Tica Travels: Keep it Movin'-Part Uno

I hope you're ready to save some money with this episode of Tica Travels where I keep it local and share the pro's and con's of travelling state-to-state with certain bus companies.
Even if you own a car, consider releasing your gas money worries, call your girlfriends and schedule a weekend road-trip the old-school way (you know, before you had a license). More than saving gas and money, you'll have more time to chat with your girls, update your social networks, and read your favorite blogs!

If you're a frugal traveler like me, you appreciate getting away for mini-weekend getaways from time to time. The luxury of living in a big city is that at any given time of the day there are countless ways of getting in and out-- by air, land, and even sea. If you only have one weekend to spare you might not want the hassle of taking a flight and might decide a road-trip to a neighboring state might suffice. Even if you don't own a car it's no biggie- taking the subway, taxi, or city bus to any major bus terminal or stop is only a Metrocard/credit car swipe away. If the classic Greyhound bus is still above your price range, have no fear the top two leading competitors are here.

Welcome to the "Chinatown" Bus vs "Bolt" Bus battle.



The "Chinatown" bus is not an official company name. Chinatown simply refers to the people who run these buses and the location that they're operated in. If you're familiar with any major city in the East you know they all house their own unique Chinatown. On the East Coast, these buses pick you up in one Chinatown and a couple of hours later, leave you in a next. Bus companies include: Lucky Bus and Fung Wah in Boston, MA, MVP Bus and Washington Deluxe in Washington DC and New Century Travel in Philadelphia, just to name a few. The man behind the wheel is almost always Chinese and that's another way to distinguish the buses. These operations might seem hush-hush by the lack of online information (don't expect to reserve your seats ahead of time for most) but make no mistake these companies have been in place since the late 1990's and they will be around for a long time to come!

CHINATOWN BUS STATS:

With round-trip Service includes:

• NY to Boston
  
• NY to Washington, DC


• NY to Baltimore


• NY to Philadelphia


• NY to Norfolk


• NY to Albany


• NY to Wilmington


• NY to Richmond, VA

PRICE:

Hands down unbeatable! Starting at $15 (one way tiks) and even $20 round-trip service for some destinations.

COMFORT:

You better hope the person in front of you is not a reclinee… because you just might be forced to recline your seat just to breathe.

When nature calls, don’t answer!

Make sure you stretch before you sit and bring some extra cushioning for that tush!

SAFETY:

These buses are operated by the scariest drivers ever in the history of ever. The upside: at least you’ll be at your destination 15 minutes early!

LUXURIES:

Your own personal plastic garbage bag attached to the hand rest.

On the right hand corner:

The Bolt Bus phenomenom began in March 2008 and it was Greyhound's profitable response to service more budget-friendly travelers. Bolt bus boasts newer-model coach buses, ample legroom so it gives you the feel of the classic Greyhound ride but at a fraction of the cost. The downfalls? Sporadic trips per day and less destinations (compared to the Chinatown bus). See how Bolt measures up below.

Bolt Bus Stats:

Service includes:

• NY to Baltimore


• NY to Boston


• NY to Greenbelt, MD


• NY to Philadelphia and Cherry Hill Mall


• NY to Washington, DC
  

PRICE:

Not as cheap but still very reasonable. Prices fluctuate depending on demand and supply. On any given weekend the cheapest one-way may start from $18, but it can go lower depending on your destination and how full your bus is. The $1 Fare hype is a fluctuating feature that is supposed to occur on at least 1 seat per trip. The more people book tiks on that bus, the higher the tik prices go meaning you’ll most likely score a deal like this during low-season travel times/dates.

COMFORT:

Reasonable space between seats. Bathrooms are generally clean and functional.

SAFETY:

No adrenaline rush here. Drivers actually greet you (and don't grunt) when you say hello.

LUXURIES:

Greatest selling point. If you get bored quickly or get carsick while reading a book there’s:

1. FREE WI-FI

2. OUTLETS.

Also for those anxiety-ridden folks-on this ride you reserve seats and buy tickets online. You'll even get a trusty confirmation number (Additional perk: Take 4 round-trips within a year and 5th one is free!)

So, who wins the battle between Chinatown Bus vs. Bolt Bus? Only your wallet can decide.

Tracey Calvo Clarke, 24, was born on a Rich Coast (Costa Rica) and transported to the Big Apple (NYC) at the age of 7. Currently, she's a Contributor and Coordinator for Her Journey Magazine and its supplemental Blog. She is also a regular Travel Contributor for Centric TV's Culture List Blog. Her labor of love can be found here: Tica Tattleteller.