Buckeyeknitter

I am going to be in San Diego for a wedding and then planning to go to Monterey to visit a friend. I am considering taking a train - interested in hearing from those familiar with Amtrak in California - would it be a scenic trip. Or I am considering renting a car and driving up the coast - would appreciate any comments on that. I have time - not in a hurry to get anywhere and I don't mind driving.

If I rent a car, I know that one way drop off charges can be quite steep so would consider driving up one way and back the other so that I can fly in and out of San Diego. I would drive up the coast one way but interested in hearing about any other way back that might take me by some interesting sights.

Thanks so much
Pam

MichelleY

Does your friend have a car? If so, fly up to Monterey. It is a very long drive, about 6 hours?

If you have plenty of time, rent the car & drive. The train takes too long. With a car, you can stop along the way to see the sites, eat etc.

happytrailstoyou

You will better off in a car because you can drive on Highway 1 and because you won't have to depend on Amtrak to make sure you have enough gas: http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/25/am...ns-out-of-gas/

november_moon

I agree - if you aren't in a hurry, drive the coast route and see some magnificent scenery. If you are in a hurry, fly or rent a car and drive the direct route. The train is slow and it misses much of the coastline. Plus, I think to get to Monterey, you have to transfer on a bus.

Jean

What time of year?

lcuy

San diego to Monterey is more like 8-10 hours. The train is nice, but can run late, so don't cut the time too close.
Or check Kayak.com and plug in San Diego to San Francisco car rental. Since San Franciso is a bigger city, the one way rental might not be as bad as you think. (The plane fare might also be lower than a San Diego return). Certainly any increas in rental fees due to one way trip won't be as much as gas to return to San Diego!The drop-off fees are often built-in to the price now, so just plug in various dates and see what the total rental prices are. I often find that Alamo with the Costco discount is the cheapest, but you need to call in to get that price.


If you do decide to drive two ways, you could go to Yosemite on your way back down if you drive.

bigtyke

My sister and her husband (live in Monterey and annually vacation in San Diego) took the train last year and really enjoyed it.

You might also check airlines. I think there was a new company offering flights between the 2 cities

jamesr3939

Looks like from the Amtrak site the total travel from San Diego to Monterey is 12 hours. You leave SAN about 8:00 AM and get into Monterey around 7:30 PM.

I just took my first Amtrak ride since I was a kid about a month ago and I loved it. I rode from Stockton to Bakersfield in a little more than it would have taken to drive.

I spent most of the time in the cafe car drinking coffee and watching the stops up the valley, pretty cool!

If it were me I would take the train from San Diego to San Luis Obipso and then rent a car and drive to Monterey.

You get some pretty good coast line from San Diego to Orange County then again from Oxnard to just south of San Luis Obispo.

You will have to change trains in Los Angeles.

At San Luis Obispo you go inland and will see mostly farm land and wine grapes.

The train goes to Salinas and then you have to bus an hour over to Monterey.

Buckeyeknitter

Thanks for your comments. I should have mentioned I have never been that way before (from San Diego to Monterey) but have traveled to Monterey from SFO. The idea of relaxing on a train sounds nice to me but I want to make sure I see some beautiful scenery. I think I am leaning towards the car rental and doing a one way.

Pam

FainaAgain

The best scenery is approximately from Santa Barbara to San Jose. You will not only see the ocean, but the green rolling hills on the other side of the train.

Oh, well, depending on the time of the year may be yellow hills