Need hotel advice near the stations!

[caravanman]

Hi Folks,

I am looking at a different approach to my New Year Amtrak jaunt this time.. I have tended to try to squeeze the maximum milage and on-board train time out of my visits to America in the recent past. This January I expect to fly to New York for a few nights, then visit Boston, possibly Washington, Charlotte, Savannah, and maybe Miami, maybe Atlanta, as these are places that I have not visited yet. Any hotel recommendations close to Amtrak stations would be appreciated, I like to spend less than $100 a night if possible..(I am sorted on the New York and Washington stopovers).

Also, being winter, is there an approximate "southern limit" to snow and ice.. I am imagining a big temperature change between Boston and Atlanta.

I know this is a wide topic, but any advice appreciated.

Cheers, Ed B)

 

[AlanB]

Well you can start with Kevin Korell's (SuperlinerDiner) hotel listing page.

 

[the_traveler]

This list from OTOL may help.

NOTE: The hotels listed are near rail transit, not necessarily just near Amtrak.

Edit: Alan beat me!

 

[MrEd]

The Charlotte station is just outside of downtown.

I would take a taxi and stay in a downtown hotel, then you can walk to various things the next day.

closest hotel:

Days Inn Charlotte Center City, around $75.

601 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Westin Charlotte, much better hotel, min $100

601 South College Street · Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

(704) 375-2600

more info

http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/default.asp

 

[Acela150]

As for Boston I would suggest the omni parker house on school street.

You can get on the redline and go 2 stops down which is park street and walk about 3/4 of a block into the hotel and it's very nice.

I stay there all the time simply because it's easy to get to from south station.

Good Luck,

Stephen

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Atlanta is not Nassau. It is not Miami. We CAN have almost any weather you have-- just not as much, not as often. not as used to it.

We have been very lucky during the recent winter storms compared to everywhere else in the county.

My favorite story about how cold it can be (but usually is not, of course) in Atlanta is the time one Christmas day in the late 1980's when I drove my car from Chattanooga to Atlanta with a farenheit of nine below zero and a wind chill factor of minus forty. No falling weather, fortunately. Now, why do I remember that so well? Could it be because the heater was not working in my car ??? Yeah, guess that is it.

What should you do? Just check the weather listings for several days before your trip, much as we might check a train's on time record shortly before your trip, to see a pattern.

Our winters have gotten wamer and warmer in recent years, so it seems to me. But come prepared, again just check the weather listings,wherever you go!

 

[caravanman]

Thanks for the help.

I do like to get a recommendation where possible, as, without local knowledge, the hotels on lists are harder to put in any order of desirability, or closeness. Certainly a good starting point though!

One reason that I was asking about the weather, was that I have a vague idea of renting a car, but don't want to be driving on the wrong side of the road in snow, etc! (mind you, we all do that when it's too icey!)

Thanks again, keep the info comming!

Ed B)

 

[Everydaymatters]

Weather from the top to the bottom of the U.S. during January can be as different as night and day. I'd suggest layers. An undershirt, a flannel shirt and a couple of sweat shirts and a lined hooded jacket should keep you warm enough on some of the coldest days in the north. You could shed some of the layers as you go south.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

Weather from the top to the bottom of the U.S. during January can be as different as night and day. I'd suggest layers. An undershirt, a flannel shirt and a couple of sweat shirts and a lined hooded jacket should keep you warm enough on some of the coldest days in the north. You could shed some of the layers as you go south.

That was extremely good logic the past week or two in as much has we missed out completely on the recent severe weather which screwed up transportation of all kinds. And such happens much more in those areas than here.

But over time the difference is not that great:

For Example:

today: Boston, hi 48 low 46

NYC hi 52, low 51

ATL hi 70 low 52

tomorrow: Boston hi 66 low 40

NYC hi 69 low 39

ATL hi 60 low 41

I can't count the number of times I have gone sweating and over-dressed from the station to my hotel in NYC or other places cursing myself for not paying attention to the forecast, rather than just assuming it would be "much colder." Oh, BTW I know what a monster the winds whipping through the Manhattan skyscrapers can be like. That alters the statistics, when it is blowing, that is.

Funny thing, sometimes it seems the weather almost follows the northbound route of the Crescent. That is, if it is raining in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Tuesday sometimes it will be raining in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York on Wednesday or Thursday. Guess there have been passengers on the Crescent who proclaimed "It is raining everywhere" when actually the rain, or other weather, was just following along with the train.

But again: best advice bar none--just check the weather forecast in the paper or on line before you go.

 

[the_traveler]

Even the "normal weather" can not be counted on. I live in Rhode Island (in the northeast US). Last week, we had 2 major snowfalls. Christmas morning had 50℉ weather and heavy rain, and this weekend will be in the 60's. Now there is NO snow at all! Yet in Seattle and Portland (in the northwest US and where they usually do not get snow), there is much snow!

 

[Irv]

There's no reliable "southern limit", and driving in snow - or the more common ice - in Atlanta's hills is not for the faint-hearted.

Unless you are very unlucky, you won't encounter those conditions once you get south of the Appalachian mountains.

I would recommend being prepared for cold - temps in the teens with wind-chill of -20 or more are not uncommon, we've had several days of that already this month.

Even Savannah can get pretty uncomfortable, being on the water.

 

[gswager]

Have you check on the hostels?

 

[caravanman]

Hi everyone,

Cheers for all your suggestions.

gswager, I have enjoyed hostel stays in America, although the only ones I booked were through HI. Your link looks to have a different offering altogether.

They are good for solo travelers like myself, as you meet up with others.. The one in downtown San Diego had the wierdest bunch of "fellow travelers", to date, and

only two saucepans in the self catering kitchen for about 40 persons. Yes, one can cook pasta in a frying pan.. no trouble!

Thanks again for the tips,

Ed. B)

 

[RailFanLNK]

NYC: Big Apple Hostel 119 W 45th Str. They have private rooms for under $100 and you can share a 4 person room for $40 per night. They have a kitchen and a the Cranberry Deli next door to purchase foods instead of going out to eat. This place is one block from Times Square but far enough away that you don't get the Times Square noise, just the city noise. Ed, look into Big Apple Greeter. You will get your own personal New Yorker to show you around neighborhoods that you choose. Best thing we did in NYC last year. LOVED IT! www.bigapplegreeter.org.

Boston: HI-Boston. Just booked it for the Get Together in 2009. Going to pay $109 per night for a private room for two. You can also book a shared dorm bunkbed there for $38. You can make all your meals there as well. Sounds like its just a block away from the subway of Boston.

The Tropics Hostel in Miami. Its the "sister hostel" to the Big Apple Hostel and it gets real good reviews. Both the Big Apple Hostel and the Tropics Hostel are owned by a European that knows what you need in a place to bunk down at night. To read reviews of these aformentioned places go to www.hostels.com or www.hostelz.com. Also can get reviews from www.tripadvisor.com. I have a review of the Big Apple. My review is in July. Both Brenda and I are sharing the cost of the HI-Boston hostel so it comes out to about $55 per night for a double bed. My age is 45years and my girlfriends is ? so don't think we are some young backpacker types. Just hate paying alot for a bed that I sleep in.

May I ask this: How come you don't time a visit to the US when we all get together? We would love to meet you Ed! Have fun!

 

[GG-1]

A;oha

My thought and practice to see what the weather will be like in a place I am going is to check the Almanac for the same dates 11 years prior. This is the cycle of Sunspot activity and it seems to me the Weather follows the same cycle.

 

[Bote Man]

...This January I expect to fly to New York for a few nights, then visit Boston, possibly Washington, Charlotte, Savannah, and maybe Miami, maybe Atlanta, as these are places that I have not visited yet. Any hotel recommendations close to Amtrak stations would be appreciated, I like to spend less than $100 a night if possible..(I am sorted on the New York and Washington stopovers).

The area around the Miami Amtrak station is none too scenic nor nice for the visitor and offers no nearby accommodations.

May I suggest that you instead aim for the Fort Lauderdale Amtrak station, from which you can always catch one of the taxi cabs waiting for arriving passengers. Or take the Tri-Rail commuter train service south to the Fort Lauderdale Airport station or north to the Cypress Creek station, both of which feature several hotels.

Remember that you are coming to a desirable Winter destination so room rates are at their peak now.

Another resource for railfans looking for track side accommodations is:

http://www.TRACKSIDEMOTELS.com

If you can wait a number of years, there is talk of renewed interest in initiating Amtrak service down the Florida East Coast Railway line which would be a boon to vacationers, as it once was back in the heyday.

 

[battalion51]

Here are my recommendations. AFAIK Amtrak crews stay at La Quinta in Savannah and Comfort Inn Miami Airport. If you call these locations they more than likely will give you a ride to and from the train station. In South Florida there are a number of hotels near stations (but not necessarily MIA). In Deerfield Beach there's a Ramada right next to the train station. At Ft. Lauderdale Airport (accessible via Tri-Rail) there is a Courtyard right next to the station.