Amtrak to SF area, where to get off?
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
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You'll find Uber and Lyft mobiles at pretty much any hour in SF - your real worst worst extremely unlikely case is that you'll have to get two smaller vehicles. You also still have the option of bagging the bus and checking Uber / Lyft options as you arrive at the station.
#32
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#33
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 775
It depends. I've taken the Coast Starlight to L.A. from the Bay Area for Thanksgiving week when I go down on Sunday and have nothing planned until Thursday. So who cares if it's late. It's still a lot more comfortable than economy on a plane.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
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You might consider staying at the Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square. Its right at the train stop. You will be able to get food, get right into a room. In the morning you can see some of Oakland if you wish. BART is a short walk, you can Uber, or even take a ferry into San Francisco.
my .02
my .02
#35
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You might consider staying at the Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square. Its right at the train stop. You will be able to get food, get right into a room. In the morning you can see some of Oakland if you wish. BART is a short walk, you can Uber, or even take a ferry into San Francisco.
my .02
my .02
This would be ideal for the OP. Forget the Amtrak bus, taxi/Uber, etc. Walk off the train, go to the hotel, get some rest. Take the ferry into S.F. the next morning.
#36
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You might consider staying at the Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square. Its right at the train stop. You will be able to get food, get right into a room. In the morning you can see some of Oakland if you wish. BART is a short walk, you can Uber, or even take a ferry into San Francisco.
my .02
my .02
This would be ideal for the OP. Forget the Amtrak bus, taxi/Uber, etc. Walk off the train, go to the hotel, get some rest. Take the ferry into S.F. the next morning.
#37
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,780
I totally forgot about that place! My wife and I were walking around there right before a Yoshi's performance. We were thinking that we would recommend the hotel to visitors. It looks like a decent place (nothing fancy), and it is right there at the ferry terminal. The ferry ride itself to S.F. is like a tourist attraction, and it takes you right to the ferry building throughout the day, and also to Pier 41 in the am: http://sanfranciscobayferry.com/route/alameda/sffb.
This would be ideal for the OP. Forget the Amtrak bus, taxi/Uber, etc. Walk off the train, go to the hotel, get some rest. Take the ferry into S.F. the next morning.
This would be ideal for the OP. Forget the Amtrak bus, taxi/Uber, etc. Walk off the train, go to the hotel, get some rest. Take the ferry into S.F. the next morning.
The Oakland Marriott is also walk-able (and safe) from Amtrak, BUT.... I can see how a family not from Oakland / SF would not want to walk it at night. It is pretty desolate and you have to walk under 880.
The Waterfront is spot on however...
#39
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Here is my take as a frequent Amtrak traveler with Select Plus status. Book the bedroom but make sure you call Amtrak to do this. A bedroom used only for sitting can be booked with 4 people in it, but you can not do this online. Your going to have to book another roomette for the 5th person or you might even ask the Amtrak agent about the family bedroom and if they allow 5 people in sitting configuration.
Booking the rooms will get you 2 meals per person, lunch and dinner included up to San Francisco. I'm not sure if they are currently running the Pacific Parlor Car on the Coast Starlight, but if they are, then you also get exclusive access to it as a sleeping car passenger.
Book the Amtrak bus option, since the connection is guaranteed, or choose Emeryville since the station building is clean and modern and a better neighborhood than Oakland. Also, there are hotels right across the from the Emeryville station if needed. There is a pedestrian bridge to across into the parking lot of the hotel / shopping area.
Booking the rooms will get you 2 meals per person, lunch and dinner included up to San Francisco. I'm not sure if they are currently running the Pacific Parlor Car on the Coast Starlight, but if they are, then you also get exclusive access to it as a sleeping car passenger.
Book the Amtrak bus option, since the connection is guaranteed, or choose Emeryville since the station building is clean and modern and a better neighborhood than Oakland. Also, there are hotels right across the from the Emeryville station if needed. There is a pedestrian bridge to across into the parking lot of the hotel / shopping area.
#40
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,645
Eh Jack London station and Emeryville station are both pretty new and clean. Emeryville not an appreciably better neighborhood. Linden Street Brewing is moving right across the street from JLS Amtrak and will be opening this year - https://oaklandunitedbeerworks.com/. It'll be a nice place to kill time in the future I assume.
#41
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Jack London Square is an SF Bay Area gem. I think Yoshi's (jazz) is its cultural center, but there are lots of other great music venues within a few blocks. Restaurants and bars galore. Maybe the best part is the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic mix. It roughly approximates the mix of those who live here.
#42
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#43
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#44
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