Solo trip to Portland, OR on points. Doable?

The rest of my family is going somewhere this summer, and I'm thinking of making a solo trip from the Bay Area to Portland. Maybe just two nights there. And I have a bunch of points just sitting around collecting dust.

So the thought was maybe going to Chico first on Capitol Corridor and a bus, followed by CS to Portland. Sierra Nevada Brewing isn't that close to the station, but I figure I could walk it since there's a good amount of time until the CS leaves Chico at about 1:47 AM. Then I would sleep in. Maybe get a hot dog at Costco to eat later on the train. The plan would also be to take the CS straight back to Emeryville.

So one issue is that I'd like to bring a rolling cooler with me. It would be an Igloo Island Breeze 28 which is clearly within Amtrak's carry-on size. I'd use it to store stuff to eat and maybe some adult beverages acquired along the way (like at Sierra Nevada or in Portland). The other thing would be where to start the trip. I was thinking maybe Richmond, CA since it would just be Capitol Corridor, but I would also like to check in one piece of luggage (airline carry-on sized) so I won't have to lug it with me in Chico. Still - I guess I could just book on points from Emeryville and board in Richmond. But could I check in the luggage at Emeryville the day before showing a combination of tickets?

Portland seems to be easy enough. The car rental rates are a little higher than I'd hope around the time I had in mind, but it's not too bad (maybe $110 total for two days). I won't have lounge access though.

I’m confused about your plans. If I understand correctly you are considering two potential trips. One is a round trip to Chico from the Bay Area. The other is a round trip to Portland Oregon from the Bay Area.

Imho I think a round trip to Portland in a roomette is the best bang for the points. If you have enough. Otherwise round trip in coach. I’m not sure the time in Chico is worth it unless that is a super famous brewery.

In coach you are technically not allowed to consume your personal alcohol. In a sleeper you can. I usually travel in sleepers and I don’t drink alcohol so I’m not sure how this all works in coach as far as enforcing the rules goes. I assume if you are quiet and don’t draw attention to yourself you can enjoy your self in coach.

Steve4031 said:

I’m confused about your plans. If I understand correctly you are considering two potential trips. One is a round trip to Chico from the Bay Area. The other is a round trip to Portland Oregon from the Bay Area.

Imho I think a round trip to Portland in a roomette is the best bang for the points. If you have enough. Otherwise round trip in coach. I’m not sure the time in Chico is worth it unless that is a super famous brewery.

In coach you are technically not allowed to consume your personal alcohol. In a sleeper you can. I usually travel in sleepers and I don’t drink alcohol so I’m not sure how this all works in coach as far as enforcing the rules goes. I assume if you are quiet and don’t draw attention to yourself you can enjoy your self in coach.

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No. One round-trip. I just wanted a stop in Chico. You never heard of the Sierra Nevada Brewery? It's one of the pioneers of the craft brewing movement in the US. Also - I was looking to break up the trip a bit and possibly take on some supplies.

I wasn't really thinking of consuming alcohol on the train, but perhaps buying some in growlers that would need to stay cold. I think I've been part of this type of discussion many times. I think I've discussed a larger cooler, but I'm still not sure if it's going to be allowed as a carry-on.

I was also thinking of the issue of checking in with two separate tickets that would get me to Portland, even though they're not booked together. I tried doing multi-city, but despite hearing that might happen I can't seem to book it with points.

Ok. You are stopping over in Chico. I understand now. Unfortunately I’m not that up to date on the best breweries since I don’t drink. Based on your interest this is definitely worth the pilgrimage.

Have you called the Amtrak guest rewards line to book this? They could put it all in one reservation for you.

Also Portland has decent mass transit. The Max light rail, Portland Streetcar and bus service is decent.

Is there a strategic reason you need a car there?

So far, I haven't found any way to make a single reservation with some paid in points and the rest by credit card. In fact, I encountered exactly that for an upcoming trip 10 days from now. I simply booked it as two separate reservations.

I was also surprised yesterday when I tried to book a disconnected, two segment trip on the NEC using multi-city. It wouldn't allow me past the second segment train selection page (PHL->WAS) and flashed a message indicating some Amtrak computer problem. I 'beat' that one by exiting the Amtrak site completely and starting fresh, and made it as two separate reservations.

SubwayNut said:

Also Portland has decent mass transit. The Max light rail, Portland Streetcar and bus service is decent.

Is there a strategic reason you need a car there?

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Thinking of staying at Edgefield in Troutdale and perhaps sightseeing. However, I checked out public transportation and a combination of light rail and bus would get me there from downtown. And even a bus along the Columbia River Gorge.

BCL said:

SubwayNut said:

Also Portland has decent mass transit. The Max light rail, Portland Streetcar and bus service is decent.

Is there a strategic reason you need a car there?

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Thinking of staying at Edgefield in Troutdale and perhaps sightseeing. However, I checked out public transportation and a combination of light rail and bus would get me there from downtown. And even a bus along the Columbia River Gorge.

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Troutdale I would definitely do a car. As someone who frequents PDX that's my advice. Also if using the MAX always plan on extra time and be sure to know when the last train leaves. It's a great city I highly recommend it. As far as the gorge. Rent a car go as far as the Dalles on the Oregon side and return on the Washington side. Great scenery. With the light though it's a bit hard so definitely high noon is a great time to go out there. Hood River is a cool town as well

Seaboard92 said:

Troutdale I would definitely do a car. As someone who frequents PDX that's my advice. Also if using the MAX always plan on extra time and be sure to know when the last train leaves. It's a great city I highly recommend it. As far as the gorge. Rent a car go as far as the Dalles on the Oregon side and return on the Washington side. Great scenery. With the light though it's a bit hard so definitely high noon is a great time to go out there. Hood River is a cool town as well

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I've been there before, but it was a road trip in our own car. We saw Mt St Helens before arriving in Portland (from the north) and then stayed two nights at a hotel near the airport. Our full day in the area involved going to Multnomah Falls and some of the other falls. Then it was Edgefield for dinner. I haven't gone back to Edgefield, although on my last business trip in the area I went to Kennedy School twice.

I looked up the public transportation, and it's not bad. There's almost a direct bus (77) from a few blocks from the station to right in front of Edgefield. There's also an option for taking MAX and then transferring to the 77 bus. I'd like a car, but I was hoping for something like those killer $15/day deals that I've sometimes found at non-airport locations. And the kicker is that they don't have all those airport fees.

Here's the bus stop:

https://goo.gl/maps/D9YUuegtVLJ2

I'm thinking that Chico might not necessarily be a destination. Sierra Nevada has a tasting room in Berkeley that's close to home.

However, I was thinking maybe Oakland-Seattle-Portland-Oakland or something in a different order. Or I could substitute Emeryville for Oakland. Maybe Martinez since they have free parking. Also - my family plans have changed, so I was thinking of bringing my kid with me - maybe even a roomette one way.

The Torpedo Room is closed for the summer, but as it's near the Berkeley Amtrak station it's a great destination for a beer fan! Since you're a local you probably know only the Capitol Corridor trains stop there, so the service isn't terribly frequent. I think there's a bus to the North Berkeley BART station though, and certainly to the Berkeley BART station.

And I applaud your choice of the bus to get to Edgefield. Good for the planet and good for drinking and not driving ...although if you will be bringing your kid with you that will be a different kind of trip. It isn't New York or L.A., but there's quite a bit to do in Portland that's kid-friendly. I hope you enjoy your trip!

LauraPX said:

The Torpedo Room is closed for the summer, but as it's near the Berkeley Amtrak station it's a great destination for a beer fan! Since you're a local you probably know only the Capitol Corridor trains stop there, so the service isn't terribly frequent. I think there's a bus to the North Berkeley BART station though, and certainly to the Berkeley BART station.

And I applaud your choice of the bus to get to Edgefield. Good for the planet and good for drinking and not driving ...although if you will be bringing your kid with you that will be a different kind of trip. It isn't New York or L.A., but there's quite a bit to do in Portland that's kid-friendly. I hope you enjoy your trip!

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Wasn't aware that the Torpedo Room is closed, but apparently Sierra Nevada claims it will reopen in Sept with more of a kitchen.

I'm still not sure about public transportation or not in Portland. If I'm on vacation I'd like to drive a car, but I've been curious about being able to do it with only public transportation. I guess the thing that makes it more practical is Uber if I"m somehow stuck. The other thing is that as a solo trip I could have stayed at Edgefield's hostel, but not with a kid. I'd need to find an alternate place to stay. Edgefield doesn't allow children at their hostel.