :) The driver didn't stop at a rest area which kind of sucked but it was nice to get there a few minutes early so I couldn't complain. A few tips: If you're taking the bus out of downtown Bethesda & you plan to park, there are metered spots in Waverly Garage (which is where the bus picks you up), BUT it's only free on the weekends so ask around if you're parking on weekdays. Otherwise, you'll get a ticket but they won't tow your car. I will definitely be taking this bus again next time I head to NYC. At about $50 each way, it's well worth it. Cheaper than the train & less stressful than driving. Yaaay for Vamoose. read more

One of the best ways to travel from NYC to MD or VA. This stop, at Bethesda is well marked and easy to find. The employees are kind and efficient. The gold bus service is the way to go. Early arrivals get better seat choices. Govern yourself. read more

Vamoose Bus - Signs and wonders - Buses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I've been using Vamoose since 2010. I remember when there would only be a few buses each day and prices were always $30. Since, they've expanded their fleet (and contracted others), increased the number of buses each day, added more Gold buses, and changed their pricing model. Now, if you book early, prices are as low as $20 one way, but can go as high as $45-50 for last minute trips. Gold can go as low as $50 one way, but as high as $75. The vamoose stop is conveniently located next to the Waverly Garage entrance and is covered! So waiting in rain or snow is not a problem. Within half a block is Starbucks or Booeymonger. If I go for a quick weekend trip, I can park in garage all day Sat & Sun for free! The stop is about 2 blocks from the Bethesda metro. What I love most about Vamoose (besides the convenience) is their on-time schedules! They respect your time, so if the schedule is for 10:30, you leave at 10:30. If everyone is checked in, they'll even leave early! The drivers always make great time (4 hrs) even if there's traffic (4 hrs 20 min) while driving safely. Changing a reservation is very easy. You can modify your departure time on the website. If it's within an hour or so, just call them! I've never had an issue with their customer service. The website also gives you an idea of how many seats are left. Lastly, they drop you off a block from Penn Station, on the corner of 30th & 7th. Within a few blocks are train stops for most lines and even the Path train. For those living in Montgomery County, Vamoose is the best option! No need to go to Union Station to catch a bus! read more

If I can, I will give it no star. I purchased the gold ticket and expected a better service than normal 20 dollar bus. The whole trip really disappointed me. I did not feel any customer service. The most interesting fact was that the bus was driving on the local road for over 2 hours. ON THE TRIP FROM NYC TO BETHESDA! It was moving like a turtle, and suffering the bumping from traffic light. This was unbelievable. Driver should have used gps app to avoid traffic and picked a best route. Even though the gold bus claimed as an upgraded service, the bus smelled so awful. AC and WiFi was not working at all. I took greyhound bus on another day. Even the vehicle looked old, the driving and overall experience was so much better than Vamoose gold. Definitely would not come back nor recommend to anyone. read more

I have to be honest. Me my wife and family have been using this bus for years as well as using the Gold luxury line for quite some time. The gold bus is supposed to be luxury but just feels like a hunk of mobile metal with subpar leather seats. The bus is very hot and the air filters definitely need changing as the cabin is rather stuffy. I won't be coming back again or riding any that vamoose has to offer. read more

3.5 stars. My boyfriend lives in Bethesda and this bus is very convenient to get to him, as the bus stop is only ten minutes from his house. Great prices too, especially with their student discount program that gives you 15% off after emailing a picture of your student ID. The prices range from $20-$70 for the gold bus. The gold bus is nice, but I won't go out of my way to pay that high price unless I book a last minute trip and it's the only one available. They also have a rewards program where you can earn free trips. However, a huge downfall (and the reason why I'm taking off almost two stars) is that without fault, the wifi NEVER works. Why advertise an amenity that doesn't even function? The four hour bus ride would be a great time for me to get homework done, but when I can't even open an email on their wifi, I can't get anything done. False advertising!!!! read more

I have been using this bus for six years and have very rarely had a problem. What prompted me to leave a review today was Kayesha. She is such breath of fresh air. She is someone who takes pride in what she does and always has a smile on her face. I always get to the bus close to an hour early and she definitely makes me enjoy my wait time. Thanks Kayesha read more

NEVER EVER take Vamoose Bus if you travel to VA from NYC. First, it has the worst and longest route. It takes more than 6 hrs to get you to Arlington and around 7 hours to Lorton in normal traffic because the first stop is in. Bethesda MD. The bus travels through Bethesda city and Arlingto which orbitals more time. Other buses like Mega and Best buses take between 4-4:30 the most 5 hr to get you to DC. Secondly, the bus is shaking like hell, impossible to take a nap, NOT comfortable at all! and the fare is $10-20 higher compare to Mega, Best and Go Buses. The only good thing is the Lorton stop for those who drop off at Lorton because other buses dont have stop in Lorton read more

9:40am GOLD bus today was 30minutes late. Why bother paying $75.00 for a premium service if they can't even bother to be on time? Vamoose needs to remember that time is money and their customers have many other choices: TRIPPER BUS = $30 and ON TIME Delta Airlines same-day booking = $200 Amtrak Acela is 3.5 hours to midtown at ~$150 Get it together, Vamoose. America is the land of competition and your customers will leave you if you can't be on time!!!!! read more

We had a horrific experience riding the Vamoose Bus from NYC to Bethesda, MD. The bus left the stop at 2:30pm, but for the first 15 minutes the bus driver was struggling to make the first right turn in Manhattan. After we finally made it out of the city, it became increasingly clear that the driver was either inexperienced or incompetent. He made frequent short stops and sudden lane changes. Also, he did not even attempt to quiet a group of rowdy kids on the bus. About halfway through the trip, the bus driver decided to stop at a rest stop in Delaware. He shouted into the microphone that the bus is going to leave the stop in 15 minutes and will not wait for any stragglers. Lo and behold, 25 minutes later, everyone is on the bus except for the driver, who finally came back. Unbelievable. Finally, about 20 minutes from our destination, the bus driver pulls over into a gas station and sits silently without making any announcements. Passengers start asking what is going on, and the bus driver begins yelling at people sitting in the front, clearly for no reason. Turns out, we have to switch drivers. We're almost there, really?? 15 minutes later, another driver shows up and we get back on the road. The trip lasted 6 hours and there was not much traffic. What a nightmare. Never again! read more

I rarely write reviews but we were so pleased with our experience with Vamoose Bus line. Everyone was so helpful. They kept to the schedule and we even arrived a little earlier then planed.The Bus was nice and clean as well as the bathroom. They are equipped with WiFi and outlets to charge your devices. They even give you a free movie when you log in. Just bring a snack because there are no stops. Will definately be riding again. Thanks so much! Natashea Abdul-Raheem read more

First time with Vamoose was surprisingly great! The bus from DMV to NYC was so smooth and so was the way back! The bus was nice and clean, big space enough to relax for 4 almost 5hours! They offer water which was nice! For the price I paid for I think it's so worth it! And let's hope I always have a smooth travel experience like this every time! But Overall experience, I'd prefer paying a little extra to get a comfortable relaxing experience just like Vamoose! read more

I was stunned to see the bus driver throw back his head and apply eye drops into each eye while driving with a full load of passengers on the NJ Turnpike; and again in the Holland Tunnel. Also, he drove with one hand for much of the trip. Never again, SK read more

It pains me to write this review because I have always had a positive experience with Vamoose. Sadly, I am not sure I will use them again. We took a 7pm bus from NYC to DC last night and the experience was so bizarre and unpleasant that I actually tweeted the company several times from the bus ride. The bus was clean and comfortable - everything stemmed from the horrible horrible bus driver. As soon as we got on the bus a customer mentioned that it was warm towards the back of the bus and he began to speak quite rudely to her about how he had no control of the temp back there. It was very unprofessional. Then the bizarre started... after takeoff, he spent 30 min talking to us over the speaker system about how the bus works. It was so bizarre people were actually laughing (and not because they thought it was funny). I could hear people saying "is he serious? is he crazy??". He talked about the brakes and the engine and the computer that controls the bus... not for 5 min, or 10 min... 30 minutes! Loudly. Then it got annoying. He insisted we stop. In all my years taking the bus to NYC i've never stopped. This was annoying as we wanted to get home as soon as possible. We stopped for 40 minutes! 40 MINUTES! As soon as everyone was back on the bus several customers remarked that we had been stopped for 40 minutes and we needed to get home - this is when the driver started berating the customers rudely. And I mean RUDELY. As soon as he walked back to his seat we all started talking about how rude he was. People were yelling "I think he's crazy!" So it can't get any worse right? Well he took all the wrong roads... so we kept getting delayed more and more. We finally made it to Bethesda after midnight, when my google maps said we should have been there around 11pm. So whats the problem? Well first off... the metro stops running shortly after midnight! We raced off the bus as fast as we could but by the time we got our bags and made it to the metro stop we missed the metro! It was 12:30am, we were in the middle of Bethesda with no way to get home... all because the idiot bus driver! Not to mention it was almost 1am and we were exhausted. I want to know if Vamoose is going to refund my purchase? I want to know if Vamoose is going to reimburse the very expensive cab ride I had to take home because the driver was so late we were stuck in the middle of Bethesda in the dead of night! I did tweet Vamoose several times during the ride and someone responded and apologized, but that was it. Not a great way to handle the situation. I may never use them again. I know others on the bus felt the same. We made several friends on the bus because no one could believe how crazy the driver was. With all the bus companies that go from DC to NYC, why should I use Vamoose if this is the kind of driver they employ? read more

This review leans more towards the Golden Moose. Gas prices are scary, traffic can be hectic and the train is unpredictable. When traveling from Arlington to NYC, LaGuardia is far away while Vamoose and Vamoose Gold drops you off at a central location and close to the action. As an Arlingtonian, I appreciate the convenient pick-up just 1 block away from the Rosslyn Metro Station. With competitive prices, why this moose? Because Vamoose staff are both friendly, efficient and predictable. You can count on this company to leave on time, every time. Granted, on a recent trip we pulled over to pick up a straggler, but I feel that all staff can handle the situation appropriately. Recently, we paid to upgrade from Vamoose to Vamoose Gold. I would say that the upgrade was akin to the airline's first class upgrade sans the dress code requirement. The Vamoose Gold buys you a tray table, leather seats, guaranteed electric outlets (some are hidden, but they are there) and fewer passengers which means more leg room. JACKPOT! Compared to the regular moose, Vamoose Gold seamlessly bridged a 200+ mile gap between Arlington and the Big Apple. It's easier to do, whatever it is that travelers do, when you're riding a Golden Moose with more breathing room. Waking from a nap without a stiff neck, and walking off the bus without achey knees or sciatic nerve pain is worth it's weight in Gold...Moose that is. Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun. Vamoose is good, Gold is better. It's twice the price, but affords twice the comfort. Double your pleasure, double your fun. read more

We typically take the Bolt Bus to NY however, the trek to Union Station is a bit of a hassle so we decided to try the Vamoose. This bus service is way less chaotic than any other that I've tried. There is no "form three lines, A, B, C" and no sharing a parking lot with 5 other types of buses. They take your bags, neatly stow them away, and remove them for you at the final destination. Unlike the Bolt where you are responsible for placing and removing your own bags....which can be a pain if your bags get stuck way in the bottom back. This basically alleviates having to wait an extra ten minutes to get your bags. Thank you, Vamoose! Overall, it was a nice and quite ride. They discourage loud talking and cell phone conversations. The bus drops you off at 30th and 7th street. They even give you a free copy of the New York Times to read, I thought that was a nice touch. I would definitely use this bus service again. Also, when you are booking your tickets be mindful that some of the buses make pit stops in Bethesda, Rosslyn, or Lorton and some of the buses do not make any pit stops. The Rosslyn location is directly across the street from the metro. Other Tidbits: -You don't need to print out your ticket. They just ask for your last name. -Round trip tickets are ~70. -Free wifi and charger outlets in each seat -Clean bathroom on bus read more

After planning a last minute trip to New York over New Year's, Amtrak was $140 each way for a train at any decent hour... and that's not even for the Acela. The last 2 times I've taken Amtrak, I've been delayed over 2 hours each, so decided to try Vamoose. My only inter-city bus riding experience was taking a Greyhound once in Alabama where I was the only passenger who didn't pack using Hefty bags and our driver kept pulling over until someone turned off their radio (a radio that nobody else was hearing). They had extra service for the holidays so I had a bus straight to NY without the stop in Bethesda. The bus was packed, but clean and plenty of trash bags for everyone's carry-on Starbucks and McDonald's. The crowd was mostly in their 20's but a surprisingly pretty quiet group (it was also about 8am on a Sunday). We left on time and made made a stop in Delaware. This added about 20 mins since some passengers had a craving for Sbarro's and Roy Rogers at 10am. One of the other passengers had said that seeing a movie on the bus was usually dependent on the driver. She had traveled with this driver before and said to be glad there was no movie, as the last feature was "Little Man" starring the Wayans brothers. Right on cue, as soon as we pulled out of the rest stop, the driver started up a DVD of The Devil Wears Prada. I wouldn't have minded if they had played it at a reasonable volume (or if they had picked a movie that didn't suck) but it was so loud that I couldn't hear a movie on my portable player using noise canceling headphones. So they lost a star for this. Being a bus, you're of course subject to traffic and as soon as you hit the Lincoln Tunnel you remember why people don't drive into the city. But you do get about 45 minutes to stare at beautiful Weehawken, NJ. The trip including the rest stop was about 5 hours and 10 mins. This was also about an hour shorter than my last trip to NY on the USAir shuttle. This ride back wasn't as quiet due to other passengers but not Vamoose's fault. The girl behind me took the entire first hour of the trip to call her mom on her cell phone and fill her in on every detail of her life over the last week. By the time we hit the turnpike, everyone on the bus knew that her friends Neil and Erica are getting divorced. Erica thinks they can still be friends afterwards so doesn't seem too phased by it now. Once she realizes they're not going to be friends, it will probably hit her. She was never really into Neil either and also didn't dress up enough on New Year's. A new year and newly single Erica should not be cutting corners now. Since she made this public information there, I have no qualms posting it to the Internet. Hopefully Neil and Erica aren't Yelpers. This ride didn't have a movie and the lights were out, so most people tried sleeping over the riveting play by play of this girl's weekend. As soon as she hung up, some other woman fell asleep but had this horrible hacking/snorting cough that worked like clockwork. Time from NY to Arlington was only 4 and a half hours, which is better than any time I've driven it myself. You have to have something to listen to in order to maintain sanity and be willing to allow an extra hour of travel time. Then again, I can't remember a train or flight to NY that's been on time in the past six months. All in all, for $25 each way, I was impressed. read more

I always take Vamoose Bus when I travel between NY and DC. I made the mistake of trying out Bolt Bus last time because it was cheaper, but the experience only made me re-pledge my allegiance to Vamoose! Here are the ways that Vamoose is superior to many other bus services: 1) Friendly, well-trained employees: Vamoose's service is excellent. There are always several employees waiting at the bus stop. If you arrive at the Bethesda location early, you can put your baggage in line and sit down on a bench nearby to reserve your spot so you don't have to stand. If you take the premium bus, the employees pass out water bottles and newspapers free of charge. I'm always greeted with a smile, and it just makes me happy :) 2) Organized lines: lining up for buses can get a little crazy and hectic, especially when lined up near Penn Station. Vamoose is smart and has one employee monitor the line. As it grows, he stands near the last person in line to direct newcomers to the end of the line. It keeps the line neat and orderly, eliminating confusion and the possibility of people trying to cut in line. 3) Clean buses with outlets: Each Vamoose bus comes with outlets near every row and cup holders or a pocket in the seat in front of you. The cup holders are a nice touch to keep a bottle of water handy. I'll also add that the bathrooms have never stunk up the bus, which is also plus. 4) Somehow, I always, always get to my destination on time. Vamoose is extremely prompt about leaving on time, and no matter the condition, we get there in a timely fashion. We usually get to New York 4 - 4.5 hrs after departure. Vamoose Bus is $30/ticket each way, and it's well worth it. It's cheaper than the train and more expensive than a few other bus options, but the cleanliness and great service more than make up for it. read more

Vamoose continues to be my bus of choice for travel between the DMV area and NYC. I've taken it numerous times since my first review and have never been disappointed by the customer service or punctuality by Vamoose. Today, however, the bus air conditioning broke midway through my ride home. It was a 90 degree day and the conditions onboard quickly grew miserable. So why do I maintain my 5 star rating? Because I understand that these things happen and that technology can fail us even when we try our best to maintain it. In light of the circumstances, our driver kept open communication the entire way - keeping us updated with the status of the bus, extra stops we had to make to check out the mechanics, and even reminding us to let him know immediately if we felt there was possibility for a medical emergency. Though uncomfortable, I never felt unsafe during my ride. I had planned to write a letter to Vamoose asking if there was any way to receive a refund given that we had sat through 2.5 hours in 90 degree heat and humidity. To my surprise, before I had the chance to, Vamoose had already e-mailed me regarding the situation and credited my account for a future ride - all within a few hours of getting off the bus. With any form of "public" transportation, these things can happen. But what sets Vamoose apart is their customer service and commitment to delivering a quality service to its patrons. They have a loyal customer in me for a long time to come. read more

With the amount of verbal endorsing to friends that I do for Vamoose, you would almost think they paid me! I have a car now but Vamoose was my staple DC to NY go-to bus company. Once, about 4 years ago, I went on something other than Vamoose - just to try! - and it went horribly awry. I have been a dedicated customer ever since. I have a car now, but I send all my family to and from NY on Vamoose. I actually like the 2 locations (Arlington and Bethesda) better too because I live in VA so it's easier to catch and/or pick-up relatives. I also have to tell you about this one amazing story because the bus drivers with the company are AWESOME and nothing demonstrates it better than this (it's like it almost came from a movie, but it's real, I promise you): September 2005 - my cousin's wedding - I'm a bridesmaid headed back to NY on a Friday, maid's gown in hand, 7pm rehearsal. As you can imagine, traffic is HORRENDOUS (I don't even know if I spelled that right). I actually left my work mid-day for the 12:30pm bus in hopes that I would beat the traffic and make it to NY by something like 6 pm because once I was there, I THEN had to be picked-up by a family member to be driven to Staten Island for the wedding events (this is all pre-car). Well, 5pm rolled around and we're still creeping on the NJ Turnpike - around Exit 9 - no where near Exit 16 for NYC. The pit in my stomach kept growing and growing. I felt terrible. I was the only family member coming in from out of town and all I kept thinking about was how I was going to miss it all. Then, SUDDENLY, the bus driver gets off at Exit 11 (I think) - the bridge to Staten Island! ... [cue angels singing now]. At this, I became very flushed and giddy and my fellow bus travelers who were seated around me encouraged me to ask the bus-driver if he can stop so I can hop off. Afterall, I DID have a family member who lived right on a street that was next to one of the exits! So, I made my way up to the front and said, "Um. Mr. Bus Driver. This is going to sound like the craziest request you've ever had, but I'm supposed to be in a wedding rehearsal in approximately 45 minutes on THIS island and I was wondering, even though it may not be company protocol, if there is ANY way you could possibly just drive through one of the exits so I can hop off the bus and avoid missing my cousin's wedding event?" He took some time to think about it while the first and second row passengers chimed in, "We're not going anywhere anytime soon. Let her off! Let her off!" He turned to me with a cautious gaze and said, "Do you have all your bags on board?" I replied, "Only my dress but I was one of the last people on and my bag is right up at the front when you open the compartment. I swear!" He took a sigh, grabbed the mic and said, "Folks. I hope you don't mind but we need to make a stop so this bridesmaid can make it to her cousin's rehearsal. It won't take more than 5 minutes." Then the whole bus started clapping. I swear! It was surreal. So he pulled over, got out to help me get my stuff, I thanked everyone before departing and he honked as they drove off. It was amazing - and I didn't miss a thing! And THIS is why Vamoose will always have a special place in my heart. Talk about customer service! And this whole story is true - I swear on my Grandmother's grave. read more

I cannot imagine a better bus service out there than Vamoose from VA/MD to NYC and back. The service on this bus is fantastic. Buses leave on time from VA on the dot and not too far off from the original time from NYC. The VIP Bus service is wonderful. There's always plenty of seating, lots of leg room and electrical outlets for all your gadgets. The bus also features free wi-fi (VIP one only). The bandwidth is not enough to play videos on but enough to browse comfortably. You could always tether your mobile phone to a 3G or 4G network, using the phone as a modem if the bus's wi-fi is too slow for you. And the bathrooms! These bathrooms are spotless. Public bathrooms (and ESPECIALLY bus bathrooms) are supposed to be grimey and make me squat uncomfortably just to use it, sorry tmi but you get the point. You needn't worry about frightening bathrooms on Vamoose. Interestingly, there's a microwave in the back if you want to warm up some food. A very nice touch. Verdict: The driver is friendly, service is excellent. It is completely worth it to pay the extra $20-$30 over the competition and take Vamoose. I'll take Vamoose over Amtrak any day, particularly in the mornings. read more

For the past 5 years I've been using Vamoose to travel between NYC and Bethesda every 2-3 months, and my trips have been hassle-free about 95% of the time. Checking in is easy, and from Bethesda they usually offer free bottles of water before you get on the bus. If everyone boards early or if there's multiple buses for a certain time and the first one fills up, the bus will depart earlier than scheduled. Cleanliness has never been an issue. For every $120 spent you get 1 free trip, which is especially good for the holidays when tickets cost more than usual. There's no additional fees at the checkout and you're only paying the cost shown on their schedule (looking at you, BoltBus). If you reschedule, you only have to pay the difference with no additional charges, or you receive credit if your new trip is cheaper. Tickets generally cost a bit more than other buses servicing between NYC/DC, but I think the extra is worth paying for. The only negative experiences I've had were in 2014-2015. Once was when the driver was incredibly erratic and was slamming on the brakes every few minutes. A few times when I was dozing off, I was jerked back awake and had a few close calls hitting my head on the seat in front of me - it was THAT bad. I haven't had any similar experiences with unsafe driving since then, so it's not a point of concern for me anymore. Another time a bus broke down in the middle of the highway, which was unfortunate but I guess these things happen from time to time. This delayed our trip by an hour while we waited for a backup bus, and we had to grab our luggage and bring it to the new bus. This also wasn't a problem but we were also on the highway with cars whizzing by us a few feet away, which was kinda wild. At least they gave us credit for that trip though. Besides these trips, I haven't had any problems with Vamoose's services so they'll continue to be my main mode of transportation. read more