Getting to Inland Empire by train

[bmjhagen9426]

I am looking to go to the Inland Empire by train for a business trip later this summer. The issue is, that coming from Oregon and heading to LA is easy, as I can just take the CS down to LA. However, the CS (assuming it's on time) arrives at 9pm, while Metrolink trains end service prior to that, which would require me to crash in LA for a night. Any good recommendations near LA Union Station?

 

[nshvlcat]

Metro Plaza Hotel is across the street from Union Station, approx. 5 min. walk. I am staying there in May.

 

[the_traveler]

Where about are you going?

I believe there are some Thruway buses that could connect from the SJ in BFD,

 

[tomfuller]

Coming from Oregon, the CS arrives in Sacramento at about 6:15AM. The bus to Stockton leaves SAC shortly after 8AM connecting to the SJ southbound. Where are you going in the Inland Empire?

 

[niemi24s]

If you use TripAdvisor you'll be able to read 347 reviews of the Metro Plaza Hotel (mentioned by Nshvlcat) and see 304 photos of the property. In addition, the map shows that no other hotel is closer to LAUS than the Metro Plaza and that the next closest is more than two times distant. IMHO, asking where to stay on this forum is a waste of time because while you might get lots of replies, few (if any) will say what staying at the Metro Plaza is really like. Reviews of some hotels are quite revealing, i.e., smelly room, lumpy mattress, street noise, bedbugs, police sirens at all hours of the night, no hot water, thin walls, vagrants loitering by the front door, kids running up & down the hall, etc, etc, etc.

And you are probably no more knowledgeable of those 347 reviewers on TripAdvisor than you are of any who post here.

Anyway, once you've decided on which hotel to use other mapping sites can show you how to get there:

 

[TiBike]

Check out the hotels/motels around the Burbank station, which also happens to be the Burbank airport. Lots of options and sometimes cheap ones. Several have shuttles from the airport.

And yes, there are thruways that go from Bakersfield to Riverside and Berdoo.

 

[Steve4031]

If your going on a business trip and your company is paying expenses you might want to check out the double tree. It is about 5 minutes away using a taxi or lyft. Hilton is a good chain for rail travelers because you can earn Amtrak guest reward points as well as Hilton points.

 

[the_traveler]

You don't necessarily have to use a taxi or ride share to get to that DoubleTree. They have shuttle pickup from Union Station if you call.

 

[pennyk]

If your going on a business trip and your company is paying expenses you might want to check out the double tree. It is about 5 minutes away using a taxi or lyft. Hilton is a good chain for rail travelers because you can earn Amtrak guest reward points as well as Hilton points.

I agree with Steve. Last July, a group of us arrived after dark. Several used ride sharing and others waited for the hotel shuttle. In the daylight, I walked the less than a mile route to Union Station (even with luggage). In my opinion, the Doubletree is a much nicer property than Metro Plaza (although I have not stayed at Metro Plaza, I looked inside the lobby).

 

[niemi24s]

To put a little perspective on the 348 hotels in LA, Trip Advisor was used to arrive at some rates and ratings (AAA rate, if available):

• #1 (100%) was $722, the Bel-Air with 679 reviews

• #58 (83%) was$215, the Doubletree with 1908 reviews

• #139 (60%) was $134, the Metro Plaza with 348 reviews

No reason why the Doubletree shouldn't be much nicer than the Metro Plaza, but on the other hand there are 209 hotels in LA rated lower than the Metro Plaza.

 

[Steve4031]

If you get the double tree for 200 or less it's a no brainer. Between 200 and 300, look at pictures in trip advisor and decide what's important.

 

[City of Miami]

I recently discovered that there are 2 daily Thruway buses from Fullerton to Riverside, Palm Springs and Indio - and back. You have to book a Surfliner with them. Palm Springs to LAX looks like about $20, 2 hours.

 

[niemi24s]

If you get the double tree for 200 or less it's a no brainer.

Let's see, that implies if I could have booked the Doubletree for less than $200 but decided to stay someplace else I...uh...have no brains? :blink:

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Metrolink's San Bernardino Line operates well into the night, even on the weekends.

 

[Steve4031]

If you get the double tree for 200 or less it's a no brainer.

Let's see, that implies if I could have booked the Doubletree for less than $200 but decided to stay someplace else I...uh...have no brains? :blink:

No offense intended. I was comparing the double tree to the hotel across from union station. If both were similar rates the doubletree would be much nicer imho.

Obviously different people have different priorities when selecting hotels. I certainly did not intend to disrespect anybody. I was encouraging them to get the nicest hotel possible in that price range. I am a honors member and I value getting points so that Skews my values.

 

[niemi24s]

While the Doubletree is undoubtedly much nicer than the Metro Plaza regardless of their costs, the Metro Plazas proximity to Phillipe's restaurant (rated on Trip Advisor as #5 of the 8,310 restaurants in LA) might also enter into the picture. Never been there, but some here have raved about it in the past.

But I can certainly understand the merit of accumulating hotel points. I don't get out of my swamp very often and have never accumulated enough AGR points to make it worthwhile driving about 7 hours to my closest station - for a points run to the next station down the line. Same goes for hotel rewards points. So I can see why it's a no brainer for you. For me? Not so much.

 

[TiBike]

If the Coast Starlight is on time, you can get to Berdoo but not Riverside. And that's a big if. But it works so long as Plan B is to stay in downtown LA. Actually, I'd make that Plan C -- Plan B would be to bail out early somewhere interesting on the Surfliner route -- SLO, Santa Barbara or Ventura, or Burbank if it was a close call -- and take a Surfliner or Metrolink in the morning.

Metrolink's San Bernardino Line operates well into the night, even on the weekends.

 

[seat38a]

After looking through the TA and Yelp pictures and reviews for Metro Plaza Hotel, I say go with the Double Tree or take the Red/Purple line to 7th / Metro where there is a Sheraton. Between discounts such as AAA or SPG Members specials, you can get a night at the Sheraton for $200 or less.

 

[seat38a]

While the Doubletree is undoubtedly much nicer than the Metro Plaza regardless of their costs, the Metro Plazas proximity to Phillipe's restaurant (rated on Trip Advisor as #5 of the 8,310 restaurants in LA) might also enter into the picture. Never been there, but some here have raved about it in the past.

But I can certainly understand the merit of accumulating hotel points. I don't get out of my swamp very often and have never accumulated enough AGR points to make it worthwhile driving about 7 hours to my closest station - for a points run to the next station down the line. Same goes for hotel rewards points. So I can see why it's a no brainer for you. For me? Not so much.

Personally, I think Philipe's is not worth staying at a not so good hotel to be closer to it. My pictures and review of it is here: http://seat38a.com/dinner-at-philippe-los-angeles-before-heading-to-lax/

Maybe it is because I grew up in LA and ate here often but I would take a better hotel over staying walking distance to eat there.

 

[niemi24s]

Unless it's been edited, your only comment regarding the food (review) was "Nothing has changed except their mustard seemed to be much less volatile than I remember it used to be." My thought is that it must have something going for to be rated #5 of the 8310 restaurants in LA based on 1,600+ reviews on Trip Advisor. Plan to find out for myself in about 10 days. The Metro Plaza certainly isn't swanky but looked good enough for me, so I booked it. The wife & I have stayed in some genuine dumps over the years. It'll do.

 

[seat38a]

Unless it's been edited, your only comment regarding the food (review) was "Nothing has changed except their mustard seemed to be much less volatile than I remember it used to be." My thought is that it must have something going for to be rated #5 of the 8310 restaurants in LA based on 1,600+ reviews on Trip Advisor. Plan to find out for myself in about 10 days. The Metro Plaza certainly isn't swanky but looked good enough for me, so I booked it. The wife & I have stayed in some genuine dumps over the years. It'll do.

Try it and let us know what you think. Most locals that I ask think its overrated. Probably because we can get better french dips at restaurant such as Houston's etc which I think is much more flavorful. For sure its a touristy thing to do when your in the area. Sometimes even though you know your walking into a tourist trap you just have to try it because it famous. If you can try Cole's as well. They claim they were the first.

Everything said it was a tourist trap but I went anyways to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and paid $20+ each USD for Singapore Sling. There was allegedly alcohol in it, which I could not taste or feel afterwards. My observation is that famous places are more of a hoopla from people out of town than locals who generally have a bleh attitude.

, on Flickr

 

[BCL]

Unless it's been edited, your only comment regarding the food (review) was "Nothing has changed except their mustard seemed to be much less volatile than I remember it used to be." My thought is that it must have something going for to be rated #5 of the 8310 restaurants in LA based on 1,600+ reviews on Trip Advisor. Plan to find out for myself in about 10 days. The Metro Plaza certainly isn't swanky but looked good enough for me, so I booked it. The wife & I have stayed in some genuine dumps over the years. It'll do.

Try it and let us know what you think. Most locals that I ask think its overrated. Probably because we can get better french dips at restaurant such as Houston's etc which I think is much more flavorful. For sure its a touristy thing to do when your in the area. Sometimes even though you know your walking into a tourist trap you just have to try it because it famous. If you can try Cole's as well. They claim they were the first.

Everything said it was a tourist trap but I went anyways to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and paid $20+ each USD for Singapore Sling. There was allegedly alcohol in it, which I could not taste or feel afterwards. My observation is that famous places are more of a hoopla from people out of town than locals who generally have a bleh attitude.

, on Flickr

Sure. There are tons of tourist traps out there. One I know of is the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain in San Francisco. There are people lining up for up to an hour to get a table there. And what they serve is basically just tubs of Dreyer's/Edy's ice cream like one can get cheap at a supermarket. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's kind of a touristy thing to do.

My dad did say that if I was there I should stop by Phillippe for the cheap coffee, which I heard went up in price.

 

[wallylegs]

Metro Plaza.....honest review..........I can do that. Stayed there overnight following Coastal Starlight journey, which was over an hour and a half late. Had intended to walk across the street as it seemed so simple.

Now I am a single elderly lady from Australia, and after venturing out into the street, I was confronted by countless homeless people, street gangs and god knows what else.

I turned around and got to the first taxi I found, and the guy simply laughed at me, no way was I going across that area by myself.

Finally found a driver who would take me, allbeit whilst laughing his head off, I could have clocked him with my walking stick.

Got to the Hotel door, and was immediately swamped by peopl asking for money, the concierge saw me and hurtled himself at the door and literally dragged me and my luggage inside.

Thanks small Asian person.

My room, stank, the carpet was dirty, the bathroom was dirty, no coffee in my room, had to go the foyer to get hot water, I decided to sleep on the top of the bed, I was not going to go deeper into it, I used my sarong as a sheet.

There were young people running up and down the corridors till all hours of the morning.

I had asked for late check out, willing to pay another night if necessary, however was told they were fully booked, which I found to be rather disconcerting, as I literally saw not one person in the place next morning.

The place is huge.

I did not want to be going all over LA following my rail journey, was going straight to the Airport the next day.

Lesson was learned, later this year I will be in a taxi going over the other side of the city closer to LAX and in better digs.

 

[bmjhagen9426]

Metro Plaza.....honest review..........I can do that. Stayed there overnight following Coastal Starlight journey, which was over an hour and a half late. Had intended to walk across the street as it seemed so simple.

Now I am a single elderly lady from Australia, and after venturing out into the street, I was confronted by countless homeless people, street gangs and god knows what else.

I turned around and got to the first taxi I found, and the guy simply laughed at me, no way was I going across that area by myself.

Finally found a driver who would take me, allbeit whilst laughing his head off, I could have clocked him with my walking stick.

Got to the Hotel door, and was immediately swamped by peopl asking for money, the concierge saw me and hurtled himself at the door and literally dragged me and my luggage inside.

Thanks small Asian person.

My room, stank, the carpet was dirty, the bathroom was dirty, no coffee in my room, had to go the foyer to get hot water, I decided to sleep on the top of the bed, I was not going to go deeper into it, I used my sarong as a sheet.

There were young people running up and down the corridors till all hours of the morning.

I had asked for late check out, willing to pay another night if necessary, however was told they were fully booked, which I found to be rather disconcerting, as I literally saw not one person in the place next morning.

The place is huge.

I did not want to be going all over LA following my rail journey, was going straight to the Airport the next day.

Lesson was learned, later this year I will be in a taxi going over the other side of the city closer to LAX and in better digs.

Tough story. A few times going into LA on the Coast Starlight, I had to catch my flight the very next morning. Did not waste time looking for a hotel, instead went straight to KLAX crashing on the chairs while waiting for my flight, and in hopes of getting a flight that night. It would be hard times had I missed my flight as my airline was KAL and was headed to RKSI, and the next flight would have been that night, and most likely those Trans-Pacifics were fully booked that week. However when I had a night to spend in LA earlier this year between the SW Chief and the Coast Starlight, I booked a hotel in East LA for this occasion, only a few minutes to the east by taxi. It was good that I did, as the owner had "No Vacancy" signage up the morning I checked in (although he let me check in at 11am, after I told him that I arrived minutes earlier from the train, and called the cab for me the next morning).

 

[seat38a]

Unless it's been edited, your only comment regarding the food (review) was "Nothing has changed except their mustard seemed to be much less volatile than I remember it used to be." My thought is that it must have something going for to be rated #5 of the 8310 restaurants in LA based on 1,600+ reviews on Trip Advisor. Plan to find out for myself in about 10 days. The Metro Plaza certainly isn't swanky but looked good enough for me, so I booked it. The wife & I have stayed in some genuine dumps over the years. It'll do.

Try it and let us know what you think. Most locals that I ask think its overrated. Probably because we can get better french dips at restaurant such as Houston's etc which I think is much more flavorful. For sure its a touristy thing to do when your in the area. Sometimes even though you know your walking into a tourist trap you just have to try it because it famous. If you can try Cole's as well. They claim they were the first.

Everything said it was a tourist trap but I went anyways to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and paid $20+ each USD for Singapore Sling. There was allegedly alcohol in it, which I could not taste or feel afterwards. My observation is that famous places are more of a hoopla from people out of town than locals who generally have a bleh attitude.

, on Flickr

Sure. There are tons of tourist traps out there. One I know of is the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain in San Francisco. There are people lining up for up to an hour to get a table there. And what they serve is basically just tubs of Dreyer's/Edy's ice cream like one can get cheap at a supermarket. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's kind of a touristy thing to do.

My dad did say that if I was there I should stop by Phillippe for the cheap coffee, which I heard went up in price.

by B H, on Flickr

Guilty here and proud of it! I still have an inch of fat on my waistline from the last visit.