Plane Alternatives

If you want to visit a place close by like New York (when living in Virginia) you don’t have to take a plane. You have some other options for example a bus, train and even a car. My friends and I are thinking about taking a trip to New York for Spring break and we want to figure out what’s the cheapest way of getting there, I am sure this can help others and not just me. This week I’m going to talk about these alternatives rather than taking a plane (because that’s way too pricey for the three days we’re planning on spending there) and also comparing prices. 

Our first option is taking a bus to New York. How much does it cost? When I searched the dates we wanted to go and round trip is $65 (on Greyhound)  which I was very surprised because I didn't think it would be that cheap.  Another bus company I found chinabus-town.org  is another cheap one but I couldn't find the dates I wanted. From the looks of it is really inexpensive because a round trip from DC to Philadelphia is only $20 how crazy cheap?  From the looks of this I have to keep both companies in mind because who knows maybe one day all the tickets will be cheap. 

Another option Is taking a train. I haven’t been on a train for a long trip, just the usual 10 minutes when I hop on the metro in DC but this time it would be different. This is a little different from taking a bus (as far as prices) a regular trip would be $100 round trip for coach. First class or “business class” cost $230 I’m not sure if I want to pay that much, because then it would leave me with a little less money to spend on my trip. Then there was another option the “shortest trip option” what that is a shorter trip. The usual time it would take to get to NYC from DC is 3 hours and half but with the “shortest trip option” it would only take two hours and forty-five minutes. Is it really worth buy a faster trip ? I think the only way I would take that  “shortest trip option” is if someone paid for me. 

Lastly, my other option would be to take a car. For my car to fill up the tank Supreme Gas is about $43 average (11 gallons that’s how much my car takes in). On the last New York trip my family and I took it took us one fill tank of gas to get there, we didn't stop to get gas we went straight there and the gas was enough. If my friends and I were to take a car we would chip in for gas for the way there and back. Also I would have to consider if we did go in car we would spend more money on gas because we would drive around in New York a lot, and finding parking in the city is a pain so I don’t think I would like to take a car.

So what options am I considering? I’m not sure yet the bus ride seems like the cheapest but boring. The train ride seems like fun but it’s pricey and to take a car also seems like fun because what’s more fun to be in car full of your friends? But then again I don’t want to spend so much money on gas. I’m leaning towards a bus ride, why? Well because it’s the cheapest and I want some money to spend on my trip and because I’m pretty sure that through the whole trip I’ll be sleeping so it won’t matter to me.