The Case Against Using Mass Transit for Vacation Travel
Recently, as my family and I were contemplating a trip to Boston, I looked at fares to go from Newark to Boston via train. A round trip ticket cost $208.00 per person. A round trip ticket on Greyhound was $120.00 per person.
Using these modes of transportation for your family vacation travel are not cost effective. Even using the new, temporary IRS miliage number of $.48 per mile for your car's usage, the trip to Boston for a family of four would only cost $288.00 vs. $832.00 for train and $480.00 for Bus.
Until a new model arises wherein the pricing for a trip is not by seat, but by group, there will never be mass rail travel.
posted by RBM @ 1:55 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I can't disagree with you about price, but there are definite advantages to the train- your time being first. You can read or work for the 5 hour trip. You can also get up, eat a snack, use a rest room, and it's low stress compared to 95 through Connecticut.
Sis-in-law & oldest nephew always take the train to come to visit NJ from the Boston area. Way easy, low stress- and cheaper than the divorce from Bro-in-law that would ensue if she spent 5 hours trapped in a car with him in traffic.
I just checked online at Amtrak, and if you look you can find a better deal. I think you got the business class fare on Acela, which is the most expensive way to go. The off-peak fare for the regional service between Newark and Boston South Station is $219 each way, for 2 adults and 2 children. If you book farther in advance and have AAA, you can get the round trip for $342.90 for all four. There are also student and other discounts.
I'll be on the train tomorrow -- round trip Philly to DC and back is $102 using the regional service, and saves me an hour each way. Add in cab fare in DC and parking in Philly, and the total trip cost is under $150. Driving at the current mileage would cost $175, plus parking in DC and tolls.
I just read that JetBlue is going Newark to Boston for $29.00. And of course, you can hop on the Chinatown bus for $12.00. Both of thse options require a certain amount of bravery.
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