Megabus to NYC and Hotels

[ktkerber]

I was thinking of taking the Megabus from Pittsburgh to New York City for a weekend of Christmas shopping. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on an inexpensive, clean, and decent hotel in NYC possibly near the megabus stop. It looks like the bus stops are different depending on whether you are coming or going.
Also, does anyone have any experience using the Megabus? This will be our first experience if we can find a decent hotel.

Thanks,
Kristen

 

[pamickey]

Hi Kristen-
I live northwest of you and have taken a regular coach bus to NYC - once. After that trip, we decided that it's easier to drive and stay outside of the city and take the daily bus in to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. We go straight across I-80 into Secaucus, NJ and usually get a hotel on Priceline or Hotels.com for $75-90 per night in the Harmon Meadows area. My favorite is the Hyatt Place, but the Holiday Inn was also nice. Free parking or valet parking is available at both hotels.

The bus ride to the city takes under 15 minutes and is about $2.65 each way. My brother's family got a taxi from the same area and he thought that the price was also reasonable. There are also several restaurants within walking distance of the hotels.

I think the bus terminal in the city is between 38th and 42nd Streets on 8th Avenue, so it is close to shopping and shows. We usually shop in the Garment District, so we are able to walk wherever we need to go. If you need to venture further into other areas of the city, the subway and bus system offers an inexpensive "FunPass" with off and on privileges all day. When we're done, we simply go the the assigned gate for our bus at the terminal and we're back at the hotel very quickly.

We did fly into NYC out of Pittsburgh once and stayed across from Madison Square Garden. We thought that it was extremely overpriced and very noisy all night long (constant sirens and car horns). However, it was very convenient to walk around the city.

Have a great time when you go and try to check out the new Disney Store that is supposed to open on Broadway at Times Square in early November.

Terri

 

[paydabill]

I never tried it is it alright?

 

[clori]

I have taken megabus from Boston to NYC a few times. While the drop off and pick up are different and departure for Boston is switching soon the stops are all right around Penn Station - within walking distance. I'm not sure where your departure or arrival stops are. Probably any hotel that says near Madison Square Garden would work. If you can get a good price it was just a few minute walk from Megabus to Affinia Manhattan. We requested a quiet room and didn't find it very noisy but it was noisier than at home.

I have traveled alone with my two dds now 6 and 10 on Megabus. It has always been a quiet bus ride, The seats are as comfortable as any bus, there is a bathroom on board which we try and avoid if possible etc. I was happily surprised to find seatbelts with shoulder straps on the seats. My girls love to sit up top in the front with the big window and once when there were 4 of us also loved sitting downstairs with a table (two sat facing backwards).

Another hotel that we used that worked well for us was the skyline hotel. We did grab a cab and it cost around $5. I don't know what prices would be for your weekend but I have it booked again for Dec 26 and 27th for $107 a night for two double beds. The girls loved the indoor pool. I don't know about the subway but it is on a busline that goes to Rockerfeller Center then Times Square etc. When the tree is up it tends to stop about a block from Rockerfeller Center. It is a quieter area and we didn't here noise at nighttime.