starlight tour los angeles

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Starline Tours of Hollywood

6801 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028 Tel: (800) 959-3131

Starline Tours is the oldest and largest sightseeing tour company in Los Angeles, offering tours of Hollywood, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and other major attractions in the area. They also offer hop-on/hop-off services throughout the Westside of Los Angeles including Beverly Hills. The tour company picks up and drops off from most major hotels in the greater L.A. city tour area, and tours are conducted by professional guides in comfortable air conditioned coaches or mini-buses.

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Take my mother please or any other vip.

P.O. Box 35219 Los Angeles, CA 90035 Tel: (323) 737-2200

Astra Lumina has left LA!

But stay tuned, the stars will return soon!

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ASTRA LUMINA IN LOS ANGELES

The stars are descending from the night sky. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Immerse yourself in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars before they return to the sky above.

Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden is the 17th experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.

Read what people are saying about Astra Lumina Los Angeles

• TIME OUT “Cosmically mesmerizing”. “Truly experiential.”
• NBC “A celestial spin on the traditional holiday lights display, one that honors the 87-acre expanse's natural charms while adding a bit of razzmatazz, incandescence, and bulb-based beauty.”
• LA Times “Multimedia wonderland.”
• Modern Luxury Angelino “A memorable night that the whole family will love!”
• LA Mag “A place where sky and nature collide.”
• The Hollywood Times “The experience is unique and pays tribute to the beauty of the night.”

The Experience

THIS STELLAR JOURNEY

Astra Lumina LA Reviews

See what others are saying about astra lumina los angeles:.

“Nothing around like it. Beautiful and breathtaking. Encourage families and couples to experience it. 10 out of 10.”

“Astra Lumina was a beautiful and magical experience. The staff was so wonderful, amazing experience.”

Such a well put together and organized event! Really a fun experience and exceeded my expectations. Great for families and well as everyone!”

“It was a very nice experience. Parking was super easy, entry was quick, and the whole experience itself wasn't overcrowded and was nice and peaceful.”

“The most Magical experience ever! We had the best time! Hope that Astra Lumina can be here permanently so we can take our families.”

“What an amazing experience! 10/10. The lights, the music, everything was so magical. We had a blast!”

“When your teenagers say they enjoyed something, it's definitely a plus. My family loved this experience!”

“Super different experience! I really loved it. You"ll really inmerse in this experience. Highly recommended!!!”

Practical Info

• Date: From November 9th, 2023
• Opening hours: from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last entry at 9:00 p.m.)
• Price: Tickets start at $28.80
• Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California 90274 Get directions

South Coast Botanic Garden 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274

Located on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula, just 30 minutes from both LAX and Downtown Los Angeles, South Coast Botanic Garden's 87 acres of natural beauty will host the first-ever Western United States experience of Astra Lumina. Among the Garden's expansive trails, special paths have been newly created that take you deep into the lush landscape for this immersive experience.

Do you have any questions? You might find the answer here!

THE EXPERIENCE

• On the Fever App, available on Google Play and Apple Store
• On the Fever website
• At the venue box office, based on availability. Please note we do not accept cash.

Tickets are sold per person and include entry to the exhibition

• Adult - General Admission Adult
• Child (4 to 12) - General Admission Child
• Senior (65+), Student (13 to 26), or Military - General Admission Senior/Student/Military
• Group Bundle - Minimum 5 ticket purchase discounted for groups
• Preferred Parking @ 26300 Crenshaw Blvd - On-Site Parking at South Coast Botanic Garden
• Offsite Parking+Shuttle @ 604 Deep Valley Dr - Off-Site Parking with a shuttle to the venue

Ticket prices start at $28.80 for adults and $20.70 for children. Free entry for children under 4 years old.

MISCELLANEOUS

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• Hop-On Hop-Off Hop-On Hop-Off Tours Timetable and Route Map
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Hop-On Hop-Off One Day & Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour

Hop On Hop Off one day , Celebrity Homes 2 Hours

Experience the Original Celebrity Homes Tour,  and continue your adventure on a Hollywood City Sightseeing double decker open-top bus service.

Catch a taste of the Hollywood celebrity lifestyle as you tour past over 40 celebrity homes in Beverly Hills & the Hollywood Hills. Then hop on and off our open-top double decker buses to explore Los Angeles’ most popular sights including famous attractions, shopping districts & restaurants.

Red Route Hop-On Hop-Off and Celebrity Homes Tour

Starline Tours has been the leading name in Hollywood celebrity tours for more than 80 years.

With a storied history dating back to 1935, Starline Tours is the original provider of Hollywood celebrity tours. Because we've been around for so long, and because we're the best at what we do, we have access to exclusive neighborhoods and districts in Beverly Hills. For an in-depth Hollywood celebrity sightseeing experience that delivers thrills and excitement, the fun starts here! Our Celebrity Homes tour continues to be one of the most popular Hollywood outings. During your trip aboard our custom-built 13-passenger tour vans, you'll visit celebrity homes, including some of the most famous and iconic stars of yesterday and today.

You'll also get up-close-and-personal looks at the city's top sights and celebrity hotspots, including the legendary Sunset Strip and the Rodeo Drive shopping district in Beverly Hills, home of the world's most exclusive merchants and boutiques. Enjoy a photo opportunity over looking the  Hollywood sign, find your favorite stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and explore the TCL Chinese Theatre, one of L.A.'s most celebrated movie premiere venues.

Combine our signature Hollywood celebrity tours with an outing on our Hop On Hop Off bus service and save!

Our Red Route Hop On Hop Off and Movie Stars' Homes delivers even more excitement! In addition to our world-famous Hollywood celebrity tour, you'll also enjoy access to the Red Route of our famous Hop On Hop Off bus service. Buses depart from Hollywood every 20 to 30 minutes. Simply hop on board, show your ticket, hop off at any of the attractions along the way and hop back on when you're ready to continue your tour. Pre-recorded commentary is available in nine languages to help you learn more about the many fascinating sights and points of interest you'll visit.

Highlights of the Hop On Hop Off Red Route include:

· Hollywood Walk of Fame · Paramount Studios · Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive · The Original Farmers Market & The Grove shopping and entertainment complex · La Brea Tar Pits & Urban Lights · Melrose Avenue shopping district · ...and much more!

You'll save big by combining these two popular tours together for one low price! To learn more, or for help completing your booking, please call Starline Tours at (+1) 323-463-3333.

+1 (323) 463-3333 [email protected]

6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90028

Copyright © Starline Tours 2024

Amtrak Guide

By train travelers for train travelers, coast starlight train: rider guide.

See the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountain Range with a trip on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight route. It’s one of the most scenic in the United States with long-distance travel between Los Angeles and Seattle. Total travel time is 35 hours and you’ll spend one night on the train if you travel between these two cities, or ride this train between other cities in California, Oregon and Washington State.

This website is reader supported and not affiliated with Amtrak. We may earn a small commission from links on this page.

Schedule Highlights

• There is one northbound and one southbound train each day.
• Trains depart L.A in the morning and arrive in Seattle the next day in the evening.
• Trains depart Seattle in the morning and arrive in L.A. the next day in the evening.
• Overnight, trains are primarily in Northern California.

Things to Know

• Trains use Superliner rail cars that have two levels.
• There is a café for all passengers and a dining car for sleeper car passengers.
• Beaches, wineries and hiking trails are some of the things you can enjoy at stops along the route .
• You can get off and on the train for a night or more, but you’ll need to book each leg of the trip separately.
• The Van Nuys Station is a 20-minute drive away from the Hollywood Burbank Airport as an alternate to flying in or out of Los Angeles (LAX) to connect with the Coast Starlight.

The cost of Amtrak tickets varies by type of ticket, distance traveled, time of year, day of the week and how early you book your tickets. Coach seats are the most affordable, followed by roomettes and bedrooms. To view current ticket prices, use the Find Trains feature with your estimated travel dates on the Amtrak.com homepage.

As of 2023, expect to pay the following one-way if you travel the entire Coast Starlight route:

• $100 for a coach seat
• Over $500 for a roomette
• Over $900 for a bedroom

What is the best part of the Coast Starlight?

The best and most scenic parts of the Coast Starlight is the journey along the Pacific Ocean in California and through the Cascade Mountains in Northern California and Oregon.

Which side of the train to sit on the Coast Starlight?

To see the Pacific Ocean, sit on the left side of the train when traveling north toward Seattle and on the right side of the train when heading south toward Los Angeles.

To see Mount Shasta, travel northbound and sit on the right side of the train or ideally sit in the observation car.

To see Mount Rainier, sit on the right side of northbound trains and left side on trains departing from Seattle.

Is it better to ride the Coast Starlight north or south?

To view the most scenery, the best direction of travel on the Coast Starlight is northbound, especially in summer. You’ll need to wake up early to see Mount Shasta.

Does the Coast Starlight train have an observation car?

Yes, the Coast Starlight has an observation car that is available to all passengers.

Popular Stops

• Santa Barbara
• Paso Robles
• San Luis Obispo
• Los Angeles
• Seattle, WA – King Street Station (SEA)
• Tacoma, WA (TAC)
• Olympia-Lacey, WA (OLW)
• Centralia, WA (CTL)
• Kelso-Longview, WA (KEL)
• Vancouver, WA (VAN)
• Portland, OR – Union Station (PDX)
• Salem, OR (SLM)
• Albany, OR (ALY)
• Eugene, OR – Amtrak Station (EUG)
• Chemult, OR (CMO)
• Klamath Falls, OR (KFS)
• Dunsmuir, CA (DUN)
• Redding, CA – Amtrak Station (RDD)
• Chico, CA (CIC)
• Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Valley Station (SAC)
• Davis, CA (DAV)
• Martinez, CA (MTZ)
• Emeryville, CA (EMY)
• Oakland, CA – Jack London Square Station (OKJ)
• San Jose, CA – Diridon Station (SJC)
• Salinas, CA – Amtrak Station (SNS)
• Paso Robles, CA (PRB)
• San Luis Obispo, CA – Amtrak Station (SLO)
• Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
• Oxnard, CA (OXN)
• Simi Valley, CA (SIM)
• Van Nuys, CA (VNC)
• Los Angeles, CA – Union Station (LAX)

More Information

• Coast Starlight Reviews
• 10 best stops on the Coast Starlight
• Coast Starlight vs Pacific Surfliner
• Coast Starlight vs Cascades
• Coast Starlight vs Empire Builder
• Most scenic Amtrak routes on the West Coast

Top photo credit: Bruce Fingerhood

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What to Know About the Amtrak Coast Starlight Route

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Table of Contents

What is the Amtrak Coast Starlight train?

Amtrak coast starlight train stops, amtrak coast starlight schedule, amtrak seats on coast starlight, if you want to ride the amtrak coast starlight train ….

Sure, cars and planes may dominate transportation throughout much of the United States, but there’s something special about train travel.

Aside from enjoying the relative comfort of legroom (and even beds), those aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight route get to experience stunning views while they while away the hours to their destination.

Let’s take a look at this famous route, the experience you can expect when you’re aboard and other can’t-miss details for the Amtrak Coast Starlight train.

Amtrak operates a number of iconic routes (including many that go cross-country). Among its best is the Coast Starlight, which travels from Seattle to Los Angeles along the West Coast each day.

The total travel time for the Coast Starlight train is 35 hours, and passengers can select from a variety of room types, including private cabins with beds and bathrooms.

» Learn more: How to get cheap Amtrak tickets

The Coast Starlight makes several stops along its journey, which is part of the reason why it’s a lengthy trip. The train goes through three states: Washington, Oregon and California.

Seattle - King Street Station (SEA).

Tacoma, Wash. (TAC).

Olympia-Lacey, Wash. (OLW).

Centralia, Wash. (CTL).

Kelso-Longview, Wash. (KEL).

Vancouver, Wash. (VAN).

Portland, Ore. - Union Station (PDX).

Salem, Ore. - Amtrak Station (SLM).

Albany, Ore. (ALY).

Eugene, Ore. - Amtrak Station (EUG).

Chemult, Ore. (CMO).

Klamath Falls, Ore. (KFS).

Dunsmuir, Calif. (DUN).

Redding, Calif. - Amtrak Station (RDD).

Chico, Calif. (CIC).

Sacramento, Calif. - Sacramento Valley Station (SAC).

Davis, Calif. (DAV).

Martinez, Calif. (MTZ).

Emeryville, Calif. (EMY).

Oakland, Calif. - Jack London Square Station (OKJ).

San Jose, Calif. - Diridon Station (SJC).

Salinas, Calif. - Amtrak Station (SNS).

Paso Robles, Calif. (PRB).

San Luis Obispo, Calif. - Amtrak Station (SLO).

Santa Barbara, Calif. (SBA).

Oxnard, Calif. (OXN).

Simi Valley, Calif. (SIM).

Van Nuys, Calif. (VNC).

Burbank, Calif. (BUR).

Los Angeles - Union Station (LAX).

» Learn more: 5 things to know about the Amtrak credit card

Looking for a visual of where you’re heading? Here’s a glance at the route map for the Coast Starlight on Amtrak.

» Learn more: Credit cards can help you save on buses and trains, too

The Coast Starlight train runs once daily in either direction. If you’re starting in Los Angeles, the train departs at 9:51 a.m. and arrives at 7:51 p.m. the next day.

Conversely, the train leaving from Seattle departs at 9:50 a.m. each day and arrives in Los Angeles the next day at 9:11 p.m.

Note that there can be differences in timing as the trains may alter their stops or departure times.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

There are six room types available on the Coast Starlight train.

To travel along the coast as cheaply as possible, opt to book a coach seat for the duration of your journey. You can then choose whether to sit in a lower seat or an upper seat. Lower seats are nearer to the restrooms and don’t require climbing any stairs. Upper seats have better views from the top floor.

Each coach seat reclines, offers ample legroom and has a fold-down tray and electric outlets.

2. Superliner roomette

A Superliner roomette offers a private space for those looking to unwind during their journey. It’s more expensive than a coach seat and provides two comfortable seats that transform into beds at night.

Roomettes also offer upgraded bedding, towels, and linens, plus access to a shower and restroom inside your train car.

Beyond this, the roomette provides a first class attendant, complimentary lounge access, priority boarding and complimentary meals. These rooms can sleep up to two adults.

3. Superliner bedroom

Superliner bedrooms offer twice the space of a roomette and include a sofa and chair that transform into beds. You’ll receive many of the same amenities as a roomette, including a first class attendant, complimentary meals, lounge access and priority boarding.

Aside from more space, the biggest difference between a bedroom and a roomette is that the bedroom offers an in-room sink, restroom and shower. These rooms can sleep two adults.

4. Superliner bedroom suite

The Superliner bedroom suite provides twice the space of a bedroom, but this is only because it’s two rooms that combine together. To that end, you’ll have twice as many beds and two bathrooms from which to choose. These suites can sleep four adults.

5. Superliner family bedroom

The family bedroom is ideal for adults and children traveling together. Along with the amenities you’d expect from booking a bedroom, you’ll have access to two upper beds and two lower beds at night, which transform from seating. These bedrooms can sleep two adults and two children.

6. Superliner accessible bedroom

Accessible bedrooms are located on the entry level of the train and offer space for a wheelchair. However, while Superliner accessible bedrooms include an in-room sink and toilet, they lack a shower.

» Learn more: NerdWallet’s best credit cards for transit and commuters

Amtrak’s route network is expansive, but nothing is quite as charming as the Coast Starlight. During your 35-hour journey, you’ll be able to take advantage of comfortable seating, stunning scenery and good food. What’s not to like?

How to maximize your rewards

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Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Breaking News

34 hours on America’s most scenic train. Is it as dreamy as it sounds?

I took Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train from L.A. to Seattle, a 34-hour journey. (Julia Carmel / Los Angeles Times)

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There are certainly more efficient ways to get from Los Angeles to Seattle than sitting in a metal box for 34 hours. But Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train wasn’t designed for people who are in a rush.

Perhaps you’ve come across this train on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, where people rave about its gorgeous observation cars — called “sightseer lounges” — boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and cinematic views of the Oregonian forest. (“10/10 would recommend the Coast Starlight for the views alone,” one TikTok creator noted , showing off the flowers they drew while gazing at the scenery.)

But much of the viral footage of the train — which leaves L.A. every day around 10 a.m. and gets to Seattle the following night around 8 p.m. — was taken by travelers who were riding it for a short stretch, or those staying in the sleeper cars, which have beds, private bathrooms with showers and access to the restaurant-style dining car. These “roommettes” and bedrooms, which can run upwards of $600, are far less economical than the $100 coach seats that can be booked if you plan far enough in advance. I wanted to find out if I could really romanticize sleeping in an awkwardly reclined chair and eating countless bags of chips.

So as a man of the people, I convinced my partner to accompany me on the full 34-hour journey in coach seats. Here’s what we wish we knew before getting on the train.

You’re there for the scenery — not the amenities

“Ticket for Seattle, welcome aboard,” our train conductor said with a chuckle as we departed Union Station. “Braver than me!”

There are quite a few reasons why we were some of the only people riding all the way from L.A. to Seattle on a Wednesday in the coach and business cars. The most obvious is that many people would not want to spend a full night sleeping in a chair, but the shared bathrooms, which get progressively worse over the course of the trip, are a close second. More on that soon.

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Nov. 17, 2022

The Coast Starlight is not Amtrak’s longest route (that would be the 65-hour-long Texas Eagle ), but from start to finish, the train takes about 11 times as long as the three-hour flight from L.A. to Seattle, or twice as long as the roughly 17-hour-long road trip. As we climbed on board, we were sent to our assigned seats (you only get to choose whether you want to be on the upper or lower level). Ours were on the left side of the train, which is a bit more coveted as it faces west and gets better views, but no matter where your assigned seat is, you’ll have access to the picturesque observation car.

When we pulled into our first stop, Burbank, shortly after 10 a.m., we passed Fry’s Electronics, the video store in Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” with its big crash-landed saucer above the entrance. By the time we got to Van Nuys 15 minutes later, the woman running the cafe in the observation car announced that she was open for business, so we made our way over.

The observation car was already packed with passengers who had rushed in as soon as the conductor finished checking their tickets. On the upper level, there are dining tables and a few dozen seats facing huge windows that curve onto the ceiling. Below it, there’s a small cafe serving snacks and grab-and-go food — think microwave-reheated sandwiches, hot dogs and pre-prepared salads — which is the only food accessible to coach passengers.

“Please wear your shoes when you come into the cafe car,” one staff member said over the speakers as we tried to find seats, which raised the question of why that needed to even be announced.

To be totally honest, the biggest flaw of the trip was the smell of the observation car. Perhaps we caught it on a particularly ripe day, or maybe it was the lack of open windows, but even within the first hour on board, that car was notably stinky.

“I just want to go back to my room,” one child screamed to his mother as we sped along the tracks.

“It’s the Wild West out here,” my partner said while talking on the phone with their boss. A woman walking by started laughing and nodded in agreement.

But soon enough, our noses adjusted and the car became a bit less chaotic. By noon, when we passed Oxnard, the train got incredibly close to the coast, kicking off about three hours of stunning, up-close views along the Pacific Ocean. We decided to take a trip down to the cafe, where we ordered mimosas, sea salt chips and a Rice Krispie Treat to enjoy with the scenery.

The first call for dining car reservations soon went over the loudspeaker, but we were sad to learn that only sleeper car passengers, and some lucky business class passengers, are allowed to reserve a table there.

Around 3:30 p.m., following our stop at San Luis Obispo, the staff closed the observation car to clean. When it reopened about 15 minutes later, they lightly scolded everyone for leaving crumbs and hogging seats. “We’re all grown-ups here, please act like one,” the announcer said.

By that time, we had worked up an appetite, so we tried the ham and Swiss sandwiches from the cafe. It was nothing to write home about — as my partner put it, some food just “tastes like nothing” — but it wasn’t offensively bad. We started to wonder what else we were going to eat for the next four meals.

Between Paso Robles and Salinas, we got a bit restless. The reality that we still had more than 24 hours to go on the train seemed to sink in, and when a woman near us pulled a Chipotle bowl out, we started feeling a bit feral.

As we passed a beautiful sunset, we schemed for how we too could get our hands on Chipotle. We decided to take a risk and try to order delivery to the Salinas Amtrak station, which we knew would be the next “fresh air stop.”

The plan went quite well (shout out to Jose, our delivery driver in Salinas, who patiently waited at the station for a few minutes), though we agreed to pack our meals and snacks if we ever took another extended train ride.

There’s nothing but time, so you might as well make some friends

After pulling off our Chipotle drop, we started chatting with a man sitting a few seats away from us in the observation car. We learned that our new friend, Aaron Shimoda, was also riding the train all the way from L.A. to Seattle.

Aaron, 23, said he’d already taken two long-haul Amtrak trips before the Coast Starlight: the 20-hour-long trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Raleigh, N.C., and the 17-hour-long trip from Emeryville, Calif., to Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I could probably fly [to Seattle] for just as much, and it would only take a few hours to get up there,” Aaron said. “But I’m taking the train because I want to actually see the sights.”

Taking time between jobs, he figured it was the perfect time to leave Vancouver and get a rail pass to visit friends and family around North America. Aside from simply loving trains, he said these trips give him an opportunity to see lots of small towns and meet new people along the way.

“When I was doing my Florida to Raleigh trip, I met a guy on there who was going from Florida to New York because he’s an actor,” Aaron recalled. “We were seatmates, and we started talking, and I shared my fried plantains and half of my Cubano with him. We became really good friends.”

There are some things he wish he knew before embarking on the first trip — “Download movies on Netflix before the train; bring a book; bring snacks; bring a pillow if you have enough space,” he advised — but overall, he finds the views more than worth it.

Aaron said that even after this 34-hour trek is done, he still hopes to take the California Zephyr from Chicago to Northern California one day.

“I would probably want to do it when I have a bit more money so I can actually go and rent one of the sleeper cars,” he said. “So I’m not, like, dead and stinky by the third day.”

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The restless night of sleep is worth the beautiful views

After sunset, the windows in the observation car became far less interesting, sending many passengers off to kill time in their seats. We made out the silhouettes of different small towns, including a garlic-themed truck stop in Gilroy — the garlic capital of the world — which sent us down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. (Did you know Gilroy’s Christopher Ranch ships more than 100 million pounds of heirloom garlic every year?)

By 10 p.m., the conductors dim the lights and stop making announcements for the next eight hours, making it the optimal time to doze off.

But despite all of the coach and business class seats being fairly roomy, it’s nearly impossible to get truly comfortable in them. Sure, you can recline the seat or pop up a footrest, but no adjustments you can make will compare to sleeping in a real horizontal bed.

The longest commercial flight in the world is nearly 19 hours, traveling more than 9,500 miles from New York City to Singapore. Nineteen hours into the Coast Starlight, you’ll be somewhere around Dunsmuir, Calif. — only about 600 miles from L.A. — grappling with the decision of whether it’s worth it to face the less-than-optimal bathrooms for a 5 a.m. pee.

Yet after a few more hours of enduring snoring and bright streetlights, the most beautiful sunrise will flood into your car, giving everything a hazy glow.

The second day is admittedly a bit more grimy: Anyone in coach or business class who stayed on the train overnight will be unshowered, and some of the bathrooms may smell unspeakably bad. So it goes.

It’s worthwhile, though, because traveling through Oregon is absolutely stunning. In our first hours over the border, we passed forests, gorgeous lakes and mountains, among other natural wonders. The early morning fresh air stops in Oregon are also delightfully chilly, giving everyone a chance to stretch and feel a bit refreshed.

After a few hours of watching cattle graze, we donned sweaters and moved back to the observation car. It was less crowded than the previous day (leading us to assume most of the folks who got on in L.A. left at some point) but still mostly full with sleepy-headed passengers reading books or making small talk over slightly burnt coffee.

We found our friend Aaron again and joined him at a table. Our provisions in the morning were a breakfast sandwich (which again, tasted like nothing) and a coffee cake that my partner ordered, which was the star of the show. As we passed Odell Lake around 10 a.m., Aaron told us that he finally thought he found the right angle for sleeping on trains and pointed out a fellow passenger who brought a full duvet into the coach car.

The train started to move up the Cascades and into the Oregonian wilderness. Our conductor got on the P.A. system and told us good news and bad news: We would be traveling through 22 tunnels as we moved through the mountains, but smoke from fires in the region would turn the car stuffy.

The woman running the cafe passed us surgical masks, which helped to stifle the scent, but the next few hours as we traveled through smoke and fog were eerily silent and quite hot. When my partner went downstairs to grab more chips, the woman said, “You’ve gotta wonder how they even made these tracks.” She made a good point; the views were gorgeous and a bit precarious as we traveled over cliffs and through the tunnels.

A little after noon, we cleared the wilderness and made it to Eugene, Ore. The atmosphere was still smoky as ever — that was the day Seattle and Portland were named as the two places with the worst air quality in the world — but as the impossibly high evergreens turned into small cabins and farmland, our stomachs started to grumble in protest.

My partner went to take a nap, but as Aaron and I sat and admired the Pacific Northwest, I wondered exactly what I would eat for the next eight hours. I didn’t have it in me to order another “nothing” sandwich, and I couldn’t stomach another bag of chips. When my partner returned a few hours later, Aaron suggested something radical: What if we pulled off another food delivery scheme when we arrived for our next fresh air stop — Portland — a little before 4 p.m.?

It was just crazy enough to work. His selection was PDX Sliders, a highly rated burger joint that would make it to the station in just enough time. There was fear in the air that our delivery plans would be similar to the flight of Icarus: We could coordinate a food delivery once, but twice ? Too bold.

As we approached the station, a conductor came on the speaker once more to offer words of warning to the passengers: Make sure you stay near your car at the fresh air stops, because “yesterday four people wandered off and missed the train.” An alarming thing to hear when planning a food grab.

But once again, our plan succeeded without a hitch. When the train pulled into Portland, passing bridges and scenery best known to us from the “Portlandia” intro, Aaron ran into the station and retrieved our food. The burgers tasted like the sweet flavor of victory.

The last few hours were enjoyable, as the concept of actually arriving at our destination was finally within reach. As people filtered in and out of the observation car, we stayed planted at the table we’d been at since about 9 a.m., eagerly awaiting the final announcements.

The Takeaway

Prettiest stretch: Klamath Falls, Ore., to Eugene, Ore. The stretch that made us stir-crazy: Somewhere after San Francisco, when we had to stare into the darkness until we got sleepy Most useful thing we brought: Neck pillows (we ordered ours two days before we left) Most useful thing we wished we brought: More prepared food to eat on board Best thing we ate in the cafe car: Streusel coffee cake ($3.50) We weren’t mentally prepared for: The bathrooms Was it all worth it? Absolutely

The cafe sold alcohol — mostly beer and whatever creative cocktail could be made with the juices on board — so we decided that once we reached Tacoma, Wash., we’d celebrate the end of our journey with a toast.

Like most experiences, the train ride to Seattle is not as romantic and picturesque as the supercut you see of it on social media. As any passenger will tell you, things inevitably go wrong (and some bathrooms will be grosser than you’d like). But if you’re lucky, you’ll have a few moments that are so special that all the others eventually fade to a blur. As the conductor gave one final announcement that he was kicking people out of the observation car and sending us back to our assigned seats, the three of us poured prosecco into plastic cups and cheers’d to our long journey.

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Take A Scenic, Bucket List Train Trip From Los Angeles To Seattle

• Hop on the iconic Coast Starlight train for an unforgettable 35-hour scenic adventure from LA to Seattle.
• Choose from different ticket options starting at $100 to enjoy coastal views, mountains, and cities along the way.
• Consider the best season for your trip for stunning Pacific Coast views and unforgettable sunsets.

The beloved and memorable Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most iconic and scenic drives in the United States. The route starts in Los Angeles, California, weaving along the coast with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, through the mystical Cascade Mountains, and continuing into the pine-blanketed state of Washington, with Seattle as the final destination.

9 Scenic Amtrak Trips On The West Coast & Their Costs

While the PCH cruise is one of the essential things to do while visiting California (at least part of it), there is another way to take in the sights. Soak in the stunning views aboard one of the most scenic train rides in the United States: the Coast Starlight. Here's what to know about enjoying a trip on the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle.

UPDATE: 2024/03/23 21:44 EST BY LANE VASQUEZ

There's So Much To See On A Train Trip From LA To Seattle

This West Coast train trip feature has been updated with current pricing information, more visuals that sketch out the itinerary, and add-ons that showcase what to expect during this trip.

Is The Coast Starlight Worth The Trip?

A train trip from los angeles to seattle takes around 35 hours.

The Coast Starlight is Amtrak's train service between Los Angeles and Seattle and is a trip that will require some planning to ensure a comfortable journey. The Coast Starlight is for those with some time on their hands, looking for that next, new adventure.

The ride takes around 35 hours from Los Angeles to Seattle with many memorable stops in between. Seattle makes a great ending point as one of the best cities in the US to explore without a car . Once travelers arrive, they will have the Emerald City at their fingertips.

There is a lot to consider while booking a Coast Starlight trip to ensure a pleasant and comfortable journey. However, no matter what happens along the way, cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway up to Washington will provide one of the most scenic and epic train adventures of a lifetime.

The Coast Starlight departs from both Seattle and Los Angeles. However, northbound is the way to go, with more scenery during the day.

Explore The Coast Starlight Route (& Stops Along The Way)

The long route means plenty of scenery (and scenic stops).

The journey begins in Los Angeles, which has some unmissable attractions of its own — take time to explore before departing if you're not from the area!

• The Coast Starlight departs from Union Station , leaving every day around 10 a.m. with a final destination of King Street Station in Seattle, Washington , arriving around 8 p.m. the following night.

From Los Angeles, the train meanders through Simi Valley, coming out to the coast of the Pacific where passengers will have stunning views of the ocean from the glass-domed observation car, slithering along the rocky, palm tree-strewn cliffs of southern California.

Most bookings require multiple segments, where travelers have to disembark from one train and get on another. Be sure to read the details of your trip before booking — or look for a nonstop trip if desired.

What makes this adventure even more worthwhile is all the Coastal Starlight's stops along the coast . Plan a trip with some overnight stops to make the most of the journey! Some of the most popular stops include:

• San Luis Obispo, CA
• Santa Barbara, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Oakland, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• Portland, OR

It's worth looking over all the stops the Coast Starlight makes and doing some research on some places that may be worthy of an overnight visit.

These destinations offer travelers some truly phenomenal adventures, including stunning beaches, epic hikes, wineries, and exploring some of the West Coast's best towns and cities, including indulging in some great food and wine tours in Santa Barbara and exploring the city of San Francisco .

It's important to note that when planning on getting off the train for a night, passengers will need to book each leg of the trip separately, which can be done hassle-free via Amtrak's website .

Amenities & Options On The Coast Starlight

The coast starlight can be an affordable trip (depending on the seat you choose).

The journey on Amtrak's Superliner Coast Starlight offers different levels of comfort, amenities, and accommodation, which depend on the ticket purchased. Standard coach tickets will give guests access to the dining car, the small café, and the glass-domed observation car.

When booking a roomette or bedroom, passengers will be graced with complimentary dining, exclusive lounge access, along with private restrooms and showers.

With limited food options in the dining car, it's worth packing snacks and beverages in your on-board baggage.

Coast Starlight Train Costs

Tickets for the coast starlight start at around $100.

There are three different tiers of tickets, each offering different needs and desires of passengers. It's important to be aware that costs will also vary depending on how far in advance tickets are booked, the time of year, and even the departure day.

Seating/ Accommodation:

The Coast Starlight does offer sleeper cars; private rooms start at around $600, depending on the time you travel from Los Angeles to Seattle.

Business class seats do not appear to be available for the long-haul trip, though other accommodations are available for shorter trips along the Coast Starlight's route.

When booking a standard coach seat for the full journey, it's important to remember that this will be your bed and accommodation for the next 35 hours! If you're feeling adventurous, it's only one night of compromised sleep and the scenic ride is worth it.

How To Book Tickets For The Coast Starlight

Booking is easy on amtrak's website.

Booking tickets for the Coast Starlight is as easy as visiting Amtrak's website . Travelers can view the full itinerary of the trip, choose the departure and arrival, the date of departure, and select the appropriate seating and accommodation options for their journey.

Best Time Of Year To Take The Train From LA To Seattle

Summer is the busiest time on the coast starlight.

The best time of year to take the Coast Starlight is highly worth pondering, considering the vast amount of terrain being covered. Southern California and the Pacific Northwest vary greatly when it comes to weather, so leaving in the sunny, warm, middle of winter from Los Angeles isn't going to mean the same is happening in Seattle.

Summer is going to be the busiest time of year when temperatures are all around warm and sunny and families are on their vacations. So, it's worth keeping this in mind when planning a trip if avoiding summer crowds is important.

The fall and spring are going to bring cooler temperatures and smaller crowds while presenting the opportunity to see some fall colors and spring blooms, which will make the adventure that much more scenic and beautiful.

Winter will still be beautiful, with snow-capped mountains, bringing cooler and rainier weather, especially coming into the Pacific Northwest, which would make for a cozy train ride.

7 Epic Round-Trip Amtrak Vacations In The US

While booking any train, it's always worth considering which side of the train to book a seat or room on. When it comes to the Coast Starlight, it is highly suggested to book on the left side, where the sweeping Pacific Coast views and sunset will be.

Passengers can always wander to the dining car, lounge, or glass dome observation car to change sides if needed, but for the long haul, the left side is the way to go.

The Coast Starlight will allow travelers to experience the beautiful West Coast in a whole new way. While road trips are one of the best ways to see the country and have great adventures, sometimes it can be nice to be able to just sit back and soak up the endless views.

It's time to add a train trip from Los Angeles to Seattle to the bucket list because this is a trip that will never be forgotten!

Amtrak Coast Starlight: 15 Things You Need To Know Before Riding

The Amtrak Coast Starlight is one of the premiere train routes in the United States. It travels from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA and offers some of the most stunning views of the California Coast and Pacific Ocean you’ll find. There are some unique features to the Coast Starlight that make it stand out from other Amtrak Trains.

• 1 How Much Does It Cost To Ride The Coast Starlight
• 2 Can You Get On and Off the Coast Starlight
• 3 How Long Does The Coast Starlight Take
• 4 What are the Stops on the Coast Starlight
• 5 Is the Coast Starlight or the Pacific Surfliner Better
• 6 What are the Differences Between the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner
• 7 Does the Coast Starlight Have Business Class
• 8 How Fast Does The Coast Starlight Go
• 9 Does The Coast Starlight Have an Observation Car
• 10 What Is The Most Scenic Section of the Coast Starlight
• 11 What Sleeper Car Rooms Are Available on the Coast Starlight
• 12 How Often is the Coast Starlight Late
• 13 Does The Coast Starlight Have WiFi
• 14 Does The Coast Starlight Stop in San Francisco
• 15 Is the Coast Starlight Worth It

How Much Does It Cost To Ride The Coast Starlight

The base prices of tickets on the Coast Starlight are:

• Business $158
• Sleeper $432

These prices are for one passenger. If two passengers are riding, you can just double the price for Coach and Business, but the price of the Sleeper Room will be less than double for two people.

As Amtrak trains fill up, the price goes up. The first person to buy a ticket on a particular route will pay much less than the last person to buy a ticket. The best time to buy an Amtrak ticket to get the cheapest price is as soon as you know you’ll be taking the trip.

Can You Get On and Off the Coast Starlight

You can get on and off the Coast Starlight at fresh air break stops. There will be a fresh air break stop about every 4 hours while riding the train. These stops are longer than usual and last for 7-15 minutes and allow passengers to walk around and get fresh air.

On a quick passenger pick up stop, which only lasts 3 minutes, you will not be allowed to get off the train.

Amtrak trains are also not hop on hop off trains. You cannot get off at one stop and get back on another train later in the day. The Coast Starlight only runs once a day so you’d need to wait until the next day and buy another ticket for that day if you want to get off to spend the day.

How Long Does The Coast Starlight Take

The Coast Starlight takes 33 hours and 46 minutes to travel from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA and 35 hours and 15 minutes to travel from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA.

What are the Stops on the Coast Starlight

• Seattle, WA – King Street Station (SEA)
• Tacoma, WA (TAC)
• Olympia-Lacey, WA (OLW)
• Centralia, WA (CTL)
• Kelso-Longview, WA (KEL)
• Vancouver, WA (VAN)
• Portland, OR – Union Station (PDX)
• Salem, OR (SLM)
• Albany, OR (ALY)
• Eugene, OR – Amtrak Station (EUG)
• Chemult, OR (CMO)
• Klamath Falls, OR (KFS)
• Dunsmuir, CA (DUN)
• Redding, CA – Amtrak Station (RDD)
• Chico, CA (CIC)
• Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Valley Station (SAC)
• Davis, CA (DAV)
• Martinez, CA (MTZ)
• Emeryville, CA (EMY)
• Oakland, CA – Jack London Square Station (OKJ)
• San Jose, CA – Diridon Station (SJC)
• Salinas, CA – Amtrak Station (SNS)
• Paso Robles, CA (PRB)
• San Luis Obispo, CA – Amtrak Station (SLO)
• Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
• Oxnard, CA (OXN)
• Simi Valley, CA (SIM)
• Van Nuys, CA (VNC)
• Los Angeles, CA – Union Station (LAX)

Is the Coast Starlight or the Pacific Surfliner Better

The Coast Starlight is better than the Pacific Surfliner for seeing the California Coast and the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Starlight offers observation cars, a dining room, and sleeper cars if needed.

What are the Differences Between the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner

The Pacific Surfliner travels south of Los Angeles, while the Coast Starlight does not. If you want to reach Disneyland or San Diego, you’ll need to ride the Pacific Surfliner. The Coast Starlight goes north out of California into Oregon and up to Seattle, WA.

The Coast Starlight is a full service overnight train, where the Pacific Surfliner is a day train. It does not have the same amenities as the Coast Starlight.

The Coast Starlight only runs once per day, but the Pacific Surfliner runs multiple times per day.

Does the Coast Starlight Have Business Class

The Coast Starlight has the best Business Class in the Amtrak system. On the Coast Starlight the Business Class is separated from the rest of the train and it has it’s own observation car. There are times though when this car is not hooked up, and it is unpredictable as to when that will happen.

How Fast Does The Coast Starlight Go

The Coast Starlight has a top speed of 79mph and an average speed of 40mph.

Does The Coast Starlight Have an Observation Car

The Coast Starlight has an observation car in the middle of the train, which can be used by all passengers. There is often also another observation car at the end of the train reserved for business class passengers.

What Is The Most Scenic Section of the Coast Starlight

The best section of the Coast Starlight is on the Pacific Ocean in California from Oxnard, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA. From here you’ll get the best views of the Pacific Ocean.

What Sleeper Car Rooms Are Available on the Coast Starlight

There are 4 types of sleeper car rooms on the Coast Starlight.

• Superliner Roomette
• Superliner Bedroom
• Superliner Family Bedroom
• Superliner Accessible Bedroom

How Often is the Coast Starlight Late

While the on time record of the Coast Starlight has improved in recent years, it is still late or delayed often. This route used to be nicknamed the “Coast Starlate” due to its bad on time record. It is also the most likely route on Amtrak to be canceled due to wildfire activity along the coast.

Does The Coast Starlight Have WiFi

The Coast Starlight does not have WiFi. You will have cell service for much of your trip though.

Does The Coast Starlight Stop in San Francisco

The Coast Starlight does not stop directly in San Francisco. It stops in nearby Emeryville, CA, from which you can take a connecting bus to San Francisco. You can book a trip directly to San Francisco that includes the bus.

Is the Coast Starlight Worth It

As one of Amtrak’s best routes, the Coast Starlight is worth the cost to ride. With some of the best views in the country and great amenities on the train, we rank the Coast Starlight in our top 3 routes in the United States.

Robert Marmion

8 Days Amtrak Coast Starlight, Crater Lake, Redwood Tour from Los Angeles

• Hotel accommodations for 7 nights
• English & Chinese bilingual tour guide (multiple tour guides/drivers throughout the tour)
• Transportation via air-conditioned coach
• **NOTES: Each booking will provide only 1 Hotel Room. Each booking accepts a maximum of 4 guests.
• **NOTES: To book separate rooms, please make separate bookings.
• Meals (Vegan food options available)
• All personal expenses, such as laundry, phone, drinks, and travel insurance
• Mandatory Tips/Service Fee - Min. $10/person/day for tour guide and driver
• Mandatory Tips/Service Fee - Any child/Infant reserving a seat will have to pay the service fees.
• Mandatory Tours - Redwood + Crater Lake + Mt. Rainier + Wine Tasting at Napa Valley (5 kinds) +
• Mandatory Tours cont. - Burney Falls + Amtrak Coast Starlight ticket + Fuel Surcharge - $160/pp
• Optional - Oregon Garden - Adult $12, Child (5-11) $6, Senior (60+) $10
• Optional - Space Needle + Chihuly Garden and Glass - Adult $62, Child (5-12) $42, Senior (65+) $52
• Optional - Seattle Night Tour - $35 per person
• Optional - Hotel Transfer (Hotel - Portland downtown) - $10 per person
• Mandatory Tips/Tours, Optional tours must be paid in cash to tour guide.
• Entry/Admission - 17-Mile Drive
• Entry/Admission - Avenue of the Giants
• Entry/Admission - Crater Lake National Park
• Entry/Admission - Multnomah Falls
• Entry/Admission - Mount Rainier
• Entry/Admission - University of Washington
• Entry/Admission - King Street Station
• Entry/Admission - Sundial Bridge
• Option 1 17900 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92614, USA Hotel Irvine - Eats Restaurant Entrance Irvine, CA 7:00 am
• Option 2 1300 S Golden W Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007, USA 99 Ranch Market Arcadia, CA 7:15 am
• Option 3 123 S Lincoln Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91755, USA Lincoln Plaza Hotel Monterey Park, CA 7:15 am
• Option 4 3633 Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770, USA Bokai Garden Hotel Rosemead, CA 7:30 am
• Option 5 1015 S Nogales St, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, USA 99 Ranch Market Rowland Heights
• Option 6 222 W Houston Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832, USA Howard Johnson Hotel Fullerton Fullerton, CA 7:10 am
• Option 7 9488 Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770, USA Quality Inn Rosemead Rosemead, CA 7:45 am
• Option 8 9920 Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731, USA Holiday Inn El Monte El Monte, CA 8:00 am
• Option 9 600 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA Chinatown Senior Citizen Service Center (Downtown) Los Angeles, CA 8:45 am **Walkable distance from Union Station**From 2/15/2020 the pick up point change to Union Station Square，Add: 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
• SFO International Terminal, California 94128, USA Complimentary SFO airport drop-off service is available. Please schedule your flight departure from SFO Airport after 10:30pm.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

• sande49 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Put your trust in these people Personnel were consistently out performing expectations from guides Lisa and Jayla to drivers Joe and Collin. Friendly, knowledgeable and on time. All things the make a first timer comfortable. The beautiful parks speak for themselves. Glaciers, mountains, lakes. Wow Read more Written September 15, 2023
• Rsmithky 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Awful Save your money The scenery was beautiful. What we got to see.! The tour director was unbelievable and not in a good way. First day out and he said we looked like a " Damn Church Social." That didn't set well with me and I learned it didn't with other Christians on the bus. The saying, I don't care how to build the clock, just tell me what time it is, is a perfect analogy with this guy. He talked more about , Boston, Cape Cod, and Brazil then the west. The second most photographed spot at Yellowstone was , too crowded to see, according to him. So we didn't see it. The Grand Prismatic Spring. That was the 2nd greatest site in Yellowstone. But we didn't have the chance to see it. We tried to rent a car, I even tried to rent a car from an employee. No luck. And finally I didn't need or want to hear political views or about his boyfriend. Save your mobey. Read more Written August 13, 2023
• viancesar 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Dissappointed Tourists from NZ Tai Pan tours cancelled the 3 day east canada tour 2 days before the tour. They said not enough people. Coming from New Zealand and hoping to have a well organized holiday, a very short notice is really not good enough. They could have ring me or emailed 2 weeks at least so We can plan for an alternative holiday plan. When I rang them and ask for our full refund, the guy couldn't even tell me when I could get my money back. Not good enough., they could have done better. Very frustrating and dissapointing. Read more Written January 7, 2023
• V4287CCmargaretb 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles So so My husband and I just did this trip. First of all we booked with take tours but they must of sold our tickets to c tour with is mostly a Chinese tour company. The guide was hard to understand stand because Chinese was his first language and not very helpful. When we got to yellow stone, he did not make sure that we had food options, the only restaurant that was open you had to have reservations and the phone number we had was not a working one. . We got to our hotel very late at night because of his time management. We also were not told we had to pay park entrance fee by check, cash or venmo no credit card? There was also a 12 dollar a day each fee for the guide ad bus driver. But we did get to see alot of thing . Would I use this tour company again . No no no Read more Written September 18, 2022
• Kathy S 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles 2 Day Hiking tour of Mt Ranier and the Olympic Mountains Where do I begin on how bad this tour was. It came up on google as one of the top 10 tours to take. It was terrible. A mass of confusion on the meeting spot. I ended up driving 45 minutes to another spot. James the driver spoke Chinese and talked in the car only in Chinese. Didn’t explain anything in English. Left us at Mt. Ranier for 90 minutes w no view and nothing open. Did the same at Olympic Mtns but thank God it was a sunny day. Had us pay cash for park entrances but then paid w a business credit card. Seemed fishy because he charged us $45 and I think the park is $35 to get in. A lot of driving and no hiking to speak of. It was mostly people from Hong Kong and Singapore and me the token American one day and the other day there was three of us. The hotel manager told me every American on the tour always complains how bad it is. A lot of false advertising.stopped at Safeway’s to buy lunch each day. Read more Written October 24, 2019
• z00minm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing If you have never been, you are so missing out. This is a trip of a lifetime for. The Bad Lands was my favorite. Everyone we met was wonderful. Food was great in the small town of West Yellowstone. If you travel between Bozeman MT, Big Sky and West Yellowstone on 191 please be careful, that is the road of death. The speed limit is to fast, tractor trailers flying through the curves of the two lane rd just waiting for a load to shift. We seen several bad accidents. Please be careful! Read more Written October 7, 2019
• Kristin J 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing views It's hard to have a bad experience with the awesome views in the Canadian Rockies. The tour bus was comfortable and clean and the tour guide was friendly. We saw a lot for the amount of time, but there was definitely pressure to get back to the bus on time with our 15 minute and 20 minute stops. I do wish the tour guide could give more background information on the history/geology of each site. Read more Written October 2, 2019
• DLW2346 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Way to See the National Parks! This is the best way to see multiple national parks in the American West! It's way more affordable, comfortable, and time-effective than planning your own trip. Leave the driving and the hotel reservations to the tour company. Sit back, relax, and admire the beautiful scenery while your tour guide and driver does all the work. The bus stops about every two hours, so you never feel desperate to stretch your legs or take a bathroom break, even on the long drive days. There are numerous restaurant options during meal breaks, or you can purchase picnic items at grocery stores along the way. The hotels are nationally recognized, clean, and comfortable. I was pleased that the tour was so well organized, and I was so happy to see the beautiful scenery at an affordable price. There was plenty of time to see the sights and take photos, even though we crammed a lot into each day. The guide showed us all the best scenery and didn't waste our time with gift shops and malls. This tour is great for solo travelers, couples, and families with grown children. Read more Written September 27, 2019
• teacher1940 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles very pretty area This is the nicest place to see. People are very friendly and the nature is very special Food is great and every thing there is magnificent Read more Written September 14, 2019
• Mobile637093 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Stunning trip this was a wonderful trip for our family. Yellowstone is a place that everyone must visit once in your life time. we enjoyed every minute of it. its very beautiful :-) Read more Written September 12, 2019
• dawk1953 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Audio tour app Calgary to Banff Listened to free tour app driving from Calgary to Banff. Excellent I wish there were more. Would listen again. Read more Written September 9, 2019
• rosatandy 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles This is not an English Speaking tour! I am a long time client of Viator and Trip advisor. In each country that I went to, I always relied on these sites and so far they have been very reliable not until this trip!! Worst trip ever!! You see, I expected long trips to see this beautiful sites and I am fully aware of the extra expenses that we have to pay! What we are not aware is to have a tour guide like this!! You said in you’re website that its a English and Mandarin speaking tour guide! Please don’t deceived your clients! Audit your guides please! Or better I suggest you can just offer this as mandarin speaking tour only. You see we save and travel this far for a vacation, give us what we deserved, we are not asking for more , just what you’ve written in your package! He speaks 95 percent in mandarin all the time and like 5 percent in English! His daily english is just like “ so ok, tomorrow wake up call is 5:30am and we will leave 6am, don’t be late” , “so see the moment ( i realized after a while that he meant monument!!) on your right, that’s a famous one! “Ok, so our next stop is for lunch (in a chinese buffet usually) and for toilet! Thats it, its limited to those lines for 6 days. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Chinese myself, its just that we understand limited Mandarin, so we can just book elsewhere if we want English speaking tour! So I’m trying all my best to be objective with him, and have to be nice with him, he is after all our tour guide for 7 days! So on the second day I talk to him (i have to! We still have 5 more days to go 😭😭 cannot bear to just keep following without knowing where and what to do next), and told him that maybe he just forget to translate in English, and we cannot understand what he is saying (to think I can understand little Mandarin, what a pain for those totally clueless). Told him too that he speaks 80 percent Mandarin, and we might be missing important details and he answered “ok, I know!” But All these talkings to No avail. You see, his english is really limited to those basics that I mentioned! So I think the tour company should be fair enough and just offer this tour with this guide to Mandarin speaking clients only! It is really not fair, we should be demanding for a refund, but more than the monetary value , its the precious time wasted, its the bad experience we had with this tour. The only positive side is that the sites we went were all beautiful and we were able to take a lot of beautiful pictures... thats our only take in this tour and we just rely on mr. Google for the rest of the trip. The guide was not so nice too! He air dropped me some pictures, I declined it thinking someone accidentally pressed the air dropped to me, so when I heard in the mike that he said my name and the word declined, I realized it was him. So I said I declined and can he resend because I can’t understand him and don’t know that he was sending(of course no English translation). Then the guide just said “I don’t care”! Oh this guy! How can he be a tour guide? Viator? Seriously??? Can you please provide feedback? Whew! What a great relief when we reached Vegas, we can choose a free day or go to Grand Canyon with him!! Hmm, you guess it right !! Of course we’ve chosen Free day!! And we just cut our tour here in Vegas! Was supposed to go back to San Francisco with the tour the next day, but never mind, we just opted to fly back to San Francisco than ride another 12 hours in his tour! Read more Written September 7, 2019
• NBCTeacher 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles A Good Tour This tour is given by Westar and is bilingual, Chinese and English. My tour covered all of the sites listed in the itinerary. The coach was clean, comfortable, and had WIFI. Drivers were excellent. All of the hotels were very nice - my favorite was the Canalta Lodge in Banff Town because it had three hot tubs and a free hot breakfast. All hotels except the Athabasca Inn had coffee in the room. The Athabasca has stairs, no elevator. I did not opt for the meal package but it was always possible to find a good meal when those with the meal plan were eating. My favorite lunch was a magnificent view and tacos on the terrace of the Fairmont Hot Springs Hotel in Banff. My experience with the guides was varied. All of them were Asian. I was picked up at the airport by Victor who provided a very complete commentary on Calgary and two good restaurant recommendations near the hotel. I chose Uncle 10 Pho which had excellent Vietnamese soup. Vincent was the guide for the first day and he was not a good guide. He gave little information and his command of English was very poor. He often did not understand my questions. He got us to the attractions but that was all. Lisa was my guide for the next two days and she was awesome! She is one of the best guides I have ever had. She was very knowledgeable and gave wonderful commentary. She was very personable and took care of everyone. I liked the way she gave an overview of the day and then kept us abreast of everything. She seems to enjoy her job! David was my guide for the last day. He gave very good commentary, kept us abreast of everything, and was very safety-conscious. His English was a little hard for me to understand. I was glad I was sitting near him. I had to look in my guidebook to find out that he was saying “Emerald” Lake because it didn’t sound like “emerald” to me. This is a good tour. Just be aware that everything is going to be said in Chinese and English. The scenery is truly magnificent. Read more Written September 5, 2019
• Helen T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Breathe taking A truly wonderful place to visit. I visited in their summer. Very picturesque. Don’t forget your camera. You need to take your time just marvelling at the magnificent views Read more Written August 23, 2019
• gillian817 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Globerouter tour - poor communication, poor value, poor tour structure This was billed as an English language tour. Globerouter claim all their guides are bi-lingual. I was the only non- Chinese speaker on this tour - and very little of the tour was in English . Even then, the English was not good enough. In fact I missed one of the tours ( which I had paid extra for) due to misunderstanding the instructions. The tour itself was badly constructed - too many stops for 10-15 minutes just to take a photo and hardly any where you had enough time to go on a short walking trail or enjoy the stunning area. Two out of the three hotels were in the middle of nowhere - nowhere even to take a stroll. Hours and hours were spent dropping people from the coach at heir hotels. At one point 5 different hotel drop offs taking over 2 hours. If you don’t take the catered package be prepared to be expected to sit in the coach while the rest have their supper. The coach will not drop you off at the hotel ( 10 minutes away) and all shops were closed if you needed to buy some food. Gliberouter had been unable to book one of the trips for me. ( paid for and then refunded) So I had to buy a ticket at the place -malign lake. The price was more than double the group rate ( $80 vs $35). Had I not booked a ticket I would have had to wait - 90 minutes- for the others.... And the company response - poor! I would never use them - or their agent, westar - again. Read more Written August 21, 2019

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8 Days Amtrak Coast Starlight, Crater Lake, Redwood Tour from Los Angeles provided by i++ Travel