By Jessie Kuenzel
Staff Writer

Boston is a great city, there’s no doubt about that, but when the mood strikes to go on an adventure, there’s no better place to go than New York City.
Only an easy five-hour bus ride away, the Big Apple is a near infinite wellspring of opportunity. As college students, it’s almost an obligation for us to go off and experience the crazy and eclectic sides of life while we still can, before the grind of a 9 to 5 job, a family, or the many other obligations of adulthood hold us back.
But what to do when you want to visit the city that never sleeps without emptying your wallet to get there? Trains and planes are great—fast, comfortable, and convenient—but they often cost upwards of $100 just for a one-way ticket. Unless you have access to a car, and are willing to drive in the horrifying grid that is New York City traffic, that leaves buses as the last remaining mode of transportation to get you to your destination.
Luckily there are a few reliable, and affordable, bus lines that make regular trips between Boston and New York City.
The top contender among them is the Bolt bus, which leaves from South Station. Tickets range in price from $8 to $30—depending on day of the week and time—but booking early can score you a ticket for less than $10. Buses go in both directions all day, so it’s easy to find a time that will fit your schedule. Probably the best thing about the Bolt bus is the outstanding fact that they depart from the corner of 34th and 8th, rather than forcing riders to navigate the depressing and many halls of the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal.
The Peter Pan and Greyhound buses are other popular lines to travel on, but they are also often more expensive. The infamous Fung Wah and Lucky Star buses have been shut down by USDOT, permanently and temporarily, respectively, but they were never and are not advisable modes of transport if you desire to reach your destination on time and in one piece.
All buses departing Boston for out-of-state destinations leave from South Station. The best advice to save some money when looking to travel is to shop around; check the rates and look for last minute deals—as there often are some—and you will definitely find yourself sitting on a bus destined for NYC with a few extra bucks in your wallet.