Trip Planning - Advice Needed from Experienced Riders

[Cajon Pass]

Hi Everyone. I had previously been on one Amtrak trip about 10 years ago. On that trip my wife and son travelled with me on the EB from Columbus, WI to Whitefish, MT and back. We had a great time and I have wanted to go on another Amtrak trip since that time. I am now planning a trip where I will go by myself. My wife isn't as interested as in riding trains as I am.

I am planning on boarding the EB in Columbus, WI and taking the EB to Chicago. At Chicago I will then take the CZ to San Francisco where I will catch the CS to Seattle. From there I will take the EB back to Columbus. I will get a roomette for the long distance legs of this trip. I am planning to travel within the next month and have already confirmed that roomettes are available on all legs of my trip. I have a week of vacation for this trip (9 days including weekends). I could add additional legs if desirable.

I am a traveler who takes things in stride on these sorts of trips. If I get delayed I don't get cranked up and view that as part of the experience.

So here are my questions. Do you have suggestions with regard to the itinerary? Different trains or routes? Railroad focused hotels or sites or places to spend time at? I remember on my first trip a lodge along the EB route at the East end of Glacier NP that the EB stopped at that had a railroad history. Anyone stay there in the past? Thoughts?

Lastly, I would like to work with a travel agent to get these reservations made. Is there a travel agent that many of you work with that is very experienced in Amtrak/train themed trips such as this one?

Thank you for your ideas and thoughts! I am planning on signing up for the Chicago Gathering in the next day or so. I hope to meet many of you there.

Dave

 

[OBS]

There are others, but one good Travel agent suggestion is Accent on Travel owned by Ted and Sylvia Blishak, in Klamath Falls Or. They have traveled by train all over US and Canada and are experts in all rail travel...

 

[pennyk]

Thank you for your ideas and thoughts! I am planning on signing up for the Chicago Gathering in the next day or so. I hope to meet many of you there.

Welcome. If you are planning to register for the Gathering, please do so asap. Registration closes first thing in the morning October 7th (tomorrow morning - eastern time).

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/55494-gathering-vii-registration-chicago-is-now-open/&do=findComment&comment=474448

 

[Bob Dylan]

:hi: Welcome to AU, NIce Trip!!!!As Penny said. Please Register Today for the gathering since it Closes in the morning! And Honestly, you don't need a travel Agent to Book your Trip (why Pay for what you can get for Free?) Just call Amtrak ("Julie" the Computer Voice will answer, ask top be connected to "Agent")@ 1-800-USA-RAIL and when the agent gets on the Phone discuss what you want to do and they will help! You can use a couple of tools to do your research in Advance: !)amsnag.net was developed by one of our members paul m. and it will show you fares for All Trains up to 30 Days @ a Time for Up to 11 Months in Advance/it will show you rail Fares/Room Costs/Business Class Fares etc.) @) Amtrak.com will do lots of the same but only One Day @ a Time! This gives you the info you need to Book your Trip and as was said, it's Free!

 

[Ryan]

What they said. Welcome, register fast, don't bother with a travel agent.

Route looks good, I'd love to take a trip like that.

 

[the_traveler]

You do realize between the Empire Builder and the California Zephyr that you will have to stay overnight in Chicago on your own dime. One train departs before the other arrives - even if the EB was on time!

The name of the hotel I think you're talking about is the Issak Walton Inn, at the Essex, Mt stop. This is a flag stop, so the EB only stops if someone books to/from there.

 

[pianocat]

Sounds like a great trip! It could be the Isaac Walton Inn the poster is asking about, but I'm thinking it might be Glacier Lodge, in East Glacier which has an extensive railroad history. Here's where you can check it out: http://www.glacierparkinc.com/glacier_park_lodge.php

In 2011 I stayed there with a Vacations by Rail tour group, the hotel was absolutely awesome. In June, I had the heat on! Gorgeous lobby with a nice grand piano. At the end of our stay, the pax 'made' me play a short piano recital for them right there. Good restaurants, and Red bus tours leave from the front door! Have fun

 

[Palmland]

And yet another option is the Belton Chalet in West Glacier. Another historic small lodge across from the station. Advantage there is you'll get to ride through the park on the Builder to get to it. We were in Glacier this summer and it was our favorite of the lodges we were in that included Lake McDonald on the west side and near Belton and the eastern Glacier Lodge. We felt the most scenic part of the park was on the east slope. You get there from west glacier via the spectacular going to the sun highway or the still interesting US 2 that passes Issac Walton. There is a handy Avis rental in East Glacier or, if you stay at one of the Park lodges, just use their famous red jammer touring buses.

 

[Cajon Pass]

Thank you to everyone who shared their insight on my trip. It is very helpful! Yes, the lodge I was thinking about was the Izaak Walton but the other ones mentioned I will also check into. I was aware of the possibility of an overnight or two in connecting cities due to scheduling of arrival and departure times. I will decide this evening about the gathering as the deadline is tomorrow morning. I have enjoyed reading the posts on many topics on this forum!

 

[Steve4031]

You don't need a travel agent. Ask questions here and we can help you. Outside of accent on travel, most travel agents know nothing about trains. Accent on travel will cost more because you will pay fees for the planning.

 

[winterskigirl]

The only other idea I have for you is to get off the Coast Starlight in Portland. Then take the Empire Builder #28 up the Columbia River Gorge. I've done both EB #8 and #28 and I think #28 is better for scenery. This would also save you the expense of a hotel in Seattle.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

I have taken this exact trip in February, and the sights on the westbound CZ are amazing past Denver. I have gotten off in Emeryville and caught the CS north to Portland and then the EB. The only issue as has been said is that you will have to at least add one night in Chicago, which is not a bad thing, as there are many things to see there, one being the glass observation deck at the Wilson (Sears) tower.

Great trip and you don't need to pay a travel agent fees, it is very easy to do yourself.

 

[the_traveler]

The only issue as has been said is that you will have to at least add one night in Chicago, which is not a bad thing, as there are many things to see there, one being the glass observation deck at the Wilson (Sears) tower.

Just a small correction in the name. After the Sears tower was sold, the name did change. But it is not "Wilson", it's "Willis"! The Willis tower is just across the Chicago River from Union Station, less then 2 blocks away out the Wells Street exit.

 

[Cajon Pass]

Do you have any suggestions for good hotels in Chicago that are convenient to the station? Not afraid to spend a little more for convenience and a good one. I'm on vacation so don't mind splurging a little! Same question for Emeryville and Portland? I have decided to use the suggest here to make my change in Portland vs. Seattle. Again thank you to everyone here for their kind advice. I wasn't able to make the gathering work this year. I found out our 24 year old son will be returning from Afghanistan on that weekend after his second tour of duty there. I am going to use my train trip as a reward for coming out of 2 years of worry. I plan to just relax and watch the scenery and hopefully meet some other train enthusiasts. This is really a great forum!

 

[SarahZ]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I love the following hotels:

Holiday Inn - Chicago Mart. They just remodeled all of the rooms. If you get a river/skyline view room (request it by phone or make sure you click on "skyline" or "river view" when selecting the room online), you'll get an amazing view of the city and river. The hotel is at the top of the Sun Times building, so the rooms are all on the 15th floor or higher. It's a hop, skip, and a jump from the Brown Line stop at the Merchandise Mart, which is two quick stops from the Quincy Brown Line stop (the one I use for Union Station - you just walk a couple blocks and then across the river to get to the station).

Hotel Sax - this is my "it's my birthday" hotel. It's more expensive but a definite treat. It's sort of "rock & roll vampire". That's how I describe the decor. It's like Aerosmith and Anne Rice got together to design a hotel. I love it. They don't have a pool, but it's right next to the House of Blues and Marina City Towers (my dream home). You also get a great view of the city and river, and it's just a couple blocks north of the State/Lake L station, which connects you with every single L line in the system except Blue (for that, just head a block west to Clark/Lake).

Intercontinental - Magnificent Mile - hey there, big spender. If you're into spending some cash and getting some shopping in, this is the place to stay. It's next to Tribune Tower, which is fun to check out if you have time. (They have pieces of buildings from all over the world embedded in the masonry - ex: a piece of the WTC, the Parthenon, Elsinore, etc). There are several buses that run from Union Station to Michigan Ave, so transportation is easy. This is probably one of the most expensive hotels next to Trump Tower (don't even ask), so it's a definite Treat.

Palmer House - I've always wanted to stay here. For as gorgeous and historic as it is, not to mention the location, the prices are quite reasonable. Just board the Brown Line at Quincy and take it to Adams/Wabash.

Holiday Inn - Downtown - this is the closest to Union Station (two blocks away). I prefer the other one for the pool and amazing views, but this one is closer to Union Station if that's the most important thing to you. It's also close to the Blue Line stop at Clinton, and you can take that toward the Loop to board the other L lines at LaSalle/VanBuren. If you go one more stop (Jackson), you can transfer to the Red Line.

 

[SarahZ]

CP - check out this thread, as well. You can see where most of us are staying.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/54252-hotel-planning-for-gathering-vii/