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I just booked my trip for next April using AGR points. Lessons to be learned include know the rules yourself.
The very nice AGR person thought a bedroom EMY to CHI was 30,000 points and CHI to BOS another 30,000 points. When I asked if a three zone trip would not be 50,000 points she agreed.
I will be in Viewliners for the first time. I booked a bedroom CHI to BOS but a roommette WAS to FLL. Thought we should try it all.
Any local hotel info for Boston, NYC, Philly and DC would be appreciated. I will use Priceline for any place I don't get an affordable recommendation. Which will probably be all.
I will book the Northeast Corrider trips nearer to my trip. Those will also be new to me.
Of note, AGR has a promotion going that gives you a 10% rebate of your points if you are also an Amtrak Mastercard holder. So I just got 2,000 points back for my CS booking and will get 6,700 back for this booking. Beginning August 1st the rebate drops to 5%.
Gil - dinner in CHI between the always ontime Zephyr (tee, hee) and the LSL will be April 4th. Put it on your calendar.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Boston is difficult - expensive and PL isn't much help. At least that was my experience last fall. Do you know about biddingfortravel.com, Vicki. It's a site dedicated to getting the most out of PL. The site is quite incredible really, once you get into it and get the hang of it. It has helped me score some real wins in numerous locales.
You got in on the last day of that 10% rebate of AGR points! After today it drops to 5%. My trip starts a week from tomorrow - I hope the TX Eagle is back on track by then.
Posts: 326 | From: San Antonio Texas USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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Ok in New York there is a hotel Radio City Apartments where I stay. They have a great location. 49th ST. Between 7 and 6. It is fairly reasonable. They have free wireless which is a plus. It is about 1 block to Rockefeller Center. 2 blocks to Radio City. 1/2 block to times square(the outskirts of it). There are good restaurants all around. A good restaurant on Broadway. The Stardust Diner. It's door shaped to look like a red bird subway train. But there the servers sing, has a great atmosphere. They have a train running around the roof, just below the balcony on the second floor. If you go request Allison she is really good. Whatever you do don't go on Gray Line Sightseeing buses. They aren't efficient. I'm linking you to my review.http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60763-d528122-r70662491-Gray_Line_New_York-New_York_City_New_York.html For a Broadway Show see Million Dollar Quartet which is the music of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Based on a event in 1956 when they all preformed together. The person who plays Jerry Lee Lewis is outstanding.
That is more info then you needed. But I hope it helps you.
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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Which train are you taking from Washington..... the Star or the Meteor?
-------------------- 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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David, we are taking the #97, it leaves later in the day so we can continue to see DC.
Frank, cruising back. Of course, the Zuiderdam FLL to LA!
Amtrak92, great info, I will pursue it.
City of Miami, yes I know that website. I am looking at the current PL results for this April for all the cities. But I will not be attempting to get rooms until much closer to the trip. For one thing I will be out of the country from September to December.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Boston: We stayed 2 years ago at the Chandler Inn, recommended here, and it was fine, with good Triple A rate. 26 Chandler at Berkeley, 800-842-3450, 617-482-3450, chandlerinn.com. It's an older hotel but had elevator and A/C, tad dusty but fine for us & good water pressure. Boston does have some crime, including parts of the South End, but not near this hotel, which is close to Back Bay, in fact, if you get directions from front desk you can detrain at Back Bay station and walk over if it's daytime & your luggage isn't too much to handle for a few blocks (going on a cruise I know it might be!).
Washington DC: Hotel Harrington, recommended here. I've stayed there twice and it was fine, great location. Probably too far to walk with luggage from Union Station though it's doable.
Philadelphia: Alexander Inn, 301 S 12th & Spruce, Dwntwn, 877-ALEXINN (253-9466), 215-923-3535, alexanderinn.com. Inexpensive older boutique hotel, had very good Triple A rate, I've stayed twice and liked it fine. Excellent location for all the sights. The rooms with just queen bed usually have a special. Be careful to bring confirmation with price with you as they sometimes get mixed up and try to charge more! But they're very nice and the continental breakfast is quite good. Easiest is to take taxi from 30th St Station (but Philly's subway does go nearby, and one could even walk if one were ambitious, not with lotsa luggage though).
New York: I usually stay with a friend but I do have a list, some recs from here!:
One that is close to Penn Station ironically has nearly same name as Boston hotel, though unaffiliated: Hotel Chandler, 12 E 31st St nr 5th Avenue, hotelchandler.com, 866-627-7847. Check rates expedia.com as well as hotel directly. Friend who recommended this is a train user and big traveler.
Herald Square Hotel, W 32nd St, I think, also nr Penn Sta. Recommenced here by Chris G.
A couple blocks further east--walkable from Penn Station but probably not with a lot of luggage; in "Curry Hill," where you can save lots of money if you like Indian food, try a restaurant called Tiffin Wallah for dhosa, palak paneer, & kulfi (it's on E 28th right opposite the 2nd hotel listed):
Ramada Inn Eastside, 161 Lexington Av at E 30th, 800-272-6232, 212-545-1800. Free Cont B & local phone. This is the only one I've stayed in; we liked it fine, and location was great. We had a small room with a queen. Bed was fine. Lots of UN people were staying here. The continental breakfast was good. Only problem was slightly slow elevators. We got an excellent Triple A rate; however, this hotel may now cost slightly more than the other places listed.
Park South Hotel, 124 E 28th btw Lexington & Park, 212-448-0888, parksouthhotel.com. Friend just stayed here with her mom and liked it fine, but price may be a little higher than others.
Hotel 31, 120 E 31st btw Lexington & Park Av, Curry Hill, 212-685-3060, hotel31.com. Moderate, trendy; some rooms with shared baths. Recommended by a fellow passenger on the train.
A little further, but my friend just stayed here and liked it fine, though nothing fancy! (I think related to Hotel 31): Hotel 17, 225 E 17th at Stuyvesant Square (nice square)/Rutherford Pl (around 2nd Av), 212-475-2845, hotel17ny.com. Some rooms have hall bathrooms.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Here's another one to consider in NYC. At most, a 10 min. walk staright down 32nd st from NYP 7th ave. exit. We did it in an ice storm with luggage. It's just past where 6th and Broadway intersect. Interesting hotel, nice rooms on edge of Asian district.
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Vicki, I hope that while you are in New York you will see a Broadway show. I highly recommend "Promises,Promises". If you are familiar the movie "The Apartment" (Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine)and enjoyed it you will enjoy this musical. The bar scene is hysterical. Don't know if Sean Hayes is still in it, but if Kristen Chenowirth is still in it it is worth it! Also if you like nice dining I suggest Beccos (Italian...Lydia Bastianich & sons) in restaurant row (near the theaters). It is very busy but the food is good. Also Joe Allen's is popular. You might see some Broadway celebrities dining. B. Smith's is also good. And of course there is Carmine's 9 (reasonable pricing) (reservations only for 6 or more) for good Italian fare. For very inexpensive fare there are some Thai restaurants on 8th or 9th Aves. Enjoy the cruise. No doubt you will be doing the Panama Canal.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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p.s. Ignore the '9'after Carmine's. If you are in Philadelphia I recommend City Tavern for fine original excellent colonial fare served with sweet potato biscuits which were a Thomas Jefferson favorite.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned, "Billy Elliot". My sister and her partner are both in show business, specifically, Broadway show business. They tell me that Bill Elliot is one of the best shows they have ever seen---so that's a huge endorsement in my book!
Also, while in Philly (where I was born and lived as a little kid), two things: 1) If you've never had a REAL chip-steak sandwich (now called a cheese steak sandwich by many, but I still call it chip-steak), you MUST try one. The rolls that they use are sooooooo good. And 2) Be VERY careful if you drive outside of Philly and head in a northern direction. I made the mistake of following the Hertz NeverLost GPS in my rental car, and it took me through the worst, most frightening, dangerous ghettos I've ever seen. I wish I had checked with someone before I just blindly followed that little box's instructions!
Sounds like a very neat trip you have planned. Good luck in the Viewliner, though. Maybe you will have a good experience with them, but so many of them are worn and in disrepair. They are NOT maintained properly. Part of the reason is that Amtrak's budget does not allow for it, however, the other reason is just typical Amtrak. But overall, it sounds like a great trip. You are fortunate that you get to travel so often and see so many sights.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Smitty, we had a cheese steak at the Phillies game on our recent trip through Philly. It was great, helped, I'm sure, by our favorite beverage. But I don't remember them growing up in nearby Wilmington. Ballgames in those days were strictly hot dogs and maybe fries.
Vicki, I think it's the luck of the draw. Our Viewliner a few weeks ago was spotless and everything worked. So I think a few are coming out of the shops at Beach Grove.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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For Philly cheesesteak, I recommend Jim's, 400 South St, nr 4th. You will hear a lot of arguments about which place is best, and I haven't tried them all by a long shot, but (a) Jim's is very good and (b) Jim's is in a fun funky convenient location, walkable to the Independence Hall etc etc tourist sites.
Also, make sure you get Bassatt's ice cream while in Philly. It's a local brand sold all over town; I esp liked it at the must-see Reading Market.
Smitty: When you take the train from NY to Philly you go right through North Philadelphia. And I agree with you, I cannot think of another urban area that look as blighted, except maybe East St Louis.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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That cheesesteak place on South St sounds PERFECT! If it's a little hole in the wall, and a bit funky, those are the places that usually have the BEST sandwiches!! It's funny----ever since I mentioned chip-steak sandwiches, they have been on my mind. So, guess what I had for dinner tonight? Yup---a chip-steak sandwich! There is a chain of cheesesteak shops in my area called, "The Cheesesteak Shop". I got a 10 inch hoagie with cheese and peppers. Whew was that good! But now I'm so stuffed.
I've never been to East St Louis, but if it's as bad as North Philly, then WOW. I have a friend who just moved back to California, but he was living in MO and drove out to East St Louis to take foamer pictures of a train doing yard switching. They have their own police department that comes out and stands by while the crew is in a certain location, because it's simply not safe for the crew to do their job there. I don't think you could pay me enough to be a cop in that area. Those guys/gals are heroes to put their lives on the line so blatantly to protect the citizens..
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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The cheesesteaks there are rather large and filling, too--if you're not too hungry or planning on having another big meal, Miss Vicki, you can split one. Make sure to get the traditional one, which, surprisingly, is made with Cheese Whiz. I know it sounds awful, and you may be tempted to try the ones with Swiss cheese or whatnot as I was once, but trust me, the Cheese Whiz is the best.
South Street is very funky, Smitty, lots of what I call "head shops" and such. Jim's (I believe official name is Jim's Steaks) is somewhat funky too but I wouldn't call it a total hole in the wall in terms of size; it does have a 2nd floor for seating--and needs it, as it's very popular--in fact, there is usually a line, so best to arrive 11:30 for lunch or maybe 1:30 2? And similarly early for dinner. . . . And it's so well known I believe it's spawned a few more Jim's around Philly, but I have no idea if any are as good as the original.
A couple of years ago I was in Philly on a hot day and gone down to see one of the few things I'd missed down around Independence Hall last visit, the new Contitution Center (which btw is eminently missable, Miss Vicki, just about everything else in the area was more interesting to us than it was, unless there is some special function perhaps). Anyway, it was so hot and train time too short (I was meeting a friend back at 39th St to go to Jersey shore with her) so I dashed into an unknown philly cheesesteak place near Independence Hall that someone who worked there had recommended. It was BAD!! So . . . go to Jim's!
We also had an excellent dinner in a beautiful upscale but not very pricey Mexican place that I would strongly recommend, except it was 3 years ago and of course things do change. It is further uptown near the theater area . . . still walkable for us . . . actually near our hotel. It was called Tequila's/Los Catrines, 1602 Locust at 16th, 215-546-0181, had a web site at tequilasphilly.com. It was open for lunch weekdays, that could be a bargain, and dinner nightly, as I recall. We sat in the dining area, not the room with the bar, which was a little noisy. The interior was an old building, churchlike, really attractive, and menu very interesting and fun.
Philly also has a Chinatown but where we ate there, an Indonesian, was a little boring. I am told there is a very good Malay place but have to find out the name from a friend who recently moved there.
I also had a very tasty quick lunch at 30th St more recently in delilah's, a southern food place. Had yams, pulled pork, and sweet tea. Inexpensive and very good. There is another branch in Reading Market but don't know if it's as good. Bassatt's ice cream in Reading Market excellent.
As for what to see in Philly, in addition to the whole downtown area inc Elfreth's Court, Indy Hall (very nice tour, and free I think), Franklin stuff, cemetery, and many more sites, the art museum (with Rocky statue!) and area behind it was very nice, lovely to walk along those boathouses that I see all the time from the train! you go behind art mseum past really cool old restores waterworks and walk along boathouses along the Schuylkill River, likely will see crew teams too. . . . We also really liked the antiquities museum at U Penn but that is further afield, we took taxi . . .
Miss V, I will be happy to give you also some tips for restaurants and whatnot in NY and DC, all of which I may know better than Philly, and Boston know, which I know about as well . . . but busy now, remind me again!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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It seems as if I too have been addicted now to the "alphabet soup" indigenous to this forum.
It appears that for an upcoming trip CHI-3(11)-MDT-382(11)-CHI, I failed to record my Guest Rewards account number in the appropriate field at the website; therefore applicable points will not be automatically credited to my account. I am aware that those points can be credited to my account but not until three weeks after travel is completed. I'm also aware that such can be done at the AGR website.
However, FWIW, I marked my calendar for Sep 1 - the earliest date the missing points can be reported; and guess what, my calendar says AGR .
I again reiterate to the forum that any of the train name alphabet soup slurped around here, SL, SWC, CZ, EB, TE, CL, CONO....et al is not official Amtrakese. I doubt if a public contact employee, absent being a railfan, would have any idea what is the CONO (CZ possibly).
Finally, if one has noted that when addressing air travel, I always use the four letter ICAO airport code rather than the admittedly more common three letter IATA code. The reason is that so many instances, particularly in major cities, the Amtrak station code has a way of being the same as the IATA airport code. Use of the ICAO certainly established that air travel is being addressed. I have read all too many postings here and end up wondering what is the author addressing - the Amtrak station or the airport. Also, I guess it should be noted that when I was in the Air Force, I was in Communications. When I was stationed at Dover AFB, I handled "AM" - Aircraft Movement - messages; those always referred to ICAO codes. Also, the ICAO gives you some idea of where in the world you're addressing. Somehow, I think that EGLL tells you such airport is in Europe Great Britain London than does LHR which could be anywhere in the world. Or how about VVTS; the IATA for same SGN once referred to Saigon, but that is now Ho Chi Minh City.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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smitty-regarding North Phila.-hard to believe as a young boy I walked from No. Phila station to see the Phillies at 21st and Lehigh in Connie Mack Stadium (aka Shibe Park). Lots of good blue collar folks with local bars but no one was the least concerned about safety. The main concern was if Robin Roberts would beat Don Newcomb. Times do change, but at least the Phillies are much improved.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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