Acela train or plane to NYC

[mjkacmom]

46 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

Indeed - when we drive from CT to Florida we  take the Cuomo bridge across the Hudson to avoid NYC area, then I 287 across north Jersey to I 78, joining I-81 in mid-Pennsylvania down through Virginia then I 77 southeast to get back on I 95.  It is perhaps 100 miles longer — but being an easy 70 mph run all the way,  with none of the NYC, Jersey, Baltimore, DC and Richmond traffic it takes a bit less time - while going through some of the most beautiful country in the East.

My daughter goes to Clemson and avoids 95 driving to and from NJ. We are in the sweet spot living in between DC and Boston, get traffic going north and south.

[Nitemare]

On 12/8/2023 at 7:14 PM, navybankerteacher said:

One thing to help in deciding between driving and Acela from Boston to New York is the $45 daily parking charge: $315 for 7 days, while Acela tickets bought now for October 2024 travel would be about $115 per round trip ticket. 

Are you sure the $115 is for Acela?

I was pricing Amtrak tix last night and didn't see any one way BOS/NYC fares on Acela for under $70 one way

 

Northeast Regional trains, the slightly slower ones, priced regularly at $30 each way

[Nitemare]

On 12/8/2023 at 7:14 PM, navybankerteacher said:

One thing to help in deciding between driving and Acela from Boston to New York is the $45 daily parking charge: $315 for 7 days, while Acela tickets bought now for October 2024 travel would be about $115 per round trip ticket. 

Are you sure the $115 is for Acela?

I was pricing Amtrak tix last night and didn't see any one way BOS/NYC fares on Acela for under $70 one way

 

Northeast Regional trains, the slightly slower ones, priced regularly at $30 each way

[mjkacmom]

25 minutes ago, Nitemare said:

Are you sure the $115 is for Acela?

I was pricing Amtrak tix last night and didn't see any one way BOS/NYC fares on Acela for under $70 one way

 

Northeast Regional trains, the slightly slower ones, priced regularly at $30 each way

Amtrak fares fluctuate a lot, my daughter took a $30 train back to Boston, she booked for the 20th yesterday, $200+. $30 is the cheapest fare, I believe.

[fozzy]

34 minutes ago, Nitemare said:

Are you sure the $115 is for Acela?

I was pricing Amtrak tix last night and didn't see any one way BOS/NYC fares on Acela for under $70 one way

 

Northeast Regional trains, the slightly slower ones, priced regularly at $30 each way

Oct 2024 which I'm looking for is $57 each way. 

[Nitemare]

1 minute ago, fozzy said:

Oct 2024 which I'm looking for is $57 each way. 

impressive!

[Nitemare]

5 hours ago, mjkacmom said:

Amtrak fares fluctuate a lot, my daughter took a $30 train back to Boston, she booked for the 20th yesterday, $200+. $30 is the cheapest fare, I believe.

For Northeast Regional $30 is not hard to find.  I also saw $15 looking last night.

[navybankerteacher]

10 hours ago, Nitemare said:

Are you sure the $115 is for Acela?

I was pricing Amtrak tix last night and didn't see any one way BOS/NYC fares on Acela for under $70 one way

 

Northeast Regional trains, the slightly slower ones, priced regularly at $30 each way

The $115 RT I  cited was for Acela in October 2024 - in response to OP’s post.  It makes sense to book in advance because Amtrak fares usually go up, sometimes drastically, as travel date nears.  I am sure a this coming Christmas Eve fare booked now would be a whole lot higher.

[navybankerteacher]

3 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

The $115 RT I  cited was for Acela in October 2024 - in response to OP’s post.  It makes sense to book in advance because Amtrak fares usually go up, sometimes drastically, as travel date nears.  I am sure a this coming Christmas Eve fare booked now would be a whole lot higher.

I just checked out of curiosity - a one way to Boston this coming 12/24 on Acela would be $225 - vs the October 2024 round trip fare of $115.

 

As with most goods and services it generally pays to shop early.

[dbrown84]

I definitely recommend booking early on Amtrak, but also stalk the prices until you find one you like.  The prices fluctuate all the time, at least on the NE routes.  I was able to get round trip tickets for $46 ($30 up and $16 back) from DC to NY for my cruise in January, which is a great price.  Now, the tickets up are $18 vs the $30 I paid.  During Covid, they waived change fees, but I think they just bought them back.  So, I won't be able to just re-price by ticket for the $12 refund

[princeton123211]

1 hour ago, dbrown84 said:

I definitely recommend booking early on Amtrak, but also stalk the prices until you find one you like.  The prices fluctuate all the time, at least on the NE routes.  I was able to get round trip tickets for $46 ($30 up and $16 back) from DC to NY for my cruise in January, which is a great price.  Now, the tickets up are $18 vs the $30 I paid.

With Amtrak's new pricing structure the prices don't fluctuate so much as they go up based on capacity. They offer two fare levels-- Value and Flex. Flex is similar to how its always been-- no cancellation or change fees as long as it's before departure but Flex is also the most expensive. Value, where the fares are significantly cheaper but come with a 25% penalty for cancelling and doesn't offer change (you just cancel and rebook), is available further out until it's limited capacity sells out and then you are left with Flex. The Flex fares are technically dynamic but usually will creep up until the train is full.

 

The moral of the story is buy early for the Value fares-- unless there was somehow a massive amounts of cancellations on any given train, which could have happened in your case but isn't usual-- the lowest fares will the the Value ones available months out. The Flex fares are aimed at business travelers who usually aren't paying for their tickets themselves or those that have no choice last minutes. 

 

 

[dbrown84]

25 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

With Amtrak's new pricing structure the prices don't fluctuate so much as they go up based on capacity. They offer two fare levels-- Value and Flex. Flex is similar to how its always been-- no cancellation or change fees as long as it's before departure but Flex is also the most expensive. Value, where the fares are significantly cheaper but come with a 25% penalty for cancelling and doesn't offer change (you just cancel and rebook), is available further out until it's limited capacity sells out and then you are left with Flex. The Flex fares are technically dynamic but usually will creep up until the train is full.

 

The moral of the story is buy early for the Value fares-- unless there was somehow a massive amounts of cancellations on any given train, which could have happened in your case but isn't usual-- the lowest fares will the the Value ones available months out. The Flex fares are aimed at business travelers who usually aren't paying for their tickets themselves or those that have no choice last minutes. 

 

 

well, I must say that is not my experience at all.  I travel the NE corridor 2 or 3 times a month, and the prices are always going up/down.  Maybe it's unique between DC and Philly, but like I said I'm seeing the same for my NY trip

[princeton123211]

59 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

I travel the NE corridor 2 or 3 times a month, and the prices are always going up/down.  Maybe it's unique between DC and Philly, but like I said I'm seeing the same for my NY trip

I'm Philly to Boston on the Acela twice a month these days-- once the Value pricing comes off (usually a few weeks before) the Flex pricing can go down, as it is dynamic, but usually just keeps going up as the train pushes into 80-90% full. Possible that the Northeast Regional might fluctuate a bit more. 

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, dbrown84 said:

well, I must say that is not my experience at all.  I travel the NE corridor 2 or 3 times a month, and the prices are always going up/down.  Maybe it's unique between DC and Philly, but like I said I'm seeing the same for my NY trip

While it may be possible for fares to go down with the passage of time, the overwhelming direction is upward - as inventory shrinks (which it must every time just one seat on a trip is booked) the relative value of remaining unsold seats goes up.  Sure, if there are a number of cancellations impacting a particular run, the inventory would grow, leading to a price decline —- but movement in that direction is unlikely.

 

I very much doubt there is any “always” in the price decline category. 

[lindacat]

I have a similar question, we will be coming from Boston to the Manhattan cruise terminal.  However our cruise is a one way trip from NY to Port Canaveral, so driving is out.  We are planning on taking the train the day before.  we have free transportation to the ship from the cruise line,  but I am not sure whether we should take the train to Newark or into Manhattan.  Where would our best hotel options be for three woman.  

[markeb]

27 minutes ago, lindacat said:

I have a similar question, we will be coming from Boston to the Manhattan cruise terminal.  However our cruise is a one way trip from NY to Port Canaveral, so driving is out.  We are planning on taking the train the day before.  we have free transportation to the ship from the cruise line,  but I am not sure whether we should take the train to Newark or into Manhattan.  Where would our best hotel options be for three woman.  

 

Your cruise leaves from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal? Just want to be sure.

 

For MCT, you'd want Amtrak to New York Penn Station (Amtrak code NYP). That's the Moynihan Train Hall, but the code is still NYP. Your blocks from MCT and in near dozens to hundreds of hotels. Depends on what you want to spend and what kind of configuration you're looking for. A room for three can be more challenging if that's what you're thinking. It would help to have dates, a hotel budget, and any hotel affiliations/preferences. And what you plan to do once in the city. Lots of options.

 

Newark Penn Station would not be a great option in general. You might save hotel costs, but you may be looking at an Uber back to the MCT from Jersey and that could blow at least some of your savings. (There are public transit options, but your questions lead me to believe you might not be comfortable with them. That's an assumption...) The train is at least a little more expensive, and you'd lose most options to easily do something in Manhattan.

[dbrown84]

40 minutes ago, lindacat said:

I have a similar question, we will be coming from Boston to the Manhattan cruise terminal.  However our cruise is a one way trip from NY to Port Canaveral, so driving is out.  We are planning on taking the train the day before.  we have free transportation to the ship from the cruise line,  but I am not sure whether we should take the train to Newark or into Manhattan.  Where would our best hotel options be for three woman.  

are you sure that transportation is from the train station?  NCL transportation is usually between airports and the terminal.  Although this could be something different since you mentioned it's free

[dbrown84]

On 12/12/2023 at 1:43 PM, navybankerteacher said:

I very much doubt there is any “always” in the price decline category.

nice way to take my quote out of context.  Feel free to doubt it, but I know what I see

[mjkacmom]

14 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

are you sure that transportation is from the train station?  NCL transportation is usually between airports and the terminal.  Although this could be something different since you mentioned it's free

I’ve never heard of NCL providing transportation from train stations. Penn station NY is what you want, the next stop is Penn station Newark which takes you away from the MCT.

[lindacat]

I have a casino offer from Carnival that provides free transportation from hotel or airport to and from the ship.. We are cruising 12/6 on the carnival Venezia for a one way trip to Florida.  I normally park at the terminal but that is not an option since we will be flying home from Manhattan.  We are ideally looking for a clean  room that will sleep three hopefully in a room with two double beds and a sleep sofa.  We are really only looking for someplace to rest the night before the cruise as we have been to NY before.   Hopefully with decent food choices nearby.  We are high on convenience.  Our budget is around 450 for the night but we are flexible.

[navybankerteacher]

57 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

nice way to take my quote out of context.  Feel free to doubt it, but I know what I see

Hardly “…out of context…”.  
 

Then “always” means all the time, every time. Clearly not appropriate if there is just one scheduled train whose fares do not zig zag up and down.

[GTJ]

On 12/26/2023 at 11:08 AM, lindacat said:

I have a similar question, we will be coming from Boston to the Manhattan cruise terminal.  However our cruise is a one way trip from NY to Port Canaveral, so driving is out. We are planning on taking the train the day before. We have free transportation to the ship from the cruise line, but I am not sure whether we should take the train to Newark or into Manhattan. Where would our best hotel options be for three woman.  

If the "free" transportation is from any hotel, then the decision factor on where to alight from the train should be based on where you decide to bed down for the night. If you plan to stay in Manhattan, then train to New York. If you plan to stay in Newark, then train to Newark. Pick your hotel based on whatever factors are important to you. Cost of transportation between hotel and Manhattan Cruise Terminal does not matter to you if it is "free."

[lindacat]

Just now, GTJ said:

If the "free" transportation is from any hotel, then the decision factor on where to alight from the train should be based on where you decide to bed down for the night. If you plan to stay in Manhattan, then train to New York. If you plan to stay in Newark, then train to Newark. Pick your hotel based on whatever factors are important to you. Cost of transportation between hotel and Manhattan Cruise Terminal does not matter to you if it is "free."

I can arrange the car service from any hotel, train station or airport.  I am looking for the best hotel option either in NY or Newark knowing that transport to the ship is not a consideration.  

[njhorseman]

13 minutes ago, lindacat said:

I can arrange the car service from any hotel, train station or airport.  I am looking for the best hotel option either in NY or Newark knowing that transport to the ship is not a consideration.  

Your cruise departs the Manhattan Cruise Terminal so you should stay in Manhattan. There's no sense in taking Amtrak the additional distance to Newark, which would also entail a longer car service ride back to the port in Manhattan the day of your cruise.

Have you checked any of the major hotel booking engines like trivago.com, hotels.com or expedia.com for hotels that fall in your price range?

FYI...hotels in Manhattan tend to be expensive at that time of the year as the city is packed with tourists doing Christmas shopping and sightseeing.

Edited December 27, 2023 by njhorseman

[navybankerteacher]

55 minutes ago, lindacat said:

I can arrange the car service from any hotel, train station or airport.  I am looking for the best hotel option either in NY or Newark knowing that transport to the ship is not a consideration.  

You might want to double check that “any hotel “ car service.  It would seem likely they meant a Manhattan, not a New Jersey, hotel. You might find a less expensive hotel in Trenton, for example.