Bus travel is a cost-efficient way to travel up and down the Eastern seaboard. In the past, bus riders had limited options, but with the rise of the Chinatown bus and other low-cost competitors, Greyhound and Peter Pan buses are not the only ones rolling down the road. Which bus line offers the best deal? With just a bit of time spent on research, you can find a cheap fare to whatever East Coast destination you desire.
Try Boltbus or Megabus if you’re making travel plans in advance between two major cities in the Northeast. These bus lines have sliding prices—the further in advance you buy, the lower the price is. In some cases, tickets are only $1. However, prices do rise, so neither line is the place to go for a last-minute deal. Both lines have special amenities: Boltbus and Megabus provide guaranteed seat reservations (unlike Chinatown buses). And both Boltbus and Megabus provide Wi-fi (Boltbus also provides power outlets).
Look up your route on GoToBus (see Resources). Enter your departure city and destination, and a list will pop up of several bus lines that serve that route, including Chinatown bus lines. However, GoToBus doesn't show Boltbus or Megabus schedules, or schedules for Boltbus’s parent companies, Peter Pan and Greyhound. The site doesn’t just provide schedules—it also displays fares and departure and arrival points, and tells whether bus lines provide extras like Wi-fi or round-trip discounts. It is especially good for finding bus routes to smaller cities. Once you compare your options and find the bus route you want, you can purchase bus tickets through the GoToBus site.
Check Greyhound’s and Peter Pan Bus’s websites. These major bus lines have the most stops, and offer discounts on e-fares and advance purchases. They also offer discounts for children, students, members of the military, veterans and seniors.
