Hotels at Amtrak connection points nationwide

[Gary Behling]

Has anyone ever tried to compile a list of the closest hotels to Amtrak stations at all the major connection points where one Amtrak train connects to another? I ask this because I am very much afraid of missing my connection to another train because the one I'm on is very late. If I have a Bedroom already booked on the connection train and I miss it, that room is gone. So now, I always plan for an overnight stay at each connection and all I want is the closest place (and cheapest too) to overnight.

Is there such a list?

 

[PeeweeTM]

I understand you worries.
I use Google Earth to search for hotels near stations. The internet is used to find and compare prices and reviews.
Prices for the same hotel rooms vary very often, so a list with cheap prices of close-by hotels may not be too usefull.

In December I change from airplane to TE in Los Angeles and stay near LAX after a long day travelling and having all next day to reach the train station.
A few days later I change from SWC to TE and stay in downtown Chicago.
In april we change from airplane to EB in Chicago and we stay two nights in Michigan City.
So it depends...

 

[Richie Allen]

Was looking at this in Emeryville CA for connecting to the Zephyr from the Coast Starlight the previous day, or just spending a couple days in the bay area. There is a Hyatt just across the tracks from the station. A pedestrian bridge connects station to the hotel parking lot. May be others nearby with shuttle service. I echo the suggestion... google map the station, nearby hotels will be indicated.

 

[Gary Behling]

I understand you worries.
I use Google Earth to search for hotels near stations. The internet is used to find and compare prices and reviews.
Prices for the same hotel rooms vary very often, so a list with cheap prices of close-by hotels may not be too usefull.

In December I change from airplane to TE in Los Angeles and stay near LAX after a long day travelling and having all next day to reach the train station.
A few days later I change from SWC to TE and stay in downtown Chicago.
In april we change from airplane to EB in Chicago and we stay two nights in Michigan City.
So it depends...

Sure-- I know how to do all that searching too but there are times where the internet, Google, Trip Advisor and other sites don't list certain places. I can attest to that after arriving at destinations only to see some other local hotel that I only could have found in person or if I knew about it in advance. This is something Amtrak should do using their station employees who are actually there.

I was just hoping there was already an existing list.

 

[Gary Behling]

Was looking at this in Emeryville CA for connecting to the Zephyr from the Coast Starlight the previous day, or just spending a couple days in the bay area. There is a Hyatt just across the tracks from the station. A pedestrian bridge connects from station parking lot to the hotel parking lot. May be others nearby with shuttle service. I echo the suggestion... google map the station, nearby hotels will be indicated.

Yep--- that's exactly what i mean and happens to be the very place I stay for overnights in Emerville. I don't even want to pay for a cab if i can avoid it

 

[PaTrainFan]

Question: Is there a relatively simple way to get from this Hyatt to downtown San Francisco? I visited the Bay Area twice in the last 5 years, arriving and departing from Emeryville. Both times I stayed in San Francisco which we all know is quite pricey. It would seem to be more cost effective, and convenient Amtrak-wise, to stay in Emeryville but getting to and from San Francisco appears to be difficult, outside of Thruway connections but those are obviously booked as connections with train travel.

Yep--- that's exactly what i mean and happens to be the VERY place I stay for overnights in Emerville. I don't even want to pay for a cab if i can avoid it

 

[Palmetto]

Dallas has one right there next to the station. Hyatt? But you DID ask for stations where connections are made.

 

[jis]

Dallas has one right there next to the station. Hyatt? But you DID ask for stations where connections are made.

Dallas has a pricey Hyatt Regency and a less pricey Marriott Courtyard close the the station. The Courtyard is closer than the Hyatt.

 

[Richie Allen]

Question: Is there a relatively simple way to get from this Hyatt to downtown San Francisco? I visited the Bay Area twice in the last 5 years, arriving and departing from Emeryville. Both times I stayed in San Francisco which we all know is quite pricey. It would seem to be more cost effective, and convenient Amtrak-wise, to stay in Emeryville but getting to and from San Francisco appears to be difficult, outside of Thruway connections but those are obviously booked as connections with train travel.

The Hyatt offers "Complimentary shuttle service within a three mile radius"... that would get you to/from the BART station in Berkeley. BART is fast and easy way to get around the bay area. I absolutely hate driving in San Francisco, so rental cars for me would be a non-starter... traffic can be nightmarish and parking is outrageously expensive.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Emeryville also has a free bus


https://www.emerygoround.com/phone/index.html

 

[Sauve850]

Sometimes its not always economical to stay close to the Amtrak station such as Seattle. I stay by the airport and take the Link Light Rail to the station. Hotels have shuttles to the airport and drop you off at that station. For me its $1 to ride downtown close to Amtrak. Hotels by airport are generally way less expensive than in Seattle itself. Other places like Chicago and DC I spend a couple days so Im not looking for cheap rates but rather a nicer hotel.

Ive never made a list of hotels near all major stations because I only use a few of them. My list of close stations consists only of Emeryville and Los Angeles.Last trip out of Emy I stayed at a Hilton which was way cheaper than Hyatt. Shuttle got me there in a few minutes.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

I am very much afraid of missing my connection to another train because the one I'm on is very late. If I have a Bedroom already booked on the connection train and I miss it, that room is gone. So now, I always plan for an overnight stay at each connection

I wonder why you are not also very much afraid the following days train will be cancelled altogether, or the sleeper you would be riding in would be bad ordered?

 

[railiner]

If I had a so-called, “guaranteed connection”, I would let Amtrak worry about providing overnight accommodations. I suppose in some cases, they might not be able to get them, so if you’re the “pro-active type”, you might prefer to obtain your own in advance...but I would take my chances with them...

 

[willem]

Is there such a list?

Perhaps http://kevinkorell.com/hotels/hotels.htm is what you seek.

 

[Gary Behling]

Sometimes its not always economical to stay close to the Amtrak station such as Seattle. I stay by the airport and take the Link Light Rail to the station. Hotels have shuttles to the airport and drop you off at that station. For me its $1 to ride downtown close to Amtrak. Hotels by airport are generally way less expensive than in Seattle itself. Other places like Chicago and DC I spend a couple days so Im not looking for cheap rates but rather a nicer hotel.

Ive never made a list of hotels near all major stations because I only use a few of them. My list of close stations consists only of Emeryville and Los Angeles.Last trip out of Emy I stayed at a Hilton which was way cheaper than Hyatt. Shuttle got me there in a few minutes.

I can tell you for certain that in Los Angeles, it's the Metro Plaza only 3 blocks away

 

[Gary Behling]

I wonder why you are not also very much afraid the following days train will be cancelled altogether, or the sleeper you would be riding in would be bad ordered?

Because neither thing you mentioned has ever happened. What usually happens is the train I am riding on is late and I miss my connection. I live in Tucson and the Sunset Limited going west is often 5 to 9 hours late. Even with 4.5 hours of time between the arrival of that train into Los Angeles and the Coast Starlight going North out of Los Angeles, I would miss my connection (and bedroom) so I just stay one day at the Metro Plaza Hotel 3 blocks away. Missed connections happen way too often and I do not want to lose my bedroom that I paid $1200 for and then have to ride coach.

 

[Gary Behling]

If I had a so-called, “guaranteed connection”, I would let Amtrak worry about providing overnight accommodations. I suppose in some cases, they might not be able to get them, so if you’re the “pro-active type”, you might prefer to obtain your own in advance...but I would take my chances with them...

Thanks, but I don't like to take chances. If Amtrak had a better on time record, I would

 

[Palmland]

For those of us that like a quick overnight between Amtrak trains, the NY Times travel section mentioned the citizenM hotel chain. Currently they are mostly in Europe but have a hotel in Boston, NY, DC and Seattle. Let's hope they add Chicago. Looks like a minimalist type place with rooms about the size of an Amtrak bedroom but well appointed. Tough to find another hotel for around $100 in those cities especially with their black Friday saie at about $80 for Seattle.

 

[Sidney]

I google hotels near Amtrak when I travel . If it looks decent,walkable and reasonably priced I'll go to the hotel's website. A bit pricey at $140 but for convenience I'll stay at the Metro Plaza in LA. In San Luis Obispo the University Inn is $60 and about a mile from the station. I was on the Cardinal from Chicago to DC and then to BWI earlier this year. By staying in Manassas overnight the sleeper priced dropped $70 and I found The Olde Town Inn for $50 and three blocks from the station. The next morning I took a NE Regional to BWI for $13.

 

[jiml]

If you belong to a hotel chain's frequent guest plan, stopover stays in overpriced downtowns are a really good use of your points. I couldn't normally afford the JW Marriott or Palmer House Hilton near Chicago Union Station, but on points they're a great value.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Lots of us stay @ Hostels, the HIs in Chicago and Sacramento are especially nice, and a heck of deal compared to Big City Prices.

Unfortunately, currently most in the US are Closed due to the COVID Pandemic.

 

[me_little_me]

Rails to rooms web site. Been around for many years: Rails to Rooms

 

[Charles785]

As a reason to explore Los Angeles Union Station (and of course a good excuse just to ride #3 and #4 between Kansas and the SW Chief end point) I've often thought of arriving at LAUS on #3 and returning on #4 the same day. Of course that's a 10-hour layover.

So I've wondered about booking a room at the Metro Plaza for a mid-day nap. If I did that, would a taxi ride be advisable instead of walking? I wasn't sure how pedestrian-friendly the neighborhood was or if vagrants were a problem in the area.

(Of course if much of LAUS is closed because of the pandemic this might not be the best time to 'do Los Angeles Union Station.')

And is this a dumb question or not? Would anyone know if in the heyday of the golden age of private passenger rail, did railroads maintain anything like nap rooms at their depots for passengers who were transferring between trains?

 

[tgstubbs1]

As a reason to explore Los Angeles Union Station (and of course a good excuse just to ride #3 and #4 between Kansas and the SW Chief end point) I've often thought of arriving at LAUS on #3 and returning on #4 the same day. Of course that's a 10-hour layover.

So I've wondered about booking a room at the Metro Plaza for a mid-day nap. If I did that, would a taxi ride be advisable instead of walking? I wasn't sure how pedestrian-friendly the neighborhood was or if vagrants were a problem in the area.

(Of course if much of LAUS is closed because of the pandemic this might not be the best time to 'do Los Angeles Union Station.')

And is this a dumb question or not? Would anyone know if in the heyday of the golden age of private passenger rail, did railroads maintain anything like nap rooms at their depots for passengers who were transferring between trains?

I have this travel book named "All Aboard". It has lots of station information but I think they left hotels out because the listings have to be updated too often. So Google maps has the most up to date rates, etc.

As far as nap rooms, I remember a couple of layovers with those long wooden benches--with dividers to them to prevent anybody from laying down.

Too bad they don't have those capsule hotels.

 

[railiner]

And is this a dumb question or not? Would anyone know if in the heyday of the golden age of private passenger rail, did railroads maintain anything like nap rooms at their depots for passengers who were transferring between trains?

Not any that I am aware of, at least for passenger's. There were a few major stations, such as Penn Station, NY that had an employees only, YMCA hotel within, for train crews laying over. There were some station hotels, most notably the Fred Harvey hotels along the Santa Fe route. Several hotels serving 'commercial traveler's (salesmen)', in station proximity, would offer 'day rates' ...