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My wife and I are planning a train vacation for this coming summer. We are planning to take the Sunset Limited to New Orleans, then transfer to the Cresent. We plan the reverse on the way home. We will be first class, in a sleeper on all four trains (two trains each direction).
The Sunset Limited arrives in New Orleans at 9:40pm. The Cresent leaves at 7:00am. It seems almost useless to get a motel for the night, especially since the Sunset Limited could be hours late. What do people usually do when this situation occurs? Is the New Orleans station open all night long?
Thank you for your suggestions.
DeeCT Member # 3241
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Konstantin, I would get a hotel room nearby. (But then I am elderly). However given the time you arrive and leave, you might want to take in a nearby eatery. Then return to the station and pass the time with a good book or a game on the laptop. I am not sure if the station is open all nite. I would call Amtrak and inquire. (I would not recommend wandering the streets of New Orleans all nite.)If station is not open then I would go with close by, inexpensive hotel room and catch a nap and watch a little tv. Safety first. Dee
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Does anyone here with "Sunset Limited" experience know if you can stay on-board the train since it's just sitting there? I would like to think that they would allow you to remain on-board, however, I really don't know. The last time I took the Sunset, it was a through train to FL so it's been quite a while for me!
Also, I second Dee's advice about not wandering about NOL. Unfortunately, it's a really scary/seedy place. One street could be perfectly fine, while the next block over could be very dangerous. Being a tourist on foot in the middle of the night is a very, very bad idea. Maybe if a local hotel is familiar with Amtrak and the odd hours they serve NOL, perhaps they'd be willing to give you a discounted rate for a room? You could tell them that you'd only be there for about 6 or 7 hours max and it's in the middle of the night. It never hurts to ask!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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"Once upon a time" when there was a through LA-NY Sleeper line; not only pre-Amtrak but also into the Amtrak era as well. a passenger could do just that.
Not anymore; the inbound #2 equipment is not about to be parked at the platform through the night and an Attendant kept on duty simply for the convenience of passengers making a 2-NOL-20 connection.
There is a Hyatt within walking distance of the station; for the "inexpensive, clean, and secure" property, I defer to others.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Konstantin -- in recent years, with the SL rescheduling, the train has not been "that" late very often. I would definitely go with a nearby motel for the night. I've stayed at the Holiday Inn-downtown (I believe it's now called "Holiday Inn-Superdome"), which is just a few blocks away from NOUS, and an easy quick taxicab ride. I stayed there last summer on my trip, and it was quite adequate.
I don't know if NOUS is open all night -- I rather doubt it, however it does also serve at the bus station, so if it is open, you may get some seedy/homeless people hanging around at night panhandling, so I would not recommend it.
New Orleans is a beautiful city, but unfortunately, it is also very dangerous at night.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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Mr. Norman is 100% correct in his post above. During the days of the "transcon sleeper" which was a 10-6 Heritage (low level) car the through passengers absolutely had full use of the staffed car during the night. They could taxi down to the Quarter, eat drink and be merry , then return to the powered, safe sleeping car and fall into their cozy berth. Of course there was a switching move sometime during the night to the other train, which was gently done with the passengers aboard.
The LAX attendant was relieved by a New York crew member, who watched the car throughout the night, then worked it back to New York City. It was a popular service, but was canceled for a variety of reasons and vanished into Amtrak history.
No "staying on board" the train allowed these days. The cleaners and mechanical forces go through the consists and make them ready for the return trips. The on board crews are gone until their sign-in times next day.
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You might be more rested and enjoy the continuation of your trip more with a quick overnight in a hotel.
Aside from that, New Orleans is such a unique city it would be fun to see a little of it if your train arrives on time. The Crescent for the past several weeks has either been on time or within one hour of schedule with one exception. The Sunset was 22" late one day, the remainder were on time to one hour early.
Unless you want to walk to a hotel, maybe not the best idea in the late evening, the taxis are on a flat rate system in the downtown area, including French Quarter. I think it's in the $10/11 range, so it might be fun to head over to the French Quarter for your hotel and a late dinner. With 20 some meals on Amtrak on a roundtrip coast to coast trip you might be ready for something different.
For a quick but relatively inexpensive dinner with a real local flavor you might try this. After dinner this place is a real must see, even if only for a half hour. It's open until 11.
Konstantin Member # 18
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Thank you for all of your suggestions. It looks as though we will get a hotel for the night in each direction.
Dave Burden Member # 88
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We did the Crescent to Sunset change on a trip back in 2000 and had to do an overnight in NOL. We chose a Best Western somewhat near the station and they had a free shuttle van that picked us up and dropped us off. Of course, this was pre-Katrina so I'm not sure how much has changed.
Related note - On the same trip we had an overnight booked in Seattle to cover our change from the Coast Starlight to the Empire Builder. The CS was running very late and we ended up getting into Seattle around 5am instead of 7pm or so the previous night. We called the hotel from the train and they held the room for us, but did not charge us since we never actually used it.
Dave
graynt Member # 17
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In 2006, I took the Sunset to the Crescent. I had sleepers all the way, and I couldn't justify the expense of a motel room. There aren't many(if it all)inexpensive motels near the train station, and if we were late, I really didn't want to shell out the money.
We arrived on time, and I walked over to the French Quarter until 11PM. I walked back to the station and was allowed to spend the night. They closed the station overnight, except for people who had reservations the next morning. When the Magnolia room opened at 6,I waited there for the train.
This was over six years ago. I'm not sure if the station is open at all overnight anymore.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Just a quick question: Where are you heading in the East? Because I'm wondering if you might not consider taking different trains in one direction? For instance, the SW Chief stops daily in Flagstaff, whereas the Sunset Ltd is only 3 times a week. It might be easier to stay in Flagstaff and catch a shuttle back down to Phoenix (or stay up there and catch the early trai east); there are inexpensive motels right near the station. It seems kinda funny to stay in New Orleans BOTH ways, and the SW Chief is more scenic than the Sunset, IMO.
jp1822 Member # 2596
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From recollection, I took a taxi (along with a few others) and there seemed to be some hotels nearby (not within walking distance I'd say) that would seem to meet the needs.
I had to go to NOL recently and went via the Crescent. Overnighted in the Marriott Downtown location (on company bill) and then two days later took the City of New Orleans back up to Chicago. Course this was the one of few days that the City of New Orleans was somehow late getting into Chicago. I was still able to tend to some business quickly, visit an Aunt in a retirement home, and dash back to Union Station to catch the Capitol Limited eastbound (and up to the metro NYC area).
Interestingly, I met people aboard the City of New Orleans heading to Pittsburgh via connection at Chicago to the Capitol Limited. They opted for this routing because it was cheaper than going from Pittsburgh to Washington DC and then same day connection on down to New Orleans. I think the later would have been a faster trip time, but it also depended on the Capitol Limited running relatively ontime eastbound.
Unfotunately, same day connections, or occupying sleeping cars on Amtrak overnight while in the station seem to be a thing of the past except for a select number of trains. The only train that really allows for such is at San Antonio between the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited.
Konstantin Member # 18
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Sojourner
I live in Phoenix, and have travelled the Southwest Chief many times. I realy enjoy the Sunset Limited. The route between Beaumont and New Orleans, through the swamps is my favorite route to travel. I see the Southwest Chief route as rather boring, without much happening. Although, I would love to travel on any train than none at all.
pporro Member # 31539
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Opened in time for the Super Bowl, January this year: The line runs down Loyola from the Union Passenger Terminal, where Amtrak trains and intercity buses are based, to Canal Street.
You can take a street car, rail transportation, to Canal Street. The river walk is there, the casino and hotels.
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