PF Cheng's Law Blog

Rode the Acela Express to New York today, and as comfortable as it is, I must say it is a royal waste of money. 

Next door to the King of Prussia mall, you will find the Valley Forge National Historical Park, which is a popular destination for weary Philadelphians looking to get out of the city and reconnect with nature.

If you are into shopping, then you are absolutely going to love the King of Prussia Mall. Touted as the biggest shopping mall on the United States east coast, the King of Russia is located about 35 minutes to the northwest of Philadelphia, and is a popular shopping venue for both locals and out-of-state visitors alike.

Despite being the cradle of liberty, the birthplace of the Constitution, former capital of the United States, and home of the cheese steak, Philadelphia has always been regarded by most pundits as a second tier city and shunned by most tourists, domestic and foreign alike.  But while Philadelphia may not be as big as New York, or as grand as Washington DC, it still has a lot to offer to the average tourist. 

I am not a fan of the Inter-Continental Hotel group; never has, and likely never will be.  I just find the hotels too old fashioned, and I don’t mean that in an elegant, classical sense, but “ you feel you have aged 10 years by simply being there” kind of old fashioned.

That said, I have the opportunity to visit the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Philadelphia tonight, and while it is not going to turn me into a believer, I must admit it is better than I imagined.  For people coming to Philadelphia looking for budget accommodation without sacrificing convenience, this is definitely a hotel you should consider.

In addition to taking the bus, another viable option for getting from Philadelphia to New York is to take the Amtrak (or its cheaper alternative, the New Jersey transit).  Generally speaking, Amtrak operates only 2 classes of trains for this route; the faster and more luxurious Acela, and everything else.  So don’t be confused by all the different names you see on the Amtrak website (such as the Northeast regional, Keystone, or Vermonter); except for the different stops, they are all identical.

For passengers travelling between Philadelphia and New York, or vice versa, taking the bus is without a doubt the cheapest and most convenient option, and right now you have 3 bus companies to choose from – (1) Greyhound, (2) New Century Chinatown Bus, and  (3) Megabus.