For well over a year, UK discount bus company Megabus has been providing travelers in the Midwest and on the West Coast with cheap U.S. bus transportation. Starting in May 2008, the company is expanding to service travelers on the East Coast, as well.
The New Megabus Routes
Beginning May 30, the bus line will offer up to 55 daily departures from New York City to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Buffalo, NY and Atlantic City, NJ. From Buffalo, Megabus will also offer twice-daily border crossings to Toronto, Ontario, and they plan to add an additional route from New York City to Baltimore, MD, by the end of the summer.
In New York City, the bus stop is located at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, which is convenient to visiting Manhattan, as well as connecting to other forms of transportation.
In Atlantic City, the bus actually stops at various casinos, providing almost door to door service for those of you heading to A.C. to gamble.
In Boston, the bus stop is in the South Station bus terminal building on Atlantic Avenue.
In Buffalo, NY, the bus stop is conveniently located at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
In Philadelphia, Megabus has two arrival/departure points. The first is located at the corner of John F. Kennedy Blvd and N. 30th St, across from the 30th Street SEPTA Station. The second is at the Independence Visitor Center, which puts you literally at the heart of historical attractions like the Liberty Bell.
In Washington, D.C., the bus stop is located at the Gray Line area in front of the parking garage at the rear of Union Station. This makes it super easy to connect to other modes of transport to get around town, as well as hopping right on a Gray Line sightseeing tour, if you wish.
Crossing the border to Toronto, Megabus will pick-up and drop-off at the Royal York Hotel, which happens to be located across the street from Union Station. From there, there are several options to get around town, as well as connect to other cross-country modes of transport.
A Baltimore location has yet to be worked out, according to Megabus.
Reasons to Ride Megabus
There are several reasons, besides the low fares, to consider Megabus for your next trip.
All routes are express. This means instead of making five to ten stops from point A to point B, Megabus will take you from your departure point to your destination, with at the very most, one quick rest stop to get out and stretch your legs. This translates to less time on the bus overall.
Megabus also offers newer coaches with free movies en route. And new for 2008, the company is fitting their coaches with the capability to offer wi-fi to its riders, as well.
Megabus Offers Introductory Fares For the East Coast
As part of the inaugural celebrations, the bus line will offer all seats booked for departure the first week (May 30 through June 5) free, with the exception of that 50 cent per transaction booking fee. That alone is cause to pack a suitcase and travel.
How To Book a Seat on Megabus
After the introductory rates are over, all seats aboard all routes will carry a limited number of $1 seats for sale. The remaining seats on each bus will be available at what the company calls “competitive fares” the closer you book to the day of departure. This usually means that the closer the bus gets to being full the higher the rate you’ll pay. Though with competition from other discount bus lines on the East Coast, rates should stay pretty low overall.
All purchases also incur a 50 cent booking fee per order.
To take advantage of these low bus rates, simply book your tickets online at the Megabus website. Their user interface is very easy to navigate and you receive an email to print out after the purchase is completed that you show to the bus driver upon boarding.
If you require a wheelchair for mobility, do not book online. Instead, call the company at 877.GO2.MEGA (877.462.6342) and they will help you find a route that has a bus with a wheelchair lift. You must make your reservation no less than 48 hours from the date of departure or they cannot guarantee a wheelchair-accessible bus will be available.
The Future of Megabus
Currently, the discount bus line has no plans to connect their three regions, providing coast to coast service for budget travelers. But looking at the routes Megabus already has mapped out, it wouldn’t take too much to connect, say Philadelphia or Buffalo, from the East Coast map, to Cleveland, OH, which is in the Midwest group of cities.
Going from the Midwest to the West Coast might take adding in a few more cities, such as Denver, to connect Kansas City, MO, on the Midwest map, to Las Vegas or Los Angeles in the West Coast city group. Or perhaps some southern cities like Dallas and Phoenix to connect currently served Megabus city Memphis, TN to the West Coast.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that Megabus may just continue to create regional hubs until the last US expansion is connecting them for cross-country travels.
Regardless, Megabus continues to provide a great budget alternative for travelers and should be seriously considered when booking your next trip.
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