What would you do for transportation to Anaheim, CA?

[inspiration100]

Need some assistance from you forum folks. I want to get from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim. I know Amtrak serves this route (Pacific Surfliner) but it's $44 round trip for two of us! I could go Greyhound which is just as close to my hotel for $26.00.

My questions to you folks is... first, do you know of any better, more affordable way to get to Anaheim from downtown LA?

Second, if not, which would you recommend?

I've heard that the greyhound area in LA is horrible. I don't like the LAX station, but if the greyhound is much worse it probably isn't very safe.

Car renting is not an option as I dont want to rent a car for 5 days for a 40 mile trip..

Throw me your thoughts please.

 

[Guest]

Need some assistance from you forum folks. I want to get from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim. I know Amtrak serves this route (Pacific Surfliner) but it's $44 round trip for two of us! I could go Greyhound which is just as close to my hotel for $26.00.
My questions to you folks is... first, do you know of any better, more affordable way to get to Anaheim from downtown LA?

Second, if not, which would you recommend?

I've heard that the greyhound area in LA is horrible. I don't like the LAX station, but if the greyhound is much worse it probably isn't very safe.

Car renting is not an option as I dont want to rent a car for 5 days for a 40 mile trip..

Throw me your thoughts please.

Metrolink provides 7-day commuter rail service from LAUPT to Amtrak's ANA stop.

 

[sportbiker]

<snark> You don't say why you don't like Union Station, but since you use words like "horrible" and "isn't very safe" I'd say you should bypass Big Scary Los Angeles completely. Run!!!!!

If you HAVE to make the trip, a private helicopter will keep you away from the riff-raff. </snark>

 

[inspiration100]

<snark> You don't say why you don't like Union Station, but since you use words like "horrible" and "isn't very safe" I'd say you should bypass Big Scary Los Angeles completely. Run!!!!!
If you HAVE to make the trip, a private helicopter will keep you away from the riff-raff. </snark>

Thanks dude, that info helped me alot. <_< Have anything useful to say since your a local?> :huh:

Perhaps you should know your own area.

Guest, thanks for the comment. I checked that but out and it would indeed save about $8. My only concern with that is they don't have many afternoon runs... I have to check out and check in at another hotel, so leaving at say 9 AM in the morning would put me in Anaheim way too early .

 

[guest from SoCal]

<snark> You don't say why you don't like Union Station, but since you use words like "horrible" and "isn't very safe" I'd say you should bypass Big Scary Los Angeles completely. Run!!!!!
If you HAVE to make the trip, a private helicopter will keep you away from the riff-raff. </snark>

Thanks dude, that info helped me alot. <_< Have anything useful to say since your a local?> :huh:

Perhaps you should know your own area.

Guest, thanks for the comment. I checked that but out and it would indeed save about $8. My only concern with that is they don't have many afternoon runs... I have to check out and check in at another hotel, so leaving at say 9 AM in the morning would put me in Anaheim way too early .

Since you are going to Anaheim during the day, I'd say, take Greyhound if the price difference is that great. The Greyhound station is perfectly acceptable during the day; for that matter, it's OK even in late evening as the security is quite pronounced. Just tend to your business in the station. No need to arrive way early. You are correct on Metrolink; the trains run less frequently during the mid-day hours as the assumption is that people can ride the Amtrak (tho it does cost substantially more).

 

[TVRM610]

<snark> You don't say why you don't like Union Station, but since you use words like "horrible" and "isn't very safe" I'd say you should bypass Big Scary Los Angeles completely. Run!!!!!
If you HAVE to make the trip, a private helicopter will keep you away from the riff-raff. </snark>

I kinda agree with sportbiker.. what don't you like about LAX? LAX is a beautiful well kept station. Compared to Chicago Union or New York Penn it seems like a safe haven (and I don't have any problems with either of those btw.)

What is it with people complaining about security at stations lately?

Since Sportbiker was criticized by the OP for not providing "useful" information I will add this.... traffic in LA can be dreadful, the Greyhound Bus obviously can get caught in the traffic while the Surfliner trains have very good on time performance.

I have ridden the Surfliner from LAX to Anaheim and I have ridden busses in the LAX area... the train is worth the extra money to me, but the busses got me where I wanted to go just fine... it just took a lot longer then i was expecting.

I would see how far your destination is from the train station vs. the bus station, as that could help your decision in terms of cost.

 

[Rumpled]

Buy three days in advance on Amtrak using V611 selecting Adult for type of passenger and your RT goes to $33 for your pair.

Or use AAA three days in advance for $39.60

Metrolink would be $31 total (assuming your RT is not the same day)

Compared to the dog, I'd buck up the $5 and take Metrolink.

 

[GG-1]

My questions to you folks is... first, do you know of any better, more affordable way to get to Anaheim from downtown LA?

Aloha

Well I don't understand your needs.

Do you want only one trip?

Is the Anaheim Visit for Disneyland?

If for multiple days at Disneyland, why not choose a hotel near the park. There are a number of hotels all over the price range.

It is 2 stops from LAUS, considering the comfort the train provides, I would take the train.

 

[inspiration100]

I think peoples don't understand my point here... I have no car and the area AROUND LAX is not that safe on foot. You can argue with me about that all day. I never said that LAX itself was unsafe... I said the area AROUND it. For those who are not aware of this, the central jail is a couple blocks away and chinatown is not the safest neighborhood either. Yes, maybe some of those people getting out of jail sell popcorn on the side of the street to little kids, but I tend to think not.

I've done my share of trips and stayed at metro plaza hotel, the dragon inn, and some other hole in the wall place for $45. Two of the three times I have had bad experiences in this location and so more recently i've been staying strictly downtown. Maybe I attract trouble, I don't know. But to go telling people that this is a neighborhood is safe seems MORE than farfetched to me. At 12 PM I'm sure it's great, but when you are arriving and going after 10 PM, no thank you.

As far my trip is concerned, I want to go to Anaheim from downtown LA without using a car. So round trip would be great if possible. I already have my hotel downtown (the Omni) and my hotel in Anaheim (the Ramada Inn). Just need to figure out how to get from point A to B and back from B to A.

Looks like i'll be taking the metro train as it's a bit cheaper and more of you recommend it.

Thanks folks.

 

[GG-1]

As far my trip is concerned, I want to go to Anaheim from downtown LA without using a car. So round trip would be great if possible. I already have my hotel downtown (the Omni) and my hotel in Anaheim (the Ramada Inn). Just need to figure out how to get from point A to B and back from B to A.
Looks like i'll be taking the metro train as it's a bit cheaper and more of you recommend it.

Aloha

Now that I understand better may I recommend that you ask the Omni for a shuttle to LAUS and get the Ramada Inn pick you up in Anaheim. If I recall the Ramada is one very long block from the station, on the other side of the Angel stadium.

You might ask if either the hotel will transport you between them. Of course that is one less train ride.

 

[inspiration100]

Your pretty good GG-1, yes the Ramada is one very long block away... I tried with the Omni but they only transport up to 3 miles away, and i'm afraid it's much farther than that. The Ramada offers no shuttle service at all .

 

[GG-1]

Your pretty good GG-1, yes the Ramada is one very long block away... I tried with the Omni but they only transport up to 3 miles away, and i'm afraid it's much farther than that. The Ramada offers no shuttle service at all .

Aloha

Disneyland is one of my favorite place on earth, I worked in the Park while attending College, and My daughter, Granddaughter, and ex wife Live near Fullerton, So I revisit the park often. Several of my friends still work in the park.

 

[TVRM610]

I think peoples don't understand my point here... I have no car and the area AROUND LAX is not that safe on foot. You can argue with me about that all day. I never said that LAX itself was unsafe... I said the area AROUND it. For those who are not aware of this, the central jail is a couple blocks away and chinatown is not the safest neighborhood either. Yes, maybe some of those people getting out of jail sell popcorn on the side of the street to little kids, but I tend to think not.

You actually did say the LAX Station.... which would lead me to believe the station itself. While I can not comment on the jail, or chinatown. I have changed trains at LA Union Station, after dark, and felt extremely safe. I've also walked around outside of Union during the daytime and felt quite safe as well.

Now having said that, I can completely understand you not wanting to walk from the station to the hotel after dark. There is a Holiday Inn Express about a block away from NYP that I stayed at a few times. Great price, easy walk even with my luggage. However that same "easy, safe walk" seemed down right creepy at night with all the stores closed and hardly a soul in sight. I have since started staying in the more expensive areas right in times square, where I feel a bit more at ease later at night.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[guest]

You are of course entitled to your own opinions, but not your own set of facts.

The area around LAUS, if you want to go by crime statistics, is quite safe. You really have to hike it a bit from the station to get to the County Jail complex. The other side, toward downtown and Chinatown and Olvera Street, is crowded with people even into late evening. I've walked around Union Station for years, day and night, and other than an occasional panhandler, have experienced nothing. People wouldn't flock to Phillipe's at all hours if they felt unsafe going there.

As far as Metro Plaza or the Dragon Inn, they'd be the same type of hotel with the same type of issues if they were located where the Omni is with the same room rates. And even at that, they're not exactly dumps.

Maybe for some reason you DO attract unusual riff raff?

 

[inspiration100]

I think peoples don't understand my point here... I have no car and the area AROUND LAX is not that safe on foot. You can argue with me about that all day. I never said that LAX itself was unsafe... I said the area AROUND it. For those who are not aware of this, the central jail is a couple blocks away and chinatown is not the safest neighborhood either. Yes, maybe some of those people getting out of jail sell popcorn on the side of the street to little kids, but I tend to think not.

You actually did say the LAX Station.... which would lead me to believe the station itself. While I can not comment on the jail, or chinatown. I have changed trains at LA Union Station, after dark, and felt extremely safe. I've also walked around outside of Union during the daytime and felt quite safe as well.

Now having said that, I can completely understand you not wanting to walk from the station to the hotel after dark. There is a Holiday Inn Express about a block away from NYP that I stayed at a few times. Great price, easy walk even with my luggage. However that same "easy, safe walk" seemed down right creepy at night with all the stores closed and hardly a soul in sight. I have since started staying in the more expensive areas right in times square, where I feel a bit more at ease later at night.

Enjoy your trip!

Ditto mate, that is exactly what I do. I taxi to downtown and stay in more expensive areas. Yeah I should have made myself clearer about LAX. The train station itself is wonderful, beats the heck outta the King Street Station which they keep swearing they'll remodel. Been like 5 years and they have done 1 tiny part of it.

And yes, being a 20 year old, maybe I do attract more riff raff than a middle ager, I dunno. I still prefer to stay in the business district. The Bonaventure, Omni and Marriot are all wonderful hotels.

 

[daveyb99]

I want to get from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim. I know Amtrak serves this route (Pacific Surfliner) but it's $44 round trip for two of us! My questions to you folks is... first, do you know of any better, more affordable way to get to Anaheim from downtown LA?

You must be kidding, right? I mean, $44.00 via $26.00 via the Dog.

UH, AMTRAK, DUH

 

[Rumpled]

As far as getting to the hotel in Anaheim; look into Anaheim Resort Transit. There is a info booth and ticket machine in the covered area outside of the Anaheim train station. It's $3 one way; runs pretty frequently and hits most attractions and hotels. There are 5 Ramadas in Anaheim; so I don't know which one you are in to tell you which route to take. It is very Disney centric.

Anaheim Resort Transit

 

[Rail Freak]

Speaking of safety, I met a couple last night from Santa Barbara. They told me Oakland, OKJ area was as bad as there is!!! (Don't go out at nite, ETC.)???????

Comments?

RF

 

[Bigval109]

Speaking of safety, I met a couple last night from Santa Barbara. They told me Oakland, OKJ area was as bad as there is!!! (Don't go out at nite, ETC.)???????Comments?

RF

Don't try to scare me . I'm staying in Oakland not far from the train staion in May and have stayed there many times in the past. There are a lot of hotels together and right off the highway so no problems for me .

 

[GG-1]

Speaking of safety, I met a couple last night from Santa Barbara. They told me Oakland, OKJ area was as bad as there is!!! (Don't go out at nite, ETC.)???????Comments?

RF

Don't try to scare me . I'm staying in Oakland not far from the train station in May and have stayed there many times in the past. There are a lot of hotels together and right off the highway so no problems for me .

Aloha

I stayed at the Jack London Inn on the square 2 blocks from the Okland Station and felt fine. Even with lots of comments against there. However getting away from the station area there some places even in day time several (5) blocks that did seem dicey.

 

[inspiration100]

I want to get from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim. I know Amtrak serves this route (Pacific Surfliner) but it's $44 round trip for two of us! My questions to you folks is... first, do you know of any better, more affordable way to get to Anaheim from downtown LA?

You must be kidding, right? I mean, $44.00 via $26.00 via the Dog.

UH, AMTRAK, DUH

Haha, I know it would seem that way. I am a college student though. :lol:

I don't know anything about Oakland station although I wouldn't want to be wandering around too many of the city streets in most any city after 11 PM.

 

[tp49]

Speaking of safety, I met a couple last night from Santa Barbara. They told me Oakland, OKJ area was as bad as there is!!! (Don't go out at nite, ETC.)???????Comments?

RF

Don't try to scare me . I'm staying in Oakland not far from the train station in May and have stayed there many times in the past. There are a lot of hotels together and right off the highway so no problems for me .

Aloha

I stayed at the Jack London Inn on the square 2 blocks from the Okland Station and felt fine. Even with lots of comments against there. However getting away from the station area there some places even in day time several (5) blocks that did seem dicey.

The main areas around OKJ are fine. I'm familiar with the area GG-1 is referring to which would be on Oak Street between the 880 Freeway and the Lake Merritt BART Station. An area I've walked through well after dark and had no problem in. Jack London Square is actually one of the nicer areas of Oakland.

 

[the_traveler]

From your original post (#1) - an exact quote:

I've heard that the greyhound area in LA is horrible. I don't like the LAX station, but if the greyhound is much worse it probably isn't very safe.

That to me say you don't like Union Station!

As far as walking from Union Station to the Metro Plaza at night - my trip to the LA Gathering included arriving off the CS at 10 PM. I then walked to the Metro Plaza - with luggage! My last trip to LAUS was like 10 years before, and there were some buildings built that were not there previously. So I took a longer walk than I had to. But I never felt "unsafe"!

Now the next morning when I met the group, :lol:

 

[inspiration100]

Yeah I was typing this quickly. I thought it was assumed when I didn't like LAX I meant the area. I don't think there are any safety issues in any of the train stations that I have been to. At the same time, I think I've made myself clear now.