Boston to New York on BoltBus

I'm writing this post from a bus - a BoltBus to be specific. Boltbus provides express city-to-city connections with some pretty cool amenities, like wireless internet and outlets to plug your electronics into (not all seats have these, though, so choose your seat carefully). True, the wireless isn't perfect - it's having some trouble streaming Netflix, for example - but anything that will get me from my friends in Boston to my boyfriend in New York in under five hours while providing internet of any kind is good by me. The price tag is what makes it especially appealing - my ticket was only $15 one way. Compare that with the $158 I paid for the Amtrak Acela (also has wireless) to get me from New York to Boston ahead of the post-Christmas storm (I was one of the last trains out before they shut the station down) and BoltBus is the clear winner.

BoltBus connects a variety of locations in New York, Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia. The further in advance you buy your tickets, the cheaper they are, and BoltBus offers a rewards system if you use their service frequently. So far my trip has gone smoothly and has included a single, ten-minute stop at McDonald's for a food and restroom break. It's a relief to be able to work, write, and watch chunks of my favorite tv shows as the wireless struggles with Netflix. Outside, the East Coast scenery is also still pretty with its heavy frosting of snow, so watching the cities go by has its charm, too.

Copyright 2010 Sara Harding

Home Again... On The Michigan Flyer

Back in the Detroit airport... long before I wanted to be.

So... I'm home again. I had a wonderful trip in New York and returning home is a bit anticlimactic. I already miss my boyfriend, too - so much so that I'm going to write a short post and then put on my pajamas and eat candy.

The big thing I want to share isn't my post-boyfriend depression, however, it's a useful resource I discovered while trying to find a way home from the Detroit airport. A friend dropped me off for my outgoing flight, but no friend was available to pick me up on my way home. Of course, I put off thoughts of leaving until the very last minute, so at 9 pm the night before my departure I found myself cross-legged on my boyfriend's bed googling ways to get home.

Of course, there's a cab stand at the Detroit airport and there are lots of shuttle services, but I'm trying to save money so I wanted something a little cheaper than the $35 shuttle service that was my most economical option. Fortunately, I happened upon a useful bus service called the Michigan Flyer. Prices range from $15-$30 one way depending on your destination: Ann Arbor, Jackson, or East Lansing. There are also small discounts for round-trip tickets and/or multiple passengers. Booking online - even the night before - was fast and simple and the bus driver was impressively courteous and helpful. He offered us complimentary bottled water and also offered to arrange for taxis to meet us at the bus's drop-off points.

I know this is a rather specific travel tip, but I hope some of my fellow Michigan residents find it useful. If you live in Ann Arbor, Jackson, or East Lansing and you need a way to the airport, the Michigan Flyer offers great service and convenience at a great price.

Copyright 2010 Sara Harding