April Fools’ Day inspired more than a few mad posts on travel blogs around the world – here’s a nice one from Gadling. Not a bad idea, some might say. It must be hard being Canadian, living perpetually in your big neighbour's shadow. A bit like being a Kiwi, I suppose...oops! Only joking!
Photo: Vancouver April Fools by Foxtongue
Anyway. The news I’m about to impart might sound like another April Fools' Day joke (and a fairly ridiculous one) – but rest assured it’s not. Bus fares in the States are in the process of going mad. Mad, as in $1.50 to travel between Washington and New York.
Still think I'm joking? Check the facts here. New, super-cheap inter-city service Bolt Bus (an offshoot of Greyhound) offers fares of a single dollar between New York City and Washington DC, with a booking fee of 50 cents. There are several services daily, and more than one pick-up point in NYC. Next Monday there’ll be a service between New York and Boston, and later this month to/from Philadelphia, both at the same tiny price.
Photo: Washington by David Paul Ohmer
Not every Bolt Bus seat costs $1: the earlier you book, the better your fare will be, but at least one $1 seat will be available on every trip. Bookings can be made online. Fares gradually (but modestly) increase as the departure date grows nearer, and even if you arrive as the bus is about to "bolt", you’ll pay no more than $20 says Consumerist – though I did see someone, somewhere, quoting a $25 cap. Well, if that's true, it's hardly exorbitant.
But that’s not all – and this isn’t any kind of joke either. There’s equally cheap travel ($1 upwards) available through the Midwest on Megabus, an offshoot of the UK bus company, Stagecoach. Once again, you need to book early for the absurdly low fares, and once again you can do it online.
Yes, single-dollar fares are hard to believe but, luckily for us Aussie travellers, not too good to be true. So, if you’re heading to the States, check those bus bargains out - you'll find a lot of information on the net. And I really, truly AM NOT JOKING!