Several bus companies compete on the Boston-to-New York City route, with promotional fares as low as $1, normal fares from $15 to $32, and luxury-service fares as high as $89—which is still cheaper than most flights or Acela express train fares.

It's best to buy your ticket in advance online, as you'll have a better chance of getting the seat you prefer, at a lower fare. But if you can't, just show up at the bus departure point a half hour before you want to ride, and you'll probably find a seat available on a convenient departure.

Several companies offer buses departing every hour on the hour from 7 am to 8 pm, plus additional buses at other times.

The trip between Boston and New York City takes about 4-1/2 hours in normal traffic, 15 or 20 minutes less in light traffic, up to 30 minutes more in heavy traffic.

Most buses carry about 50 passengers, and are equipped with onboard toilets. Some buses make a 10-minute rest stop at a restaurant with food, drinks, and toilets.

BoltBus
A joint enterprise of Peter Pan Bus and Greyhound (see below), BoltBus serves Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC. The coaches have flush toilets, free Wifi Internet, and power outlets at your seat for your laptop computer, mobile phone, etc.

Fares range from the promotional $1 to $20. Seats are unreserved, but guaranteed if you reserve online. The farther in advance you buy your ticket, the better your chance of paying a lower fare. You board the bus (at Boston's South Station Transportation Center or New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal) more or less in the order in which you bought your ticket, so early ticket-buyers get their pick of the best seats. Occupy your seat at least 15 minutes before departure, or it may be sold to a Standby passenger.

MegaBus
This international company serves the Boston-New York route with 11 trips daily in each direction. Coaches have free Wifi Internet, and travel between Boston's South Station Transportation Center and New York City's Pennsylvania Station. Fares are competitive, with at least one seat on each coach selling for $1, others up to $20.

Fung Wah Bus
The original low-fare ($15) bus line between Boston's Chinatown and New York's Chinatown, Fung Wah runs between Boston's South Station Transportation Center (across the street from Chinatown) and 139 Canal Street next to the Manhattan Bridge in lower Manhattan's Chinatown (map). Buses depart every hour on the hour from 7 am to 10 pm, with some additional buses at rush hours and later at night.

Lucky Star Bus
Similar to Fung Wah, Lucky Star operates between Boston's South Station Transportation Center (across the street from Chinatown) and New York City's Chinatown (69 Chrystie Street/Hester Street [map], near the Fung Wah bus stop, and one block from the Grand Street station on the IND 6th Avenue/63rd St. subway line.) Buses depart every hour on the hour between 7 am and 8 pm, with a few additional late night and early morning buses on certain days. Fares range from $1 (for tickets bought well in advance) to $25 (for the 2 am departure), but the normal one-way fare is $15.

Peter Pan-Bonanza-Greyhound
Traditional service from New England's largest bus company (Peter Pan/Bonanza, in collaboration with Greyhound), with departures every hour on the hour from 7 am to 8 pm, additional departures at busy times, and a few late-night buses.

Comfortable boarding is at Boston's South Station Transportation Center and New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal. Fares range from $20 (advance purchase online) to $37 one-way, $38 to $59 round-trip.

LimoLiner
Luxury service meant to compete with—and be more comfortable than—the airlines, LimoLiner carries business-class passengers between the Hilton Boston Back Bay Hotel, 40 Dalton Street (map) and the Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas (map) (with a stop to pick up and drop off passengers in Framingham MA), for $69 to $89 one-way.

You wait for your coach in the hotel's comfortable lobby and board by showing a photo ID.

LimoLiner coaches carry only 28 passengers in comfortable, reserved, reclining leather seats equipped with power outlets, seat belts, and free Wifi Internet.

A newly-released movie is shown on each trip. Two satellite TV stations and five music channels are available as well. Two tables at the back of the coach are good for small-group meetings enroute.

Complimentary snacks and beverages are delivered to you by an attendant. The toilets are the best on any bus.

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