The Chinatown bus "reputation" has kept me away for many years but this year I decided to give them a shot. I wanted to take a quick trip to Boston between Christmas and New Year's and didn't want to deal with parking in the middle of the city. I purchased my ticket in person at the NYC office on 12/20 for a trip on the morning of 12/26. The 10AM bus to Boston was $25 (which matched the pricing they showed online). Good thing I purchased early because when I arrived to check it that morning, there was a handwritten note saying that due to the holidays, the fixed price for that day would be $40. I wasn't sure what time I would be heading back to NYC on Friday but after seeing this same day pricing change, I decided to book my return ticket at this point to lock in the cost. It was $30 for the return trip and again, it matched what the website had shown the week before. Lucky Star has a decent waiting area where you can get snacks and use the restroom before your trip. This is light years better than the Megabus "terminal" near the Javits Center on 34th St. which is outdoors and exposed to the elements. The bus arrived about 20 mins before departure time and we started to load about 15 min before. I noticed that there was no one around to help with the loading of the luggage on to the bottom deck of the bus. So if you have a ton of stuff or a physical issue that will cause problems doing this, be prepared. The bus itself was pretty new and clean. The seats were in good condition and not worn. Each row had a plastic bag attached to the handle for your garbage. There was no evidence of garbage from the previous trip so that means it was cleaned before being dispatched for our trip. Some people have mentioned outlets on the bus but their location was not obvious to me. I was not about to stick my hands around and under the seat looking for it, who knows what I'd find! I came prepared with an external battery pack anyway. The bus was about 2/3's full and lucky for me I had an empty seat next to me for the trip so I could spread out a bit. The passengers were a mix of all ages and nationalities but most important to me was that they were all QUIET, no yakking on their phones. Due to the light traffic the day after Xmas, we were soon out of the city and on I-95 headed north. We did hit a few pockets of traffic but the driver expertly got off and on the highway to avoid the most serious of delays. He kept a good consistent pace and was very smooth at the controls. There is a 15 min bathroom and snack break at a Burger King off the highway about 2 hours into the trip. We arrive at Boston South Station in a little over four hours from NYC. On a side note, I can't believe how dirty some people are. My seat was in the middle of the bus and I waited for the majority of people to get off before I started to move. There was garbage and food wrappers all over the place and under the seats. I would hate to be the person to have to clean up after that! For the return trip, be sure to check in at the Lucky Star counter in the terminal before making your way to the bus ramps. The Lucky Star ramp is the last one at the end of the terminal. I made the mistake of assuming the booth they had there at the ramp would be able to check you in but nope. At the check in counter I again noticed a handwritten sign that on demand tickets for that day were $40. Not sure how typical this is, but the lesson here is to book your tickets ahead of time if at all possible. Based on other reviewers here, the refund policy is a mess or non-existent but that's the price you pay for saving a few bucks I guess. The bus for the ride back was again fairly new and clean. The loading process was quick and orderly and soon we were in Friday afternoon traffic out of Boston. We arrived in NYC in a little over 5 hours due to traffic. Again I think the driver did a great job with detours around the biggest jams and keeping the ride smooth. At the 2.5 hour mark, we have the same break at the highway Burger King. Use common sense and take advantage of the facilities if you're going to be arriving in NYC during rush hour! One final note when we arrived back at the NYC terminal. My luggage had somehow rolled/skidded all the way to the far end of the bus in the luggage area. Remember how I said no one was around to help with luggage? Well, this not so young guy had to hunch over with a huge backpack and laptop in one hand to crab walk my way to the other side of the bus while trying to avoid putting my knees down on the dirty loading floor. I managed to do it without banging my head or getting my backpack caught on anything. I'm sure it would've made for a very funny video! Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised at the trip especially compared to Megabus (which I took last year to Boston) and wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Book tickets early to save a few bucks but expect no refunds if your plans change! read more

This is the worst transportation. I'm from New York and I'm telling you do not ever take this bus.. they are horrible and their staff is rude as hell.. trust me horrible is not even the word. For this amount of money just take the greyhound or peterpan read more

I am concerned for my safety on this bus. The driver spends time on his phone. I called customer service as I don't want to talk with the driver while he is driving. They said that they would speak with him at the rest stop. After the rest stop, he went right back to his phone. He is using it now. A woman asked him not to. No matter. I'll report this to the Massachusetts DOT tomorrow morning. OK, I've had words with the driver. I told him that he was selfishly risking the lives of himself and his 50 or so passengers and the people in cars around us. No phone since. My wife is happy with me. Still reporting him. He's dangerous. read more

Lucky Star Bus - Driver with the phone rear piece in while driving. - Buses Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

$31 Round Trip from Boston to NY? What a deal! Bus is kinda old and dirty. Wifi is slow as hell. Stops at an Arby's halfway there and on the way back as well. Warning: Be there 30 minutes before your departure time if not the bus might be full and you will have to wait for the next bus in the next hour. My friend and I got there at 1:55pm for our 2:00pm bus and there were only 2 seats available for us. People behind us were pissed because they had to wait another hour for the next bus. I strongly suggest this company to fix this issue... shouldn't sell more seats that what is actually available. For the price... not bad... read more

Adventure bus tour ... if you like, just jump down to the fun part in the last paragraph. --- Recommendation: Don't leave your valuable lying around if you travel on the bus! Crooks prefer to steal from poor people. This was the first time for me to travel on Lucky Star or any bus to NYC, because this was the only one leaving late enough - 10 PM from NYC - so that I could attend my dinner meeting before returning to Boston. Previously I took car, train and plane to NYC. Lucky Star is definitely a good choice and cheaper than the taxi to mid-town. The morning ride from Boston to New York was uneventful and more comfortable than I feared. Thank you fellow Yelper for the TIP: Sitting on the right side to avoid the sun. The bus wasn't full, which probably helped. Hey, and they have free WiFi which I only realized half way to NYC. The night ride was much more exiting though. Some one was stealing money on the bus, which led to a hysteric outbreak of a lightly intoxicated passenger and eventually a 911 call. Around Framingham the bus was stopped and searched by state troupers ... this was better than a cop show on TV. And seriously ... the poor bus driver behaved well ... even when everyone was yelling at him and constantly asked if he spoke English. His English wasn't great. But being yelled at for not understanding people whose English isn't quite high school graduation level either isn't right. read more

Ah, what can I say about Lucky Star? Well, it leaves right on time and arrives approximately 4.5-5 hours after your departure. However, I'm going to go and say that this bus is nothing special compared to all the other Boston-New York buses. In fact, it will always be the bus that never worked out for me. After all our ups and downs...I'm officially dumping Lucky Star today. Here's my accumulated list of reasons why. 1. I truly do not understand why they still post their "$1" promotional sticker all over their bus windows and website. I mean, you guys had and ended this promotion for one summer three years ago. You don't do it anymore! Stop kidding yourself. 2. There is wifi available on Lucky Star, and yes...this is very cool. But then again, Megabus also offers free wifi...AND charging outlets! 4.5 hours is an extremely long time...why would I want to completely drain the battery on my phone and laptop? How will I call for my ride in NY since I killed my battery on the free Lucky Star wifi? Come on now...at least provide chargers. 3. Lucky Star offers tickets to purchase online. For years, I've been trying to accumulate enough points to earn myself a prize (some sick, childlike need of mine). Well...I officially give up on these unachievable goals. I think you need 35 tickets online to get another free ticket. Sometimes I go to NY on a whim...so...that prize is not happening. 4. It leaves every hour. It's great...but when I miss a bus...I don't want to wait that long. And this one is especially horrible for me because I usually purchase my ticket online...and I never end up using it within the allotted 30 days...anyways...Lucky Star...think about your competitors! Fungwah...yes, dangerous reputation, but I'll arrive in the city in 4 hours (or less) and on top of that, it departs on the half hour! Which is why I am writing this review on a Fungwah bus right now. read more

I haven't been on a Lucky star bus since it had the old name around 10-12 years. We wanted to visit some family in NY for the weekend and I must say our trip was pretty good. Friday morning heading to NY was great as the bus was empty and on time and we got there quickly. Coming back Monday late morning it was completely full and it did not have the power outlets as other buses but the ride was quiet and on time considering there was a snow storm a couple nights ago. I would use them again as we thankfully did not have any issues or problems. read more

Yelp needs a no-star rating because that is what Lucky deserves. I took 4 hours to go from NYC to Bridgeport -- charging $25 + $15 for the bicycle. The bus broke down --- in the middle of the highway and he left us on he side of the road. Lucky never sent another bus. We had to find someone to split ride to Boston as it was getting very late. When we go there 00 the three of us tried to get our money back and the agent said he could not help us. So -- no more $15 a ride Bus is filthy No refunds No Service I would NEVER take this again --- . Hopefully they will be out of business odor good. read more

Pros Recliner seats Kind of comfy seats Has wifi And outlets Cons Driver is going like 20mph New york to Boston 4-5 hrs But it took us 7hrs to get there there was like an hour or less of trafic but driver is going slow Air conditioning is bad Seats kind of feel like a rock No tray tables atleast cup holders And wifi is slow. read more

Currently on lucky star bus and I fear for my safety. Not only has the driver been speeding in rain and sleet, but the windows have been foggy since abt 40 minutes into the ride. I have gotten out of my seat twice to assist with the windows when I technically should not leave my seat in a moving vehicle. I'm sure this message will go unnoticed like many others, but the bus should be up to code especially when passengers lives are in the hands of one driver. I will be filing a complaint. read more

Lucky Star Bus - Foggy windows - Buses Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lucky Star is the fastest and most reliable bus line I've ridden with. They're almost eerily efficient. They will board you quickly, leave exactly at the listed departure time, and get you to New York on schedule, if not early. The 6:30 pm bus to New York always lists the arrival time as 11:30 on the itinerary, but they've always gotten me to Manhattan by 11, sometimes 10:40. Can't beat the prices, either! read more

I've been riding Lucky Star for over 5 years now, and it consistently has been great for me. The bus drivers do not get lost or take the wrong routes, the tickets are consistently well-priced, the WiFi and outlets are working over 90% of the time, and the trip between NYC and BOS usually takes a consistent 4.5 to 5h each way, traffic-dependent. One other benefit that probably isn't well-known is that Lucky Star also has a decent loyalty program that offers a free one-way ticket after booking 25 online tickets. I've ridden Lucky Star more than 25 times within the past 5 years, but I only recently hit the free one-way ticket reward, because some of the time, I had purchased my ticket at the counter instead of online--and only online tickets count towards the loyalty program, not at-the-counter tickets. However, it was a simple redemption process. I arrived at the check in counter the same day that I needed to take the bus, gave them my reward number, and they got me on to the next bus, no questions asked, no dirty looks for using a free reward. This also happened to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving break, when bus tickets were pretty expensive, so I am happy I got to redeem my free one-way ticket reward on that trip. Chinatown buses often get a bad rep, but all I ask of a bus service is to *safely* and *efficiently* get me to and from NYC/BOS, with WiFi and outlets working, and Lucky Star consistently delivers. read more

Lucky Star has always reliably transported me to and from NY and BOS . The power outlets let me scroll through the deepest darkest corners social media for hours although I've never really tried using the wifi (don't think it really works) and the busses are clean so no complaints there. Their $5 penalty to change your bus reservation is a godsend if you're like me and tend to run late. It's cheaper than buying a second ticket and standing in the cold like you would have to for megabits and go bus. What deters me though... is how often you're stuck on a 4.5ish hour ride with passengers who don't have indoor voices and have hour long phone conversations or ones that don't seem to own headphones. One time I saw someone clipping their nails too soooo.... you can't have everything. read more

WAYNE GOT CUT THE FUCK UP!! That is the news the woman two rows in front of me received on her cell phone about 20 minutes into our trip. She spent the rest of the bus ride calling EVERYONE to inform them (in a series of alarmingly combative and profanity-packed screeds) about Wayne's plight. Turns out he was found by a stranger "IN A MUTHAFUKIN POOL OF BLOOD!" He is now in the hospital. Other details we all learned: this woman "gotta do what she gotta do" and (I'm NOT making this up), "I'm a straight up hustler. I GOTSTA get paid." (This convo was definitely with a relative. Possibly grandma). People of Yelp: Wayne got cut the fuck up. Can I fault a bus line not for its service, but rather for its clientele? Oh, hell yes I can. Yelp is about helping you make an informed decision. And here's me informing you about my latest LS experience. Oh, and the wi-fi didn't work (Bus #771 on 5/12/10, j'accuse). Which was kinda worse than the Wayne thing. The Wayne thing was sorta funny. Though i doubt it was funny to the poor guy who was sitting directly in front of her getting the full onslaught of her screaming and her Steel Reserve breath. read more

You're my Lucky Star 'cuz- I go from Boston to NYC for $15 You're my Lucky Star 'cuz- you seem clean- d/d free You're my Lucky Star 'cuz- your wheels haven't rolled off midway yet You're my Lucky Star 'cuz- I always bump my head getting into one of the seat with a small TV above. Sometimes a real hard bump. Oww... Tip: From Boston to NYC, it's better to sit on the right side of the bus when you're going in the morning. The sun rises from the other side so if you sit on the left, it'll shine in your eyes. Bring your sunglasses so you can still sleep when sun rises. Also buy your tickets both ways when at South Station, so you don't have to go looking for a ticket booth in NYC. The Chinese food buffet they stopped on the way does make me gag. read more

Considering the grand total of $68 to bring my girlfriend and myself from Boston to New York City, I wasn't expecting five star service, but luckily, Lucky Star came through for us. I was a little hesitant and nervous about using their service through other reviews, but thankfully, everything was good. Our 8 AM bus left at about 8:30, but hey, not that big of a deal. We still got to NYC before noon which was our goal. After we purchased tickets back a few days prior, we realized that we'd be getting back to Boston past the time the subway stops running. Uh-oh! We need that to get home! Luckily, we showed up at 7:55 PM at the Lucky Star station in NYC and they happily changed our 9 PM departure ticket to an 8 PM departure ticket. Cool! I'll definitely be using Lucky Star again! read more

$15 each way is HAWT. I've heard rumors about Lucky Star and Fung Wah when it comes to transportation to NYC, but price/schedule is what sold me when I compared to Greyhound. It seems with Greyhound, if there are $30 roundtrip tickets available, you need to buy in advance online and for certain departure times--but for someone like me who is notoriously late and OCD when it comes to packing (or life), it was just easier to show up at South Station whenever I wanted and buy a ticket on one of the low cost bus lines--even minutes before scheduled departure. Both Lucky Star & Fung Wah are sketchily located beyond the Greyhound/Peter Pan/Corporate McStealYourMoney ticket counters within South Station. They are literally right next to each other and ready to sell you a ticket--ya know when you're at the mall food-court, and you come across a 'West Side Story' type of scene where Umi of Japan and Wok n' Roll are in a standoff for your cash money--samples in hand--well picture that as you walk in the direction of these bus ticket counters. Ultimately, Lucky Star won our business but good effort made by Fung Wah. The bus was not even half full which made for a very pleasant and roomy bus ride. Unfortunately, the rear end of the bus did not have working a/c which my friend and I hadn't realized until halfway thru the trip...at which point we then picked up our bags and moved our sweaty backs up front for a/c. No movies either, so sleep or bring your own entertainment. It was a bit terrifying when the Lucky Star driver seemed to defend his 'honor' somewhere in Connecticut by almost sideswiping a Greyhound bus...but I think it was more of the fact he was chatting on his cell phone whilst driving a relatively large vehicle. We also stopped midway thru the trip, but awkwardly at a Chinese buffet and grocery store--I'm used to fast food & rest-stops for stretching grounds, but whatever. Overall the trip was good--I mean, I survived and was able to write this review. You can't really beat the price and convenience of Lucky Star when compared to Greyhound. Keep in mind that Greyhound drops you off at the Port Authority whilst Lucky Star drops you in Chinatown--just be aware of that if you're not sure about navigating around NYC. Chinatown is a bit sketchy, and by a bit, I mean absurdly. read more

Lucky Star has improved tremendously since my college days. Their fleet is now overall superior to Megabus and Bolt Bus for the Boston/New York route. Comparing the 3 previously mentioned lines: All 3 are comparably clean. Lucky Star prices are generally cheaper. Lucky Star has more frequent buses. All 3 advertise outlets and wifi, but only Lucky Star has them on all (or almost all) of their buses, and only on Lucky Star do they actually work! Megabus usually has outlets, but I have yet to see one work. Bolt Bus does not often have outlets. Bolt Bus has the most comfortable seats, but Lucky Star is good enough! (^_^) Cleanliness (^_^) Outlets (^_-) WiFi (^_^) Buffet rest stop (^_^) Bang for buck Glad I started using them again. When traveling to and from NY, I'll still prioritize which bus I take based on the drop-off location and timing, but Lucky Star is not to be discounted. PROTIP: if you know what time for sure you will take the bus, buy the ticket online for cheaper. PROTIP2: it may be cheaper to buy multiple tickets individually rather than together! read more

first off, I ride both Lucky Star and Fung Wah, only when I can't get a seat on MegaBus, and I'm desperate. I'm going to tell you the pros and cons of riding Lucky Star. Pro's : Affordable only $15.00 one way. * They let you off on Canal street, if your into buying cheap knock off items. * 4 hour bus ride to NY. * 85% of the time, they leave on time. * They have an indoor waiting area in NY, with a DIRTY BATHROOM. * They stop for about 15 min so they you can use the restroom and get something to eat. usually a buffet or Burger King. Cons: * The indoor bathroom in NY is extremely dirty, be careful and use gloves. Don't touch anything with your bare hands. I should of post pix, but I just wanted to hurry up and leave. * I don't ever use the one in the bus you might really catch something. * The bus is extremely DIRTY. It looks like they never clean it or change the disgusting cloth seat you have to sit on for 4 hrs. I'm going to post pixs of it. * The windows are so dirty you can't even look out to see the earth. * Sometimes the bus drivers smell like cigarettes and its really strong. * The bus is really really dirty. * They advertise free WiFi but it never works, and when you ask then they never know what your talking about. * The windows have mold all over them. * They don't have any outlets to charge your phone or laptop. * They talk on their cell phones while their driving. Like I said, I only take this bus if I can't get on MegaBus. if you are planning on taking this bus, here are a list of items your going to need. * An old clean sheet to put over the seat on the bus bc it's so filthy. * Purell to or wipes to clean your hands. * something to snack on and water * GPS just in case driver gets lost. * Be carful you might get bedbug or something worst from the seats. This is just my opinion , but if you don't believe me go see for your self. just ask them can you take a look inside their bus. I'm also going to report them, bc their buses should not be this dirty. MegaBus gives the sane deal and their buses are CLEAN. Hope this helps..... Ms LuLu Bell read more

I really can't say I am disappointed because you have to be a fool not to brace yourself from the get-go in the first place. Their goal is to get as many of you on a bus and race you to your destination. Pace not so much race after a wee number of road accidents that cost them more money than it was worth. I still take this bus on the occasions I want to mindlessly wander to South Station and feel like going to New York. Okay, not mindlessly, just 'not making enough effort but probably need to go cos I told my friends I would so I'll just show up at midnight' kinda way. The bus costs $15 and leaves every half an hour. What do you want, a foot massage? Maybe a polite driver. Last ride to New York, I had the worst bus driver. Downright rude, and verging on racist (I observe people because I lack better things to do). Case in point, as we were disembarking in Chinatown, NY, the couple at the back of the bus was gathering their things and their sleeping BABY. They (and me) took approximately 2 minutes longer to walk off the bus. Everyone else had sped off because it was midnight. The driver YELLED, "OI, GET OFF THE BUS.What the fuck.." and started muttering to himself. I was deeply offended by this fool's callous and low-class behavior that I told him sternly to watch his language because the couple had a baby with them or I would report him. He ignored me blatantly. I should have sworn at him in Mandarin, Hokkien or Cantonese.Sometime I wish my boyfriend was around to beat the crap out of assholes like that. Anyway, bus driver of coach 772, July 23, Saturday bus (8pm BOS - NY) you're in trouble. read more

Lucky Star...you dastardly dogs. They have reaped the benefits of Fungwah's tragic downfall. They really are very similar, so check out my review for Fungwah if you want a more thorough review (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fung-wah-bus-boston#hrid:5lXyoLcbtha7P04HM9DHMg). The big kicker is that they now charge $25 for peak time tickets and $20 for off-peak instead of $15. With that in mind, you are almost better off opting for BoltBus or Megabus. PROS: 1. Traffic and Location - As with the Fungwah, the Lucky Star loops through Brooklyn and Queens on the BQE on the Triborough Bridge when entering Manhattan, while the Greyhound/Megabus/BoltBus drag you through upper Harlem and Midtown for another 30-40 minutes getting to their midtown stops. Have you ever wanted to punch your driver for thinking it would be a good idea to drive through Times Square to get to Port Authority? Won't happen here. Also, it drops you off on Chrystie Street in Chinatown, shaving off a couple of minutes subway-wise if you're Brooklyn-bound or headed to any other downtown Manhattan location. 2. Tickets: At one point, when life was good, you were able to show up at the Lucky Star booth and buy a ticket 10 minutes before the bus leaves. You won't be able to do that any more on high-traffic days/times (Fri/Sun), but you can buy it online up to 24 hours in advance for $25 when the other bus companies jack up their prices upwards of $40. CONS: 1. Comfort: Minimal leg room, the buses are kind of dirty, etc. My roommate and I spent 4 hours in the back of a non-air conditioned bus on a 90 degree day absolutely sure we were going to die that day. 2. No outlets, but they do have "WIFI". The password is usually printed it out on a crappy piece of paper and taped onto the front of the bus. Or you can try to hustle it out of the driver, who is probably too busy talking on his walkie-talkie to talk to you. In summary, the Chinatown buses' cons can no longer be overlooked given its $10 price jack. I'm a Greyhound girl for the time-being. Make sure to print your ticket and check in with an employee before you get on line. Nothing hurts more than being on line for 30 minutes and losing your place because you didn't get your ticket validated. read more

$30 round trip?! I spent that on drinks at the Rated X "Panty Party" ! I have never traveled to NYC solo. I have always jumped in a car with friends, but I had business to take care of, and alone I went! You can get Greyhound offers for $40 ROUND TRIP (under their online offers section), but they were all sold out. I got to South Station at 1:49 on Friday expecting to take a 3:00pm bus... but the man jumped out at me with a hand full of tickets. The bus wasn't as gross as I was expecting. A woman DID change a baby's diaper a seat away from me, and I wanted to slap her across the face... but other than that, nothing too funky. We stopped at a Roy Rogers on the way to NYC. That was probz the GROSSEST part of the trip, that and an arrival time of 7:25. (That's my fault, I forgot what traffic was like entering the city. On the way home... the bus was a little gross. It had just dropped people off, and then scooped us up. I guess the light in the bathroom didn't work (at night time :( ), and it was fully loaded from the last group of travelers. :( + :'( This didn't bother me, because I know not to use bathrooms on buses. We stopped at that AWFUL buffet which I will review if I can remember the name. (everything was dried out and crusting over. Stick with the cookies, avoid the jello, fish, poultry, beef, pork, rice, noodles, vegetables, etc. ) We made it back to boston at 11:38 after leaving nyc at 8:00 and stopping at that gross buffet. I made it back to town just in time to wait for an hour in china town, because the orange line "DERAILED AT WELLINGTON", but I've bitched about that train enough... I'll spare you the details. I'll probz take it in the future, but next time I want to drive. It was a bitch carrying my things from city to city. read more

Lucky Star vs. Fung-Wah!! The Lucky Star bus was actually the first in the business in running a low budget travel deal to NYC and to Boston. Then came the Fung Wah bus which stole all of the Lucky Star thunder due to their strategic location in NYC. Things you should prepare yourself before boarding: 1 - Buckle your seat belt!! Can't find it?? Well it's $15 bucks, you gotta cut cost somewhere as this bus races to the finish line to beat its nemesis, the Fung-Wah 2 - Fung-Wah customers migrating over to the Lucky Star. Rude people from the Fung-Wah tend to migrate over due it's less rowdy experience. 3 - People yelling at the employees. $15 ticket is not a first class ticket. Please stop yelling at the Chinese employees. Remember this is a discount budget ride! People don't yell at the Greyhound bus drivers after paying $40. You get what you pay for!! 4 - Non-stop bus rides is quite common. Sometimes the bus driver is on a mission to beat the Fung-Wah to the finish line and may not make any pit stops. You may need to relieve your bladder and your intestinal issues before boarding. It's common courtesy not to stink up the rear bathroom. Remember it's a 4 hour bus ride! 5 - Be prepared to walk a couple of blocks if you need to get down to Canal Street in NYC. Advantages over the Fung-Wah: 1 - Fung-Wah takes most of the media blame even though it shares the same problem as in fires and rollovers 2 - Everyone is on the Fung-Wah and sometimes there will be less people on board. If you're lucky, you'll get to sit by yourself. 3 - Less rowdy customers. Sometimes everyone has some "savoir faire" (knowing how to conduct oneself). Manners, respect and common courtesy is better here. 4 - Boarding is less stressful here during peak times compared to the Fung-Wah in NYC. Overall I pick the Lucky Star over the Fung Wah!! Not in the best location in NYC but if you walk a little, you'll get a little better experience. read more

I took the lucky star from NYC to Boston and it was the absolute most worst experience ever!! I am writing a letter of complain and demanding my RT ticket be refunded $80. This is ridiculous to Even pay but guess it's a holiday weekend. Ride:7:00 delayed until 8:00. Left NY at 8:00, did not get to Boston until 3:30. 7 + hour ride!! Why? 1. Driver was new, had no idea where he was going and rerouted us back to NYC after 2 hours of sitting in traffic. 2. Half the people on the bus was demanding he let us off the bus as we were so upset after 2.5 hrs we were still driving through Manhattan. He did not lot s get off. 3. No outlets to charge phone 4. Lights are all on even though it's night 5. There is a stop, not express 6. Workers and drivers speak minimal English and are very disorganized when boarding people into bus. 7. Unsafe!!!!! Driver almost hit another truck when he was lost for the 2 hours. 8. People were complaining after 4 hrs no water and we still. 9. They try and cram everyone in to the very last seat. A man was holding his baby and they tried to put me next to him after he screamed at driver he bought the seat for the baby. WTF would I want to sit next to a stranger and their 1 yr old?!!! The ride on Friday night at 7:00pm 10/9 on the bus not marked as lucky star should refund all the passengers on board. This ride was a complete outrage. I don't even know how this company is still in business. Safe your money and just take Amtrak, rent a car or fly. Greyhound is just as bad! But lucky star tops the cake. read more

If you didn't order your tickets in advance for BoltBus and there aren't any tickets on MegaBus left this is your next best option for getting to New York on the cheap. Lucky Star occupies a middle-ground between Fung Wah and the other low-cost buses like MegaBus and BoltBus. Like Fung Wah it's a no frills affair, but everything Lucky Star does better. From being cleaner, faster, and more reliable. Both Lucky Star and Fung Wah have been doing this the longest and they have the Boston-New York route down to a science. But along the way Fung Way seems to have lost service, cleanliness, and occasionally even safety. read more

So Fung Wah shut down and I'm pretty much left with few alternatives. Since I've grown accustomed to Chinatown buses naturally I gravitated to Lucky Star. They're only a block away from where Fung Wah dropped you off when you reach Manhattan so that's a plus. Here's the kicker though, once Fung Wah was out of the game ALL the remaining bus companies conspired to raise the fare. Now weekend service to and from NYC and Boston is a whooping $25. Math isn't my best subject but that's about a 66% increase. During the week, Monday through Thursday Lucky Star only charges $20. Not surprisingly though Lucky Star is still cheaper than MegaBus, Bolt Bus, and Greyhound owned wannabe C-town bus Yo! Bus. Now that the fare has been raised across the board I think buses aren't as crowded as the times of the $15 fare which has it's benefits. Also less crowded bus means less of a chance of sitting next to a douche. And if you're the douche people now have alternative seat choice before grudgingly sitting next to you. This bus company also stops at a chinese buffet place in CT rather than a McDonalds off the highway. This can be a pro or con depending, since those highway McDonald's bathrooms were actually pretty clean and could accommodate a massive number of folks wanting to use the facilities at the same time. You still have the same trip and it still takes 4 to 4 and a half hours. As sad as I am to see that Fung Wah is gone the alternative isn't too bad. And acceptable until they return. read more

Alright. I was frightened, but it all turned out to be A-OK. 1. The competing screams of Fung Wah vs. Lucky Star were amazingly hilarious in South Station. 2. $30 round trip to NYC. That's all I have to say. 3. Two seats to myself. Perfect for sleeping, reading, knitting, not being smushed. 4. My friend left her I pod Nano on the bus, ran back to check on it, and they called the bus driver and she's picking it up today. (cross your fingers). UPDATE: Ipod RETURNED. How amazing is that?? Seriously. So Impressed. Yup. It felt like a field trip bus, but with a ton of strangers. Word. read more

I think the Yelp description for 3 stars fits. A-OK. The busses are usually full, you end up sitting with a partner. I don't mind sitting with a partner, but if gets kind of stuffy. The bus isn't that generous about space so you're always wondering about what your neighbor's boundaries are as far as elbow-grazing goes. You're also scared to lean the seat back because the one in front of you is already up to your nose. It's not roomy at all. The bus drivers don't really communicate with you, or even welcome you, so I had no idea what time we were arriving in the city or where. I picked up a map, fortunately, but that's all I knew. When we stopped at the BK in Vernon, CT, I wasn't exactly sure how much time we had so I sacrificed a piss for a milkshake and made my way back. It's okay if you're looking to go to New York for cheap, but I'd rather plan ahead and take a Boltbus any day. read more

Lucky Star is nice but Fung Wah is MUCH better! First- Fung Wah has more frequent departures as frequent as every 15 minutes deoending on the crazy schedule. Second- Lucky Star has this annoying habit of ALWAYS going out of the way to stop at a Chinese buffet place since the drivers get free food there. The detour is totally not worth it and takes more time! Third- At the same price, I rather go to the more efficient and perhaps slightly more dangerous Fung Wah buses. read more

This is SOOO convenient. So I make the Boston - NYC trip often, with very strict scheduling needs. So the options for leaving Boston in the early AM are Greyhound 1AM and Lucky Star at 2AM. Most always Greyhound is FULL - with people carrying tons of luggages. What's worst is that Greyhound is always delayed, most of the time leaving 1:30-1:45AM. Lucky Star leaves on time, right at 2AM, and it's never full. You'll get to NYC in under 3:30 hours. I almost always arrive in Manhattan Chinatown by 5:35AM. Lastly, the route they take to enter and leave manhattan is most preferable when it comes to detouring traffic. Buses leaving from Port Authority always run into dense traffic. Lucky Star buses are Clean, and with Power Sockets too. Some equipped with WiFi. read more

The great thing about Lucky Star is that you get to NYC The bad thing about lucky star is that you'll hate yourself for not taking Fung Wah, when one of their partially full busses passes you on the highway, and you think "Wait, why am I sitting next to mister "I haven't bathed in a week" when I could be on an equally sketchy bus not sitting next to anyone? Another down side is that if you're taking the Bus down to meet your latest and greatest Internet lover for a raucous all-weekend ass-rodeo, you might want to show up a few days early as the seats will undoubtedly leave you with back pains and hemorrhoids. And lastly, what's really important to keep in mind about lucky star is that English is not the first language of most, if not all, employees. As such, I highly recommend double checking all fact (like where the bus stops in NYC) sot hat you don't find yourself wandering around Chinatown after dark, sending text messages to fellow yelpers like "Hey Becki, where the hell am I?" read more

Lucky star is clearly not known for their integrity but these past few years they can't boast that they even are a deal anymore! They charge upwards of 40-50 dollars for a trip if they have any opportunity to price gouge you, particularly near weekends or holidays. Ok they are efficient compared to the other Boston/NY buses but it's a pretty low bar to begin with since they pretty much all suck. Be SURE to purchase online! They literally will up the price at least ten dollars if you walk up to the counter instead of purchasing online. It's usually completely arbitrary so you never know what the price will be. Oh yeah, not only is it considered one hundred percent acceptable for people to watch movies without a headphone and shout loudly into their cell phone on speaker for the duration of the trip, it is actually considered the NORM. The people that work for this company wouldn't dream of reminding passengers to be respectful onboard this junkbus. read more

Lucky Star has come along way! From establishing themselves from the streets of Chinatown to actually having a space within South Station! Yes! I've been doing to NYC to Boston commute for well over 15 years! This company has a legendary list of mishaps but honestly they have really made strides to get their affairs in order. I can honestly say this is the cheapest, quickest and most reliable way to get to NYC or Boston. I've been fortunate to never have any major mishaps on their coach expect the occasional traffic and loud, obnoxious passengers who don't understand the concept of using a headset but other than that there has never been a major issue. Compared to other buses such as Greyhound, Megabus (worse in my opinion) and Bolt Bus, Lucky Star is the only one who drops you off downtown Manhattan so if Brooklyn is your destination this is the best option. If it isn't it's still quicker to take an uber or train uptown versus losing an entire hour and a half because they drive through Manhattan traffic. If you travel at certain times on Lucky Star you're even likely to get a row all to yourself so you can stretch out. If you want a cheap, no frills ride take Lucky Star! read more

Ugh, never again will I take this piece of crap on wheels. I couldn't get a bus ticket back for the times I wanted with either BoltBus or MegaBus so I ended up choosing Lucky Star. It turned out to be really convenient since it was right off the Manhattan Bridge and my sister lives on the other end. That's where the convenience ends. When I got there for my 8 pm bus at around 7:40, there was this huge line. I was on it for about 5 -9 minutes before I realized I had to go in someplace across the street to verify my ticket. They said the 8 pm bus is filled and that they may pull another bus out early but definitely guaranteed me a spot on the 9 pm bus. So they brough out another bus that was packed up and filled by 8:20 or so, then left. I didn't manage to get on, but it was only another half hour, right? NO! The mythical 9 pm bus was with the unicorns. The next bus to go back to Boston came at 10 pm. Now, there was a reason I wanted the 8 pm bus. Our not-so-fair city of Boston likes to end their public transit early and I thought it would be a nice thing to take the T home and not have to sleep at South Station. I'm luxurious like that. If I knew I'd catch a 10 pm bus, I would have taken another company's, ANY OTHER COMPANY'S, bus. It would have cost less and been safer. So even though there was a 10 pm bus, guess what? We still didn't leave at 10. We waited 15 more minutes till the super-stingy, miserly Lucky Star bus company could find every last paying homeless person to put on the bus. I wasn't the only one waiting for almost 3 hours either. There were people who had come at 7:30 pm that ended up leaving at 10:15 pm, despite the fact that we were all there early as the tickets said. No excuse or anything was given to us. It was more like we have your money now so screw you. I should have been in Boston just after midnight and arrived close to 3 am. I, along with many others, were forced to wake up people for a ride to avoid the overcharging cabs of Boston. What a horrible experience. I hope they're shut down. read more

This bus ride was not bad at all. Not what I was expecting anyway. The bus was clean and had bags at every seat for your trash. My boarding was at 630am but it boarded us early and we left by 615-620. so that was a major plus. this bus does make a pit stop at a burger king for 15 mins. but if you dont like BK, then there is a Mcdonalds right across the st. A pleasant ride, nonetheless. Got us to NY in 4 hours with the stop! the only reason i took this bus into NY was because it was so early and figure by the time we approached, it would be close to meal time and hence we can eat cheap in Chinatown. Plus, i wanted to gander at the knock offs. this is a good bus. i didnt have a problem, so i would ride again. read more

I've taken many different forms of transportation to get to and from Boston and New York...and Lucky Star is a solid pick. I really appreciate the marketing that goes into this bus line. Bear in mind that my interpretation of the marketing may or may not be accurate and my enjoyment is sort of entirely ironic. Lucky Star clearly sees why customers would choose Fung Wa- convenient schedules and dirt-cheap prices. The companies seem nearly identical, but here's what I have gathered as far as the differences are: -Flashier name -Character Logo (whatever the heck that animal is...a dragon?) -The (fairly new feature!) selling of candy & water on the bus when getting the bus from New York. Okay, so this stuff was available for about 45 seconds and I actually heard the lady with the items refuse to sell to a customer because,"Busisleavingbyeee!!!!" BUT I think the illusion of effort is awesome - Most importantly, the tires look better than those of the Fung Wah Now, another thing I like about Lucky Star is that with the Bolt Bus and Mega Bus promotions of "Boston to NYC for $1," LS jumped right on the book-your-trip-fourth-months-in-advance bandwagon. But if you look at the schedule online, no bus is ever more than $15 and you can often catch $10 morning buses if you book them the day before and I usually see an 8:00 pm bus of $8. Still, it's a clumsy, nauseating ride that stops at crappy fast food places... just sayin'. read more

"I've gone to NY probably 30 times in the past two years. Lucky Star (and its counterpart Fung Wah) is indispensible in sustaining this kind of pace. It's still a bus, and has all the shortcomings buses have (crowding, overselling, traffic, etc.), but for the price, you can't beat it. First, Amtrak is wildly overpriced. I'm pretty adaptable, and can handle a bus seat instead of a train seat. The extra $70 is not a sustainable luxury tax over the long haul. Second, driving is tiring and expensive. It changes the whole complexion of a weekend when you have the drive back looming over you, and the need to be rested for it. Sometimes having the car down there is desirable or necessary, but gas and tolls come to something like $70 round-trip nowadays. Use acutal mileage accounting figures ($.40/mile is a conservative estimate, but good enough), and you're pushing $200. For $30 round-trip, I stick my bike under the Lucky Star (no box, dismantling, or fee required like Amtrak or Greyhound/Peter Pan), and get to Manhattan with no effort other than showing up. The biggest complaints I hear are about the other passengers (get over yourself, please), and absurd rumors (no, there are not chickens on the bus; yes, there are bathrooms; yes, the buses almost always stop for a stretch break). Really, you're getting essentially what you get with Greyhound/Peter Pan, without the familiar logo. I've yet to see a movie on these buses (a big plus, if you ask me), and never been on a bus that smelled any different from anyother (people can and do bring their own food on all buses and trains, though). And Greyhoud oversells big time -- don't even get me started on the buses I've had tickets for and not gotten on. Learn to show up early. Seriously -- $30 round trip, and someone else drives for you. Brilliant." read more

Eh, they're all right, but for some reason I always prefer the Fung Wah. However, when grabbing the bus in NY I'll just buy a ticket from whomever offers to sell me one first. I do enjoy the "watersodaonedolla!" lady. Why yes, I would like a piece of candy, thanks. All in all, good, cheap transport. Exactly what you'd expect for fifteen dollars. read more

Bus is legit. Looked like it was a new bus. Super clean. Windows were clean too (and this was just after a storm). The other buses at the station all had crap looking windows. This bus also had outlets. $25 for Boston south station to NYC china town. Bought my tickets at their counter in South Station 25min before departure. Peterpan and Megabus were both charging $45 for the same ride. They be trippin read more

I have ridden the Lucky Star for more than seven years. They have come a long way from the smelly-used-old-definitely-former-Peter-Pan buses. They still have a bunch of buses with the smelly toilets(it's like playing Poopstink Roulette at this point), but I firmly believe they have recently invested more in their fleet than the counter part that is Fung Wah. I'm a regular rider w/ Lucky Star because I know what I'm getting. Sometimes the stinky toilet, sometimes the window panes have water sloshing back and forth between all the way to NYC, sometimes the heat is too high, the cold is too cold, or the lights don't work. I very rarely feel that the buses will tip over or burst into flames, and there's not much else I can ask for. When it stops at a restaurant, remember the bus number. You could find yourself one the wrong bus while yours is pulling away. I usually keep an eye on my driver. If he's in line for food, I know I have lots of time. They will charge you for extra seat if you have a ton of extra baggage. Other than that, get on the bus, Gus. read more