Hotels convenient to Amtrak

[jiml]

Hotels in Seattle tend to be quite expensive. The last time I was there, I stayed at the Embassy Suites next to King Street Station. I used Hilton points, enjoyed my stay and was extremely happy that my hotel was so close to the station.

Penny brings up a really good point. Even though all the frequent hotel plans have their flaws, they can be a great workaround for excessive cash rates. Choose whichever one works best for your situation and remember not only are points accrued on stays, most have credit card options like AGR and the airlines to top up your account. I prefer Marriott and Hilton personally, but there's also IHG (Holiday Inn, etc.), Hyatt and others. A case in point I'm familiar with has a low-end Marriott property in Florida going for well over $500 a night that can be obtained for 30,000 points, which at current value works out to just over $200.

Consumer hotel rates are reaching absurd levels these days, especially as the service we enjoyed in the past is basically nonexistent at this point. Unless you stay a week or more they're probably not changing the sheets or replacing the soap or bringing new towels anymore. In theory you can still ask for these things but good luck getting through on the phone or waiting for someone at front desk. Half the time they just tell you to use some half-baked mobile app anyway. None of this is the end of the world but if hotels are becoming a passive do-it-yourself experience why are we still being charged full service luxury hotel prices? Low tier brands have started charging high tier rates and high tier brands are busy abandoning benefits and introducing new fees for every minor kindness and convenience.

The last sentence sums the situation up perfectly.

 

[mitako]

Hubby and I have a trip coming up in May: Southwest Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago, Lakeshore Ltd from Chicago to Boston, Downeaster from Boston to Portland ME where we will rent a car and drive to Bar Harbor. Then the entire trip in reverse. Not only did it cost me well over $5K for train fare (bedrooms) but I am absolutely staggered at the cost for hotels, and we stay at decent but not fancy places. The trip, which is 18 days total with 11 nights total in hotels, is costing a fortune and I don't think we'll do such a long trip with multiple legs and hotels again.

 

[RovinMoses]

We were in NYC the first weekend of December for three nights at $767 total including taxes and fees, staying at the Doubletree at Newark Penn. Great hotel and super convenient to NYC -- 13 minutes to NY Penn, or 18 minutes using PATH to World Trade Center. Price almost half what hotels in NYC were charging. The hotel is connected to the station by a covered walkway and just outside of the station is a wonderful Portuguese neighborhood that reminds one of Lisbon. I paid more for a Holiday Inn Express in eastern Idaho while on business last year After five days in NYC and seeing A Beautiful Noise on Broadway, we flew to LAX, then took the Coast Starlight home to PDX. Great trip!

 

[Asher]

Why?? I need one in late March for 5 nights.

Oh they have plenty and March is probably a good time to find one at the bottom of the price scale. Hope the price doesn’t give you indigestion.

 

[Maverickstation]

Hubby and I have a trip coming up in May: Southwest Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago, Lakeshore Ltd from Chicago to Boston, Downeaster from Boston to Portland ME where we will rent a car and drive to Bar Harbor. Then the entire trip in reverse. Not only did it cost me well over $5K for train fare (bedrooms) but I am absolutely staggered at the cost for hotels, and we stay at decent but not fancy places. The trip, which is 18 days total with 11 nights total in hotels, is costing a fortune and I don't think we'll do such a long trip with multiple legs and hotels again.

The trick with Boston is to look at the chain Hotels that are near T stops. On the Red Line there are a number at Braintree, on the Orange Line at Assembly Row, and a new Marriott SpringHill Suites, across the street from the Wonderland Station on the Blue Line. On the Commuter Rail there are some new ones within walking distance of the University Park/Route 128 station.

Ken

 

[Sidney]

Oh they have plenty and March is probably a good time to find one at the bottom of the price scale. Hope the price doesn’t give you indigestion.

I have stayed in Tacoma when traveling to Seattle. Hotels are cheaper. With some planning,decent hotels in the $100 range can be found near most Amtrak stations. Seattle seems to be the exception.

 

[Maglev]

My wife and I are pretty picky regarding hotels. For a few years, we were spending most of our vacation dollars at Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. I grew up in Hawaii, and my wife lived there for many years; this is really the only place in Hawaii we would want to stay. In 2017, we paid $389 per night for club-level rooms; I just checked similar dates for 2023, and the rate is $971.

The Embassy Suites at King Street Station in Seattle can also be very expensive, I think especially if there is an event at one of the adjacent stadiums. Rates can start at $200 or less, but can also be as high as $599 and up.

 

[Bob Dylan]

My wife and I are pretty picky regarding hotels. For a few years, we were spending most of our vacation dollars at Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. I grew up in Hawaii, and my wife lived there for many years; this is really the only place in Hawaii we would want to stay. In 2017, we paid $389 per night for club-level rooms; I just checked similar dates for 2023, and the rate is $971.

The Embassy Suites at King Street Station in Seattle can also be very expensive, I think especially if there is an event at one of the adjacent stadiums. Rates can start at $200 or less, but can also be as high as $599 and up.

Pass on Both!

As you know, you can stay for alot less in Hawaii if you search for deals, but I admit your Hawaii Hotel Choice is Very Nice!

As for Seattle,of course it depends on the time of year and what's happening in the Queen City as you said, but I've stayed in Hotels around Seattle Center and @ SEA-TAC Airport in August for Less than $150 a night.

 

[jis]

My wife and I are pretty picky regarding hotels. For a few years, we were spending most of our vacation dollars at Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. I grew up in Hawaii, and my wife lived there for many years; this is really the only place in Hawaii we would want to stay. In 2017, we paid $389 per night for club-level rooms; I just checked similar dates for 2023, and the rate is $971.

Turtle Bay is very nice. I have not stayed there, but I have visited and had dinner there a couple of times. Though I don;t think I will spring for it for $971 per night. When I visited Oahu last I stayed at some Hilton property in the vicinity of Waikiki Beach. Anyway, all of that is very far from Amtrak

 

[Bob Dylan]

These days I am slowly getting reconciled to the sad situation that to find a decent hotel in downtown of big cities I will probably have to shell out ~$200 per night.

Thank goodness for Airport and Suburban Hotels where's there is Rail Transportation so one can find half way affordable Lodging!

 

[Maglev]

I have stayed in Tacoma when traveling to Seattle. Hotels are cheaper. With some planning,decent hotels in the $100 range can be found near most Amtrak stations. Seattle seems to be the exception.

The closest hotel to the Amtrak station in Tacoma is the Comfort Inn and Suites, and it is also adjacent to Tacoma Dome. Rates there can be $100-$150, but I paid $449 for one night for an Elton John concert at the dome.

I called the hotel a few days in advance for some driving instructions, and the desk agent literally read me the riot act regarding checkin procedures. She said that for events, checkin was pandemonium with the last rooms' not being ready sometimes until after midnight. But when we got there, we were offered early check-in for $200, which we eagerly accepted--yet that made our final bill with taxes almost $750. The room was very mediocre.

 

[jiml]

When rates are soaring in Seattle, there are a number of reasonable hotels within walking distance of Tukwila station - one Amtrak stop south (and free if booked with an arriving EB itinerary).

 

[Bob Dylan]

The closest hotel to the Amtrak station in Tacoma is the Comfort Inn and Suites, and it is also adjacent to Tacoma Dome. Rates there can be $100-$150, but I paid $449 for one night for an Elton John concert at the dome.

I called the hotel the a few days in advance for some driving instructions, and the desk agent literally read me the riot act regarding checkin procedures. She said that for events, checkin was pandemonium with the last rooms' not being ready sometimes until after midnight. But when we got there, we were offered early check-in for $200, which we eagerly accepted--yet that made our final bill with taxes almost $750. The room was very mediocre.

WOW, Supply and Demand used to be known as Greed!

Disclaimer: I work for a Company that owns Ticket Master, which is in the News for selling Extremely Inflated Ticket Prices for Concerts!

 

[Widfara]

WOW, looks like I may have to cross Chicago off my List of "Go To" Cities!

Last trip, I got off the eastbound California Zephyr at Naperville, backtracked to Aurora, and there is a Holiday Inn Express within easy walking distance of the station. Also, a fine Irish pub within walking distance. Then I Metra-ed in to Union Station on my next train day. I didn't mind the hour on Metra. Will likely stay there again next time, if I have to overnight in Chicago. Big cities are giving me the willies these days (maybe it's old age setting in).

In Los Angeles the Metro Plaza is right across from the station, reasonable for a city center. I found it clean, if a little (a lot) dated, but I just want a bed. Nearby is The Original Philippe, with breakfasts, and dip sandwiches (one dip is enough). I had an amazing lamb dip.

 

[Asher]

I’ve never found Hotels near downtown Seattle reasonable or car rentals convenient.

 

[Lonnie]

I’ve never found Hotels near downtown Seattle reasonable or car rentals convenient.

We just stayed in Seattle for a little over $100/night, at the Baroness Hotel, booked through Booking.com. Three nights in March is now $457. A bit bare bones but plenty clean and extremely comfortable bed. 10 minutes' walk to all sorts of downtown things, 20 minutes' walk to Pike Place Market or King Street station. By the way, the best coffee we were able to find in Seattle was at Elm Roasters, a block from the station.

 

[Bob Dylan]

We just stayed in Seattle for a little over $100/night, at the Baroness Hotel, booked through Booking.com. Three nights in March is now $457. A bit bare bones but plenty clean and extremely comfortable bed. 10 minutes' walk to all sorts of downtown things, 20 minutes' walk to Pike Place Market or King Street station. By the way, the best coffee we were able to find in Seattle was at Elm Roasters, a block from the station.

My go to Hotel in Seattle Proper is the Inn @ Queen Anne located by Seattle Center on top of the Hill.( Bus and Ride Share available and the Monorail by the Space Needle is a short walk away).

Our Last stay was in August of 2021, and we paid $107 a night.There is a kitchen in most of the Rooms, and the Place is more like a Guest House than a Hotel with a great Garden,Free WIFI,Convienient Location and Friendly Helpful Staff.

Recommended,it's very popular so book early!

 

[Maglev]

We just stayed in Seattle for a little over $100/night, at the Baroness Hotel, booked through Booking.com. Three nights in March is now $457. A bit bare bones but plenty clean and extremely comfortable bed. 10 minutes' walk to all sorts of downtown things, 20 minutes' walk to Pike Place Market or King Street station. By the way, the best coffee we were able to find in Seattle was at Elm Roasters, a block from the station.

Oh, there certainly are reasonable hotels in Seattle. Just a couple weeks ago, we stayed at a Silver Cloud Inn (a local independent chain of ten hotels) for $143 for an upper-floor, lake-view room. But even then, we chose the hotel for its proximity to what we were doing--it was actually connected to the medical center where I had an appointment, and in fact the day of my appointment there was an ice storm which made driving difficult.

And on the subject of coffee... there are (often) no coffee shops close to the Comfort Inn and Suites in Tacoma. (There is a pastry shop in the Amtrak station building, but its hours are very limited.) We found "Dockside Donuts" on Google maps, and drove several blocks to get there--and it was THE WORST coffee we have ever had. Dock workers must be some different breed of animal...

 

[01piglet_patinas]

My guess is that the hotel chains are banking on a big summer travel season to make up for the ones that they lost to COVID, so they've jacked up prices particularly at the low end of their chains. I also noticed that most of the low end chain hotels have discontinued daily housekeeping to fatten their bottom line as well. Me, I don't care that much, since I can make my own bed and hang my towels to dry...I do it everyday at home!

And to be better on-topic, I think Amtrak's raised rates for sleeping car tickets is an example of the same phenomenon. Frankly, I would not have spent the money on a LD train trip this year except that the window of opportunity to travel with our granddaughter before the 'sullen teen years' set in is rapidly closing.

Great that you are taking her now before the "sullen" years - she will remember this trip all her life especially if there are snafus. What a wonderful gift for her and you.

Chicago hotel prices still have a lot of variation but there are decent rates to be had, depending on holidays, events, etc. The week between Christmas and NY was particularly affordable this year, compared to the last couple of years. The best deals seem to be the king bed rooms at various chains - doubles and upgraded rooms with view etc. start to go up considerably. A single person just looking for a room for the night will find the best deals on certain times/days. And this might be true in other cities, I have not researched.
EDIT: in regards to thread title, Chicago has many hotels that are convenient to get to from Union station, especially if you include CTA as an option to reach them as opposed to walking.

Have you personally used CTA to those hotels? Were you solo? Any ones you would recommend?

 

[Old MM]

Have you personally used CTA to those hotels? Were you solo? Any ones you would recommend?

Yes I have and I would recommend to anyone looking to stay within a budget. I wasn't solo (except for a couple of business trips) but I did it as a single mom with 2 little ones. In fact, back then the only way I could afford Chicago was to book one of the hotels along the Blue Line, near O'Hare. I've not tried to do this by Midway but there are a few options there as well. For years we used to stay at one of several different hotels on Rosemont, particularly in the summer, and walk from the station to the hotel. Some of the properties have rebranded so I don't have recent intel, check reviews before you book. The O'Hare Hyatt Regency (edit: Rosemont stop) was the closest and used to have steeply discounted rates and back then it was a common win on Priceline or Hotwire. I remember staying there for $50 a night, although those rates might be nothing more than a memory now. In fact the airport Hilton, connected to O'Hare and the Blue Line, was a routine win at $65. Memories I think the third party bidding sites still have good deals, just not as discounted as before. There are a number of others and all have been satisfactory. At the Cumberland stop, there are several that are convenient, including a HI and a couple Marriott properties. I've stayed at the HI several times for around $100 a night. In fact there are 2, a full service HI and one of the HI Expresses properties - both were fine. You can also use the other CTA lines and Metra lines to find great deals in surrounding areas, on that I am not as familiar. The more time you have to research, the better, and the result will be that a Chicago excursion is more affordable than you might think!

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

If you've ever read the book about the Queen of Mean her husband, Harry, was big into the variable/changeable pricing of hotels (he had come from office and apartment rentals and was apparently fascinated with the daily fluctuations of it).

I'm not sure that staying near Midway is that great unless it's that much cheaper since most of the motels are along Cicero which is a busy, noisy and often traffic choked thoroughfare on the South Side.

I had a business/work trip to Boston at the end of '21 (Thanksgivingish) and stayed close to North Station at the Hotel Indigo, which was a cute chain boutique hotel with pleasant staff. I remember the rate being reasonable and it looks like it's in the range of $150/2 person occupancy right now online. Rooms are small, but clean enough and cute and the breakfast was tasty.

The talk of rates makes me glad I did my splurging in the before times when I stayed (not-so-humble-brag) at the Waldorf-Statler in a suite that was bigger than my apartment at the time with an art deco bath/dressing room that was massive... (having cheap rent and no 'adult' responsibilities other than student loan made it affordable - had a blast). Also stayed at the William Penn in Pittsburgh a few times - a very old school hotel.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Any suggestions for a hotel as close as possible to the Emeryville, CA train station (W terminus of the California Zephyr, if you aren't taking the shuttle bus into downtown SF). I could earn either AGR points or Wyndham Rewards points, but proximity to the station is a priority. Just booked tickets on the CZ roundtrip for hubby & me; we'd be arriving in Emeryville 10/2 and taking the eastbound CZ the next morning.

 

[jis]

Any suggestions for a hotel as close as possible to the Emeryville, CA train station (W terminus of the California Zephyr, if you aren't taking the shuttle bus into downtown SF). I could earn either AGR points or Wyndham Rewards points, but proximity to the station is a priority. Just booked tickets on the CZ roundtrip for hubby & me; we'd be arriving in Emeryville 10/2 and taking the eastbound CZ the next morning.

My favorite is the Hyatt House right across the tracks from the station. There is a foot over bridge with elevators to get to it from the station.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

My favorite is the Hyatt House right across the tracks from the station. There is a foot over bridge with elevators to get to it from the station.

I saw that when I Googled the station. It doesn't seem to offer either AGR points or Wyndham Rewards points, but I think I'd love the proximity!

 

[pennyk]

Any suggestions for a hotel as close as possible to the Emeryville, CA train station (W terminus of the California Zephyr, if you aren't taking the shuttle bus into downtown SF). I could earn either AGR points or Wyndham Rewards points, but proximity to the station is a priority. Just booked tickets on the CZ roundtrip for hubby & me; we'd be arriving in Emeryville 10/2 and taking the eastbound CZ the next morning.

I have stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (a short ride or long walk from the station). I am in the Hilton Honors points program, so the hotel worked very well for me.