Amtrak vs Bus? I Ride Both Constantly. Here’s How I Choose.
I’ve lived car-free for seven years and ride Amtrak and buses all over the Northeast. Here’s how they compare on comfort, speed and price, and how I decide.
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The 5 Ways to Get from NYC to Albany Without a Car (I’ve Ridden Them All)
Amtrak is the best way from NYC to Albany, until the price doubles. Here are the buses I’ve ridden instead, where they pick up and drop off, and what they cost.
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I Love Amtrak. I Don’t Have Their Credit Card. Here’s Why.
I ride Amtrak more than almost anyone I know, except for maybe my friend who works for Amtrak and rides for free. I’ve slept on overnight trains in coach, ridden in the private rooms, taken just about every train that…
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Spirit Airlines Is Dead. Here’s What I’d Fly (or Ride) Instead
Spirit Airlines shut down in May 2026. Here’s what I’d fly (or ride) instead, from Frontier and Breeze to basic economy fares and the buses people forget.
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The 4 Ways to Get from NYC to Vermont on Transit, From a Local
I grew up in Vermont and go back without a car or a plane. Here is every car-free way from NYC to Vermont, and which one fits where you are headed.
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Amtrak Guest Rewards Points, Explained by a Frequent Rider
Last week I sat down to book a train from New York to Burlington, went to pay, and noticed I had enough points sitting in my account to cover the whole thing. My coach seat for seven hours up the…
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Camping in Vermont by Train: A Car-Free-ish Weekend at Mt. Ascutney
I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog making the case that you can reach real nature from New York without a car. My car-free day trip series is built around it. You start at a subway stop, end…
