Take a 13 hour train instead of a 6 hour drive? I took an Amtrak train from Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay, about 400 miles.
I live in Los Angeles and had elective surgery in the Bay Area. I decided to take the train from Los Angeles to San Francisco for surgery. California he coasted between two cities He went with Starlight. This plan worked for me, but it might not work for the average traveler.
Cost Comparison: Air and Train Between LA and the Bay Area
I thought of flying first. Round-trip economy airfare between LA and the Bay ranges from $200 to $500, depending on the season you go and how far in advance you book.
One-way Amtrak tickets from LA to the Bay range from $50 to $100 for coaches, $75 to $200 for business class, and $275 to $400 for rooms. Larger bedrooms with more room and private bathrooms will cost more.
Amtrak fares are usually cheaper if you book in advance. This big cost difference alone often makes people choose to fly. Also, it is easier for him to sit on the bus for an hour than to sit for 12-13 hours with no designated place to lie down. This is why traveling in a sleeper car is ideal, even if you don’t sleep.
traveled with points
I had 25,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points to pay for my train ticket. If you paid for the ticket in cash, the room cost about $600 round trip.
Are Amtrak Coast Starlight Roomlets Worth It?
Well worth it if this trip is a medical trip. Journey time is 12-13 hours. Your room ticket includes a comfortable and private seat plus food, drinks and a place to sleep. You can bring food and other items from home to your room without having to check in your luggage, making your trip more comfortable.
As you can see from my photos, the rooms are not large. However, I needed to stretch out after the surgery and needed extra time to travel, so I’m glad I chose Amtrak, even though it took twice as long for him to travel by plane or car. .
Whether you’re recovering from surgery or just need a little more time to get around, trains generally give you more freedom to travel than planes.
A comfortable 13-hour journey
The Coast Starlight travel time is 12-13 hours between the two cities. Most of the West Coast can be seen by him in a day and a half. From the private rooms, the observation car, the dining car, and the picture windows in between, you can enjoy the spectacular view.
The Amtrak brochure says this roomlet is for two people, but it’s good enough for one person. You two will be sick of each other before you leave her LA County. If traveling with a companion, consider upgrading to a standard his bedroom.
Each chair comes with a very soft pillow so it was nice to have both to myself. My temperature kept dropping because of the medicine I was taking after the surgery. So I discovered that the attendant will bring you a blanket if you request it.
Dining on board the Coast Starlight
The sleeper car has its own attendant, who can take reservations for each meal, eat in the dining car, or bring food back to your room.
The dining car is only available to passengers who have purchased a sleeper car (roomlet or bedroom).
Different items are served for lunch and dinner. If the dinner menu isn’t as appealing, especially if you’re vegetarian or vegan, Amtrak’s kitchens often have salads and other vegetarian his items left over from his shift for lunch. All you have to do is ask if they have any left.
But be careful. Breakfast is only provided if you sleep on the train. I board at 9:30 am, but if I’m short on time, I’ll either have breakfast at home or bring something. Lunch reservations are available from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
In-flight menu published in advance
As your travel date approaches, check Amtrak’s website for the current menu of routes. Menus vary by route and change seasonally. If nothing seems appealing or meets your dietary needs, pack your food before you travel. Have a full-size jar of keto peanut butter ready if you want.
Water and coffee are complimentary all day at the top of the sleeper. However, there are no microwaves or mini-fridges in the rooms or bedrooms. The groceries must be durable enough to stay in the cabin all day.
Stunning views instead of Wi-Fi
Not all Amtrak trains have Wi-Fi, and the Coast Starlight is one that does not. If you plan to get work done, you should do it offline. If you want to access movies, e-books, music, or other files while traveling, you’ll need to download them before boarding. There are outlets in the room, but if you want to charge more than one device at a time, you’ll need to bring a power strip.
Alternatively, you can look out the window. You get to see a whole new side of California. If you’re not sure whether your train has Wi-Fi, check with Amtrak before you travel.
The first half of the Coast Starlight route follows the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. Rather than seeing a tiny sapphire from an airplane or having to focus on the road, the best view is captured behind a large or private window in an observation car.
Once the train reaches the halfway point of the journey, San Luis Obispo, the sea turns into miles of mountains, chaparral and farmland. It’s impractical if you have other options, but it shows a huge yet often overlooked part of California: Clint like he’s in his B-roll in an Eastwood movie I feel like
Coast Starlight is slow – why
Even with America’s less worn infrastructure, it seems odd that a train journey between two major cities would take twice as long as a car or plane.
A train must move like a snail on barium due to bitter agreements between carriersAs the Coast Starlight leaves Lompoc and moves inland, the speed must slow down to 15 mph and stay there for several hours.
Long journeys could be shortened by a few hours if this contract were changed. But this is probably why most people travel by car or plane if they need to move between these two tech and entertainment hubs.
What you need to know about Amtrak accessible vehicles
Since my mobility was limited after surgery, I decided that I needed to book an accessible car for the return trip. I needed help carrying my luggage and wanted to avoid the stairs. Coast Starlight’s barrier-free access vehicles are ground-level and have private bathrooms.
The en-suite bathroom, only separated by a curtain, leads directly to the dining and resting room. The handicapped access car was more spacious than the regular roomette and had extra seating.
When I booked Amtrak online, I didn’t see the option to get an accessible car. Coast Starlight has one accessible car, but you must call Amtrak to make a reservation. It’s annoying that travelers with limited mobility have to jump extra hoops to do this. I just wish there were more accessible sleepers.
don’t forget to tip
It is customary to tip the attendant at the end of the trip. I tipped more generously for special assistance. A room attendant handicapped car picked up meals from the dining car and an Amtrak redcap helped with luggage.
verdict
There’s no doubt there are more convenient ways to travel between LA and the Bay Area, but after 23 stitches post-surgery, I’m grateful for a comfortable room. After seeing so many sights, I probably won’t be visiting again for an important business trip or to see friends on the bay.
But if you need to go under the knife for surgery you can’t get in LA, ride that sleeper and ask for more freshly baked brie empanadas.
This article was written and distributed by Wealth of Geeks.