SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2018 . THE WASHINGTON POST EZ EE F5 The deals on the bus

BY MEGAN MCDONOUGH The 227-mile ride from the District to City can sometimes resemble a game of duck, duck, goose. But instead of waterfowl, travelers count vehicles: car, car, bus. Car, car, bus. The much-maligned workhorses of mass transport have made a resurgence in the last decade and, in response, the number of carriers has surged, with companies adding more creature comforts, departure times and rewards programs to encourage loyalty. ¶ And while they all look nearly identical from the outside — flashy signage excepted — no two bus operators are the same. Their ticket prices, points of departure, amenities and scheduling can vary widely. And those distinctions matter, especially as you’re entering Hour 3. ¶ Overwhelmed by the options? Here’s a quick comparison of 11 budget bus lines that offer service between the two cities.

PHOTOS BY CALLA KESSLER/THE WASHINGTON POST

CARRIER D.C. STOPS NYC STOPS PRICE BOOKING POLICIES AMENITIES REWARDS PROGRAM BEST FOR

Riders can stream free shows and Bargain travelers who like to 11th Avenue and movies on their personal devices via book in advance. To score one Book online, by phone or pay cash curbside West 36th Street, bus WiFi. (Current selections include of the company’s coveted ($25 for walk-ups). No refunds. but you can near the Javits “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Get Out.”) cheap seats ($3, with fees), BoltBus $13-$40. rebook up to 24 hours before departure for Free. Members receive a free Dupont Circle; Center; Sixth The company’s BusTracker system reserve your seat several 877-265-8287 Sometimes, it $5, plus any fare differential. There’s no one-way trip for every eight Union Station Avenue between also provides real-time updates and weeks in advance. Popular boltbus.com has $1 specials. weight limit on baggage, but your carry-ons purchased. Grand and Watts alerts to delays. Also, there’s travel times (mornings and (up to two) must fit in the overhead streets near Canal additional legroom, seat belts, cup evenings) tend to sell out compartment. Street holders and, on select coaches, quickly, so spontaneous leather seats. travelers be wary.

Dupont Circle; Union Station Formerly DC2NYC. Riders can purchase Free. Members earn one point (50 tickets online or by phone. Passengers can Social-media-savvy riders who for each dollar spent, and Massachusetts also reschedule tickets online, without Extra legroom, a complimentary bottle can quickly pounce deals: The BestBus West 34th Street earn a free trip after eight one- Ave.); Vienna/ additional cost, 24 hours before initial of water, direct routes and a movie, company frequently promotes 202-332-2691 and Ninth Ave., $30 one-way way rides. They can also Fairfax-GMU departure. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, or selected by a majority vote of flash sales (typically $15 bestbus.com near Penn Station reschedule their tickets up to Metro Stop; risk your ticket being resold. Walk-up passengers. tickets) and other giveaways 12 hours before their Silver Spring reservations, cost $35, cash-only. No on its social-media accounts. departure time. Metro on refunds. Colesville Road.

Formerly Hola Bus. You can book tickets 28 Allen St., online, by phone or in person at the bus In-bus entertainment, via a free in Chinatown; terminal. Call 24 hours before departure to smartphone app with preloaded Free. Members receive one Besides consistent cheap 715 H St. NW Eastern Bus reschedule free. One annoyance: Customers movies such as “Girls Trip” and point for each dollar they fares, it’s ideal for travelers (near the Seventh Avenue $15-$23 212-244-6132 must to show a print copy of their e-ticket or “Guardians of the Galaxy 2.” The spend. Ten points can be who want to be dropped off in Chinatown and West 33rd one-way easternbus.com write their ticket information on a piece of company’s internal bus-tracker system redeemed for $1 toward future New York’s Chinatown area or arch) Street, near Madison Square paper to present before boarding, or pay a also provides real-time updates, travel costs. on the Lower East Side. Garden small fee. Flashing the confirmation on your including an updated ETA. smartphone won’t cut it. No refunds.

Eisenhower Avenue Metro Free. Members receive 100 Travelers with extra baggage. Station; West 30th Street $20-$28 Book online or at the bus stop (cash-only). Go Buses points for each dollar they Customers are allowed two L’Enfant Plaza between Ninth one-way. Travelers can cancel and receive a full refund 855-888-7160 Complimentary water and foot rests. spend. and can redeem 1,000 pieces of checked luggage Metro Station; and 10th Avenues, Sometimes, it up to 24 hours before departure time by gobuses.com points for $1 toward future (each up to 50 pounds), along Vienna / Fairfax near Penn Station has $5 specials. logging into an account. travel costs. with two carry-on items. — GMU Metro Station

Free. Members receive one Prompt travelers who want point for every one-way trip. A lots of travel time options. variety of perks are offered at Greyhound boasts the most different point levels, and you options for departure times, Union Station; In : Port Book by phone, online or in the terminal. If Extra legroom, leather seats and eco- can choose which perk is best with an average of 26 trips Greyhound Bus Silver Spring Authority Bus you bought an Economy Extra or Flexible friendly engines. Restrooms include for you. For example, you can from the District per day. 800-231-2222 Bus Station; Terminal; In $11-29 one-way. fare, you can get a refund or exchange your baby-changing facilities and are claim a free companion pass However, it is not for greyhound.com College Park Brooklyn: 206 ticket free. If not, you can change your ticket reportedly checked every hour by a after six trips or a discounted passengers with a penchant Metro Livingston St. to a new departure time for a $20 fee. staff member. single ticket. You’ll also for lateness. They recommend receive a 10 percent discount riders arrive at the terminal for enrolling in the rewards one hour early to reserve their program. seat.

Arrivals: Seventh Riders who prefer reserved Avenue and West Riders on the double-decker bus can seating. Travelers can book 27th Street near stream 30 movies, 10 hours of TV the most in-demand seats in Book online, by phone or pay with cash or No rider rewards program, but Penn Station; $5-$37 one-way. shows, 50 audiobooks, music, games advance for a small premium. card at the terminal. Riders can rebook their the company does have 877-462-6342 Union Station Departures: West Sometimes, it and news on their personal smart For example, upper deck front trip online up to three hours before partnership deals with Uber us.megabus.com 34th St. between has $1 specials. devices via onboard WiFi. The window seats, which offer departure for $10. and Airbnb. 11th and 12th company also offers an app that lets extra legroom and scenic avenues, near the you track ETAs and locate bus stops. views of the trip, can be Javits Center claimed for an additional $7.

$49.99. Riders can upgrade to Book online, or through its free mobile app. Frequent commuters. The OurBus Free bottled water, in-bus OurBus Select with the Port Authority Bus $9-$22 There’s no rescheduling fee if the ticket is package deal is a good option 844-800-6828 Union Station entertainment with preloaded movies purchase of 10 tickets for Terminal one-way canceled 24 hours before the departure for travelers who are making ourbus.com and an app that lets you track ETAs. $9.99. Valid 60 days after time. multiple trips to the Big Apple. purchase.

Book online, by phone or at the Seniors, active duty and terminal. Riders board the bus in groups Free. Receive a $5 credit for retired military personnel, and Peter Pan Bus based on boarding times on their tickets. No every $50 you spend on Port Authority $15-$32 Extra leg room with footrests and fold- first responders can receive a 1-800-343-9999 Union Station refunds, but tickets can be reissued in tickets (not including taxes or Bus Terminal one-way down tables. 15 percent discount. Children, peterpanbus.com person or by phone with a fee of 20 percent, fees) and $5 for completing a 2-11 receive a 20 percent plus the price differential, as long as it’s done service survey. discount. two hours before the initial departure time.

Book online or by phone; walk-ups pay cash. 4681 Willow Ln. Guaranteed seat with a reservation. No Free in-bus entertainment. Tripper TripperBus Free. Travel three times round- Virginia and Maryland riders. in Bethesda, 254 W. 31st St., $27-$37 charge to reschedule. Must cancel at least Elite, a more luxe bus with less seating 718-834-9214 trip and receive a free one-way No need to trek into the 1901 N. Moore near Penn Station one way three hours before departure time. Tickets and leather chairs, costs about $18-28 tripperbus.com trip. District. St. in Arlington are nonrefundable, but credit can be used more. toward future travel.

With the most liberal rescheduling window (two hours before departure time), it’s great option for Book online, by phone or pay by card or cash Free. Travel four times round- 1801 N. Lynn Seventh Avenue Free bottled water. Its luxury line, overschedulers who may Vamoose Bus curbside. Riders can modify their reservation trip and receive a free one-way St., Arlington; and West 30th $30-$40 which starts at $50, has single-seat need to cancel or make last- 301-718-0036 up until two hours before their trip, at no ticket. The points never expire 7401 Waverly Street, near one-way rows, leather seats and minute trip modifications. vamoosebus.com additional cost. They may also put the ticket and can be credited St., Bethesda Penn Station complimentary movies. Also, current students at on hold for a future date (valid for one year). retroactively for past trips. American and Georgetown universities receive a 20 percent discount when buying tickets online.

1100 S. Hayes In Manhattan: 202 $22 one way Riders who want convenient St., near Book online, by phone (or pay at curbside, Extra leg room and leather seats. The W. 36th St., near Monday- bus stops in both D.C. and Washington Pentagon City cash-only, with an added charge of $5). No company is also launching a new Penn Station; In Thursday. $27 Free. Travel four times round- NYC. Brooklynites will also Deluxe Metro; 1610 refunds; but you can change your trip online premium service called Washington Brooklyn: 1727 one-way Fridays, trip and receive a free one-way appreciate the stop on 866-287-6932 Connecticut up to 12 hours in advance for $1 (plus any Deluxe LUX, which will offer in-bus Bedford Ave.; Saturdays, ticket. Bedford Avenue. Also, with set washny.com Ave. NW near fare differential), or travel on a standby basis entertainment and “expansive Sundays and prices, it’s a reliable choice on Dupont Circle; In Chinatown: 122 on departure day. captain’s chair seating.” holidays. busy and holiday weekends. Union Station Allen St.

All offer free WiFi service and electrical power outlets, along with normal motor-coach accoutrements such as restrooms and air-conditioning. [email protected]