mlanoue
Service Attendant
Hello, everybody. Been lurking here for about a decade. I've learned a lot and appreciate all the info.
Unfortunately, I've come across a scenario for which, I haven't been able to find an answer by searching.
I'm using AGR points to take my family on the California Zephyr. Roomettes to EMY. I've been saving for years and we're going to go at the end of the year. With the new system coming in, I wanted to book this while I still could use the Zone Map.
Anyhow, most of the days at the end of the year are blackouts, but we booked for Christmas Day. That is fine, until I found out that I can't book the thruway bus to the SF Financial District because the transfer falls on a blackout day. I was willing to pay for the thruway bus but I can't just book the bus without a train. So, these are the options I'm weighing:
1. Book coach tickets for us from the closest stop on the CZ so that I can also book the thruway to SF. (We would just stay in the roomettes, of course.) It looks like I'd have to book from Sacramento, which makes the whole thing a three digit expense.
2. Book three unreserved coach seats on one of the other trains. I can book from Martinez and a thruway. It's pretty inexpensive. The only problem is, I would think that we wouldn't be able to get on the thruway bus that connects with the CZ, and it's kind of a gamble to hope that we would get there in time for one of the other unreserved train/bus connections.
3. Get a cab from the Emeryville Station. Which, I understand is kind of costly.
Can anybody tell me if a cab from Emeryville is really as expensive as booking the coach/bus combo from Sacremento? Is there some other way to book the thruway bus that connects to the CZ?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Matthew
Unfortunately, I've come across a scenario for which, I haven't been able to find an answer by searching.
I'm using AGR points to take my family on the California Zephyr. Roomettes to EMY. I've been saving for years and we're going to go at the end of the year. With the new system coming in, I wanted to book this while I still could use the Zone Map.
Anyhow, most of the days at the end of the year are blackouts, but we booked for Christmas Day. That is fine, until I found out that I can't book the thruway bus to the SF Financial District because the transfer falls on a blackout day. I was willing to pay for the thruway bus but I can't just book the bus without a train. So, these are the options I'm weighing:
1. Book coach tickets for us from the closest stop on the CZ so that I can also book the thruway to SF. (We would just stay in the roomettes, of course.) It looks like I'd have to book from Sacramento, which makes the whole thing a three digit expense.
2. Book three unreserved coach seats on one of the other trains. I can book from Martinez and a thruway. It's pretty inexpensive. The only problem is, I would think that we wouldn't be able to get on the thruway bus that connects with the CZ, and it's kind of a gamble to hope that we would get there in time for one of the other unreserved train/bus connections.
3. Get a cab from the Emeryville Station. Which, I understand is kind of costly.
Can anybody tell me if a cab from Emeryville is really as expensive as booking the coach/bus combo from Sacremento? Is there some other way to book the thruway bus that connects to the CZ?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Matthew