Mr. Gargantua goes to Washington

[bluegargantua]

Hi,

So, I'm looking to take a trip down to the DC area in the next couple of months to get my tattoo finished off.

I'm not super-crazy about driving because it's a long drive and there's wear and tear on the car (mostly it's the wear and tear I'm trying to avoid).

But my other options look less than stellar:

Flying -- Kinda pricey. Jet Blue seems vaguely reasonable in price (although I've never flown it).

Amtrak -- Also, surprisingly pricey -- especially if you take the Acella which only shaves an hour off?

Bus -- So, this Bolt Bus thing looks pretty good. Round trip would be less than $100 and while slower than driving it's probably on par with a train. The problem is that Bolt goes from Boston to NYC and then from NYC to DC, but the Boston to NYC run stops nowhere near where the NYC to DC run starts. I'd have to much about the subways and stuff to get to where I needed to be for pickup. Less than ideal.

Can the LJ brain trust offer any ideas/tips/suggestions?

Thanks
Tom

Comments

[bryant]

Megabus? The dropoff and pickup points in NYC are not in the same place but it looks like they're only around 5 blocks away.

[sweets00.livejournal.com]

I totally recommend against bolt bus. The switchover makes it a huge problem. I would take the Bolt Bus to NY, but when I took it to DC, it was enormous amounts of extra time.

[fortryll.livejournal.com]

Aside from the switchover issue, my only "plus" aside from price with bolt bus is that there is free wifi & plugs in the seats, so I can work with my laptop. That cranks "billable hours", which means I get a nice paycheck.

[veek.livejournal.com]

If it's mostly wear and tear you're avoiding, why not rent a car?

Also, will you have a place to stay there? I'll be in Fairfax, VA 6/26-28 for a conference thing, and haven't found anyone yet to split the hotel room ($90ish incl. tax per night).

[bluegargantua]

Hrm...that might work out.

Sadly, I'll have a place to crash, that won't be a problem. It's just the transit.

later
Tom

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I would definitely NOT consider the train. It's really a crappy deal. I would also avoid Greyhound, since the time I did that ride it took me 13 hours one way. Ugh. I'd say, either fly, or rent a car and split driving duties with a friend or two.

[sweets00.livejournal.com]

you know, I might be willing to split this trip with you at some point. I often want to make trips to DC.

[fortryll.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'd go with flying. The only reason I drive when I come up to the NE neck of the woods is that I need a car available and the overall cost with airfare rolled in is too high. Check www.cheapotickets.com and some of the other discount airfare places. Also, look into all three area airports - DCA, IAD, and BWI. Occasionally I can get a fantastic deal into BWI or IAD that isn't available at DCA.

[that-xmas.livejournal.com]

This option, or the rental car option are my two suggestions too. Unless you have a driver lined up already, you'll end up renting a car in DC anywho.

US Airways Express has an hourly shuttle flight back and forth to DC. I'd be surprised if you can't find a cheap odd-hour flight to DC that way. I take a flight to DCA every Monday morning and then on to Virginia. That flight is usually under $150s one way.

Or I could be wrong.

[that-xmas.livejournal.com]

The caveat with booking a flight is they're going to stick you if you only stay one or two days.

Re: Or I could be wrong.

[fortryll.livejournal.com]

Yep...if you can fly Tuesday - Thursday you get a much cheaper flight. I try to take a late Thursday flight or an early Tuesday flight if I'm going out of town for a teaching gig over a weekend.

[ninjarat.livejournal.com]

Look for Amtrak Rail Sales. Don't bother with the Acela trains but do look into a business class upgrade. Business class seats have AC power outlets.

[insegnante.livejournal.com]

I use southwest when going back to RI. it's usually $59 one way.
Check their prices and flying times.
You'd have to fly into BWI and make your way to DC.

[nchanter.livejournal.com]

Jet Blue is awesome. Flew them for the last time this past weekend. They rock.

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Agreed, Jet Blue is a very nice airline and they're considered low-cost, ala Southwest.

I'm a trains fan

[drwex]

I like the pace and I don't think they're that expensive. I know airfares have come down so it might not be the huge price difference it was a while ago. When the family went down to DC we got 4 train fares for the price of 1.5 airfares.

If you don't mind the driving itself I think a rental car is probably the way to go.

[sectionchild.livejournal.com]

Mass pike (90W) to I84W to I91S to I95S to Garden State Parkway, to New Jersey Turnpike to I95S to DC.

It's about $25 in tolls and $70 in gas, and $20 in snacks/coffee.

I want to go to DC too (well, to Rockville/Silver Spring MD)... I just don't trust my car to do it (check engine light is on).

[mikecap.livejournal.com]

Biking!