The Cheap Chic's Guide to Travel: Megabus

A British 'transportation on the cheap' import, Megabus is one of newest carriers to offer bus service from NYC to smAlbany, NY. While Megabus has limited service to Albany (4 departures & 4 arrivals per day) it beats out its competitors in many arenas.


First, Megabus has the fabled $1 fare on each bus. That means you could be the lucky individual who gets round trip transportation for only $2.50 (50c for a service fee). That's cheaper than a latte at Starbucks! Other fares start on a sliding scale from $5 all the way up to $30 (one way). Still with Amtrak's service to Albany averaging around $100 roundtrip, the $60 roundtrip Megabus fare ain't to shabby.

Second, Megabus has FREE WiFi on some of their buses, although on my trip, the WiFi was inconsistent at best (but it's the thought that counts). About an hour into my first leg of my roundtrip Albany ride, the WiFi vanished and on the way back to NYC, even though everyone on the bus could pick up the WiFi signal, no one could connect to it. However, some routes have no problem at all with connectability.

Third, in the Northeastern region, Megabus also services Boston, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Niagara Falls, ON & Toronto. For the more traveled (or longer) routes you may be lucky enough to get one of their new double-decker buses which have electric plugs on the backs of the seats for electronics (such as your laptop).

Overall, its transportation and its cheap.

My recommendation is stay out of the bathroom (unless you want blue toilet water splashed on your bum and unsanitized hands from the empty Hand Sanitizer bottle, if it's even there) and you'll get there in one piece.

I mean, what do you want for nothing? A rubber biscuit?