When Fly into town the airport is loaded with free shuttles to and from the airport. But If I try to get a hotel to pick me up or drop me off at the Amtrak Station I am told most of the time to call a cab? I use Hampton Inns a lot as well as other major chains.
It is true that few hotels offer transportation to and from the railroad station. It is obvious that most travelers prefer the uncivilized air transport. We were checking out of a hotel in New York City, and the bellhop asked us, as we were going to a taxi, "Which airport are you going to?"
The AAA Tourbooks list the amenities offered by hotels, and many do offer airport transport (some for a fee). Some do offer local transport, perhaps with a limited radius. And, some do specify that they offer transport to the railroad station. We have stayed at one in Seattle, one in Grand Junction, Col., one in White Plains, N. Y., and one in Los Angeles.
There are some good hotels that are convenient to the railroad station--the Royal York in Toronto, the Quenn Elizabeth in Montreal, the Nova Scotian in Halifax. The Chateau Laurier in Ottawa was across the street from the Union Station--until the station was moved away from everything of note. Also, the CP station in Calgary was next to the Palliser, and the CN station was, I believe, next to the McDonald. There is a hotel about a half block from the current station in Detroit--and I once stayed at the hotel right at the Fort Street Station in Detroit.
But, as has been said, the accepted belief is that you must travel by air.
Johnny
Johnny actually hit the real reason in the first paragraph, quantity of passengers. A lot more possible hotel stays coming in through the airport than the train station. You go where the potential customers are.
seasidelineWhen Fly into town the airport is loaded with free shuttles to and from the airport. But If I try to get a hotel to pick me up or drop me off at the Amtrak Station I am told most of the time to call a cab? I use Hampton Inns a lot as well as other major chains.
The free airport shuttle has become an expected amenity for suburban hotels. Mainly, because that's where the customers are going. City properties rely on cabs and commercial shuttles to get to the train station and the airport.
That said, train travelers tend to be more self-reliant than air travelers in that they can figure out how to get where they need to go more easily. But one interesting thing that I've noticed is that in places where train travel is "unusual" the staff at the better hotels has no idea of where the train station is. This isn't a problem in places where train travel is typical, like San Diego.
cbq9911a That said, train travelers tend to be more self-reliant than air travelers in that they can figure out how to get where they need to go more easily. But one interesting thing that I've noticed is that in places where train travel is "unusual" the staff at the better hotels has no idea of where the train station is. This isn't a problem in places where train travel is typical, like San Diego.
I like the statement about the self reliance of train travelers.
The hotel we have used in Albany also has a shuttle service for CSX employees (it also has a coin laundry {free detergent at the desk}, which can be of great value to patrons who are taking an extended trip).
We stayed at the "Del" in Coronado last spring, but we had to take a taxi between the station in San Diego and there. Also, last year, we stayed in a hotel comparatively close to the station in Ottawa (chosen, in part, because I had found that a laundromat was close to the hotel). As I was going out to the laundromat, I stopped at the desk and verified the direction to the laundromat, and was given driving directions. I explained, politely, that I was walking.
If you need a taxi in Grand Junction, be prepared to wait. Also, in Stockton, Cal.
The Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ (about halfway between Penn Station and the suburban station to the west) was happy to take us to either. Usually the car went out immediately; once I think we waited about 20 mins. I don't know if they do pickup/dropoff at the Newark airport or not.
Since we always found a hotel car (surely there are more than one?) waiting at Newark/Penn, that made it easy to "commute" in and out of Midtown Manhattan from Penn/Newark to Penn/NYC. Saved about $150 per night per room, too, compared to Midtown Manhattan hotel rates.. We felt perfectly safe at all times. - a.s.
I stayed at the Hilton hotel Fremont California 1991. They had a shuttle to and from the Fremont Bart station, and the San Jose airport, but not the San Jose Amtrak station.
I also stayed at the Hilton in Mystic Connecticut in 2000. They had shuttles to both Mystic and New London Amtrak stations.
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
Deggesty If you need a taxi in Grand Junction, be prepared to wait. Also, in Stockton, Cal.
You are absolutely correct about Stockton and there lousy Taxi service. That is because the city threatened the one owner with loss of taxi license unless he purchased newer cars. This was about three years ago and he has since bought new cars but not as many. Unfortunately he has a monopoly on the Taxi business in Stockton operating under three names. He does not own as many cars now after replacing the old ones so that has also slowed service. Stockton only has three flights in and out per week and they all go to Las Vegas. Can't even find a cab at Stockton's airport. Fortunately Amtrak service is good to and from Stockton but that doesn't help if you have to wait an hour or more for a cab.
When travelling I have had very good luck with the Best Western Hotels picking me up at Amtrak Stations. If they offer Airport pickup I have found that the majority will extend this to Amtrak if you email them in advance. I also rent cars many times and being a Hertz Gold Club member have never had a problem with them picking me up at the Amtrak Station in most cities including Chicago.
Al - in - Stockton
How about car rentals? They are much the same story as hotels. For example, if you rent a car, and pick it up at the the airport the car rental facility is in or close to the passenger terminal so you can pick up the car, and be on the way, or even return the car quickly.
Few if any rental car companies have facilities in railroad stations other than a phone link to the car rental agency which may be a distance from the station. When you arrive at the station, and call the car rental agency they will tell you they will pick you up whenever, or they might tell you to take a cab, and they will reimburse the cab fare. The point is you have to allow extra time to pick up and return the rental car at railroad stations so you won't be on your way soon. Is there any wonder why travelers who have to use rental cars to get to their final destination consider flying to be more convenient than tking a train?
RudyRockvilleMDHow about car rentals?
Quite true. I have had personal experience with renting cars in two stations: Washington, D. C. (several rental companies have desks there--but you have to walk quite a distance to get to or from your car), and Jasper, Alberta (Hertz is right in the station with the cars just outside the station). We have had good experience with reserving a car with Enterprise (we will pick you up) in several cities. If you have a cell phone, it may be possible to call the office as you approach the city, and you will not have to wait long to be picked up. Of course, anything can happen between the time you call and the time you arrive. When we know we will be taken to the station, we always allow sufficient time in our planning. If you prefer travelling by train, you make the necessary arrangements.
The hotel that I use is often downtown as well as the train station is downtown as well. Its that the airport is like 15 to 30 miles out of downtown and the train station is a 5-10 minute cab ride around the block. Sometimes the train station is near the airport so I see no reason why they cant pick me up or drop me off on there way to or from the airport. I could walk to the train station but there are places like Detroit and Toledo that it is not safe to do so because even though the station is close to downtown they are at the edge of a marginlized area. Since I wont fly and I use ground transportation all the time this problem is the same for intercity bus travel as well. Its often that the bus station is even closer them the train station and the hotel wont drop me off there either. Now I have thought of a solution to this in that I should use the same hotels that CSX,BN,NS,Amtrak house there crews at and take the crew van to the hotel. That would be a intresting online list of railroad passenger freindly hotels that are also inexpensive. I used to like Best Western but I have been disapointed in them as of late...Anyone here know anyone at the BLE union or TCU union on what motels they use?
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