Hello everyone. My girlfriend and I are planning a west coast trip and have a few questions.

Since both of us are too young to rent a car (without it costing a fortune) we have decided to travel the coast via train (something both of us wanted to do anyway). We are using LA as a "base", but are going to spend most of our time in San Diego and SF. That leads me up to my questions.

1)We have two choices once we arrive at LAX, get a hotel and stay for the night or head to the train station and take our train out to San Diego. What do you think? Is it worth the price of a room for one night or should we just head straight for the train? If you think we sould stay, can you recommend a hotel room?

2)One thing that worries me about our trip is making our connection train from San Diego (Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner) which departs at 6:10AM and gets into LA's Union station at 8:50 AM. We need to get another train (Coast Starlight) at 10:15 AM. Has anyone taken the Pacific Surfliner? Is it usually on time?

Thanks again!

Do you have your air tickets already? Wouldn't it be better to fly into San Diego and fly home from San Fran, or vice versa? The fares can be quite close to just flying in and out of LAX.

I took the train out of LA to SF once. Don't remember the day of the week... it was 2 hours late leaving LA due to a mechanical problem.

I vaguely remember a boarding pass... it was about 5 years ago in January, but not during any holidays, and not sure if pre-registration is required now. It was coach with seats not assigned, not a sleeper.

Sure, the train will not wait for you, but check this possibility: if you're late for this, can you take the Amtrak bus to Bakersfield and the train to San Francisco? Just a back-up plan.

By the way, the trains don't go to San Francisco. You go either to Oakland or Emeryville station where connecting buses (included in ticket price) are waiting for you. The buses will be there, doesn't matter how late the train is.

The buses have several stops in the city, make sure you know which one you need. If you're arriving late and need a taxi, the easiest would be from Hilton (?) which is usually the first stop on the night route.

Not all stops and routes are the same. The Embarcadero stop usually doesn't have taxis unless you're lucky enough to see somebody arriving there.

The connection from the Surfliner to the Coast Starlight should be no problem. They position them so they are side-by-side. You just get off the San Diego train and, if it is in place by then, step on to the Coast Starlight.

Except in case of grade-crossing accidents, which do not happen frequently, the Surfliner trains are generally on time. Since the Coast Starlight originates in LA, it typically leaves on time as well unless, as in the previous post, they have some sort of mechanical problems. I have ridden it north over a dozen times and that has never happened to any train I was on.

Thanks for the info everyone. I really want to take the Coast Starlight, so I don't want to miss that train.

That being said, Faina, I don't know how familiar you are with the area but I am staying at the Harbor Court Hotel. Would this be the Embarcadero stop? I really don't know where to get off once I am in Oakland.

On the hotel's map (looked it up!) it looks like Steuart @ Howard, so from Oakland (or Emeryville) train stop you get on the connecting Amtrak bus to San Francisco and get off at the Embarcadero bus stop, it's a couple of blocks easy flat walk (no hills to brave, I mean).

I don't know if the area is safe to walk at night.

Make sure you have the tickets, when you buy the train tickets, there must be an additional one for the bus connection - the price is the same. You give the tickets to the bus driver.

Would not bother to stay a night in LA. You've shot most of the day anyway - may as well continue to San Diego and get it over with - that way the next day you start in on vacation - not more trekking.

I agree, we will probably just continue on to San Diego. Thanks, NY!

Faina, sorry for all the questions. I am a bit concerned with the walk since you are not sure if it is safe. Do you recommend getting off at another stop and getting a cab?

Some points from my experience:
1. It makes no sense to stay a night in LA. The train station is not really in a hotel area and there will little to see in such a short time.
2. The train from San Diego to LA is usually on time.
3. The train from LA to San Francisco is often late.because Amtrak does not have priority for use of the tracks.
4. The area around the Embarcadero is a relatively safe area in San Francisco.
Have a great trip!