- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
DC2NY Bus
Rating Details »
Category: Transportation [Edit]
Neighborhood: Dupont CircleDupont Circle
Washington, DC 20050
(202) 332-2691
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dupont Circle (Red)
48 reviews for DC2NY Bus
I've taken a lot of different buses from DC to NYC and this is by far the best one. Usually catch the Friday afternoon buses, but 2 weeks ago I took the 6:15 from dupont. We arrived in NYC at 10:05!! Talk about great time.
Having free wifi is great and they'll show a movie if the bus votes to do so. Last trip i took the bus voted to have an express trip, no stops. That is the way to do it, if you want to make good time as i said above.
The people who run the company are very friendly and I've never had a bad experience. The drop of location in NYC can't be beat. Washington Deluxe, eat your heart out
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (2)
My first time doing the bus thing to NY. User-friendly website, 50 bucks round trip. We took the first bus from Dupont Circle on a Saturday (it was Halloween). The guy who had the printout sheet had his face painted up as a pumpkin and was handing out candy to the passengers. There was also a cooler of bottled waters on both legs of the trip for passengers- heck we don't get this kind of service on airplanes anymore!
-Buses have wi-fi, outlets, majority rule voting system for movies and stops on the NJT. Very comfortable, took four hours and the drivers Joan and VIncent were awesome- overall a pleasant trip. I'd definitely go with them again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
I haven't tried the other bus services, so if I feel brave and give them a go, I may adjust my rating.
I've ridden DC2NY twice, and it was fine, as far as inexpensive mass transit goes. Certainly easier than airplane or train, for me, b/c I work in Dupont and can walk down the street after work to hop on. The boarding process was organized, they checked your name off a list and you got free water. According to the website if you are running late they will call to check in with you--but I don't know that this actually happens.
It is 46$ round trip if you become a member online (no charge) and 50$ round trip if you're not a member. You can find cheaper buses....but cheaper isn't always better.
It's an express service, stops at 14th/I stf or a second pick up and has a rest stop for people to go to the bathroom, but nothing other than that. Still, on a Friday at 5 it will take until 10-10:30 to get there.
Dupont is the best place to board, in my opinion, bc you get better choice of seats.
The bathroom is clean, although I had trouble with the locking mechanism and it popped open on the ride home one time...luckiily no one was looking.
They play movies, which is sort of annoying to me, b/c I get motion sick and I can't read or look at screens or anything like that while my periphial vision is engaged. I need blinders, like a horse.
Make sure you understand where the pick up/drop off in NYC is. They stop in front of a hotel on 29 or 28th st, right off of 7th ave. You have to walk a few blocks south to Penn Station. Not a hassle, just easy to get turned around if you're unfamiliar with the city. They pick up in the same spot for the return trip, so don't wait in front of Penn Station like I did and almost miss the bus! (this was my own fault)
All things considered, if was perfectly acceptable, affordable, and I'll be using it again. They also have a coupon system (most do) where you take so many trips and you get a trip free.
Totally worth the extra $$$!
I've tried Bolt and was really put off by the fact that they stranded six people at the second NYC pick-up location on Grand because they sold their seats to walk-ups at the first pick-up location. Awful.
So this time around I paid double to ride DC2NY and have to say it was totally worth it! Free H2O. Professional check-in. Courteous drivers and passengers (no loud, chatty cell phone convos on this ride!).
Haven't taken Megabus yet, but from what I hear they like to pack 'em in.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
I made a stupid mistake with my DC2NY reservation - I'd accidentally booked it for the Saturday before. Fortunately, the man in charge at Dupont Circle was very gracious and willing to let us ride the bus if it didn't fill up. When it did fill up, he helped us re-book for the 1:15pm bus at no extra charge. The ride back from New York on Monday night was smooth - we arrived in 3 hours, 45 minutes. And all this is on top of the fun drivers and free water. I'll definitely be using DC2NY whenever going to New York in the future!
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
My friends and I commute between DC and NYC on weekends to visit each other... constantly. Thanks to companies like DC2NY, this is made easy and affordable! By far, I have found the DC2NY service to be the most convenient of all the bus services in DC -- the cleanest, affordable, comfortable (or at least comfortable as a long 4-6 hours bus ride can be), generally very friendly drivers, wifi and in-route movies and a bottle or two of water.
I suggest becoming a member -- it's free -- and this gives you a slight discount. After a while you start earning free trips, which is always fabulous. Also, being a member gives you a little more flexibility since you can change and reschedule your trip. Most other companies are super strict about ticket sales, but it's nice to know that if some crazy deadline comes up at work during the week and you need to switch your departure, or you're just loving your NYC weekend and don't want to leave yet, it's always an option to postpone and reschedule within 12 hours for members or 24 hours for non-members.
Also, a minor point but every little thing counts, the boarding process is organized -- thank you DC2NY staff. Most other companies are chaotic with boarding and require printing and messes with paper, but the DC2NY staff is very helpful and organized, everything is digital (one less thing to have to remember) which helps with the inevitable stresses of traveling.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (2)
I've had great experience with DC2NY, especially compared to other bus services that go from DC to New York city. I've always gotten in within 4 hours, even on a Sunday night! Its well organized at the pick up and the directions about drop off and pick up locations are clear. I like that we voted on movies and whether we were stopping.
My only complaint really is about the other riders. The last time I took it the people in front of me had their seats back as far as they can go. Now I understand why you would want to do this, but is basically made it impossible to do anything for the entire trip. So my only advice on it, is unless the bus is empty please do not recline your seats all the way, it makes for a very inconvenienced and cranky person behind you.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (4)
I took the DC2NY bus a couple years ago and loved it. Our bus offered free WiFi which kept us entertained for the haul to NYC.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Two of us traveled to NYC and back this weekend. Overall, great experience, the bus was loaded early, for the most part quickly and we left 10 minutes early in both directions as our bus was full and they were running a second one behind us.
The drivers were polite and swift, I liked the ablity to vote on not stopping on the Turnpike (we didn't in either direction).
The only complaint was that my husband, who's a computer-type could not get the wireless to connect in either direction except for a passing moment. Annoying, but to get us both up to NY and back in 3.5 hours? Awesome.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
This bus line is the way to go from DC2NY!
- organized and good-natured staff and patrons
- clean comfortable busses
- extra busses scheduled on busy days
- democratic process for decisions on movies/stops
I just tried Bolt Bus recently and that was not nearly as pleasant.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
After about ten trips using this company, I can say that this company is quite good. I have found that they usually leave on time or near the time that they are scheduled to depart. The buses are generally clean. There is internet.
The drawback with this company is that you pay $5 extra for a warm bottle of water, and I know that, even in NYC, you can buy a bottle of water for less than $2.
I find it annoying that they sometimes make a rest stop or play a movie, but these things are voted upon and majority rules. I don't really know who the people are who want Shrek 2 blaring at them at an unlistenable volume, but apparently a lot of these people ride this bus company.
Overall, I would recommend using this service over any of the Chinatown buses in service today.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Meh... it is what it is.
Direct transport from DC to NYC and back again with no stops.
The bus seats are somewhat comfy, they play a movie (or two, depending on traffic), and there is plenty scenery. Also, they do offer a free bottled water but def bring a snack. You will get hungey.
The bus I got on the way back from NYC smelled like pee... but you kind of expect it.
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (4)
These bus seats conform to my body much better than the boltbus seats. I think that this is due to the adjustable headrests.
No Power hook ups, so I could only watch 4/5 of "The Life Aquatic". I would have watched "Black Snake Moan", but the nice lady I sat next to didn't look up to the task.
Free WiFi. Not fast enough to stream anything from hulu, but cool for everything else, including the SOCOM online play for PSP.
You get a free bottle of water, which everyone should know to sip over the 4 hour ride, not pound the bottle the minute they sit down. Some of my fellow passengers did not take this into consideration, and were up and down all night.
I would take this bus again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
This was a bomb ass bus that took us straight to DC from Penn Station! This past Monday was my first extended bus ride in a really long time. Our destination was DC, so there were a bunch of fellow peeps going in to see the inauguration. I ended up sitting next to a really friendly lady from Hempstead, Long Island, who was also really pumped up and excited about CHANGE! The vibrant energy and wide eyed smiles of peeps in the bus are things that I'll never forget.
My friends were right beside me, and we were all floored as to how the two peeps in front of me were also psychologists. We were all joking as to how if anyone has a mental breakdown on the bus, resources would be readily available. I digress...
The bus itself was super clean, comfy and water was given in this day and age of cost cutting. We had a nice and smooth drive through the several states to get to DC. My friend accidently forgot her backpack on our bus, but as soon as we called them, they located it and secured it for her for pick up two days later (when we were to go back to NY). Customer service was exceptional, as they located the backpack and hand delivered it to her on the bus back to NY, AND called her to make sure she received it. How cool is that?! I have to thank them for an exceptional experience. The only thing that I wish they would do is not have a democratic vote for movie/no movie, and just play the movie. Damn democracy. :)
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I used to take Greyhound to New York pretty frequently. It's the cheapest mode of intercity travel by far, but they don't guarantee you a seat on the schedule you picked, and it's really hit or miss whether you end up with a nice normal person or a loud crazy scary person next to you.
Not so on DC2NY! They have your name on a list so you know you have a seat, and most passengers are young, middle class folks who don't hog the seat and are perfectly nice to sit next to. The seats are much more comfortable than Greyhound's, and although the pitch (space between rows) is smaller than on Southwest Airlines, it's still a reasonably comfortable ride.
The staff are great. Due to the G20 summit, it took us over an hour to go the 6 blocks from the Dupont Circle pickup to the Chinatown pickup. The staff was so apologetic and kind. You never get the surly drivers that you get on Greyhound, and it's a very pleasant experience.
The wifi on board works very well (the broadband card is Verizon Wireless) and the router is right behind the driver. There's no power outlets like Bolt Bus has, and the fares are a little higher, but it's not as popular as Bolt so you're more likely to get a ticket at a time that's convenient for you.
All I can say is, after experiencing DC2NY, I'm never taking Greyhound again!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
I like it. It isn't amazing, but it sure isn't bad either.
Pros:
- Reserved seats is a nice plus
- Dupont Circle location
- Wireless internet
- Ridiculously friendly employees
- Bottle of cold water upon entering bus
- Voting on whether you want to see a movie, and if so, which one
The Cons:
- Not a lot of leg room
- Wireless didn't work one of the buses I was on
- No outlets
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
I used to take the Greyhound or Chinatown bus to NY. Greyhound is ghetto and Chinatown is also ghetto. The former costs more than DC2NY, and the latter gave my friend scabies. Yes, scabies. Plus, both buses are hard to get to and they never leave on time.
DC2NY is great because they leave from a central location (Dupont) they leave on time, they give you snacks and water; and they provide free WiFi.
My go-to bus.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
Took this bus to NYC and back in Nov 2008. I chose them even though the $25 fare each way cost a bit more than their rivals but they seemed less fly-by-night than their rivals and their web site was more professional. Trips there and back (dep Friday 8:30, ret Sunday 2:30) left on time and took a little over four hours. Staff and drivers were great!
The buses were new and clean. The seats don't provide a lot of leg room if you're 6-ft or have long legs--slightly less room than "coach" on an airplane. And if the person in front of you reclines all the way you'll feel like you're their dentist. The seats themselves are thinner and less comfortable than what you get with Greyhound.
Definitely bring headphones/earphones if you don't want to hear the movie or the young lady on her cell phone for 4 hours straight. Our movie was R rated with lots of profanity so keep that in mind if you're travelling with kids or Grandma.
Caught the bus at 14th and I (McPherson sq Metro stop) in DC and on 34th Street by Penn Station in NYC. Very convenient. Very organized. I would definitely use these guys again. It's a great deal.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
Friends, look elsewhere for your commute up north to see your significant other(s). This bus is a total shit show.
Granted, its a bus, and its a "discount" version of Greyhound. However, you're not paying all that much less. $20-$25 gets you a ride to, ugh, Penn Station, with shoddy wi-fi, and a bottle of water. Oh yea, and you get the luxury of riding a completely packed bus with yuppie (not yelpie) dooshbags slamming away on their laptops and asking you 10x for the password.
Seriously, folks. This bus is a mess for other reasons. I've taken the c-town ghetto busses (Tony's Coach, Today's, 2000, Apex) which all blow this overpriced mule off the turnpike. First... those busses get you there in 3-3.5 hours, tops. Second, they're never full anymore so you have a great shot of getting an open seat next to you. THIRD - they don't break down.
REPEAT - DC2NY breaks down. Yes. They broke down 1.5 hours outside of DC and left us at a rest stop for FIVE HOURS without any updates. $25 for internet and a 11 hour commute to Manhattan vs. $10-15 for a 3.5 hour no-internet commute to Manhattan?
Plus, if you're reading Yelp you have no business in Midtown, let alone Penn Station. The C-town busses go to convenient downtown locations like Chrystie Street and East Broadway, where all your hipster friends and significant others prefer to chill anyways.
SAVE YOURSELF THE MONEY AND TIME. USE THE INTERNET AT WORK, NOT ON YOUR COMMUTE TO NY. AND DONT EVER RISK BREAKING DOWN ON THE "upscale" BUS. HAHA. SHIT BREAKS DOWN, OFTEN, I AM TOLD.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (1)
I've rode the DC2NY bus many times and I've never had a bad experience.
This weekend, I took the 5:30 bus up to NY from McPherson Square. The bus was a few minutes late -- but I'll blame that on rush hour. Steven was our driver and is notorious for getting to NY in record time. Somehow, by the grace of God, he popped us out in Manhattan at 10:00pm, which made it a 4 1/2 bus ride in RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. How he does this, I have no idea. Usually, by car, it would take me at least 5 hours to get to NY...including that one hour it takes to get out of the DC clusterf*ck on a Friday evening. It helped that Steven took a vote before we left, and it was decided that we would not make the usual obligatory 15 minute pit stop on the side of the NJ Turnpike and just book it straight up to NYC. Good idea!! Thanks, Steven. :-)
I would give 5 stars, but for some reason the web password didn't work on my Mac this time. I don't know what happened -- but I brought movies and books to entertain me anyway. Also, they don't have electrical plugs in the bus, which sucks. It sounds like other DC to NY buses may have them. So, if you don't have a battery life of 4+ hours and really need your compy, check out other options.
It is convenient for my because my office is across the street from the 14 and H stop. But, depending on where you are, any of the other buses I'm sure are just as competent.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
I'm travelin' type of girl who likes to get away for the weekend and visit my old stomping ground in NYC. I have taken quite a few of the cheapo buses in town, including Greyhound/Peter Pan.
DC2NY is my favorite of the bunch. I guess it's sort of luck, but I have never had any issues with this company. We have always left on time, didn't make too long of stops and got to the destination in a reasonable amount of time. The bus drivers for this company also seem more "with it." I like how we actually vote if we want a movie (please vote no--I want to sleep or listen to my ipod!), and how they provide us with water at wifi. I've never actually used the wifi, but I've seen many others using it.
My favorite part of this bus service is their pick-up/drop-off location. It's so close to my apartment and the Metro!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
This weekend was my first experience taking the bus to New York City. I usually take the train, so I thought to myself "baby steps" and only booked the bus one way, and booked a train ticket for the way back. I liked the Dupont Circle pick-up location, which was convenient for me. I also liked that the bus was new and very clean.
I didn't like the lack of leg room on that bus. Of course I am behind "that person" who reclined her seat fully and made herself extremely comfortable. I thought my legs were going to turn blue from lack of circulation. She even turned around to me and was like "Sorry, but I'm doing this and you can't stop me."
As far as time, we left Dupont at 9:15 a.m. Saturday morning and were dropped off in NYC at 2:00 p.m., which wasn't so bad. I can't imagine taking this bus after work on a Friday with all the traffic. It must take about 7 hours to reach NYC.
I'm not sure if I will ever take the bus again. I think I'll probably just continue taking the train, especially if Amtrak is now offering $98 round trip tickets to NYC. That would be worth every single penny.
People thought this was:
- Useful (12)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (5)
Ok, I am a train girl. This weekend, with an upcoming trip to London, I was trying to save money on a random weekend visit to NY. (OK, thats a total lie, I ended up buying 6 pairs of shoes and 4 sweaters. But I did book the trip with the INTENTION of saving money for my vaycay. LETS GET BACK TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND!!)
I had heard whispers of the new "nice" bus to NY with free wi-fi, then I heard that round trip to NY was only $40. Now, I am a girl that is a sucker for a good sale price or good deal (see above comment about shoes) So I figured I had to at least try the bus ONE time to tell me friends that give me crap for my train-snobbery to stuff it. To my utter shock.... it wasn't that bad. At all!!
The bus was clean, the wi-fi seemed pretty consistent, they gave us bottled water and snacks when getting on board, they let us vote on if we were going to see the movie or not. My only complaint, is yes, this is a bus and you can fall prey to traffic and the lack of legroom is not ideal (but i am short, i can deal) but for freaking $40 I can suck it up and save my $100 for something that goes on my feet.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (1)
After experiencing pretty much every single bus service between D.C.-NY, these guys are the best, hands down. The drivers and the awesome Israeli dudes who manage DC2NY are courteous and professional. The buses are clean and as comfortable as they can be. The pickup locations are pretty convenient and are situated near the metro, though admittedly the one in Dupont Circle is right in the middle of traffic.
My only complaint, which is mostly an issue of personal preference, is that they leave it to the passengers to decide whether to make a rest stop and watch a movie on-board. I would rather just go to NY non-stop.
Unfortunately, since they increased their prices recently in response to rising gas prices, I haven't been using them as often as I'd like.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Most of my trips to NY are by train or plane for business, so when it was time to pick a personal method of travel, I thought of the Chinatown buses. And quickly remembered why I didn't want to do that--ever again. Yelp came to the rescue with info on DC2NY, and we weren't disappointed.
The pick up location on 14th Street was random, but it worked, although if you're traveling with someone else you should get on at Dupont if you definitely want to sit together. The ride up and back was smooth, we watched movies both ways, and the water and snacks were a nice touch. One of the owners got on to thank us for supporting their business and let us know they will be expanding services in 08.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Cool (1)
If you want to get to NYC fast, DC2NY is the best bus company I've found. I've taken it twice, both leaving DC at 6:30 pm on Friday on a bus driven by an awesome driver named Richard -- once it took under 4 hours, the other time just a touch over 4 hours. By far the fastest bus on that route I've ever taken. It's partly b/c they take a different route out of DC, partly b/c they haven't stopped on the way up to NYC.
However, if you want reliable internet on your bus trip, my experience is that DC2NY is not the way to go. Hence the 4 stars.
Holy guacamole.
Here's the deal. We've got china-town buses, we've got washington deluxe, we've got Vamoose, we've got dragoncoach, etc., etc. I've tried almost all of them, except Vamoose.
...and then I hear about free wi-fi on this DC2NY thing. Niiiiice. But still, we are taking the bus to NY, so let's not get all hyped up over here.
The five stars are for the communication. Yes, the straight up communication. Sure, the connection of wi-fi to NY on a Friday morning was not super strong but that is because lots of people were using it (hint, the use of cell phone lowers the wi-fi signal). They asked us if we wanted a movie, and since no one said yes, we didn't have one.
One the way back, our bus was 45 minutes late picking us up. Damn. But, but, but....at least they had someone out there telling us it was on its way! I understand, that no, DC2NY is not god, and can not control that Jay-Z is having a concert near the bus stop, and therefore traffic and police are in full effect so the bus can not get through. I get it. You told me, though, and that is what I like. So I wasn't standing there wondering how the hell I was getting home. Instead, I was able to stand in line and talk about reality television with some strangers also standing on-line.
The KICKER- I just got an email from DC2NY apologizing for the delay last night. They are offering me a free one-way ticket to NY between Monday and Thursday. Now, that is what I call service. Ask yourself what travel company (bus, train, or air) follows-up like that without being prompted. In my experience, none.
This company is cool. They obviously have a great understanding of what customer service is. Please note, that due to the convenience of pick-up and drop off locations + internet, these buses are packed.
People thought this was:
- Useful (18)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (14)
This is the only "DC to NY" bus I've used (no Chinatown experiences from hell for me) but it was a good experience.
We left on a Friday from Dupont Circle and got off in a convenient spot in NYC. The only hang up was that because it was a Friday night in August, it took about two hours just to get out of the city due to traffic, which was something I didn't take into account when making our trip plans.
The bus company showed two movies, one on the way up and one on the way back. Rush Hour II and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The only problem was that they didn't turn the movies off when they ended, they just let them play again for about twenty minutes or so.
Also, we got water on the way there, but not on the way back. I didn't try the Wi Fi so I can't comment on that.
My only suggestion would be that they drop the extra stop at 14th st. It seems unnecessary and just slows down the trip for those that boarded at Dupont.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Cool (1)
(This review is brought to you by DC2NY's free Wi-Fi.)
I've taken other "high end" buses to New York and back. I chose DC2NY because it's a relatively new bus company and free Wi-Fi is available on-board.
The DC2NY bus was easy to spot between CVS and PNC Bank in Dupont Circle. Check-in was quick and hassle-free. They even offered cold bottled water before boarding!
The bus to NY was new, clean, and odor-free (important). The seats felt very cramp and stiff. The driver was aggressive, and they showed a movie about HOME-BUYING above all things! The Wi-Fi was shoddy. We left at 9:15am and arrived at Penn Station around 2pm. Not bad.
The trip back was painless for the most part (the seat decline was non-existent). Richard was very friendly (even though he wasn't the bus driver). They played Ocean's 11 (good choice!), but only two TVs worked. Fortunately, the Wi-Fi signal was stronger on this bus (an older model). We arrived back in DC in exactly 5 hours.
Overall, a decent experience. However, I still prefer Vamoose. They're offering free wi-fi now too!
Tip: Ride on the left side of the bus to NYC and vice-versa to avoid direct sunlight during the day. The sun can be annoyingly bright!
(Sorry, my battery is dying!)
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (4)
Save yourself some time - dont take the bus from Tentley Town unless you live nearby. We did not realise that there were a few more pickups - in Dupont, and 2 other stops in town - so ended up spending an extra hour in the bus before we got out of DC!
The bus ride was ok. It helps when you got wifi access. We did not get a movie on board so surfing the web made the trip seem much shorter.
The bus we rode on was clean. We arrived within the estimated time. Got dropped off near Penn Station and it was easy to hop onto the Metro.
The pickup point back to DC seems to be shared by other bus services as well - so watch out for your bus and ask the people in front of you if they are waiting for your bus to make sure you are at the right place. On a Friday night, we waited more than 1.5 hours for the bus to DC past the scheduled time (so we werent sure if we had missed the bus or that the bus was late). We got in way past 1 am when we were supposed to be in by 11pm.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Pros: Cheap, clean, and great pickup and drop off locations.
Con: "That guy" was on my bus... you know, the guy who decides to make our scheduled 15 minute break at the Maryland House a 30 minute break for himself. Had we taken a vote, like we did for the in-bus movie, I think we would have left the guy there. But thankfully for "that guy" cooler heads prevailed (namely, the nice driver).
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I took this bus round-trip over Labor Day weekend, and I'm very impressed with this service.
Convenience: Unbeatable. It picks up right in Dupont Circle, only a few blocks from my apartment, as well as at 14th & H. The drop off point is Penn Station. The time schedule is convenient as well.
On-time performance: Good. In both trips, the bus left within 5 minutes of scheduled departure, and we made it to DC/NY within 4-4.5 hours, as scheduled. There was a 15 minute break at a road stop in Delaware on the way to NY, but no stop on the way back. The driver did check to make sure everyone was back before leaving.
Comfort: Great. The bus was clean, the bathroom worked, and plastic bags were placed near the seats so that trash wouldn't accumulate during the ride. The passengers were college students, young professionals, and retirees---no crying babies or semi-scary drifters. The wireless internet worked, and the staff was very courteous. On one of the buses, they had some seats in the back that had a tray table in the center, making it very convenient for doing work. They do play movies; if you are easily bothered by the noise, you can sit a few rows away from the monitors and you won't be able to hear a thing. The driver was safe and the ride was smooth.
Lack of Chaos: I really appreciated how hassle-free this was. I booked my ticket on-line ($40 round-trip), was guaranteed a seat, and found it very easy to find the bus on both ways of the trip. At Penn Station, there are often so many buses it can be hard to find the right one. DC2NY actually had a sign on the street, which made it easier to find.
I will take DC2NY again, and will update my review accordingly.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Cool (1)
I didn't have a good experience with them.
My way from DC 2 NY. The bus was 1 hour late. We were all standing under the rain. The person who check our reservation doesn't even know when the bus is coming. They ending up using a temporary bus because the original bus is no where to found. It was suppose to be 4 hours bus ride, We ending up spending 7 hrs on the bus. Everyone on the bus was tired and cranky.
My way from NY 2 DC is much better, the bus is new but the seat are very close to each other. you don't have too much leg room space. We ending up spending 4 and half hours on the road due to the rain.
I'm giving it a 2 stars because on the way to NY is really really bad. I don't think I will take them again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
I've taken this bus twice in the last three months. Courteous organized staff, quick drivers, clean buses, convenient pick-up and drop-off, easy-to-use website that guarantees you a seat on the bus, fair prices and free bottle of water. I like that they take a poll over which movie (or any movie at all) and to make a pitstop or not. Unfortunately, their movie selection is always pretty awful, but what can you do. The only drawback is that I lost one of my favorite earrings on the bus and found it impossible to reach a human the next day. There is no contact phone number and no one responded to my emails.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Back in the day, when my trips from Washington DC to NYC hit a frequency of once per month, I had become quite the frequent customer of the Chinatown buses, Vamoose, Washington Deluxe, etc. I could list all of my complaints for each one quite easily...
Crowded, smelly, uncomfortable, freak incident where the rear axle caught on fire... I've experienced all of it. When rating DC2NY, I'd rather focus on what they did right, as opposed to what they really can't control. Naturally for a bus that sits price wise in between the customer-serviceless Chinatown bus, and the recently price-rised Vamoose, I would easily say that it is understandable that DC2NY has been packed pretty consistently.
What works for them? For starts free wifi that I can write this Yelp review on. Does it matter what the speed is? Would you prefer not having it? Second the free water. Sure it's not ice cold like they say, but it definitely beats having to pay the ridiculous NJ Turnpike prices. Third, driver personality. I think one of the biggest points that benefit a bus line, is the fact that the driver actually communicates with you. As ridiculous as it may sound, I do believe that if the bus driver even takes any attempt to talk to their passengers, it does give a sense of confidence.
What we'll have to wait to see?
Cleanliness. True the buses are really clean right now, but lets see how they look a few more months from now since most of them are new.
Price. Any true business man will look at the crowded bus and think, hey, people are still packing themselves in like sardines. Lets raise the price.
When it comes down to it, 5 stars for my top pick of the buses directly between DC and NY. But if taking the bus isn't for you, then consider my rating a 0 stars just for you.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
"A bus to New York that leaves right from Dupont Circle? Hooray!!!"
that was my reaction to the CONCEPT of DC2NY. the reality was sadly disappointing. The time you save is made up for by the fact that there's another stop at 14th & H. 45 minutes after the Dupont pickup time, we finally rolled out of town. Then a panel on the interior of the bus fell down. The driver seemed surprised, but I later heard from someone who had taken the bus the previous weekend that a panel fell down on his trip too. So, maybe better to say that the driver faked surprise.
Oddly, there were two drivers who switched off halfway through the trip. Whatever safety benefits this might have had, were undermined by the fact that we pulled over on the shoulder of the highway to accomplish the switch. The ride took about 5 hours each way.
on the drive to NY we were treated to some truly awful early 90s R&B music. That was better than the movie on the way back - the one where Nicolas Cage rides a motorcycle and his face turns into a burning skull, but Eva Mendes loves him anyway. Next time I'm sticking with Greyhound - same price, more legroom, and I got to watch my boy Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Like any other bus line that runs from Washington, DC to New York this line is subject to its standard faults - overcrowding, uncomfortable seats, and endless rides.
Of course, the free WiFi, free bottled water, more personalized service, and its stops in DuPont and 14th and I make are supposed to make it stand out from the Greyhound and Chinatown lines. In some ways they do make it better, but on the buses where they have the tables for people to sit at the standard seats are super narrow, so if you're sitting next to someone on a crowded bus there is very little room between the two of you. Since the WiFi is shared throughout the bus its not the speediest or more reliable, the bus I just got off of had no WiFi because something happened to the router and the driver didn't know how to troubleshoot it.
I would assume that on a less busy day, DC2NY is a very fine bus line but from what I've seen there isn't that much more available that gives the line right to call itself "the upscale bus."
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Would definitely travel with these guys again. Service was great - the bus was clean, we got a bottle of water for the journey, a democratically selected movie, and the bus driver actually introduced himself before we took off and was extremely well-spoken. Most buses I've been on, you'll barely get a grunt out of the driver.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
I was very impressed with the efficiency and service especially since I left my backpack. I was able to get in touch with a real person, and someone specifically came down to drop off the backpack. I even got two calls to ask if I got my backpack. Thank you very much as it made my trip very pleasant to get back my backpack.
In addition, it really embraces democracy; as it asks the passengers if they would like to have a pit stop or go straight to the destination and if the passengers would like to watch a movie.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
I'm glad there's an NYC bus that leaves straight from Dupont Circle. The staff were friendly (e.g. they greeted us with "How was your weekend?" etc.). I also liked the bottled water.
They showed Unaccompanied Minors on the way up, and Deja Vu on the way down. I managed to grab some shut-eye anyway, but if you prefer a quiet ride you might consider the train instead.
The website says $40 round-trip is an "introductory" price - Not sure I'd be willing to pay much more given the $35 competition from Greyhound and Chinatown buses.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
