Transit question

[tenlittlebullets]

If one were to, theoretically, take a day trip into NYC, see a matinee and an evening show on Broadway, and then return home in time for class the following afternoon... what would be the most cost-effective way to go about it?

I'm kind of torn between just taking the Greyhound, or driving up to Newark and taking a commuter train into the city. Between gas, parking, and fares, the Greyhound would probably actually be cheaper, and I wouldn't have to worry about finding a parking lot, let alone one with overnight access. (I'd be coming back to the car at about one in the morning.) On the other hand, I like being on my own schedule, and I don't particularly want to sit next to random creepy people on the bus for five hours.

Thoughts?

Comments

[i-look-away.livejournal.com]

Greyhound would definitely be cheaper and more convenient in the long run. Also, with a bus to NYC you'll have a hell of a lot more schedule options, I'd think.

[mmebahorel.livejournal.com]

I've always driven myself. Because it's also the issue of getting home from where the bus drops you, it takes longer on the damned bus (you can drive it in exactly 4 hours), and if you're seeing an evening show, you can't leave NY until 11 pm, minimum, so you won't get home until 3 am at the earliest. When I drive, I just go on into Manhattan and park in a garage downtown. Icon parking has a deal where, on Saturdays and Sundays, entry any time, present coupon and theatre ticket stub when leaving, $10 for up to 10 hours of parking. And 24 hour access. During the week that's not an option, but damn it's nice on weekends.

I think all told, it ran me roughly $60 to do that kind of turn around. Totally worth the extra $15. Gas prices are up a bit from where they were when I was doing it (this was two years ago now), but I'm still planning to drive myself oh shit next month I need to buy tickets fuck.

I've done it twice alone, once with another person, and once to Newark with other people. I've also gone to Pittsburgh by myself - drive is the same amount of time, but it's cheaper, the PA turnpike is nicer than the NJ, and there's a travel plaza with a 24 hour Starbucks. I love Pennsylvania. New Jersey sucks.

[mmebahorel.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and remember, the whole "get back to the crappy-ass really frightening DC bus station at 3 am". Like hell I'm going to have my car around there to get me home, and I am *not* attempting to wait for two hours for the metro to open. The Silver Spring bus station is in scary area, too. And the Chinatown buses do nothing for me for getting home after an evening show. So yeah, I drove. And I will again - Beltsville is closer to NYC than Silver Spring is. I can save a whole ten minutes!

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

This would be on a Wednesday, so the weekend parking deal wouldn't work out. And I flatly refuse to drive in Manhattan. I've had enough bad shit happen to my car already without entering that particular madhouse.

If the drive is about $60, that means the cost is about the same, maybe slightly more expensive to drive. So it's basically a question of whether it will take more years off my life to arrive at a skeevy bus station at six in the morning or drive up the NJ turnpike and try to find parking in Newark.

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

Arrr, this sounds soul-crushingly familiar... This January, me and me matey took a Greyhound to Washington DC to see Les Miserables--a NINE hour busride. It was hellish. But it was cheap. We left the house at four in the morning, got to DC at about 2pm, taking into account traffic and bus changes, and the people were actually quite normal. The first bus ride we couldn't sit together, but I got seated next to a very sweet old black man.

We got to DC, saw the show (I cried like a bitch and ruined the GIGANTIC amount of eye maekup I was wearing...), checked into the hotel, passed out, woke up, and left at five am.

I think it was totally worth it. The only downer was on the way back. After our bus stopped in Virginia, there was a man who had stomach problems and kept going to the bathroom every five minutes, eventually using all the toilet paper. I thereby christened him 'Sir ShitsAlot'.

Also, there were two attention-starved teen boys in the seat right behind who kept making very loud (and very bad) 'You know how I know you're gay?' jokes. Blah.

Other than that...

Truly lovely time.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, which show did you see? It could well have been one of the ones I was at.

And how skeevy was the DC bus station? I'm not as worried about the one in NYC, since I'll be there at fairly reasonable hours, but the DC one includes the prospect of sitting there at 4:30 am waiting for the metro to open.

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

It was Monday, January 16th, 8:00 pm, at the National Theatre.

Dude, the DC bus station is fucking Buckingham Palace compared to Charlotte's, which was the one I left from. And I am not even kidding.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

Aaaah. Five days after the last time I saw it then.

Definitely leaning towards taking the bus now.

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

It really is easier (unless one of your drivers happens to have a roadrage problem (driving through Virginia was terrifying), and it's not so bad if you have an iPod to keep the parasitic boredom away.

[i-look-away.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, but your icon is sending me into rather vocal fits of squee.

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

You LIKE my Javert plushie?? Yay!! I made plushies of all the characters, but Plushie Javert is my favorite! You should see his shiny girl-hair. Right now, plushies Enjolras, Marius, and Cosette are undergoing serious hair revisions. On second thought, Cosette is probably done. Now I'm working on gluing on Enjolras' long, glossy girl-hair. Rawrrrr...

[i-look-away.livejournal.com]

Like it? A Javert plushie is an excellent idea beyond excellent ideas! And yay for the others, too! ♥ *wants to see*

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad that SOMEONE can appreciate Les Miserables plushies. My mom and sister think I'm a raving lunatic. I'd be more than happy to show you the others! Marius is ALMOST done...

God, you won't believe how many of my sisters barbies I've had to mutilate to get the sweet, sweet nectar that is their hair.

[i-look-away.livejournal.com]

Hehehe, Barbie hair. Well, it's better than using felt! And there should be more people around to appreciate Les Mis plushies. Hmmm, my mom probably would; I caught the fandom from her, you see...

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

I made a family reading night where I read from Les Miserables for about two hours or so to my mom and sister. God knows they'd never read it on their own. Of course, that didn't help their image of my sanity.

Plushie Marius got a sexy new outfit. His last one was crap.

[5oclockdaydream.livejournal.com]

Once you get them all done, I would love to see pictures of all your plushies!

[cloudytm.livejournal.com]

Here's what I've got so far!

http://pics.livejournal.com/cloudytm/gallery/00002a7s

The Enjolras on there is the pre-revised version, so the new one should be up soon. Valjean isn't there because he doesn't exist yet.

[5oclockdaydream.livejournal.com]

awww! They are all so cute :-D

[5oclockdaydream.livejournal.com]

My roommate took a bus from DC to NYC for $20, round trip is $35.
http://www.2000coach.com/

[mollisher.livejournal.com]

Oh man. Can I come?

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

Well, are you free 8 November? XD

[mollisher.livejournal.com]

I don't plan things that far in advance, but I was intending to go to NYC sometime soon for a couple days to catch up with old friend and a certain new one-- so yeah, we should do it.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

We'll probably have to arrive and depart separately, since I can only make it the 8th--damn classes--but we should so see the revival and Theo together.

[mollisher.livejournal.com]

we should! truly! It will be extraordinary!