Maine to Mexico

[Oldmunchi]

Hey everyone first post here. I made an account to get some thoughts on a trip my brother and I are planning.

We had planned to go to Mexico, but due to a medical issue with my ears I can't fly anymore. So by land it is.

Anyway, the current plan is:
Bus to Boston,
Lake Shore Limited to Chicago,
3hr30min stopover,
Texas Eagle to San antonio,
Bus from SA to Monterrey MX


I'm wondering what your thoughts are on how brutal of a trip this will be, what to expect, and recommendations, etc.
Thanks for any input!

 

[zephyr17]

Not sure what you mean by "brutal".

If going coach, you will be in a seat that is as wide as a domestic first class airline seat, but with much greater seat pitch and recline. In the words of Monty Python's "Spanish Inquisition" you will be subjected to big, comfy chair.

You are free to move about the train.

The downsides of your trip will be the Texas Eagle no longer has a Sightseer Lounge car, and, if you are in a sleeper, both the LSL and the Eagle have the execrable flex dining.

Bring snacks and a good book.

I assume you are laying over overnight at San Antonio and catching your bus the next day due to the Eagle's 9:55 pm arrival.

 

[Lonnie]

Not sure what you mean by "brutal".

If going coach, you will be in a seat that is as wide as a domestic first class airline seat, but with much greater seat pitch and recline. In the words of Monty Python's "Spanish Inquisition" you will be subjected to big, comfy chair.

You are free to move about the train.

The downsides of your trip will be the Texas Eagle no longer has a Sightseer Lounge car, and, if you are in a sleeper, both the LSL and the Eagle have the execrable flex dining.

Bring snacks and a good book.

I assume you are laying over overnight at San Antonio and catching your bus the next day due to the Eagle's 9:55 pm arrival.

I do hope you can do it in a sleeper. While in Chicago, buy food and beverages for the trip. Include one or two things that are delicious but only last a few hours, like a sandwich and quality salad. The rest should be things that last at room temperature. For me, that would be apples, string cheese in individual wrappers, nuts or trail mix, tinned patés and dense German bread. Maybe even carrots you can dip in the mayonnaise found in the dining and cafe cars. This way you'll have at least some things pleasant to eat (flex dining being one point above barely okay). A few little nip bottles if you're into that can add to the pleasantness.

The mattress on the Lake Shore Limited is pretty hard. I bring a blanket to lay out under the bottom sheet as a bit of extra padding. Bring water shoes to wear into the shower, take your shower in the evening (if you're very clever you'll time it for when the train is in a station and therefore station-ary ), let them dry while you sleep and wear them around the train during the day. Before you go, download books and podcasts etc onto your phone for enjoyment when the train has poor WiFi. Bring 1s, 5s and 10s for tipping the hard-working crew.

You must know about the Downeaster Brunswick to Boston and have a reason for not taking it.

Sounds like a great trip!

 

[TheVig]

Go further into Mexico and ride Chepe.

 

[BlackDiamond]

I assume the reason for bus to Boston is either you are starting out somewhere that the Downeaster is not convenient to, such as Bangor or Augusta; or you wish to avoid the transfer with luggage from North Station to South Station. I have used the Concord Coach myself for the latter reason, which runs a good service.

3 hr 30 min will probably be OK for a transfer at Chicago but the LSL has been known to be 2 hours late or more so it can be a nail biter. Personally I would want to overnight in Chicago and not have that stress of worrying about the connection. Also an opportunity to get a shower, a good nights sleep, and a good meal at one of the many good restaurants in the Windy City.

 

[GAT]

30 min will probably be OK for a transfer at Chicago but the LSL has been known to be 2 hours late or more so it can be a nail biter. Personally I would want to overnight in Chicago and not have that stress of worrying about the connection. Also an opportunity to get a shower, a good nights sleep, and a good meal at one of the many good restaurants in the Windy City.

I agree. I’m not comfortable with a scheduled three-hour transfer time in Chicago, so I will be overnighting and enjoying a daytime stroll in the city. Look for a recent thread containing “Palmer House” in the title for some great ideas about where to stay and eat.

I wonder why “Greyhound” is in quotes on several websites about bus travel between San Antonio and Monterrey. This might be the most “brutal” part of your trip. But there do not appear to be any alternatives.

¡Qué tenga un buen viaje!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Hey everyone first post here. I made an account to get some thoughts on a trip my brother and I are planning.

We had planned to go to Mexico, but due to a medical issue with my ears I can't fly anymore. So by land it is.

Anyway, the current plan is:
Bus to Boston,
Lake Shore Limited to Chicago,
3hr30min stopover,
Texas Eagle to San antonio,
Bus from SA to Monterrey MX


I'm wondering what your thoughts are on how brutal of a trip this will be, what to expect, and recommendations, etc.
Thanks for any input!

Curious as to why you want to go to Monterrey, which is the Pittsburgh ( in the old days)of Mexico?

Crowded,Polluted,,Dangerous ( Cartel controlled)and not inexpensive if you want Clean,Safe places.

There are plenty of better Cities and towns in Mexico to visit, NOT including the Border Towns.

1 hour to the West of Monterrey is the charming City of Saltillo, Google it up if interested. Guadalajara or San Miguel Allende are also great Mexican Cities to visit.

Consider taking one of the Delujo Mexican Buses from SA, they're much better than Greyhound!

 

[GAT]

Curious as to why you want to go to Monterrey

Perhaps Sinatra-inspired nostalgia? “It happened in Monterrey, a long time ago / I met her in Monterrey, in old Mexico...” A great, somewhat sad, song.

 

[MARC Rider]

You can take the train almost to the Mexican border if you take #421, the Eagle/Sunset Limited combo from Chicago to Del Rio, TX. This service is only available three days a week. From Del Rio, you transfer (probably need a taxi or something) to the Mexican side at Ciudad Acuna, where there's a bus station, which presumably has buses to the major cities in the north of Mexico. I was told Acuna was a little iffy for a while as the cartels started drifting over from Nuevo Laredo, but last fall, I talked to someone from Del Rio who said that things had calmed down a good bit. You might want to check on the current situation. I suppose one of the advantages of taking a through bus from San Antonio is that it will allows you to pass through without having to hang around the border towns, many of which have some security concerns.

 

[Oldmunchi]

as to why you want to go to Monterrey, which is the Pittsburgh ( in the old days)of Mexico?

Basically because I don't like elevation. I was thinking to only stay there a few days and then bus to tampico on the coast which I've read had some problems years ago but not that bad anymore and the Centro looks okay to stay in.

You must know about the Downeaster Brunswick to Boston and have a reason for not taking it.

In the north so would have to bus to Portland anyway easier to just take it all the way through to Boston.

I assume you are laying over overnight at San Antonio and catching your bus the next day due to the Eagle's 9:55 pm arrival.

There's actually multiple busses that leave in the middle of the night 12am 1am etc

I wonder why “Greyhound” is in quotes on several websites about bus travel between San Antonio and Monterrey. This might be the most “brutal” part of your trip

Yeah I planned to take one of the Mexican bus companies I'm not a fan of greyhound

Consider taking one of the Delujo Mexican Buses from SA, they're much better than Greyhound!

Thanks for the bus name I'll have to get that one

 

[Rambling Robert]

Try to book an “Amtrak ThruwayBus” to South Station ask if your arrival is guaranteed.

Many DownEaster parking lots is Maine allow extended stays. Just call the residing town. I’ve gone three weeks in Wells.

Tampico is industrial isn’t it?

============

I thought of a grand tour North America and Mexico. I’m working on it. Leaning towards Mexico City or Mayan PenisulaAlso want to do Highway61 from Canada to NOLA.... which follows the Mississippi. The route

When you book - search the Amtrak site and look for discount codes. Then Book. Sometimes the agent won’t have the discount or the code. Then at times check for a discount.

finally, if you qualify for a railpass, last year there was a two week pass and four week.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Basically because I don't like elevation. I was thinking to only stay there a few days and then bus to tampico on the coast which I've read had some problems years ago but not that bad anymore and the Centro looks okay to stay in.


In the north so would have to bus to Portland anyway easier to just take it all the way through to Boston.



There's actually multiple busses that leave in the middle of the night 12am 1am etc



Yeah I planned to take one of the Mexican bus companies I'm not a fan of greyhound


Thanks for the bus name I'll have to get that one

Delujo is what this class of Bus is called/ there are several different Lines that run these Luxury Buses. They are all Reserved and require advance booking.( be sure and have your Passport)

Google up Mexican Bus Lines and pick one with the Best Schedule for you

They have Movies,Clean Bathrooms and some serve Refreshments, some have an Attendant and have really Comfortable First Class Airline type seats.

The AC is usually very strong a light throw or fleece blanket and travel pillow is nice to have, if you're traveling overnight.

The other Classss of Buses in Mexico are Primera Class( older Greyhound type Buses/ 1st Class and Segunda Class( 2nd Class).

 

[BlackDiamond]

Many DownEaster parking lots is Maine allow extended stays. Just call the residing town. I’ve gone three weeks in Wells.

If you drive down to Brunswick (not too far from I-295 Exit 31) there is paid parking $3 a day IIRC. Portland PTC is a little more $5 a day.

But of you are coming from the Bangor area and you have a lengthy trip you might as well take the bus to South Station directly.

 

[toddinde]

First of all, the train trip sounds great. I would probably go for the three hour transfer in Chicago, but the Palmer House, dinner at the Italian Village, and Blue Chicago for some real Chicago blues music would be reason enough to spend the night. There are three is a Mexican bus companies that offer first class tickets from San Antonio to Monterrey for $80. For those who don’t know, Mexican busses, especially first class, are not like Greyhound. They are vastly superior and much more comfortable. Many feature movies and refreshments. If you take one of those, that will be a most pleasant part of your trip. Amtrak will be a joy. I enjoyed the Sunset/Texas Eagle last week. There is no reason to believe your trip will be anything other than extremely pleasant. Have a great trip!

 

[Oldmunchi]

There are three is a Mexican bus companies that offer first class tickets from San Antonio to Monterrey for $80

Is Turimex the best one ? And thanks

 

[Bob Dylan]

Is Turimex the best one ? And thanks

They're all about equal, pick the best Schedule for you.

 

[CaptPete 43]

Hey everyone first post here. I made an account to get some thoughts on a trip my brother and I are planning.

We had planned to go to Mexico, but due to a medical issue with my ears I can't fly anymore. So by land it is.

Anyway, the current plan is:
Bus to Boston,
Lake Shore Limited to Chicago,
3hr30min stopover,
Texas Eagle to San antonio,
Bus from SA to Monterrey MX


I'm wondering what your thoughts are on how brutal of a trip this will be, what to expect, and recommendations, etc.
Thanks for any input!

Re ears: airlines pressurize cabins to 5,000 ft. of altitude. The only difference between this and driving to 5,00 ft. is the speed in which the change takes.

 

[zephyr17]

They pressurize to 8 to 10 thousand feet, not 5. That is a significant difference.

 

[jis]

Re ears: airlines pressurize cabins to 5,000 ft. of altitude. The only difference between this and driving to 5,00 ft. is the speed in which the change takes.

Actually cabin pressure in commercial aircraft can be between 5,000' and 8,000'. Typically in older planes it is somewhere between 6,000' and 8,000' and it is a bit lower in newer planes like the 787 and the A380 and A350.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_pressurization#Cabin_altitude

 

[CaptPete 43]

My error. It 8,000 ft.

 

[Oldmunchi]

It takes my ears hours to adjust to altitude changes not 35 minutes or whatever the plane takes last time I flew it took like 12 hours for my ears to finally clear out and they still were weird days after. The solution is tubes or balloon in the eustacion tubes both of which I'm not really interested in having done I'd rather just go by land or boat places. My brother jokes that I should get a space suit to fly.

Anyway we're probably going to be getting our tickets here soon for this trip to leave 3 or 4 weeks out

 

[west point]

They pressurize to 8 to 10 thousand feet, not 5. That is a significant difference.

Thar is incorrect. The cabin altitude is determined by the max differential pressure allowed by the individual aircraft type. The max cabin altitude allowed by FAA regs is 8500 ft standard. Various transport jet airplanes have different allowed max differential pressures. Mostly range from 7.5 - 8.4 different pressures. That limit how high that airplane can fly. DC-9s are limited to 35000ft. Most early Boeings are limited to 41000 or 42000 feet. Some newer models can go higher but pilots do not to fly those altitudes as it requires one pilot to be on 100% Oxygen. Pure Oxygen not good long term. Many corporate Aircraft do go higher.

Now for lower altitude flights cabin altitudes can be lower if maintaining max differential pressures. If flying at say 18000 ft the pressurization controller will split the difference in case airplane might go higher but takes the cabin down immediately upon descent at a lower rate since the differential pressure might only be at 4PSI.,

 

[Oldmunchi]

Thar is incorrect. The cabin altitude is determined by the max differential pressure allowed by the individual aircraft type. The max cabin altitude allowed by FAA regs is 8500 ft standard. Various transport jet airplanes have different allowed max differential pressures. Mostly range from 7.5 - 8.4 different pressures. That limit how high that airplane can fly. DC-9s are limited to 35000ft. Most early Boeings are limited to 41000 or 42000 feet. Some newer models can go higher but pilots do not to fly those altitudes as it requires one pilot to be on 100% Oxygen. Pure Oxygen not good long term. Many corporate Aircraft do go higher.

Now for lower altitude flights cabin altitudes can be lower if maintaining max differential pressures. If flying at say 18000 ft the pressurization controller will split the difference in case airplane might go higher but takes the cabin down immediately upon descent at a lower rate since the differential pressure might only be at 4PSI.,

Interesting. So is there a aircraft that currently exists that is able to pressurize to sea level but still fly at 32k feet?

 

[Siegmund]

Interesting. So is there a aircraft that currently exists that is able to pressurize to sea level but still fly at 32k feet?

Concorde could maintain just shy of11psi differential pressure (6000 feet inside, 60000 feet outside) so could have maintained sea level pressure to somewhere between 30000 and 35000 if it wanted. I am not aware of any other.

There is a large weight penalty for making the airplane able to stand that much outward pressure --- boilers are heavy! -- so there is great resistance from the airlines and the manufacturers to increasing pressurization unless it's absolutely necessary. It could be done... but if it came at the cost of making the fuselage ~25% heavier, that's a stiff penalty in terms of range and payload. The extra weight comes out of your useful load...