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The children and myself will be heading down the Coast Starlight from Eugene, arriving in Santa Barbara on June 14. We will then board the Surfliner the next morning to connect with the Sunset Limited in LAX leaving to El Paso at 2:30 pm. At the suggestion of forum members in the past (Frank ?), I thought trying an overnight stop in Santa Barbara might be better than downtown LA. I don't know how much of an overnight it will be, given the CS often being late, but I'll hope for the best and expect the usual less than that.
Anyway, I have a choice of 2 Surfliners on June 15 (Sunday); #768 leaving at 6:46 am/arriving LAX 9:25 am or #774 leaving at 9:20 am/arriving LAX 12:10 pm. I think I will try for the #774, as it is a bit more civilized a time and we wouldn't have to wait around Union Station for 4 + hours. If anyone here has any pros, cons or cautions about the Surfliner detail, I'd be glad to hear them.
Thanks!
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Surfliner #774 usually arrives into LAX about 10 to 20 minutes early every day. You should be safe. If it were me, I'd take 774 as well without any worries.
Do you have a separate ticket for the Surfliner, or is it a guaranteed Amtrak connection? Just wondering, because if it's ticketed as this and guaranteed, then Amtrak will get you to where you're going somehow (if there is a delay with the train). If ticketed separately and there is a problem, you're on your own.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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While possibly I'm guilty of "hi-jacking" Ms. Chile's topic, and since not having been on the West Coast in 17 years, who am I to comment on an overnight stop made in Santa Barbara vv. LA, I should point out that there are other places about the system if one chooses to (or must as in Ms. Chile's instance) "break' an otherwise through journey to allow arrival at a more civilized hour or avoiding having to "tumble in' to otherwise expensive lodging. I cannot see "tumbling in' to the Biltmore in LA at an hour that one might to a Holiday Inn Express along an Interstate.
For those arriving in the Bay Area and either connecting on to, say, San Jose, or somewhere on the Peninsula via Ambus to SFran and continuing on Caltrain, breaking the journey in Sacramento could be sound advice. There have been reports here and at other Forums that there is inexpensive, yet quality, lodging within walking distance of the train station. There are frequent Capitols available to continue next day.
If traveling to NY on #48 Lake Shore, rather than merely "tumbling in" to a $400, even $500, hotel room, consider breaking the trip at Albany in maybe a $250 room (less if one would consider staying in Rensselaer - also avoiding use of the apparently infamous Albany "jitneys"). Taking an Empire Corridor train next morning ensures year round viewing of the Hudson and arrival in NY to ensure "safe" attendance at a public event and best use of those high price digs.
Another instance in mind would be if destination is Miami such as for reason, say, taking a cruise next day, stay at any Amtrak stop West Palm to Miami and take Tri Rail the following morning. Possibly such could also be used to best advantage traveling NB on the Starlight staying overnight somewhere within the service area of the Cascades.
And finally, back on the East Coast, if one does not like the scheduled arrival time of #50 The Cardinal into NY, consider an overnight in either Culpepper or Manassas, thence continuing next day on #20, The Crescent.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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We did what you are planning and it worked fine. We enjoyed a couple of days in Santa Barbara and caught the 774, arriving in LA on time. This left us two hours to wait for the Texas Eagle/Sunset to depart. The only problem we had was that the 774 was crowded and we had to drag our heavy bags upstairs as there was no baggage storage downstairs. Mr Norman's points are well made. We stopped at Galesburg for a night to avoid going into Chicago, and are planning a similar event next time we visit by spending some time in Charlottesville instead of going right through on the Cardinal to Washington, taking the Crescent on a later date. Enjoy your journey John
Posts: 41 | From: Yaxham, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Jul 2006
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Do you have a hotel reservation here in Santa Barbara? I noticed that the 14th is a Saturday. Most properties here require a two night minimum on weekends. As I mentioned in another post, however, driving around on this holiday weekend I noticed some "Vacancy" signs on upper State Street.
If you haven't booked a place to stay I would suggest the El Prado at State and Arrellaga. It's a nice "Mid-Century" (the 20th) property and is family owned an operated. Depending on their bookings they might be able to take you. The 25 cent electric shuttle that stops across from the station would get you to within a couple of blocks of the hotel.
Since you'll be here on a weekend you'll miss the "2-2-2" breakfast special out on the wharf at Moby Dick. Two eggs/two bacon/two pancakes for $2.22. Weekdays only, no holidays and it's not on the menu.
How old are the kids? They might enjoy the only remaining Sambo's Pancake House. It's on Cabrillo Blvd. a couple of blocks west of State Street.
I'd go with 774, too, since it would give you some extra time to see some of Santa Barbara. If you do choose the earlier train there is plenty to do within walking distance of Union Station. Check your bags and walk across the street to Olvera Street to see where Los Angeles started or walk up to Ord and Alameda to Philippe's. Great French Dip sandwiches and atmosphere and some cool model trains to look at. You could also ride the Gold Line to Pasadena and back.
Have a great time and let me know if I can give you any other help.
Frank in Sunny but still cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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I just checked www.elprado.com and you are out of luck there. Two night minimum and no rooms available. You might do better trying orbitz or expedia or one of the other consolidators. If you find something, let me know and I can give you a local's opinion.
Frank in still Sunny but cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Ms. Chile, you could consider bailing out at San Luis Obispo; while I'm sure Mr. Frank resides in a wonderful city, "no room at the inn" certainly represents a problem.
The Surfliner you plan to take #774 originates at San Luis Obispo and according to the website, is a guaranteed connection with #2 Sunset and 422 Eagle. Once again, as Mr. Smith noted above, guaranteed connection means Amtrak is pledged (but not contractually obligated) to "look out for you' rather than a "sorry 'bout that". I have seen reports that, depending on the volume of 774-LAX-2/422 connecting passengers, they will either arrange a taxicab, van, or bus to transport the connecting passengers from likely Van Nuys to Ontario.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Thanks guys! What a lot of good replys rolled in while I was just doing laundry and puttering around.
It sounds like the 774 will be good, so we won't have to tumble out of bed too early.
Frank; Good to know about the El Prado for future visits. I do have a reservation at the Hotel State St. which has decent reviews on tripadvisor.com, as well as a reasonable price and being close to the station. Sometime I will make a longer stop in SB, preferably mid-week. It's good to know about the Sambo's and Moby Dick. We've gone over to Olvera St. area before but the sandwiches at Phillipe's sound good. (we've got lot of Mexican food and mariachi music here in NM)
Mr. Norman; SLO seems like a nice option for a stop. This leg we are on Guest Rewards points, so the motivation is to get as far south as possible.
Mr. Hull; I've had a similar experience of crowdedness on the Surfliner before. Once, a smarmy SoCal used car salesman type took our (marked) seats while I took the kids to the snack car. I reciprocated by all of us sitting, eating and staring at him and his embarrassed parents and they finally moved. I might go with the business class to help avoid the crunch.
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I'll be interested in hearing what you think of the Hotel State Street. A flight attendant friend and her mother stay there when they come up and they like it. You certainly can't get closer to the station! It is directly across the tracks in the first building on the right headed towards the wharf. It will be noisy but you are certainly in a great location for walking to the wharf and along the beach. You can also catch the 25 cent electric shuttles going up State Street across the street near the original Big Dog store.
I think you'll be OK on a Sunday morning for the trip to LA but the afternoon departures on weekends often go out packed. When we went down to see Vicki and Art as they passed through on the CS last Sunday the Surfliner that left before them was standing room only out of here.
Have a great trip and enjoy Santa Barbara.
Frank in still sunny SBA
If you haven't found it yet, there is a great website for information on "doing" Santa Barbara without a car.
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It's good to hear your friend and her mother like the Hotel State Street. Flight attendants are surely expert critics in the away-from-home lodging category. Comments on tripadvisor.com have some complaints about the train/rail noise, but that shouldn't bother us much.
Thanks so much for your good suggestions, as well as those that other folks mentioned!
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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I noticed when looking at the link Frank mentioned, at www.santabarbaracarfree.org , there is an Amtrak link to special savings on the Surfliner. Click on "Special Amtrak Offer" from the www.santabarbaracarfree.org site: ------------------------------------ New: Save 20 percent when you purchase a ticket for travel on the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® or the San Joaquin® (plus associated thruway coaches) to/from all nine Amtrak stations in Santa Barbara County: Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Surf, Guadalupe and Santa Maria! ----------------------------------------- Maybe someone has discussed this in another post, but thought it might be worth mentioning.
Posts: 72 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Frank, don't do this to me! The Moby Dick on Stearn's Wharf is one of my Top 5 restaurants in the world and just the mention of it makes me long for the West Coast....thirteen weeks on Sunday and counting!!
Posts: 395 | From: england | Registered: Sep 2002
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I hate to do this to you. I don't know when you were last at Moby Dick but it has changed. The long time owner, Al Steinman, sold the business. The Sinatra music is gone along with most of the Santa Barbara memorabilia. Prices are up and, many of us here feel, quality is down. The only time we go now is for the "2-2-2" on a weekday morning before 9AM.
For a casual meal on the Wharf we now suggest Longboards above The Harbor Restaurant.
Frank in cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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