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I have some good news for you! I have just found out that I can visit my grandparents in New Mexico so of course I will be taking the good ol train. I have another set of grandparents in LA so I will drive down to LA with my family and catch the train to Lamy NM going back through LA and take the Coast Starlight to San Jose.
The interesting part is I planned my outbound trip to leave on December 31st. What better way to ring in the New Year than on Amtrak? Im going in coach and was wondering if they offer free champaign and appitizers etc. I will be somewhere out of Victorville when midnight hits. Well I hope the engineer blows the horn at midnight!!!
I found the rail fare to be $199.20 whereas the airplane fares are $220+ to go to Albuquerque. With meals factored in do you think it will be less than the high airfares? Some airlines wanted $330. You factor in Dinner,Breakfast,Lunch going,Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner on the return. So if you think about it the rail will be less expensive than the flights plus shuttle to Santa Fe.
I love the Coast Starlight and the Southwest Chief. THis will be my 3rd overnight trip and my 3rd time on the Coast Starlight. Gotta love the rails.
I will write a travelog when I return. I support Amtrak and this is the sole reason for going by train.
Any coments or best seats to choose in coach? I was thinking to ask for a window seat on the staircase side of the train in the middle away from the doors. I know these seats are larger.
Do you think the trains won't be crowded on New Years since people will be home with their families and on Januaray 7th when kids are back in school? My return trip is on a Saturday getting home on Sunday the 8th of Jan.
Should I arrive at the LAUPT 2 hours early on New Years or is 1.5 hours enough due to the small crowds except the traffic to the station? I know I will have enough time to make the connection to the Coast Starlight in LA since it departs at 10:45 and the latest the Southwest Chief arrives is 9:20 and the earliest 7:25. The worst case is I can ask to be put on the Surfliner in Business and a bus from Santa Barbara to San Jose as opposed to a bus from San Bernardino to Santa Barbara.
Thanks again. BTW I love www.360360.com with the virtual tours. I wish they would add Superliner 2 virtual tours. Is the SW CHief/Coast Starlight using the updated interiors or Superliner 2? How do I tell the difference again between the Superliner 1/2. The last time I went was in Feb 2005 and I read about the new equipment has the upgrade occured on my routes?
Have a happy holiday season.
Posts: 259 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
I cannot advise you on seats; they are all fine by me, and in daylight hours I like to go into the observation car on these trains. The best thing is if it isn't crowded and you get both seats to yourself, of course! However, I would guess the trains will be crowded over the holidays and perhaps for a week afterward, regardless of the day; but I've never traveled out west in winter, so I'm not at all sure. Just remember to bring a pillow; and take the one Amtrak provides--two is a lot more comfy than one! I have a children's pillow, bigger than a travel pillow such as the kind Amtrak provides, but smaller than regular size and easy to scrunch into a carrier bag (I usually take a small overnight bag with warm socks, a change of shirt and underwear, toiletries, hair brush, medicines, Walkman, CDs, book, and sa eparate carrier bag with some food and water bottles in it too--this is where I keep my pillow). I also recommend eye shades, a good book or two, and a Walkman or an iPOD; some people also like ear plugs at night but I've never used those. Keep your valuables (iPOD, cell phone, tickets, money) on you at all times, but don't worry about your clothes, food, books; really, no one has ever bothered me, I take nothing too valuable of course!
As far as food, it is not included if you are going coach, only if you have a sleeper. As you are paying, I recommend you consider having breakfast, which is the most reasonable pricewise, but some of the food isn't so great; what I usually like is the Railroad French Toast (with strawberry topping and fake maple topping too if they have both) (but one time they overcooked even that!). If you have dinner, don't miss the dessert. Meals are very nice for meeting people, though you will meet them in the observation car as well.
Remember to drink plenty of water beginning a day before you catch the SW Chief; it goes through some high altitudes, and Santa Fe itself is fairly high, so also drink lots of water while you are there. And it's best to avoid alcoholic beverages entirely, for the first few days at least, and don't do any really strenuous jogging or hiking, especially the first day or two.
I took the train past Lamy out to Flagstaff (I had a sleeper) but then eastbound coach from Flagstaff to Lamy and then I took the little Lamy shuttle into Santa Fe (if no one is picking you up in Lamy). The red rocks between Gallup and Albuquerque were simply spectacular; nearly as nice as Sedona for me (and without all the yuppie shops spiling the view--only sometimes freight trains block the view). The shuttle from Lamy was inexpensive and perfectly reliable as long as you make sure you book it in advance with Amtrak (and on your return, you need to phone a number at a particular time to make sure you get it; it will pick you up at a downtown hotel but otherwise you likely would have to get downtown to catch it).
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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