Thanks for all the great info here. I've asked a few questions already and have been browsing many old topics.
I will be booking a roomette on the Coastal Starlight from Seattle to LA for next July. I would appreciate advice on the following:
Timing of Purchase. Next July is eight months away but I know roomettes can be booked out. This morning it showed "Only 2 rooms at this price"; that became 3 this afternoon. Are discounts likely to appear between now and then, if so would I be wiser to book now or wait for discounts? If I book now and discounts appear later would it be possible to call and have the discount applied to the booking?
Debiting My Card. My card is debited in AU$ after adjustment for the exchange rate for US$. Is my CC card debited immediately at time of booking or at date of travel? Exchange rates can fluctuate very significantly over time.
Selecting Roomette. It appears that the best way to be sure of obtaining the desired roomette is to book over the phone; I can use Skype from Australia to do that. I will be trying for 3, 4, 5, or 6 upstairs. Is there a way to be sure of booking a roomette on the East side when travelling South?
Safety at LA Union station at night. Scheduled arrival is 9 pm on a Saturday night. I am aware it may arrive significantly later. I am likely to book the Metro Plaza Hotel nearby, recommended by several forum members, but I am concerned at the safety of a lone walk as a 69 year old trundling a case from the station to the hotel at that time of night. Would I be safer to take a cab from the rank to a more distant hotel in those circumstances? Are there likely to be cabs on the rank at that time of a Saturday night? Another possibility is to take the shuttle to a hotel near LAX, but the last shuttle bus departs at 23:30. How late has the train been arriving recently?
Late arrival. The scheduled ETA is 9pm Saturday, my flight leaves at 11pm Sunday 26 hours later from LAX. I know trains can arrive late but I presume 26 hours is an acceptable buffer. Am I correct?
Thanks in advance.
I will be booking a roomette on the Coastal Starlight from Seattle to LA for next July. I would appreciate advice on the following:
Timing of Purchase. Next July is eight months away but I know roomettes can be booked out. This morning it showed "Only 2 rooms at this price"; that became 3 this afternoon. Are discounts likely to appear between now and then, if so would I be wiser to book now or wait for discounts? If I book now and discounts appear later would it be possible to call and have the discount applied to the booking?
Debiting My Card. My card is debited in AU$ after adjustment for the exchange rate for US$. Is my CC card debited immediately at time of booking or at date of travel? Exchange rates can fluctuate very significantly over time.
Selecting Roomette. It appears that the best way to be sure of obtaining the desired roomette is to book over the phone; I can use Skype from Australia to do that. I will be trying for 3, 4, 5, or 6 upstairs. Is there a way to be sure of booking a roomette on the East side when travelling South?
Safety at LA Union station at night. Scheduled arrival is 9 pm on a Saturday night. I am aware it may arrive significantly later. I am likely to book the Metro Plaza Hotel nearby, recommended by several forum members, but I am concerned at the safety of a lone walk as a 69 year old trundling a case from the station to the hotel at that time of night. Would I be safer to take a cab from the rank to a more distant hotel in those circumstances? Are there likely to be cabs on the rank at that time of a Saturday night? Another possibility is to take the shuttle to a hotel near LAX, but the last shuttle bus departs at 23:30. How late has the train been arriving recently?
Late arrival. The scheduled ETA is 9pm Saturday, my flight leaves at 11pm Sunday 26 hours later from LAX. I know trains can arrive late but I presume 26 hours is an acceptable buffer. Am I correct?
Thanks in advance.
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