posted
Just booked a roommette on 92 (Silver Star) from Winter Park, FL to Washington, DC departing October 28. This will my first Viewliner trip since March 2003 on the Crescent. (I generally tend to fly out west to ride the superliners.)
We'll see how things are 'holding together' out there.
Still entertaining hotel suggestions for the DC and Baltimore area for after I step off the train! My plan is fly home from BWI on October 30.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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However, I should note the linked site is hardly complete; it likely comprises only hotels represented by the travelweb site.
Along New Jersey Ave NW in addition to the property noted, there is also a Hyatt Regency (400 New Jersey Ave), but if you are concerned about rates, it is best to find somewhere else.
There is also the Phoenix Park Hotel 400 F St (older property) in which the famous Dubliner Restaurant is located. This is within sight of Union Station's main entrance.
Of interest, I note the linked site represents the Harrington Hotel. For many years this hotel had advertisments in locally circulated Pennsylvania Railroad timetables.
But if rates are of absolutely no concern and it is important to mingle with movers and shakers, the epicenter of the "power properties' is predictably the White House. That residence is surrounded by properties with names such as The Willard and The Madison. Who knows, Jack Abramoff (unless he is already in the clink) might be standing in line with you to check in. Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Thanks for the link Mr. Norman. This gives me alot of possibilities to play with.
My first reaction is "Wow, $160.00 for a Red Roof Inn." There are Red Roofs for less than half that rate an inexpensive cab ride from both the New Carrollton and BWI stations. The BWI Red Roof even offers a shuttle to the airport.....BIG PLUS! I'm hardly a mover and a shaker but at least I don't seem dangerously unhinged around that type of person.
I'm leaning towards an additional round-trip train hop down to Ashland, VA for a $90.00 room at the Henry Clay Inn (50 feet from the platform...can't beat THAT location!). Of course by the time one buys the additional train tickets you're approaching that $160.00 range anyway. Moreover, one can never tell how the trip on 92 will be. Smooth and less than three hours late is good. A marathon that drags in 8 or 9 hours late and I know I'll not want another two hour train ride to the hotel!
I still have time to decide on what degree of extra hassle I'm willing to accept in order to save a few bucks here and there!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
David, There is a Red Roof Inn that has better prices than lots of DC hotels--or, at least, it did last time I checked--hotels are really skyrocketing in some of the bigger cities lately.
It's walking distance from Union Station--at least for me, I suppose it's a tad long, and I wouldn't do it at night--and it's conveniently located in Chinatown, near all the Penn Quarter restaurants, walking distance to Mall, etc.
I don't know what rooms are like, but I checked the lobby last time I was changing trains in DC and it seemed fine.
Red Roof Inn, 500 H St NW nr 6th St, Chinatwn, 202-289-5959, 1-800-REDROOF (an accor hotel), www.redroof.com.Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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I don't have any great ideas for you in Balt, but I know the Mount Vernon is kind of a neat old place and close to Penn Station as well as museums/library. Have you considered Philly? Septa goes right to the airport and you could get Airtran back to Charlotte or southwest to Raleigh.
If you do decide on Ashland, check availability. It's homecoming weekend but should be cleared out by Sunday night. Still not sure if we're going but may see you. Best we could do was Days Inn.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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There are many Hotels in the Camden Yard area which has a rail line to BWI and a light rail that will take you up to Penn Station to see downtown Baltimore. In DC there is a Four Point Hotel within walking distance or a 5 minute cab ride from Washington DC. As far as Train History it is hard to beat the City of Baltimore.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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Thanks all for the hotel tips. I've decided to do it on the cheap......in a special rate at the Lanham Red Roof Inn. A short cab ride will get me there from the New Carrollton station and then metro bus will take me back the following morning. Total cost will be less than half what a night in even the downtown DC Red Roof would have run. Plus....rooms facing east have a view of the NEC tracks!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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