My family lives in Philadelphia. We’ll go together by car to Atlantic City but then the SO and I will go on our own up to New York for a couple of days, then we’ll head back to Philadelphia.
I’ve never had to get myself from Atlantic City to New York- but I’m sure it’s easy- so any help there is appreciated.
When I lived in Philadelphia I would always go to New York on the Peter Pan Bus. It was pretty cheap, the station in Philadelphia was very convenient, and the station in New York was the Port Authority- can’t get much more convenient than that.
Once I followed the advice to use a special “Chinatown to Chinatown” bus that was particularly cheap. I don’t remember how cheap it was, but I do remember getting off the bus in New York thinking I’d have much preferred paying a few extra bucks to get off at the Port Authority.
The new advice I have just received is to use a bus called MegaBus. MegaBus can be cheaper than the Peter Pan Bus- MegaBus rates vary based on the time of day it seems. Arriving in Philadelphia at 30th St. Station is convenient enough, so I’d plan on this to save a few bucks except I was told I would have to book a ticket online in advance. I much prefer to just get to the bus station at whatever time I decide works best for us depending on how the day goes.
Has anyone ever used MegaBus? Is it true you need to book it in advance?
Right now, I’m thinking that my old routine with the Peter Pan Bus is my best bet. But I’m sure there are options I don’t even know about, some of which might be better/cheaper.
And, again, I have no experience getting from Atlantic City to New York- so, any advice there is appreciated.
I used MegaBus to go to D.C. and it was $16 roundtrip. If you search for reviews you’ll see all sorts of people bitching about it, but if you ask me they’re expecting too much for an eight-dollar bus ride. “Oh, the internet was out, it was the worst trip evar!!” Jeez, how ever did you survive before the internet, ma’am? ahem Sorry. So yes, I recommend MegaBus because they’re mega-cheap. And I remember booking tickets in advance but I don’t think you have to. Just be aware that it may be sold out if you just show up on the day you want to travel.
NY –> Atlantic City, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there’s a train called ACES that goes direct (stopping only in Newark). It says that fares for coach range from $29-69 – I imagine you have to reserve ahead to get the best price.
The local trains are more expensive than those cheap buses, but, on average, more reliable.
Our youngest just went back to college on Long Island earlier this evening. As usual, we dropped him off at Trenton, where he gets on the NJ Transit local to Penn Station New York, and then changes to the Long Island Rail Road.
If we were too busy for this, we would tell him to take SEPTA from Philadelphia 30th Street to Trenton and then switch to NJ Transit. However, he is quite frugal and well might risk a bus. When he started school, he did do this a few times, and generally missed his intended Penn Station connection.
I hadn’t heard of Aces, so thanks for the link.
Still, I figure there’s got to be cheaper travel between Atlantic City and New York than $29 per person. I’ll have to do some research on bus options.
I use the Bolt Bus between NYC and Philadelphia. NY stop is at 8th Ave and 34th (across from Penn Station). Stop in Philadelphia is at JFK Blvd and 32nd St (across from 30th Street Station). Bus takes two to 2 1/2 hours and costs under $13.50 each way – I’ve bought tickets for as little as $1.50. Buses are clean, reliable, and have free WiFi.
The bus is cheaper and faster than SEPTA/NJT. Amtrak is faster, but much more expensive.
Hmmmm, I may have figured wrong. NJ Transit is $35.00 to take a bus. Greyhound seems the cheapest at $25.00. Ugh.
I suppose I thought the Casinos would want there to be plenty of cheap convenient options.
At this point I’m considering just spending the day doing the shore / Atlantic City, then hitching a ride back to Philly with my mother who does not plan to spend the night. Then we’ll go to New York from Philly the next day.
Atlantic City to New York options don’t seem at all good budget-wise.
If anyone knows of anything good that I’ve missed please fill me in.
P.S. Thanks, Ex_Chemist, for the Bolt suggestion. I was not aware of that one.
Seriously, I wouldn’t risk those cheap Chinatown buses, after all the accidents they have been having lately (including a whole busload of people getting Jayne Mansfielded this spring).
There are buses to AC supported by casinos, but, instead of the fare being really cheap, the Casinos give you a “bonus” – like a casino credit for slots or tables – which would generally compensate you for the bus fare if you were going to AC for gambling The Lucky Streak
If you’re not going to be actually gambling, the bonus doesn’t help you much. Which only makes sense because if you’re not going to be gambling, the casinos don’t want to spend money helping you get down to Atlantic City.
And I hate to break it to you, but $25 is a cheap option. Between gas and tolls, I doubt you could drive yourself for cheaper.
I know that you’re right. It’s just hard to swallow when I look at it next to the <$10.00 options that I have between New York and Philly. Atlantic City isn’t that much more distant, and it seems like there’d be high volume need.
Eh, the bonuses make the trip essentially free for gamblers, and no one in their right mind other than gamblers would regularly need to visit Atlantic City.
Also you may be forgetting that gamblers have a lot more choices these days, with some of the very nice Indian Casinos that are in the region, like Mohegan Sun. According to this article, business at AC has fallen off to the tune of a billion dollars in the past 4 years.
I don’t know whether it’s possible anymore, but I used to travel this way to Atlantic City to visit my grandparents, who lived a short drive away. I’d cash in my voucher for chips in the casino, cash in the chips, and visit for practically nothing. So there ARE people other than gamblers who’d want to travel regularly to Atlantic City. (I’ve never gambled in my life.)
I hope you realized that when I said “no one” I did not mean “no one” literally but rather “so few that there is no market for low-cost transport options, because sufficient volume does not exist outside of the gambling populace.”
It may come as no surprise to you that the casinos got hip to your “scam” (it was perfectly legal of course) and no longer give out anything redeemable as cash.
I just did this 4 or 5 months ago and they gave a voucher for $22 that you walk into the casino and slide in a machine and then it spits out $22 cash. If I needed to get to Atlantic City for any reason this is the method I would use, hands down.
I’ve taken the Chinatown bus to DC for $14 round trip and I had no issues but I can’t speak for how they would work for getting to Philadelphia though.
I suppose one or two might still do it this way, but most of them give you a voucher which you then put in a slot machine and play, or they put some credits on your player card . Once the credits go into the machine they are non-refundable, and you won’t get that money if you cash out.
So, it’s official. We’re keeping our plans to spend the day at the shore but we will return to Philadelphia that night. We’ll make the trip to New York from Philadelphia instead of Atlantic City. $10.00 tickets instead of $25.00 tickets. The Atlantic City options are just too expensive.
Gonna stick with my old trusted Peter Pan bus. The return fare is $9.00 so we’ve got it at $19.00 roundtrip Philadelphia to New York and back.
