Hotels convenient to Amtrak

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Suffice to say that this thread should be divided into three
Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
Affordable Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
Luxury Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
Although the Hyatt in general might be considered to be more at the luxury end of things, the rates we got at the TF Green hotel were in line with other affordable hotels.

Some other notes about this hotel. It has a walkway that connects it directly to the station and parking garage. Get a room on the south side for a great view of the NEC tracks.
 
There have been a few trip reports about the San Juan Islands and Mount Vernon area lately, and I would like to recommend a hotel in that area. While there a several chain and independent motels close to the station, we like to stay at the Channel Lodge in La Conner, about twenty minutes from Mount Vernon.

La Conner is a charming, historic town on the Swinomish Channel. There are several restaurants and bars, and an antique store that actually has good deals.

The Channel Lodge features many rooms with fireplaces and balconies overlooking the channel. We like to stay in the king-bed rooms on the top floor, as they are very spacious, have great views, and offer better sound-proofing (the building is wooden construction, so there are footsteps from upstairs rooms).

Here's a view from our room:IMG_5260.jpeg
 
There have been a few trip reports about the San Juan Islands and Mount Vernon area lately, and I would like to recommend a hotel in that area. While there a several chain and independent motels close to the station, we like to stay at the Channel Lodge in La Conner, about twenty minutes from Mount Vernon.

La Conner is a charming, historic town on the Swinomish Channel. There are several restaurants and bars, and an antique store that actually has good deals.

The Channel Lodge features many rooms with fireplaces and balconies overlooking the channel. We like to stay in the king-bed rooms on the top floor, as they are very spacious, have great views, and offer better sound-proofing (the building is wooden construction, so there are footsteps from upstairs rooms).

Here's a view from our room:View attachment 34955
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Thanks for the information, Maglev.

A number of years ago I took a Cascade train to Mount Vernon and rented a car, for sightseeing trips as well as a to visit a friend in BC. I can remember a very good meal at the Farmhouse Restaurant in Mount Vernon. Afterward, a drive over to Anacortes and my next stop was La Conner. I really enjoyed La Conner with all the various arts and crafts shops. I hope that La Conner doesn't become too touristy, as it would spoil the entire ambience.

The Channel Lodge does sound like a great place to stay. It has received high ratings from Trip Advisor.

https://is.gd/oefMl1
Richard
 
Suffice to say that this thread should be divided into three
Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
Affordable Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
Luxury Hotels convenient to Amtrak.
I think that would just make things confusing. And the line between luxury and affordable is highly subjective.
 
I think that would just make things confusing. And the line between luxury and affordable is highly subjective.
It's done already. I think it's called luxury, business, budget. Each big chain has about ten brands. Choice Hotels range from budget to business. Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt range from business to luxury. If there's a bathtub it's either luxury or randomly super budget?? I still go by the one-to-five star system, but some sites don't use that correctly. I think it means amenities, not quality of execution or location.

My recommended hotel close to Amtrak is the French Quarter Inn, right on the tracks along the Ohio River in Maysville, KY, with its Amtrak station. You'll have to stay a few nights if traveling by train though, since it's on the Cardinal. It was business, not luxury. My boss back then was good at finding places like that when I occasionally went to industrial plants in rural areas. Probably three stars, done well, great location. The town had a decent newspaper, and much evidence of investment (Mitch McConnell's work?), unlike the Ohio side. An hour upriver and up a hill the gov't, or its contractors, had placed one of its uranium facilities in Appalachian Ohio, with a red and white checkerboard sign, like Purina, I guess because it was "feed." That was not my plant, and by then it had become public news, for health and safety issues.
 
With roadside budget chain motels sometimes commanding $300 a night
A different thread attempted to make comparisons between the cost of booking a bedroom on a long-distance train and the cost of making that same trip in a private auto. What with the current cost of gas, lodging, and meals, the auto trip, IMHO, could end up costing about the same as the bedroom or maybe even more.
 
The hubby and I are planning a trip on the Texas Eagle in October, going no farther South & West than San Antonio. We were thinking of just spending the night in the San Antonio station, considering how late the southbound Eaglet arrives and how early the northbound Eaglet departs, but a few people in the "Texas Eagle discussion" thread have been recommending against that. Any suggestions on reasonably-priced hotels as close as possible to the San Antonio station? Or as close as possible to other Texas Amtrak stations along the TE's route? Inexpensive or free transportation to/from such hotels would be ideal. (F.ex., something similar to the free trolley connecting the Kansas City Amtrak station to several downtown hotels?)
 
There is a Holiday Inn Express 3/10 mile away, Staybridge suites across the tracks 2/10 mile. Nothing near the Austin station. Not sure about San Marcos. For
Pretty much any of the Texas towns along the TE's route from San Antonio on north would do for a stopping point. And city buses (with stops near Amtrak and near hotels) would be adequate for transportation between station and hotel. "Reasonably priced" to me would be anything $200/night or less (although the best I could find near the Emeryville station when we were considering a CZ trip last year was just over $300).
 
Pretty much any of the Texas towns along the TE's route from San Antonio on north would do for a stopping point.
Don't know if either are far enough south for your trip but both Dallas and Fort Worth have decent hotels within walking distance. It has been awhile but for attending conventions near Dallas Union I've stayed at the adjacent Hyatt Regency and a nearby Marriott/Bonvoy property which I can't remember at the moment. There is (or was) a LaQuinta within a couple of blocks. Fort Worth has the excellent Worthington (Marriott) nearby and an Aloft (Marriott) about two blocks away. Your arrival and departure would be in daylight, minimizing safety concerns.
 
Don't know if either are far enough south for your trip but both Dallas and Fort Worth have decent hotels within walking distance. It has been awhile but for attending conventions near Dallas Union I've stayed at the adjacent Hyatt Regency and a nearby Marriott/Bonvoy property which I can't remember at the moment. There is (or was) a LaQuinta within a couple of blocks. Fort Worth has the excellent Worthington (Marriott) nearby and an Aloft (Marriott) about two blocks away. Your arrival and departure would be in daylight, minimizing safety concerns.
I tried looking up hotel prices in Dallas & Ft. Worth near Amtrak this morning, and spotted several places with rooms in the $200-$230 range, which is a lot closer to what the hubby & I would consider "reasonable" prices. The hubby approved the idea of getting off at Dallas/Ft. Worth when I mentioned the hotel prices, and leaving/boarding the train during daylight hours would make us both feel more comfortable. Will try booking the October trip after work today!
 
The hubby and I are planning a trip on the Texas Eagle in October, going no farther South & West than San Antonio. We were thinking of just spending the night in the San Antonio station, considering how late the southbound Eaglet arrives and how early the northbound Eaglet departs, but a few people in the "Texas Eagle discussion" thread have been recommending against that. Any suggestions on reasonably-priced hotels as close as possible to the San Antonio station? Or as close as possible to other Texas Amtrak stations along the TE's route? Inexpensive or free transportation to/from such hotels would be ideal. (F.ex., something similar to the free trolley connecting the Kansas City Amtrak station to several downtown hotels?)
Another idea in lieu of Austin:

Consider riding the Eagle to Dallas instead of Austin ( arrival is usually around 1130AM)
I tried looking up hotel prices in Dallas & Ft. Worth near Amtrak this morning, and spotted several places with rooms in the $200-$230 range, which is a lot closer to what the hubby & I would consider "reasonable" prices. The hubby approved the idea of getting off at Dallas/Ft. Worth when I mentioned the hotel prices, and leaving/boarding the train during daylight hours would make us both feel more comfortable. Will try booking the October trip after work today!
Although there are 2 Hotels across the Street from Union Station( La Quinta and a Marriott Property/ I have stayed in both), there is a High Rise a few blocks from Union Station that used to be the Tallest Building in Dallas when it was the HDQS of Magnolia Oil( now Exxon/Mobil).

It has a Flying Red Pegasus on top which used to be visible from miles around before Dallas built all it's High Rises.

It is called the Magnolia Hotel, several AU members stayed there during the AU Gathering in 2019,they liked it! Recommended if you get a good rate!

Tip: I find that Trivago and Kayak tend to have tge best deals on Hotels of all the many Travel sites!
 
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The Fire House hostel in Austin TX is about $149 a night for two in your own room. If you don’t mind being in bunkbeds with a whole bunch of people, it would be a lot cheaper.

I always try to book directly to the front desk of where I’m staying and not the nonsense you get when you book through an agency, which will cost you 20 to 30% more. I enjoy hostel, which is a different experience from the boutique hotels I might stay at

There might be another thread hostel living.
 
The Fire House hostel in Austin TX is about $149 a night for two in your own room. If you don’t mind being in bunkbeds with a whole bunch of people, it would be a lot cheaper.

I always try to book directly to the front desk of where I’m staying and not the nonsense you get when you book through an agency, which will cost you 20 to 30% more. I enjoy hostel, which is a different experience from the boutique hotels I might stay at

There might be another thread hostel living.
If the hubby and I were a few decades younger, we might consider a hostel (I stayed in them a few times on European trips in college), but not in our 60s. I looked up the La Quinta which @Bob Dylan had suggested in Dallas, but unfortunately it's now a Holiday Inn Express, and charging in excess of $600 for a single night (assuming I was reading the rates on their website correctly). That makes the Hampton Inn in Fort Worth (a chain I've stayed at before elsewhere, and at which I can earn Hilton Honors points) a more attractive option, despite being a block further away from the Ft. Worth train station than the Holiday Inn Express is from the Dallas station.
(Now I just have to find the best deal on the train fare!)
 
I think that would just make things confusing. And the line between luxury and affordable is highly subjective.
Simple solution: If someone wants to be extra helpful put a rough dollar amount and let the reader decide if that means it's affordable or luxurious.

It's done already. I think it's called luxury, business, budget. Each big chain has about ten brands.
These days Marwood prices their budget brands (like Fairfield) as if they were mid-range or luxury locations leaving a giant hole where their "value" options used to be. There are still reasonable deals to be found, but you need to be willing to book local and regional hotels to find most of those deals.
 
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CHICAGO? What is going on with Chicago hotel prices? We are departing CUS June 10, and I'd hoped to stay in Chicago June 9...Nothing Near the station for less than $355 (not including tax)...I've stayed at the LaQuinta many times over the years, but never paid over $275 for my room.....Any recommendations for June 9 hotel reservation walking distance to station? Thanks..
 
CHICAGO? What is going on with Chicago hotel prices? We are departing CUS June 10, and I'd hoped to stay in Chicago June 9...Nothing Near the station for less than $355 (not including tax)...I've stayed at the LaQuinta many times over the years, but never paid over $275 for my room.....Any recommendations for June 9 hotel reservation walking distance to station? Thanks..
Google up the Hostel International on Congress ( close to Michigan Avenue).

They have shared Dorm Rooms for Males and Females and Private Rooms also. Under $100 a night including Breakfast, and you cam catch the Bus to/from Union Station.

People of all ages and from all over the World stay there, I have enjoyed my many stays there thru the years.
 
CHICAGO? What is going on with Chicago hotel prices? We are departing CUS June 10, and I'd hoped to stay in Chicago June 9...Nothing Near the station for less than $355 (not including tax)...I've stayed at the LaQuinta many times over the years, but never paid over $275 for my room.....Any recommendations for June 9 hotel reservation walking distance to station? Thanks..
It's not just Chicago. This is the new normal almost everywhere I travel. We've seen consolidation of owning and managing companies, a lot of cities converted cheaper hotels into housing for homeless people, and the post-pandemic travel market is super hot. Sometimes you can save money with points but that only lasts until the points run out. The best advice I can give is traveling during low and shoulder seasons for the only remaining discounts.
 
For those who need clean, comfortable, reasonably priced sleeping accommodations convenient to the Toledo, Ohio Amtrak station, we can recommend the Comfort Inn which is only 8 ½ miles away in nearby Maumee. (There are actually two (2) Comfort Inns in Maumee. We always stay at the one on Reynolds Road.) It offers a free breakfast and is convenient to a number of restaurants, a supermarket, an Enterprise car rental office, and the famous Maumee Antique Mall. It even has a railroad connection since this is where Norfolk-Southern crews stay.
 
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