The cheap-but-classy coach line BoltBus will now start stopping in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, connecting it to New York seven times a day. Buses will stop at the Cherry Hill Mall, about 20 minutes from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.
Since the route was just announced today, there are still plenty of $1 tickets available. Meanwhile, there's lots of other cheap bus news out there.
Megabus is riding high with new double-decker coaches and lots of new passengers thanks to $4-a-gallon gas. But is service on the super cheap bus up to snuff? Sort of!
One recent Megabus rider wasn't looking forward to her trip. Said an Ohio University student:
No one wants to take the bus, but driving and flying are so expensive.
Why wouldn't anyone want to roll Megabus style? Probably because of what another rider experienced:
The scene on 31st Street was TOTAL CHAOS. People lined up on the sidewalk for different destinations. We left about half an hour late, but smooth sailing the rest of the way, and I sat up front with no one next to me. The bus driver had NEVER driven to Boston before, so I had to help him out.
Super-cheap coach line Megabus may not be as slick as BoltBus, but the company's about to introduce something pretty cool.
Megabus says they'll be the first outfit to offer double-decker rides between Boston and New York; the service is scheduled to start sometime in the next four months. As it turns out, folks in the Midwest have already tried the two-teired coaches. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter gave one a go in late May:
Except for a few bug splatters, my front row seat on the upper level of the double-decker Megabus gave me a sweeping view of the Missouri countryside. The guy sitting across from me, Dick Williams, agreed: "You get the panoramic view--it's the best seat in a thunderstorm."
We've covered BoltBus, MegaBus, and even the new NeOn, but never before have we been fortunate enough to get a full-on review of what really matters. Thankfully, word of all these cheap buses has spread across the pond, and the UK Times reveals the beauty that is the BoltBus lavatory:
I step inside the cubicle and shut the door. It's pitch black. I pat the walls, searching for the switch. Nothing. This'll be fun ... Suddenly, the door swings open and, as I turn to shut it again, I see a sign saying "Lock for light". I do, and am illuminated ... Aaaah, that's better. The bus lurches and I pee on my shoes.
There's no sink, but there is a dispenser of waterless detergent, the kind you get in hospitals, which feels strangely tingly on my hands. As that's the only nod to hygiene, though, and it's not bolted down, it might be an idea to pack some wet-wipes.
If you're up for this type of adventure, then BoltBus is clearly for you. Coaches now stop in New York, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia. Just remember to hit up the loo before you hop on.
You know about Megabus. You know about BoltBus. But now Greyhound wants a piece of the $1 promo fare action, too. And not content to just offer short hops for a buck, the bus company is selling tickets between Toronto and New York for as little as $1 each way. Crazy.
We know what you're thinking: I wouldn't spend nine minutes on a Greyhound bus, let alone nine hours. But these special NeOn coaches will be tricked out with video entertainment, power plugs and free WiFi. One would hope the bus bathrooms will be working, too.
Obviously, this is a promotional price, though from May 22-25 every seat is going for $1. If you book in a hurry, you'll still be able to lock in fares as low as a buck for departures later this summer.
Earlier this month, Boltbusannounced its WiFi-enabled bus service from DC to NYC to Boston, promising fares as low as a dollar. But since there are so many cheapskates and college kids in all three of those cities, Megabus wants a piece of that action, too.
The primarily Midwestern bus line will fire up service between Boston and New York sometime before June. Like its competitor's, Megabus tickets start at $1 and escalate in price as your departure date approaches--and as seats sell out.
Of course, the one thing Megabus won't offer is plugs at every seat and wireless Internet. Still, you gotta love fare wars that'll have you getting four-hour rides for a single.
For the first time in decades, inter-city bus travel is gaining in popularity. The number one reason? No surprise here: It's dirt cheap.
Megabus is one of the outfits driving the boom, with its college-student-friendly route map and cleaner-than-average coaches. It also doesn't hurt that the company offers promo fares for $1.
One passenger says Megabus is far better than Greyhound:
It's half the price, and it gets there quicker, with less stops.
Fast, cheap and hassle-free? No wonder bus travel's booming.
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by pbb
