@@GreenerGrass I have a question... In USA, can you order food sitting inside the train from restaurants close to upcoming stations and it will be delivered to your seat??? In India we do have that option...
@@mukherjeesuniversum2665 depends on the restaurant. I had a pizza delivered to Indianapolis station on the Cardinal. To the platform. I’d imagine most places with delivery could accommodate the request.
I’m a MegaBus/Charter Bus Operator based in Atlanta and I loved this review. MegaBus is a Great way to travel for those on a budget, and who want to see the country without the hassle of driving themselves.
My girlfriend and I traveled to DC from NYC on Northeast Regional service, and spent only $31 each way. Even the cheaper Amtrak service beats bolt bus in every way in regards to comfort, speed, and service. (As much as public bathrooms are never those to sit and stay a while, Amtrak's were clean enough to feel comfortable using.) If more people knew how good Amtrak could be against highway based transit, more people might demand expansion of the Amtrak network as I do.....
Jeb I have a question that you might know the answer to. I’m flying out of Tampa to Boston on Delta Comfort+ on 737-800, and I want to upgrade to first class at the gate. How much would it cost?
@@yashpatel9562 You'll likely not be able to do it at the gate; all the seats in First Class on that flight will have filled with paying customers or with high level frequent flyers who received 24hr upgrades. Try doing it online beforehand. Cost varies by specific flight and demand, so he won't be able to answer but in my experience ranges $200-700 for that flight.
i choose business class, more leg room, seats are much more comfortable and with business class beverages are included. Only 20 bucks higher than coach
This is the problem with US Rail. It operates more like a plane than a Train. I would have been in real trouble if I had to book all the Bullet Train rides I took in Japan. All I had to do is get to the platform and wait for the next train which can come as often as every 30 minutes. That like my local bus schedule but far more reliable.
@@JasonB808 It's not just US, the vast majority of intercity rails services operate exactly like this. And if the rail line isn't too popular you can still show up just before boarding, buy your ticker and board in the US or anywhere else. In Japan the Shinkansen system is subsidized by real estate not by taxes or fares, so they run the trains at a density that maximizes the value of that real estate. That's a completely different business model and it's not without its significant downsides. How would you feel if your local rail company were allowed to bulldoze your neighborhood to put up a station and a bunch of skyscrapers in your single family suburb? That's how the Shinkansen works, and it's also funded my the government at 30% at any given time on top of that. Corporate socialism is not exactly popular right now in the US.
@@TohaBgood2 that's how the Southern Pacific built Los Angeles 120 years ago with the RedCar and YellowCar. They owned the land and made money selling the real estate. That's why LA is such a miserable sprawl. It isn't initially from car culture, but a purposeful land scheme by the Southern Pacific. In the 1950s when the railways were dilapidated and all the land was long since sold...people voted for highways to get out from under the railroad thumb.
Great video! I will say, I feel like it's worth mentioning (at least in passing) in a video like this that, for the $40-50 you actually paid for the megabus tickets, you can also opt for the faster Northeast regional train between DC and NYC, which is sometimes available for $20 and READILY available for $31. Even business class on the Acela, which is consistently available for $71 and gets you at least ~50% of the value of Acela first, is priced competitively with megabus. Not saying the video isn't complete without these comparisons, but since the ACTUAL megabus price is often more than the NE regional, it seems to warrant a mention. In any event, thanks for the great content!
Bus toilets are a dealbreaker for me. I’d pay extra and take the train. Bit surprised to see you guys didn’t use the seatbelts in those front seats. An emergency stop at hight speed on the motorway could have you slammed up against those windows… or worse 😮. Great vid! 👍🏻
I've booked a ride with Megabus once! We went from NYC to Atlantic City back in July 2012, but apparently the route was operated by Academy. So we ended up on an Academy bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (instead of Megabus's NYC stop) and not a cool Megabus double-decker (which I actually have a toy of just because). We made a stop at the Cheesequake (now Jon Bon Jovi) service area to Atlantic City and on the way back. The only time we were stuck in traffic was on the way back to NYC on the Lincoln Tunnel approach. The Moynihan Train Hall upgrade to NY Penn Station was definitely needed! I like the mix of the old and the new, not to mention it's within the James A. Farley post office building that was also designed by the McKim, Mead & White trio who worked on the original Penn Station that was once next door (they worked on the Brooklyn Museum and Columbia's main campus too). Sure it's different from the original Penn, but it's better than nothing! NYC is the "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" city, and it deserves an Amtrak hub that welcomes tourists with a grand "Yes, you CAN make it here!" The pre-Moynihan Club Acela used to be...pretty bad to say the least. Symbolic of the pre-Moynihan modern Penn Station in general, as one person put it, "One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat”! The only thing good about the old Amtrak concourse of Penn before Moynihan was it had the only Krispy Kreme in the entire state for a long time.
Meanwhile here in Singapore I'd probably be saying something like "one enters the city by air like a god, or scuttles in by coach/train like a rat" (since many coaches terminate at the decrepit Golden Mile Complex/Tower; we don't have a designated long-distance bus terminal, while trains stop all the way @ Woodlands Train Checkpoint, which is even further from downtown than Changi Airport, which requires a bus connection to a MRT/subway/metro station for another 50-min train ride if you're heading downtown (seats not guaranteed), & the bus is either already full with people who boarded earlier, or the bus connection is cancelled due to traffic jams)
Jeb what you didn't mention in your video is that the regular AMTRAK from DC to NYC isn't really much slower than the ACELA. The quality of the experience, seats, bathroom, etc is very good and the cost is A LOT lower. There's something else too. YOur bus looked empty. So you didn't experience the full joy of that mode of transportation. The train is a lot more quiet, sane and spacious. Great video.!
There is one other reason you did not mention for taking Acela vs. a bus... People like my husband who suffer from major stress and anxiety issues would most definitely prerfer a mode of transportation that is generally quieter. I am sure that between the Acela service and the bus; the Acela service would get the point.
Believe it or not, there is a first class bus service between NY and DC that is fairly reasonable in price (100), considering what they offer. First class recliner seats, that also prevent motion during motion (I forgot what they’re called), and offers way more space than your average bus. It’s a custom luxury bus called Jet. Jeb did a review on them as well. Looked really nice.
Your very welcome and thank you for the great videos, I always look forward to your videos each week to see what exciting things you have been up to and love learning about the different things and places you show and talk about and you have such a friendly and entertaining way of presenting your videos 😊
I’ve always thought first class on the Acela was a bit of a gimmick. Yes, you get lounge access and complementary food, but the seats are not that much different from business class. You could easily purchase a day pass for lounge access for less than the premium that you’d pay to upgrade to first class, and with the supply chain issues affecting the menu options, you’re better off staying in business class and buying food to bring onboard.
I bet The Sopranos theme song played in your head as the bus was driving by Newark-Liberty! 😂I just find it funny how despite Pret a Manger (which means "ready to eat") and Au Bon Pain (which means "good bread") both having French names, NEITHER of them originate in France! Both founded in the UK and US! Though Au Bon Pain was at least founded by a French baking equipment manufacturer to showcase their ovens. And here's a fun fact, DC's Union Station was designed by New Yorker Daniel Burnham, who also worked on the famous Flatiron Building in NYC as well as the plans for Manila and Baguio in the Philippines and the White City for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Pretty small world when you think about it!
?! I'm European too, and I was very satisfied. I had three rides with a backpack and a large suit case (maximum size the airlines allow without extra fee): Boston to New York (about $60 and on time - no problem with the luggage albeit the trained was completely book out. I had made my bookings months ahead via Wanderu) New York to Philly (like the first trip but much shorter and about $30) Philly to Washington (like Philly: 30 Dollars, less than 2 hours) Always around 11 or 12 o'clock (=> check out times of the most hotels are around that time). Far better than what we have in Germany. But the Acela is also Amtrak's flagship, and compared to plane tickets very cheap. And I have no idea how easy the boarding is on an inland flight. But guess the boarding can take up to two hours with security and all. Here you show up at the station, and about ten minutes before the departure the dashboard tells you the gate and you can board it. And like I said: all my trains were on time.
Pro tip for Megabus: the upper deck second row of assigned seats has way better leg and foot room, is cheaper, and you still can generally see out the windshield in front of you.
I booked a day trip to NYC from Boston about a month in advanced last spring. It was $56 each round trip and it was awesome, usually I fly or drive between the two cities but I wanted to try something else and it was worth it. Zero delays and we arrived in Boston coming home about 45 minutes early. (The trip was in mid June)
Great to see some familiar DMV traffic 😅! I’ve been stuck in traffic on that stretch of 95 in MD many times! Thanks to you and Suzanne for the great content!
Hey Jeb! Megabus is going to start offering service between Detroit and Toronto starting next month. We in the Detroit area are pretty pumped with the recent news, as there are limited public transit options to/from Detroit. Would love to see a similar video featuring my hometown! I believe the bus journey is about 5hr each way.
I've taken overnight Megabus trips in the front row across the east coast. Uncomfortable but interesting experience. (I'm the kind of budget traveler who will nap in a terminal to avoid a hotel night if taking an early/late flight, so the time difference between bus vs train sometimes becomes negligible when hopping between cities such as Atlanta to Chicago/Orlando/DC)
I really love your Amtrak experience videos. Thanks for taking the time to out all of these videos together, they really make my day. Have a good one, Jeb!
Fantastic video Jeb. To me it depends on the situation on which one to do but trains may not be the fastest but they are the most civilized. Keep up the great work!
I've been on MegaBus lots of times when they were active in Germany. From Hamburg to Cologne for 5 Euros even if you book spontaneously. Of course you get what you pay for. So don't expect much comfort. But it was enough to settle in and enjoy the ~5 hour ride while reading a book, having a snack or listening to music. The toilets were also always clean. Compared with a ticket with the Deutsche Bahn which can cost around 100 Euros for a spontaneous booking, more than worth it!
Hey Jeb, so here's something you might not know... MegaBus started off in Manchester UK in the late 1990s as Magic Bus, offering cheap travel around the city for students (I was one of them!).
I have really enjoyed all of your videos and - even though I'm a Pac NW guy who would probably never need to consider different travel options between NYC and DC - this was no exception. Looking forward to the next trip, wherever it may take you...
We used to live in Clearwater FL, and always took the Megabus across to Orlando from Tampa to get more economic flights to London. The cost usually $2 and $3 for a seat reservation on one of those seats with better leg room behind you. then on to Orlando International by Uber. We really enjoyed it actually. In fact I once used Megabus to Fort Lauderdale for the old Norwegian Airlines flight to London.
I love Amtrak in the northeast. Dc, Boston, NY, Vermont, Philly Amtrak is really nice. In the rest of the country I hope it can be more reliable and on time.
I live in Maryland so a lot of those I-95 and I-495 sights were all too familiar for me. I don't know if I could ever live in any other part of the U.S. just considering how superior the East Coast is when it comes to ALL forms of transportation. We tend to take for granted the level of ease of access we have in this part of the country.
Me and mom & sister actually took Megabus from Baltimore to New York for the Women’s World Cup parade in 2019. It still took over 4 hours and we left at 5am. I took the Acela about 2 years Peter and while very expensive. It was a lot more timely and in the center of the city at Penn station compared to be dropped out on the side of a street. Although the view was incredible on the top of a megabus. You should legitimately try it.
I was able to score a $1 ticket from NYC to Toronto 5 years ago. I went just for the heck of it. Total it was $10 after fees and reserving a table seat. It was also the last time I took a bus since the ride was painfully long back and forth
Great video again Jeb! Thank you for taking the time to make these and show us what travel is like. I still can't believe your channel doesn't have millions of subscribers! I honestly think your videos are so good that you could have your own Travel Channel TV show. Thanks again and god bless
I was in France last month and my family took the high speed rail from Marseille to Paris. Tickets were about $70/person and we had the same seating arrangement you did on Acela 1st class. No meal/beverage though, which we didn't need anyway since the station in Marseille had so many shops and was really nice. There were no stops, either. The train was going 200 mph for much of the trip. So nice...I wish we had more HSR over here, especially more comparable to European prices.
Depending on which day you left, their food supplier had a listeria outbreak recently. So they didn’t have a lot of food, but I rode Acela First Class yesterday from NYP and things were back. I know because they sent me an email (I ride Northeast Corridor multiple days per week).
For people in MD or VA, I recommend the Vamoose Bus from MD to NYC. Prices start at $40 similar to Mega Bus avg price, but the seats are larger and have free Wi-Fi. I had a very comfortable trip.
Jeb, i´m from Brazil. Here we don't have these trains to travel between the main cities of the country. On the other hand, if you travel on a bus between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo that lasts approximately 6 hours, you have much greater comfort. It has services that are real beds, with a stop along the way for a meal and even the simplest service, you can rest. Seeing your video, something similar is our city bus with this kind of comfort.
I take Amtrak all the time between NY and DC. I’ve had trouble if I hadn’t connected to the Wi-Fi right away it would connect at all. But I’ve never had the trouble heading back north.
Great video and a topic I know all too well. I currently live in Maryland (shoutout to Suzanne!) with family in NJ so I have made that trek countless times. Calling the I-95 corridor unpredictable is an understatement. You almost don't know what to do if you don't encounter sizeable traffic at some point. I would take Amtrak more often however not always the most affordable option if your traveling with a family even on the Northwest Regional.
Jeb, you and suzzane gave a most wonderful explanation of these charming rides (smile). .. Actually I always travel via Amtrak. Travelling to Savannah, Ga is awesome on Amtrak. Busses just don't have enough room for my legs at all. Also, on Amtrak, one can walk the whole length of the train for exercise!! .. Cannot wait for your next adventure!! .. Outstanding video!! 🥰 PS: Love your french accent!!
Hi Jeb been watching your channel and it’s been a great help for me, I’m going on my first European trip to Italy. I seen most of your blogs and I never seen a italy trip have you ever been?
Ah, the memories of MegaBus. Used to ride it often from downtown Toronto to BUF when air fares were much cheaper from that US airport. Managed several $1 fares. With wifi it was not too bad…except for the border crossings!
This is the first video of this channel that I've seen, and I really enjoyed it. As a NYC native who went to college in Raleigh in the '80s, I made the bus trip through DC several times. Your trip looked like so much fun. For me, at least. The idea of being able to see the roads, cars, exits, and towns, without driving for four-plus hours seems like a breath of fresh air. the train seemed like it would be cool if you were pressed for time, or not at leisure, but I'd love to make that bus trip at least once, each way ...
I’ve done both bus and train. For price Megabus wins that. As for time and comfort, I’ll take Amtrak every time. It’s not that the ride between NYC and DC was bad on the bus. Just long and at times unpredictable. I took the overnight megabus from NYC. It was supposed to get in by 6:30 in the morning. Well a delay at the Lincoln Tunnel backed us up then when we got to DC we hit rush hour. We didn’t get in until 8:30. Now when I took the train it wasn’t the Acela just the regular north east regional.it was an all around better ride with no real issues. Next time I go I’ll definitely take the train.
Megabus UK has improved massively in the last few years. They’re far better than National Express now. They dropped their UK to Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels routes but they’re bringing them back competing directly with Flix.
I've taken Megabus just once so far, going from Dallas to Memphis back in June 2015. I remember the trip taking about 9 hours, and if I were to drive the same distance, it would've taken about 8 hours. I've taken Amtrak a few times between NYC & Boston. First time was in 2007, when I was going from NYC to Portsmouth, NH, but I had to transfer from the train to a bus in Boston. Both ways stopping in Boston Amtrak was late from NYC & the bus was late from Portsmouth, giving me very little xfer time (maybe 20-30 mins.) from train to bus & back.
Well even though the train’s expensive, some of the trains on the route are not expensive and they’re still better than first class on an airplane. And much better than any bus you’ll ever see.
I’d happily save a little and just take Amtrak but on the “slow” train. I found Acela business class (from Boston to NYC) was not as comfortable as the regional. (Weird vibration at speed, and the lighting was way too bright onboard for a late morning trip on a sunny day).
You guys are my new favorite travel channel. Love your guys overall vibe especially your more recent posts with Suzanne 👏🏼🙌🏼 And the last time she took a train from NY was for a Beyoncé concert?!?!? AWESOME!
Nice to see a Scottish company doing well in the states, Stagecoach started Megabus in Scotland and you will see identical Megabus vehicles and livery in Scotland between, Aberdeen, Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh. However Stagecoach recently sold Megabus and Scottish Citylink to a Singapore company. What I will say the inside of your trains look, well like the inside of an old peoples home.. comfortable but very beige!
I remember going to NYC for a high school field trip a few years ago in the winter and my class also rode on the bus. Not a great experience. We had to leave at around 4 came back around midnight, took us around 4 hours to and from. The only best part about riding the bus was seeing the NYC skyline at night with the snow falling We did go to rest stops during the trip to refresh ourselves
Austria has a similar train service called Railjet which takes about the same time on the Vienna-Salzburg route and only costs 60$ first class. But I still prefer to operate aircraft into Innsbruck
Great video Jeb as per usual though I have to say $50 off a future trip offered by Amtrak is totally unacceptable. In fact, I think it’s a bit of an insult considering the amount you paid (which is itself extortionate!). We had a similar experience with the Caledonian Sleeper a couple of years back and they refunded us approximately 35% of the total journey cost. I think this was probably fair but tbh, being notified of poor food availability put a bit of a downer on the trip before we’d even started. Ultimately, there are different reasons why people take the bus or the train ‘swings and roundabouts’ as they say, and personally I find it very difficult to compare one to the other. Cheers 😊
Amtrak's food vendor for Acela First meals had a possible listeria contamination so products were recalled, and not provided for the first week of February, plus or minus a couple days. Possibly tainted food was served/sold January 24th to the end of the month.
I use Megabus regularly to travel between Inverness and Edinburgh, I’m 6ft1 and book these seats often and fit no problem on the same type of coach. They must be laid out slightly different because I’ve never found them to be cramped. The head room - yeah that’s a an issue 😂
Love watching these types of videos comparing travel in the northeast. I'll be traveling on Acela next weekend for the first time between Baltimore and Washington to get a quick taste of what high-speed on Amtrak is all about!
Thank you both for another comparison video. These are very informative. Have done Amtrak when visiting the states. Might do a short trip on a bus next time. Didn't look horrible, didn't look flash. Looking forward to next trip. Stay safe.
For a train which according to Amtrak is worn out and due for replacement, the first class interior looks very nice; interesting that they offer a variety of seating configurations. I wonder if the new ones will perpetuate that? I doubt it; new trains hardly ever seem to be an improvement on the ones they replace (Amtrak's new Siemens carriages the exception, perhaps)
Jeb Jeb Jeb Jeb Jeb! I always love your and Suzanne's videos - and this one was certainly a treat to watch. I was surprised that, while on MegaBus, seeing an accident on the interstate elicited a "Gee, I sure hope they're okay" -- but didn't inspire either of you to put on your seatbelts.....which were clearly visible in this video :( Buses can also have unexpected turbulence - and I want you two to be well and keep these videos coming for many years to come!
The one time I took Megabus was when I got contracted to pick up a vehicle in Brooklyn. And I got sick after that trip. Nothing like having a cold in June....
Flying a low cost carrier like Spirit has to have flying win out. I see $100 one way tickets on Spirit from NY to LA. Amtrak long distance is expensive. And Greyhound may be slightly cheaper (usually it isn't) but will take 3 days and be absolute hell.
Nostalgia. The Megabus from Northern England to London for aspiring theatre teenagers was the best thing ever. I don’t think we ever paid more than £5 for our tickets. That was around 2004 though.
I haven't done the trip by road, but Acela was a nice way to make the trip. But that facing seating is tight, especially for four people in business class. With 3x6'+ in our family travel group I'll be avoiding that seating next time, and reserving specific seating. A mid-point (especailly with advance booking discounts) is the NE Regional which still saves at least an hour over the road trip.
This just makes me realise how mutch better train services are here in Finland. Normal priced tickets here offer better experience than american first class.
I find it interesting how Jeb does everything he can to use a bus bathroom, but Suzanne always goes before the bus departs.
We’ve always said she’s the brains of the operation! 🤣
@@GreenerGrass I have a question... In USA, can you order food sitting inside the train from restaurants close to upcoming stations and it will be delivered to your seat??? In India we do have that option...
@@mukherjeesuniversum2665 depends on the restaurant. I had a pizza delivered to Indianapolis station on the Cardinal. To the platform. I’d imagine most places with delivery could accommodate the request.
FWIW the bathrooms at WAS are nasty too.
@@GreenerGrass 🤣🤣🤣
I’m a MegaBus/Charter Bus Operator based in Atlanta and I loved this review. MegaBus is a Great way to travel for those on a budget, and who want to see the country without the hassle of driving themselves.
In the UK Mega Bus is an utter joke
Yeah true
Certainly is affordable.
@@frederickvondinkerberg7721 I've taken MegaBus in the UK a few times and it seemed fine. Has their quality level dropped a lot in recent years?
@@frederickvondinkerberg7721 cos you owned the live with Brexit
My girlfriend and I traveled to DC from NYC on Northeast Regional service, and spent only $31 each way. Even the cheaper Amtrak service beats bolt bus in every way in regards to comfort, speed, and service. (As much as public bathrooms are never those to sit and stay a while, Amtrak's were clean enough to feel comfortable using.) If more people knew how good Amtrak could be against highway based transit, more people might demand expansion of the Amtrak network as I do.....
Publicity and petitions are needed .
Jeb Brooks is such an amazing guy, putting all of this effort into making videos for us to watch.
Jeb I have a question that you might know the answer to. I’m flying out of Tampa to Boston on Delta Comfort+ on 737-800, and I want to upgrade to first class at the gate. How much would it cost?
@@yashpatel9562 You'll likely not be able to do it at the gate; all the seats in First Class on that flight will have filled with paying customers or with high level frequent flyers who received 24hr upgrades. Try doing it online beforehand. Cost varies by specific flight and demand, so he won't be able to answer but in my experience ranges $200-700 for that flight.
@@yashpatel9562 $1 MILLION DOLLARS
5:45 switch to verzon for unlimited internet
What I usually like to do is to book Amtrak coach on the regional. If you book it far in advance, it can sometimes even be less than $30.
i choose business class, more leg room, seats are much more comfortable and with business class beverages are included. Only 20 bucks higher than coach
This is the problem with US Rail. It operates more like a plane than a Train.
I would have been in real trouble if I had to book all the Bullet Train rides I took in Japan. All I had to do is get to the platform and wait for the next train which can come as often as every 30 minutes. That like my local bus schedule but far more reliable.
@@serene889 The legroom is still pretty good in coach. Just buy drinks while in the station; the trip isn't that long.
@@JasonB808 It's not just US, the vast majority of intercity rails services operate exactly like this. And if the rail line isn't too popular you can still show up just before boarding, buy your ticker and board in the US or anywhere else.
In Japan the Shinkansen system is subsidized by real estate not by taxes or fares, so they run the trains at a density that maximizes the value of that real estate. That's a completely different business model and it's not without its significant downsides. How would you feel if your local rail company were allowed to bulldoze your neighborhood to put up a station and a bunch of skyscrapers in your single family suburb? That's how the Shinkansen works, and it's also funded my the government at 30% at any given time on top of that. Corporate socialism is not exactly popular right now in the US.
@@TohaBgood2 that's how the Southern Pacific built Los Angeles 120 years ago with the RedCar and YellowCar. They owned the land and made money selling the real estate.
That's why LA is such a miserable sprawl. It isn't initially from car culture, but a purposeful land scheme by the Southern Pacific.
In the 1950s when the railways were dilapidated and all the land was long since sold...people voted for highways to get out from under the railroad thumb.
Great video! I will say, I feel like it's worth mentioning (at least in passing) in a video like this that, for the $40-50 you actually paid for the megabus tickets, you can also opt for the faster Northeast regional train between DC and NYC, which is sometimes available for $20 and READILY available for $31. Even business class on the Acela, which is consistently available for $71 and gets you at least ~50% of the value of Acela first, is priced competitively with megabus. Not saying the video isn't complete without these comparisons, but since the ACTUAL megabus price is often more than the NE regional, it seems to warrant a mention. In any event, thanks for the great content!
Bus toilets are a dealbreaker for me. I’d pay extra and take the train. Bit surprised to see you guys didn’t use the seatbelts in those front seats. An emergency stop at hight speed on the motorway could have you slammed up against those windows… or worse 😮. Great vid! 👍🏻
And you can take coach seats in the Northeast Regional which is significantly cheaper than Acela
Amtrak bathrooms are not the best either!
I was cringing on the NJTP, so many crazy drivers!
I've booked a ride with Megabus once! We went from NYC to Atlantic City back in July 2012, but apparently the route was operated by Academy. So we ended up on an Academy bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (instead of Megabus's NYC stop) and not a cool Megabus double-decker (which I actually have a toy of just because). We made a stop at the Cheesequake (now Jon Bon Jovi) service area to Atlantic City and on the way back. The only time we were stuck in traffic was on the way back to NYC on the Lincoln Tunnel approach. The Moynihan Train Hall upgrade to NY Penn Station was definitely needed! I like the mix of the old and the new, not to mention it's within the James A. Farley post office building that was also designed by the McKim, Mead & White trio who worked on the original Penn Station that was once next door (they worked on the Brooklyn Museum and Columbia's main campus too).
Sure it's different from the original Penn, but it's better than nothing! NYC is the "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" city, and it deserves an Amtrak hub that welcomes tourists with a grand "Yes, you CAN make it here!" The pre-Moynihan Club Acela used to be...pretty bad to say the least. Symbolic of the pre-Moynihan modern Penn Station in general, as one person put it, "One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat”! The only thing good about the old Amtrak concourse of Penn before Moynihan was it had the only Krispy Kreme in the entire state for a long time.
Meanwhile here in Singapore I'd probably be saying something like "one enters the city by air like a god, or scuttles in by coach/train like a rat" (since many coaches terminate at the decrepit Golden Mile Complex/Tower; we don't have a designated long-distance bus terminal, while trains stop all the way @ Woodlands Train Checkpoint, which is even further from downtown than Changi Airport, which requires a bus connection to a MRT/subway/metro station for another 50-min train ride if you're heading downtown (seats not guaranteed), & the bus is either already full with people who boarded earlier, or the bus connection is cancelled due to traffic jams)
Jeb what you didn't mention in your video is that the regular AMTRAK from DC to NYC isn't really much slower than the ACELA. The quality of the experience, seats, bathroom, etc is very good and the cost is A LOT lower. There's something else too. YOur bus looked empty. So you didn't experience the full joy of that mode of transportation. The train is a lot more quiet, sane and spacious. Great video.!
There is one other reason you did not mention for taking Acela vs. a bus... People like my husband who suffer from major stress and anxiety issues would most definitely prerfer a mode of transportation that is generally quieter. I am sure that between the Acela service and the bus; the Acela service would get the point.
Btw... yes I whole heartedly agree on the food issue... Amtrak get with the notifications AND compensation please!!
Or just buy business class ticket on the Northeast Regional which is much cheaper than Acela
Believe it or not, there is a first class bus service between NY and DC that is fairly reasonable in price (100), considering what they offer. First class recliner seats, that also prevent motion during motion (I forgot what they’re called), and offers way more space than your average bus. It’s a custom luxury bus called Jet. Jeb did a review on them as well. Looked really nice.
@@nataliajimenez1870 Thank-you for pointing that out; I honestly did not know that!! (Hubby also needs his smoke breaks too...🤢... LOL)
I could watch Jeb Brooks’ videos all day, they are very entertaining and love watching his and Suzanne’s travels around the world 😊
Wow, thank you!
Your very welcome and thank you for the great videos, I always look forward to your videos each week to see what exciting things you have been up to and love learning about the different things and places you show and talk about and you have such a friendly and entertaining way of presenting your videos 😊
Me as well!
I already do when I have time
I’ve always thought first class on the Acela was a bit of a gimmick. Yes, you get lounge access and complementary food, but the seats are not that much different from business class. You could easily purchase a day pass for lounge access for less than the premium that you’d pay to upgrade to first class, and with the supply chain issues affecting the menu options, you’re better off staying in business class and buying food to bring onboard.
agree
I bet The Sopranos theme song played in your head as the bus was driving by Newark-Liberty! 😂I just find it funny how despite Pret a Manger (which means "ready to eat") and Au Bon Pain (which means "good bread") both having French names, NEITHER of them originate in France! Both founded in the UK and US! Though Au Bon Pain was at least founded by a French baking equipment manufacturer to showcase their ovens. And here's a fun fact, DC's Union Station was designed by New Yorker Daniel Burnham, who also worked on the famous Flatiron Building in NYC as well as the plans for Manila and Baguio in the Philippines and the White City for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Pretty small world when you think about it!
From an European prospective I think that the Boston-DC route has a lot of potential. Amtrak could without doubt improve service with better classes.
?!
I'm European too, and I was very satisfied.
I had three rides with a backpack and a large suit case (maximum size the airlines allow without extra fee):
Boston to New York (about $60 and on time - no problem with the luggage albeit the trained was completely book out. I had made my bookings months ahead via Wanderu)
New York to Philly (like the first trip but much shorter and about $30)
Philly to Washington (like Philly: 30 Dollars, less than 2 hours)
Always around 11 or 12 o'clock (=> check out times of the most hotels are around that time).
Far better than what we have in Germany.
But the Acela is also Amtrak's flagship, and compared to plane tickets very cheap. And I have no idea how easy the boarding is on an inland flight. But guess the boarding can take up to two hours with security and all.
Here you show up at the station, and about ten minutes before the departure the dashboard tells you the gate and you can board it.
And like I said: all my trains were on time.
If you order your tickets far enough in advance, regular Amtrak NE Corridor tickets can be had for about $30 one way between NY and DC.
Pro tip for Megabus: the upper deck second row of assigned seats has way better leg and foot room, is cheaper, and you still can generally see out the windshield in front of you.
I booked a day trip to NYC from Boston about a month in advanced last spring. It was $56 each round trip and it was awesome, usually I fly or drive between the two cities but I wanted to try something else and it was worth it. Zero delays and we arrived in Boston coming home about 45 minutes early. (The trip was in mid June)
Was that bus or Amtrak?
@@AshmewStudios he was drunk so no idea
It blows my mind that people actually fly distances as short as NYC to Boston.
Great to see some familiar DMV traffic 😅! I’ve been stuck in traffic on that stretch of 95 in MD many times! Thanks to you and Suzanne for the great content!
Absolutely agree with Suzanne regarding the seat experience in the upper front portion of the double decker bus.
Hey Jeb! Megabus is going to start offering service between Detroit and Toronto starting next month. We in the Detroit area are pretty pumped with the recent news, as there are limited public transit options to/from Detroit. Would love to see a similar video featuring my hometown! I believe the bus journey is about 5hr each way.
I've taken overnight Megabus trips in the front row across the east coast. Uncomfortable but interesting experience.
(I'm the kind of budget traveler who will nap in a terminal to avoid a hotel night if taking an early/late flight, so the time difference between bus vs train sometimes becomes negligible when hopping between cities such as Atlanta to Chicago/Orlando/DC)
On a trip from MA to Hawai'i and Alaska, both flights leaving each state were overnight flights. 14 nights away, 12 nights in hotels or airbnbs.
I think these are my favorite videos -- where you compare transportation options, whether it's different airlines, or different modes. Great stuff!
Pret A Manger and a Megabus, you really went for the authentic British Experience.
It is good to again see train content on the channel. Both of you do an excellent job of providing informative and entertaining videos.
I really love your Amtrak experience videos. Thanks for taking the time to out all of these videos together, they really make my day. Have a good one, Jeb!
Fantastic video Jeb. To me it depends on the situation on which one to do but trains may not be the fastest but they are the most civilized. Keep up the great work!
Fastest would be taking a seaplane from Manhattan to Dulles, cheaper than the Acela too.
So many memories on Bolt buses from DC to NYC. Ah, the glory days before kids.
I took Bolt a lot between DC and Newark. Pricing was just right. The biggest problems were traffic and the morons on the bus.
I've been on MegaBus lots of times when they were active in Germany.
From Hamburg to Cologne for 5 Euros even if you book spontaneously.
Of course you get what you pay for. So don't expect much comfort. But it was enough to settle in and enjoy the ~5 hour ride while reading a book, having a snack or listening to music.
The toilets were also always clean.
Compared with a ticket with the Deutsche Bahn which can cost around 100 Euros for a spontaneous booking, more than worth it!
I live in northern Virginia and work in DC. I actually take the train to avoid the traffic. Nice video to compare the two.
nice speedy brotha! been following for a long time and i appreciate you giving love to the watch fam
Hey Jeb, so here's something you might not know... MegaBus started off in Manchester UK in the late 1990s as Magic Bus, offering cheap travel around the city for students (I was one of them!).
Magic Bus was originally designed by Stagecoach to destroy competition in Manchester.
I have really enjoyed all of your videos and - even though I'm a Pac NW guy who would probably never need to consider different travel options between NYC and DC - this was no exception. Looking forward to the next trip, wherever it may take you...
We used to live in Clearwater FL, and always took the Megabus across to Orlando from Tampa to get more economic flights to London. The cost usually $2 and $3 for a seat reservation on one of those seats with better leg room behind you. then on to Orlando International by Uber. We really enjoyed it actually. In fact I once used Megabus to Fort Lauderdale for the old Norwegian Airlines flight to London.
3 Atlantic trips to Gatwick with Norwegian. Best value airline RIP
@@rockerjim8045 hopefully Norse Atlantic increasingly offering the same options
Jeb like usual spoiling use with great content and multiple shots of the “Speedy” !!!! Killer video
I actually like these comparison videos. More please!
I love Amtrak in the northeast. Dc, Boston, NY, Vermont, Philly Amtrak is really nice. In the rest of the country I hope it can be more reliable and on time.
I live in Maryland so a lot of those I-95 and I-495 sights were all too familiar for me. I don't know if I could ever live in any other part of the U.S. just considering how superior the East Coast is when it comes to ALL forms of transportation. We tend to take for granted the level of ease of access we have in this part of the country.
Hi Susanne and Jeb. Thank you for all of your trial and adventures. Amen
Love the pigeons on he bus roof!
Me and mom & sister actually took Megabus from Baltimore to New York for the Women’s World Cup parade in 2019. It still took over 4 hours and we left at 5am. I took the Acela about 2 years Peter and while very expensive. It was a lot more timely and in the center of the city at Penn station compared to be dropped out on the side of a street. Although the view was incredible on the top of a megabus. You should legitimately try it.
I was able to score a $1 ticket from NYC to Toronto 5 years ago. I went just for the heck of it. Total it was $10 after fees and reserving a table seat. It was also the last time I took a bus since the ride was painfully long back and forth
Great video again Jeb! Thank you for taking the time to make these and show us what travel is like. I still can't believe your channel doesn't have millions of subscribers! I honestly think your videos are so good that you could have your own Travel Channel TV show. Thanks again and god bless
I was in France last month and my family took the high speed rail from Marseille to Paris. Tickets were about $70/person and we had the same seating arrangement you did on Acela 1st class. No meal/beverage though, which we didn't need anyway since the station in Marseille had so many shops and was really nice. There were no stops, either. The train was going 200 mph for much of the trip. So nice...I wish we had more HSR over here, especially more comparable to European prices.
Depending on which day you left, their food supplier had a listeria outbreak recently. So they didn’t have a lot of food, but I rode Acela First Class yesterday from NYP and things were back. I know because they sent me an email (I ride Northeast Corridor multiple days per week).
For people in MD or VA, I recommend the Vamoose Bus from MD to NYC. Prices start at $40 similar to Mega Bus avg price, but the seats are larger and have free Wi-Fi. I had a very comfortable trip.
Interesting comparison .... always fun to go along on your travels. Learn something new every time. [Greetings from Tucson]
Jeb, i´m from Brazil. Here we don't have these trains to travel between the main cities of the country. On the other hand, if you travel on a bus between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo that lasts approximately 6 hours, you have much greater comfort. It has services that are real beds, with a stop along the way for a meal and even the simplest service, you can rest. Seeing your video, something similar is our city bus with this kind of comfort.
5’11" I had you at 6’1" 😂 love the vids, love the banter between you and Suzanne, thanks for the hard work.
Your "Prêt à manger" was legendary, perfect! "Au bon pain" needs a little practice, a little! Almost there! 🙂 Thanks both for your videos!
Yes pronouncing the English company using a French name was ok, not legendary
I take Amtrak all the time between NY and DC. I’ve had trouble if I hadn’t connected to the Wi-Fi right away it would connect at all. But I’ve never had the trouble heading back north.
Great video and a topic I know all too well. I currently live in Maryland (shoutout to Suzanne!) with family in NJ so I have made that trek countless times. Calling the I-95 corridor unpredictable is an understatement. You almost don't know what to do if you don't encounter sizeable traffic at some point. I would take Amtrak more often however not always the most affordable option if your traveling with a family even on the Northwest Regional.
Jeb, you and suzzane gave a most wonderful explanation of these charming rides (smile). .. Actually I always travel via Amtrak. Travelling to Savannah, Ga is awesome on Amtrak. Busses just don't have enough room for my legs at all. Also, on Amtrak, one can walk the whole length of the train for exercise!! .. Cannot wait for your next adventure!! .. Outstanding video!! 🥰 PS: Love your french accent!!
Hi Jeb been watching your channel and it’s been a great help for me, I’m going on my first European trip to Italy. I seen most of your blogs and I never seen a italy trip have you ever been?
Hmm something I wanted to point out Amtrak has some $30 tickets too and as of late there are some $20 tickets hidden when you book early.
I had no idea that we had Mega Bus here in the states, and it even has Dara O'brien painted on the side of the bus as a mascot. That is so cool.
I’ve seen these buses lined up at Hudson yards so many times. Never taken a trip from there and now I’m glad I haven’t 😊
Let's also add Amtrak fares are also dependent on how soon you book to your departure date and how many seats have been sold when you book.
Ah, the memories of MegaBus. Used to ride it often from downtown Toronto to BUF when air fares were much cheaper from that US airport. Managed several $1 fares. With wifi it was not too bad…except for the border crossings!
Appreciate the throwback, as I've done Metropark to DC on Acela many times. Also, its a shame they didn't have meatballs for you on the train
Jeb Brooks, it is time for an episode of just your watch collection.
lovely couple ,, thanks for these entertaining videos ,, love from Washington DC
Used to take Megabus from Cardiff to London. It's cheap but gets you there - but remembering to stock up on snacks first is wise.
This is the first video of this channel that I've seen, and I really enjoyed it. As a NYC native who went to college in Raleigh in the '80s, I made the bus trip through DC several times. Your trip looked like so much fun. For me, at least. The idea of being able to see the roads, cars, exits, and towns, without driving for four-plus hours seems like a breath of fresh air. the train seemed like it would be cool if you were pressed for time, or not at leisure, but I'd love to make that bus trip at least once, each way ...
I’ve done both bus and train. For price Megabus wins that. As for time and comfort, I’ll take Amtrak every time. It’s not that the ride between NYC and DC was bad on the bus. Just long and at times unpredictable. I took the overnight megabus from NYC. It was supposed to get in by 6:30 in the morning. Well a delay at the Lincoln Tunnel backed us up then when we got to DC we hit rush hour. We didn’t get in until 8:30. Now when I took the train it wasn’t the Acela just the regular north east regional.it was an all around better ride with no real issues. Next time I go I’ll definitely take the train.
Megabus UK has improved massively in the last few years. They’re far better than National Express now. They dropped their UK to Paris/Amsterdam/Brussels routes but they’re bringing them back competing directly with Flix.
I can't stop hearing Dwight Schrute yelling MEGABUS!!!
But, where you ever "mesmerized"? Consistent Saturday CRINGE from this couple never disappoints.
Oh boy, a new Jeb Brooks video! Today is going to be a good day!
I've taken Megabus just once so far, going from Dallas to Memphis back in June 2015. I remember the trip taking about 9 hours, and if I were to drive the same distance, it would've taken about 8 hours.
I've taken Amtrak a few times between NYC & Boston. First time was in 2007, when I was going from NYC to Portsmouth, NH, but I had to transfer from the train to a bus in Boston. Both ways stopping in Boston Amtrak was late from NYC & the bus was late from Portsmouth, giving me very little xfer time (maybe 20-30 mins.) from train to bus & back.
Well even though the train’s expensive, some of the trains on the route are not expensive and they’re still better than first class on an airplane. And much better than any bus you’ll ever see.
Great, as usual! Is that Welcome Jetsetters- or Welcome Jebsetters? 😂 Like that RUclips put an ad for Subway just as you opened your Pret sandwiches!
I’d happily save a little and just take Amtrak but on the “slow” train. I found Acela business class (from Boston to NYC) was not as comfortable as the regional. (Weird vibration at speed, and the lighting was way too bright onboard for a late morning trip on a sunny day).
You guys are my new favorite travel channel. Love your guys overall vibe especially your more recent posts with Suzanne 👏🏼🙌🏼 And the last time she took a train from NY was for a Beyoncé concert?!?!? AWESOME!
Nice to see a Scottish company doing well in the states, Stagecoach started Megabus in Scotland and you will see identical Megabus vehicles and livery in Scotland between, Aberdeen, Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh. However Stagecoach recently sold Megabus and Scottish Citylink to a Singapore company. What I will say the inside of your trains look, well like the inside of an old peoples home.. comfortable but very beige!
I remember going to NYC for a high school field trip a few years ago in the winter and my class also rode on the bus. Not a great experience. We had to leave at around 4 came back around midnight, took us around 4 hours to and from. The only best part about riding the bus was seeing the NYC skyline at night with the snow falling
We did go to rest stops during the trip to refresh ourselves
Austria has a similar train service called Railjet which takes about the same time on the Vienna-Salzburg route and only costs 60$ first class. But I still prefer to operate aircraft into Innsbruck
Great video Jeb as per usual though I have to say $50 off a future trip offered by Amtrak is totally unacceptable. In fact, I think it’s a bit of an insult considering the amount you paid (which is itself extortionate!).
We had a similar experience with the Caledonian Sleeper a couple of years back and they refunded us approximately 35% of the total journey cost. I think this was probably fair but tbh, being notified of poor food availability put a bit of a downer on the trip before we’d even started. Ultimately, there are different reasons why people take the bus or the train ‘swings and roundabouts’ as they say, and personally I find it very difficult to compare one to the other. Cheers 😊
Jeb I really like your watch collection, that speedy is just gorgeous!
For a short while Amtrak Acela had a Washington to New York NONSTOP. I hope they bring it back.
Amtrak's food vendor for Acela First meals had a possible listeria contamination so products were recalled, and not provided for the first week of February, plus or minus a couple days. Possibly tainted food was served/sold January 24th to the end of the month.
How many people have done Air France La Premiere and Megabus within 16 months of each other?
The variety on this channel is great.
Greetings Jeb and Suzanne thanks for sharing wonderful video as always stay blessed
I use Megabus regularly to travel between Inverness and Edinburgh, I’m 6ft1 and book these seats often and fit no problem on the same type of coach. They must be laid out slightly different because I’ve never found them to be cramped. The head room - yeah that’s a an issue 😂
Love watching these types of videos comparing travel in the northeast. I'll be traveling on Acela next weekend for the first time between Baltimore and Washington to get a quick taste of what high-speed on Amtrak is all about!
Thank you both for another comparison video. These are very informative. Have done Amtrak when visiting the states. Might do a short trip on a bus next time. Didn't look horrible, didn't look flash. Looking forward to next trip. Stay safe.
5:14 That's the exit where my grandma and grandpa live near White Marsh! Pretty cool you were near them!
Take a shot every time Jeb says “getting work done” 😂
I live right near the White Marsh Megabus station and it makes getting to NY really convenient.
Take two when I say “mesmerizing” 🤣
@@GreenerGrass Haha, for sure
Same here, so entertaining I am a huge aviation,fan hope Jeb responds!
See you on the move! Like that tag!
For a train which according to Amtrak is worn out and due for replacement, the first class interior looks very nice; interesting that they offer a variety of seating configurations. I wonder if the new ones will perpetuate that? I doubt it; new trains hardly ever seem to be an improvement on the ones they replace (Amtrak's new Siemens carriages the exception, perhaps)
Jeb Jeb Jeb Jeb Jeb! I always love your and Suzanne's videos - and this one was certainly a treat to watch. I was surprised that, while on MegaBus, seeing an accident on the interstate elicited a "Gee, I sure hope they're okay" -- but didn't inspire either of you to put on your seatbelts.....which were clearly visible in this video :( Buses can also have unexpected turbulence - and I want you two to be well and keep these videos coming for many years to come!
The one time I took Megabus was when I got contracted to pick up a vehicle in Brooklyn. And I got sick after that trip. Nothing like having a cold in June....
Jeb, you ever wondered how cheaply one could cross the United States? Based on cost per mile.
Flying a low cost carrier like Spirit has to have flying win out. I see $100 one way tickets on Spirit from NY to LA. Amtrak long distance is expensive. And Greyhound may be slightly cheaper (usually it isn't) but will take 3 days and be absolute hell.
Ended up watching this stoned and Jebs narration voice is soothing lol
Nostalgia.
The Megabus from Northern England to London for aspiring theatre teenagers was the best thing ever.
I don’t think we ever paid more than £5 for our tickets. That was around 2004 though.
I’ve traveled on Mega Bus, between NYC and Albany. Even at 5’8, I found the space to be very tight.
Love these videos! Your content is great!
Thanks so much!
I haven't done the trip by road, but Acela was a nice way to make the trip. But that facing seating is tight, especially for four people in business class. With 3x6'+ in our family travel group I'll be avoiding that seating next time, and reserving specific seating. A mid-point (especailly with advance booking discounts) is the NE Regional which still saves at least an hour over the road trip.
This just makes me realise how mutch better train services are here in Finland.
Normal priced tickets here offer better experience than american first class.
Nice speedy at 2:30 4:29 9:47 Jeb! Keep showing your watches in your videos please. As a watch enthusiast, I love it whenever I see your pieces