Long story short, taking the Megabus is my new preferred way to get to Toronto if I have to.
You can get a one-way ticket from $18 to $55 a trip, and on average a ticket costs $38 for a half-filled bus.
If you go on off peak hours, or when people haven’t bought many tickets, then the price can go as low as $18.
I paid about $100 in total, but that’s because I miscalculated and had to come back a day early to start on a contract in another city…
Comparing it to driving to Toronto ($60 round trip by car)
- About the same length of time to get there (7 hours)
- Same cost of gas as well, but I booked my last ticket at $18!! ONE-WAY! Gas is at least $30
- Kind of sucks worse because you don’t have your own music or space
- …but you don’t have to try and stay awake to drive
- Also cannot bring more than 1 suitcase, 1 carry-on and 1 purse (not great if you were moving stuff, like us)
- Not great for people with motion sickness (me) because it rocks back and forth
- Can’t make any stop or rest anywhere you want to stretch your legs
- Internet is spotty on the bus, but at least you have it for free!!
- Has a table to work on in the lower level (it’s a double-decker) with power outlets
Comparing it to taking ViaRail ($180 round trip by train)
- ViaRail CLAIMS to get you there in 4-5 hours, but they’re 99% always delayed
- Only 2 hours more on the bus, and you’re paying less than half the price for a round trip
- In the end, the bus also drops you right on Bay & Dundas rather than at Union Station
- …which made for a much shorter TTC trip to get to my parents’
- The comfort level is the same — tables, plugs in the vehicle
- …and motion sickness is always a problem because both vehicles rock side to side
- Can’t make a stop or rest anywhere you want to stretch your legs
- The bus doesn’t offer food or snacks to buy, but if you’re organized, you don’t care
- Internet is $10 for 24 hours on the train, and is just as spotty as on the bus
- Both have bathrooms
In conclusion?
If you aren’t picky about amenities like food and drinks available to purchase on board, and don’t mind sitting still for about 3.5 hours (you get a 20 minute break in between halfway through), then go with the Megabus.
It wasn’t bad at all. It was better than I expected, and you even get both seats to yourself in a lot of cases!
I didn’t have to share my row with anyone, and I just listened to my iPod there and back with my Bose headphones to drown out the hum of the bus.
Highly recommended over the train, and on par with the car if you aren’t driving the whole 7 hours.
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Shelley
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 2:28 PM:
So, how does Megabus compare with something like Greyhound? I did the Greyhound thing when I was 17-18 and it was a real eye-opener. We recently noticed that airfares from Newcastle (England) to Toronto are a bargain, so knowing how to travel from there onto other destinations would be useful. In the spirit of being frugal, I asked Bill "What about a Greyhound bus?" He said not with someone else's bargepole…. Is this outdated or still pretty much understandable?
Carolyn C.
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 4:10 PM:
First of all, I really like your blog! This is my first time commenting.
I have never taken 7 hours to drive from Montreal to Toronto. 5.5 hours MAX… And I've done the drive MANY times (I live in both cities). If I don't fly, driving is my preferred method of transportation… the freedom of stopping when you want, eating what you want (the only thing available at that stupid stop in the middle of nowhere is the Tim Hortons), and singing to the car radio or to the iPod is so worth it.
Megabus can be good though… I've gotten $1 trips before, which is not too bad. I tell myself that the agony of spending that much time on a bus is worth the $1.
I think that the 99% delay rate you described for ViaRail is grossly exaggerated. I've taken the train maybe 10 times between the cities, and it has never been delayed. Maybe I'm the lucky 1%?
Otherwise, flying is my preferred method. You're there in 50 minutes to an hour, and you can buy a Porter pass, 10 flights for $1,100.25 taxes included. That is only $110.00 per flight! Porter has that great downtown island airport, so it is super convenient, and there is never any huge lineups to check in or go through security.
So when I take a quick trip to Montreal on a weekend, this gives me an extra 10 hours to spend with my family and friends. Can't put a price on that!
Sam
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 4:26 PM:
I love the Megabus. I took it to Chicago for about $30 round-trip. I had the table section to myself (all 4 seats). I dont think there were more than 10 people on the bus, including the driver. I put my things on the inside seats, and stretched across the 2 facing seats to sleep for a good portion of the trip.
If you watch & your schedule is flexible, you can get seats for as low as $1. Some friends of mine did that – a day-trip to Chicago for about $30/person (bus fare, food, sight seeing). Cant beat it!
@watercoloursky
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 4:52 PM:
Nice comparison! Though I personally prefer Via even with the extra cost, because I can't stand sitting for extended periods and there's more room in the train cars to walk around compared with buses.
Investing Newbie
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 5:44 PM:
Lily and I are twins. I have taken Megabus a few times to go down to DC. I also have taken Bolt Bus. Is that in Canada yet?
Lily
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 2:18 PM:
I used Megabus too when I was heading to DC (I live in NYC) for a mini-vacation and they had a free fare special (only $0.50 fee for reservations)~ Saved myself quite a few bucks there.
I have to say my first experience with Megabus wasn't great at all… Our bus broke down and our schedule was delayed by a few hours while having to wait for another bus.. But my trip back was more pleasant since we didn't encounter such an issue. I hope you never have to encounter such issues! Have you looked into Bolt bus as well? Their fares are pretty much the same as Megabus'
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 5:41 PM:
Bolt? I don’t think so
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 5:41 PM:
That’s a good point
I can’t get up and walk around on Via, because the rocking makes me SO sick that it isn’t worth it.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 5:42 PM:
Flying is definitely my favourite if it’s 2 hours versus 7 in this case
But I’m cheap
I think you’re the lucky 1% because I took the train twice a week to Montreal for 8 months, and they were ALWAYS late. Perhaps it was just my particular schedule/run …?
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Mar 5th, 2010
@ 5:43 PM:
It’s the same, really.
To me, all coach buses are the same. I found the Megabus to be quite pleasant! Then again, I am not really expecting anything fancy
@watercoloursky
on Mar 6th, 2010
@ 4:37 AM:
Hmm have you tried stuff like Gravol? Or do you just sleep the entire trip if possible?
Kate
on Mar 6th, 2010
@ 1:54 PM:
I can speak to this. Hubby and I just finished a 15-month commute between Ottawa and Toronto, and we tried forms of transportation!
Driving- This is my own particular thing, but I hate driving that route, especially in winter. The weather can be dicey, you're at the mercy of every traffic jam in the land, and they've closed a bunch of rest stops along the way. It also left one of us without a car during the week (since we only have one).
VIA- Seemed like a great idea when we started out, and was quickly jettisoned. Our late-rate was pretty close to FB's. I think the official statistic is 86% late. The schedule was also a problem- for hubby to come home for the weekend, VIA (in all their infinite lateness) could only get him home at 11:30 pm on Friday, and the last train out on Sunday was at 5:30 pm. Basically we lost a whole half day with each other each way. On the other hand, you could stretch out, relax, and get work done, unlike the car.
Greyhound (haven't tried Megabus yet): Basically combined those two.
Porter- Man, I love Porter. The Porter Pass is genius (110 every included) and we earned a TON of free flights. Our flights to the US (NYC and Chicago- which can be PRICEY) are covered for the next year or so. They were also great about changing the flights forward or backwards if we were early or late (no charge), so we didn't feel as bound by their schedule. I also loved that they let you off right at teh subway, and the in-laws are just a few stops up from there. I can see, FB, if your family is further out, the appeal of the Megabus stop.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Mar 7th, 2010
@ 8:11 AM:
I try to sleep the entire trip. Gravol tends to do funny things to me. I usually can’t get off the effects for 48 hours… but I do agree that it works!!! I just don’t like the after effects
MegaBus – Detroit to Chicago for cheap « Life is Beautiful
on Mar 7th, 2010
@ 4:11 PM:
[...] in to do at 4:11 pm by Megan I was excited to see this post on fabulouslybroke.com. I’ve heard of Megabus before – there’s a stop [...]
bree
on Mar 10th, 2010
@ 1:56 PM:
i'm a big fan of megabus!! i've taken it from toronto to NYC 3 times and don't have a complaint yet. i just booked another trip and the round trip cost me $14 !!!