Atlanta to San Francisco and Back

[supergrandmother]

In June I'll be on the train for a coast to coast (almost) trip. I'll be taking the Crescent from Atlanta to NOL; the CONO from NOL to CHI; SWC from CHI to LAX; Pacific Surfliner from LAX to Santa Barbara; Coastal Starlight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco; CZ from San Francisco to CHI; Capitol Limited from CHI to DC; then the Crescent again from DC to Atlanta.

Since I'll be traveling alone and I'm a "woman of a certain age" (hence, the name Super Grandmother ), anyone have any tips for hotels in NOL and Santa Barbara? I have the others already locked in. Also, I'll be in LAX only about 4 hours so anyone have a good idea of something to see in that 4 hours?

I am very excited about this trip. I've wanted to do this for a few years and finally decided that it may be now or never!

I'm looking forward to seeing what tips you have for me.

 

[JayPea]

I've only stayed in New Orleans overnight for one night, but I had great luck with the Drury Inn It had great prices, is a short cab ride from the New Orleans Amtrak station, and seems to be highly rated. Others with much more experience than I will no doubt have other excellent choices as well but I would hightly reccommend the Drury Inn.

Oh, and have a great time on your trip! It sounds like a great adventure!

 

[Guest]

Any of the major branded hotels downtown NOL should be fine. I personally like the Astor Crown Plaza since it has what I consider the the best location (Canal and Bourbon) and the quality is very good.

 

[Bob Dylan]

In June I'll be on the train for a coast to coast (almost) trip. I'll be taking the Crescent from Atlanta to NOL; the CONO from NOL to CHI; SWC from CHI to LAX; Pacific Surfliner from LAX to Santa Barbara; Coastal Starlight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco; CZ from San Francisco to CHI; Capitol Limited from CHI to DC; then the Crescent again from DC to Atlanta.
Since I'll be traveling alone and I'm a "woman of a certain age" (hence, the name Super Grandmother ), anyone have any tips for hotels in NOL and Santa Barbara? I have the others already locked in. Also, I'll be in LAX only about 4 hours so anyone have a good idea of something to see in that 4 hours?

I am very excited about this trip. I've wanted to do this for a few years and finally decided that it may be now or never!

I'm looking forward to seeing what tips you have for me.

What a great trip, I'm envious! Cant help with Santa Barbara, just passed through on the train, it's a beautiful town, there was a thread earlier in the year/last year on it but cant remember exactly when? I'm sure others have info for this nice town!

LA Layover-Union Station itself, walk around and take in the beauty, walk up the street a couple of blocks (to the right out the front door)to Phillipes for world class breakfasts and the place where the French Dip was invented, yummmmmm!!!Youll pass Olvera street, the first sight of LA, it's a mexican Village with shops/outdoor market/food joints etc. Also Chinatown is a couple of blocks away by the MetroPlaza Hotel, youll see the signs and lots of Orientals on the streets, it's not really like San Francisco or Vancouver but it's nice and has some real Chinese resturants!

New Orleans: stayed many times, great hotels from chains to 200+ year old botique hotels, a million resturants etc. Street cars, ferry rides, cafes,clubs, street entertainment etc. Rather than recommend one let me suggest you go to Orbitz.com/hotels, you can see pics,find locations,read comments from guests, get prices etc. Ive found it first rate and Ive used it all over the US and Canada. The previous posters mentioned the Drury Inn which Ive used and is nice, also the various Marriots/Hiltons etc. are OK, the Holiday Inns a little less so, the old Queens like the Roosevelt are great if pricey, Id say stay either in the garden District or the French Quarter, dont get too far away from downtown,cabs are readsily avaialble but walking around and riding the street cars is the way to go in the daytime! Of course the food is to die for, thousands of great joints as well as world famous places with world famous prices and crowds! Its really the little joints that are best and Bourbon Street is way overated unless youre 21 and a Frat Boy! Worth a walk through before too late but wear earplugs and pass on by to the gentler and cooler places , lots of those too! Good luck! (Im a 66 yr. young grandfather!)

 

[DKpartyguy]

Supergrandmother,

What a fun trip you have lined up! I am jealous.

I travel to NOLA pretty often. You have many choices of hotels there depending on your personal preferences.

Since I like to be near Bourbon Street, I stay a a beautiful hotel called the Saint Marie.

It is on Toulouse Street, and is just steps from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.

The rooms are very spacious and beautifully furnished. You can get a large single room from around $70 per night.

There many other options as well, such as the Hyatt Regency which is directly across from the Harrah's Casino.

I have stayed there a couple of times too. It is very nice but can be pricey, around $125-$150 for a single room.

You can easily get a taxi at the Amtrak Station, as they are always right out front.

The food is fantastic new NOLA, and yes, many of the smaller out of the way places are great, but there are some good places on Bourbon Street.

Just don't go off on your own to any deserted looking streets at night. Bourbon Street is perfectly safe, as there are policemen everywhere.

David

 

[B&Ofan]

I don't really have any suggestions but I do have to say it sounds like a wonderful trip. I hope you have a great time!

 

[rail_rider]

Just stayed in New Orleans earlier this month and stayed in the Iberville Suites in the French Quarter. Very nice hotel with breakfast included for around $125 a night including tax. $12 cab ride from Amtrak station. Burbon street 1/2 block away.

 

[Shanghai]

I've stayed at the Fairmont Hotel a couple of times. It was about 15 years ago and I arrived by airplane.

It was a very nice hotel.

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Bigval109]

In June I'll be on the train for a coast to coast (almost) trip. I'll be taking the Crescent from Atlanta to NOL; the CONO from NOL to CHI; SWC from CHI to LAX; Pacific Surfliner from LAX to Santa Barbara; Coastal Starlight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco; CZ from San Francisco to CHI; Capitol Limited from CHI to DC; then the Crescent again from DC to Atlanta.
Since I'll be traveling alone and I'm a "woman of a certain age" (hence, the name Super Grandmother ), anyone have any tips for hotels in NOL and Santa Barbara? I have the others already locked in. Also, I'll be in LAX only about 4 hours so anyone have a good idea of something to see in that 4 hours?

I am very excited about this trip. I've wanted to do this for a few years and finally decided that it may be now or never!

I'm looking forward to seeing what tips you have for me.

It looks like I will be making the same trip in reverse. Nevertheless it will be great and you will enjoy it .

 

[supergrandmother]

Thank you to all who replied. I now have a room reserved in New Orleans and I know what to see and where to get lunch in LA! On another thread, I found out that I will get breakfast on the train although it arrives around 8:00 am. You folks are awesome. I'm still looking at hotels in Santa Barbara. If I don't get a recommendation, I will probably just go with a chain. Usually can't go wrong there.

Thanks for all the advice. I am counting down the days to June 13!

 

[AlanB]

Supergrandma,

No specific recommendations as I've not stayed at any of these hotels, but you may find this list of hotels that are near the train station in Santa Barbara a helpful place to at least start looking.