Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - Trip to Annapolis, Baltimore and Philadelphia advice please

Hi everyone,

In September i'll be visiting America from the UK. Still finalising the details and would appreciate some advice. Bit of a random list i'm afraid, but at least lots of you will have the chance to help

1- Immigration at Dulles- are the queues significantly longer for Europeans than for Americans? I'm travelling with a friend who is American but her husband and I aren't; our flight (BA) from London arrives at around 2pm.

2- Shuttle van from Dulles to Annapolis- please tell me i'll arrive alive and on the same day I set off

3- Commuter bus from Annapolis to Patapsco Light Rail stop- is this reliable/safe on sunday mornings? (i'm female, i'll be on my own)

4- Train from Baltimore to Philadelphia - do you have to book this in advance? If not, how much cheaper is booking in advance? (NE regional service) Am I right in thinking its similar to travelling by rail in the UK- turn up, climb on, get off at far end and doesn't involve massive pre-boarding security or checking in luggage?

5- Flying home from Philadelphia - Is there anything to be wary of in terms of traffic congestion, massive security lines etc? Flight leaves at 10pm

Also any tips for staying in Baltimore- cheapish places to eat, things to do

[QUOTE=exilencfc;16739082]Hi everyone,




4- Train from Baltimore to Philadelphia - do you have to book this in advance? If not, how much cheaper is booking in advance? (NE regional service) Am I right in thinking its similar to travelling by rail in the UK- turn up, climb on, get off at far end and doesn't involve massive pre-boarding security or checking in luggage?

/QUOTE]

only addressing #4. the high speed ACLEA requires reservation. most of the trains have a "business" or some such class that requires a fee, and a res. i use it, and think it worth getting away from the unwashed hoard.

when you travel a route like that, try to get a train that is starting in DC or balt. less chance of a delay.

Shuttle van from Dulles to Annapolis

Wow, that's a long way. Are you certain that's even possible, at least without a special arrangement?

I once did the shuttle Dulles to DC, about 26 miles. It took about 2 hours to get home. Annapolis is more than double that distance.

I now refuse the shuttle, even though the taxi is twice the fare.

Shuttle should be ok, the place i'm staying at in Annapolis is listed on their website, and it worked ok when I played at booking it. Hopefully I won't need it anyway, my friend is thinking of hiring a car- thats why I was worrying how the times to get through immigration varied. Would you recommend booking the shuttle in advance if I need it? I'm going to a conference in Annapolis so I think there might be a few of us heading in the same direction.

Train - I'm happy with coach as it's only a one hour trip. Coach tickets for the regular trains are buyable on the day then?

Thanks for your help guys

Hi everyone,


3- Commuter bus from Annapolis to Patapsco Light Rail stop- is this reliable/safe on sunday mornings? (i'm female, i'll be on my own)

so any tips for staying in Baltimore- cheapish places to eat, things to do

this is not a "good" part of baltimore. i would not advise doing that, unless things have changed a lot in the past few years.

Hi everyone,

In September i'll be visiting America from the UK. Still finalising the details and would appreciate some advice. Bit of a random list i'm afraid, but at least lots of you will have the chance to help

1- Immigration at Dulles- are the queues significantly longer for Europeans than for Americans? I'm travelling with a friend who is American but her husband and I aren't; our flight (BA) from London arrives at around 2pm.

Queues and process are always longer for nonUS document holders, figure 40 minutes or so longer on average (i once waited an hour, not so happy)


2- Shuttle van from Dulles to Annapolis- please tell me i'll arrive alive and on the same day I set off
no idea of this one, but consider renting a car if there are a few of you and someone is okay driving in 'our' side of the road. Expect traffic and delays, ESP as you arrive at the beginning of rush hour - which can last until almost 8 o'clock. I assume this is a special van to Annapolis, it is not something you can purchase at arrival easily, I expect so make arrangements early, if they are needed

3- Commuter bus from Annapolis to Patapsco Light Rail stop- is this reliable/safe on sunday mornings? (i'm female, i'll be on my own)

can't help you with this, but there may be more frequency/better options to DC, and then train from there to Baltimore. That'd be longer but something else to look into.

4- Train from Baltimore to Philadelphia - do you have to book this in advance? If not, how much cheaper is booking in advance? (NE regional service) Am I right in thinking its similar to travelling by rail in the UK- turn up, climb on, get off at far end and doesn't involve massive pre-boarding security or checking in luggage?

while you can buy tickets last minute, buying in advance will save you money. Tickets are fully refundable until they are printed, so make a ressie and then cancel it if you won't need it later. The AAA rate is usually a good discount for the regional

5- Flying home from Philadelphia - Is there anything to be wary of in terms of traffic congestion, massive security lines etc? Flight leaves at 10pm

you can take the train to philly airport as an option. Nothing in particular to worry about either other than the usual TSA nonsense that is unfortunately prevalent in the US

Also any tips for staying in Baltimore- cheapish places to eat, things to do

Thanks again guys. On the travel to Baltimore thing, I want to travel in the mid morning and there is an Orioles game in the afternoon - so I was hoping for safety in numbers, if not on the bus from Annapolis then certainly on the light rail. Is Baltimore (Camden Yards/Inner Harbour area) generally safe to walk around? I'm not worrying about Philadelphia as i'm staying with friends there (not the people i'm travelling to Washington with)

Thanks again guys. On the travel to Baltimore thing, I want to travel in the mid morning and there is an Orioles game in the afternoon - so I was hoping for safety in numbers, if not on the bus from Annapolis then certainly on the light rail. Is Baltimore (Camden Yards/Inner Harbour area) generally safe to walk around? I'm not worrying about Philadelphia as i'm staying with friends there (not the people i'm travelling to Washington with)
The area right around the stadium down to inner harbor is fine, especially on game day

Hopefully I won't need it anyway, my friend is thinking of hiring a car- thats why I was worrying how the times to get through immigration varied. Would you recommend booking the shuttle in advance if I need it?
If you are going to use the shuttle make sure you book in advance. Prepare for a long ride since if you are arriving on a weekday as DC traffic on the beltway ain't pretty, especially on Fridays. A car might be better but you are the best judge of how that impacts your expenses.

Train - I'm happy with coach as it's only a one hour trip. Coach tickets for the regular trains are buyable on the day then?
Ditto the advice to buy tickets in advance. You can do this on amtrak.com. For that trip coach is fine.

Enjoy the O's game and make sure you shout O's! at the appropriate point during the singing of the national anthem. OK, some people really don't like that but it is a Baltimore thing.

If at all possible, go to G & M Restaurant (http://gandmrestaurant.com/)for lunch and order the crab cake sandwich. Arguably the best Maryland crab cake around. If you don't want the bun. order a crab cake on a cracker. They will just bring you the crab cake and the price is the same. And anywhere else in the U.S. that has "Maryland-style" crab cakes on the menu it pretending to know what they are doing.

You will be fine hanging around the inner harbor and Camden Yards.

Shouting during the anthem is a new one on me- although being English, I am familiar with shouting the anthem rather than singing it. Thanks again for the advice guys, one more question are the charm city circulator buses ok? And do they go in both directions or just one?

Shouting during the anthem is a new one on me- although being English, I am familiar with shouting the anthem rather than singing it.

The idea is that you shout "O!" at the start of the "O say can you see!" line in the anthem. But don't even think of doing that at a Nationals game in D.C. :)

Haven't taken the Charm City Circulator bus (http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/), but the idea seems to be the same as on D.C.'s Circulators--simple, frequent, easy-to-understand bus service--except theirs is free too. The maps show all the lines going back and forth.

About Amtrak, I concur about buying a coach ticket in advance online. You'll need to print it out from one of the Amtrak kiosks at the station, but Baltimore Penn Station (note, not Camden Station by the ballpark) is compact. You can't get lost there.

5- Flying home from Philadelphia - Is there anything to be wary of in terms of traffic congestion, massive security lines etc? Flight leaves at 10pm
Where in Philly are you staying? The SEPTA airport line is certainly an option (septa is the local rail system...www.septa.org). A cab may be more convenient.

Thanks again guys. On the travel to Baltimore thing, I want to travel in the mid morning and there is an Orioles game in the afternoon - so I was hoping for safety in numbers, if not on the bus from Annapolis then certainly on the light rail. Is Baltimore (Camden Yards/Inner Harbour area) generally safe to walk around? I'm not worrying about Philadelphia as i'm staying with friends there (not the people i'm travelling to Washington with)

the outlying lightrail lots fill during orioles game(maybe not now that they are big loosers). cars are ticketed and towed for illegal parking. large(most) areas of balt are safe. my factory was a block from a drug center, but it was very safe, even the McD on the corner, as long as you did not get into the drug area.

IDK where i'm staying in Philly, with friends but i'm not sure where they live!

I see what you mean with the anthem now, fun touch

the high speed ACLEA requires reservation. most of the trains have a "business" or some such class that requires a fee, and a res.

Just to be clear, ALL seats on ALL trains between Baltimore and Philadelphia require a "reservation." However a "reservation" can be obtained at the ticket counter at any point before the train's departure. If money is no object, then the only particular reason to get an advance reservation is to ensure a seat on the specific train that you want (trains rarely sell out except over holiday peaks or during weekday "rush hours"). But as others have noted, buying a ticket in advance is almost always cheaper.

The idea is that you shout "O!" at the start of the "O say can you see!" line in the anthem. But don't even think of doing that at a Nationals game in D.C. :)
It is actually at the "Oh say does that star spangled banner" part near the end. :)

You can get a shuttle from Dulles to Annapolis, but definitely book in advance. A car might be more comfortable, though, because if you will be in rush hour, it will probably take a good two hours or so to get to Annapolis.

It is actually at the "Oh say does that star spangled banner" part near the end. :)

Um, right. I'd been able to forget the details because most people at Nats Park now know not to pull that stunt :p

Um, right. I'd been able to forget the details because most people at Nats Park now know not to pull that stunt :p

I think it's because most fans at Nats Park are from the visiting city ;)

Nats "fans" are about as intimidating as the fans at a little league game.

Well the trip is now complete so a few notes for anyone else heading that way

1- At 2pm there is a longer line for US citizens than for foreigners, because a flight from Saudi arrives at this time and Saudi citizens can use the US Line - it took me 5 minutes to get through and I then waited 45 minutes for my friends. And yes the beltway traffic does suck at 3pm on Wednesday afternoons, especially if there is a vehicle on fire somewhere up ahead - three hour drive

2- In any case driving from IAD to Annapolis is a pain in the whatsit. Next time i'm going via BWI, even if I have to change planes in Atlanta. Although flying to JFK/EWR and Amtraking to Baltimore might also being an option given that...

3- the Light rail/bus route to Annapolis seems to be pretty reliable, it also felt safe but then it was Sunday morning.

The inner harbour area of Baltimore feels pretty safe as does the Baltimore light rail and Amtrak.

Well the trip is now complete so a few notes for anyone else heading that way

At 2pm there is a longer line for US citizens than for foreigners, because a flight from Saudi arrives at this time and Saudi citizens can use the US Line - it took me 5 minutes to get through and I then waited 45 minutes for my friends.

Say what? All Saudi citizens can use the U.S. citizen and permanent resident line? Are you sure? What is your source of info? If true, fascinating. Wonder if there are others.

I don't know about all Saudi citizens but certainly those with some types of visa. I wondered where my friends were, so I asked a passing staff member who told me - and when I went to look, sure enough there were a disproportionate number of Middle Eastern types in the US national line.