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LA to Grand Canyon/ Las Vegas/ San Francisco by train?

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Dear all,
I will be going to LA for the first time in August for a conference and would like to visit Grand Canyon/ Las Vegas/ San Francisco. However, I would rather not have to drive 700 kms to the Grand Canyon or San Francisco and would much rather take the train. The first few simulations were quite scary: 11 hours to the Grand Canyon??
Can anyone advise me if there are fast connections from LA to these destinations, how I can find them, any offers on the rates? What do you advise to tackle these distances?

Has anyone done something similar? How much did you spend for about a week's travel?
Thanks in advance.
«1

Comments

  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I wasn't aware of a rail service to Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon, from anywhere.

    The Amtrak service that you may have seen is a Thruway Coach service.

    If you don't facy the drive, have a look at flying instead. Flights to from LAS from SFO or LAX can be from around £25.

    happy hunting

    blackcat.gif
  • pcg2001
    pcg2001 Posts: 1,406 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    You're absolutely right: That was a bus service... ups... :o

    How can I find cheap flights? I searched expedia and lastminute and they seem to access different airlines, so different rates. I'm getting between £60 to £80 depending on the dates and the companies.

    Many thanks.
  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pcg2001 wrote: »
    You're absolutely right: That was a bus service... ups... :o

    How can I find cheap flights? I searched expedia and lastminute and they seem to access different airlines, so different rates. I'm getting between £60 to £80 depending on the dates and the companies.

    Many thanks.

    well, Opodo is one source but CAN be a bit pricey.
    Southwest usually have some decent prices going and I think that someone mentioned Virgin America offering very good prices from LAS to SFO (but they don't fly LAS to LAX).
    & United would be worth a look as well

    A quick look on Kayak for 14th May suggests that £27 and upwards is the going rate for a single fare to/from LAS

    blackcat.gif
  • dzug
    dzug Posts: 2,260 Forumite
    There IS a train service from LA via Williams Arizona to Grand Canyon - the last bit being a daily tourist train. Be aware it is held up by train robbers on every return trip!! 'I don't want to be robbed today, thankyou' usually sees them off.

    But Las Vegas has no rail service - the AMTRAK service is by bus.
  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    dzug wrote: »
    There IS a train service from LA via Williams Arizona to Grand Canyon - the last bit being a daily tourist train. Be aware it is held up by train robbers on every return trip!! 'I don't want to be robbed today, thankyou' usually sees them off.

    But Las Vegas has no rail service - the AMTRAK service is by bus.

    How do you get 'there is a train service from LA via Williams Arizona to the Grand Canyon ?'
    Williams is over 400 mile from LA ! (although it looks like a great trip to take :beer:)

    blackcat.gif
  • mitchg
    mitchg Posts: 382 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    The Williams to Grand Canyon train i am doing in a week or so time and looking forward to it,
    Just a though take a Helicopter or plane from Grand Canyon to Vegas, alternatively take the tourist bus back to Vegas from Williams or Grand Canyon, then fly to San Francisco from Vegas.
    :hello: Lets all save a £ or two, lets all earn a £ or two, and lets all enjoy spending that £ or two wisely.
    :beer:
  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    mitchg wrote: »
    The Williams to Grand Canyon train i am doing in a week or so time and looking forward to it,

    & I'm having a trip on the Verde Canyon railroad in about 3 weeks time - are we like big kids, or what !!

    blackcat.gif
  • mitchg
    mitchg Posts: 382 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    This is the train i am doing and am sure its the one mentioned on a prevous post..... Oh yes Kids R Us...lol
    :hello: Lets all save a £ or two, lets all earn a £ or two, and lets all enjoy spending that £ or two wisely.
    :beer:
  • Murphy_The_Cat
    Murphy_The_Cat Posts: 20,968 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    mitchg wrote: »
    This is the train i am doing and am sure its the one mentioned on a prevous post..... Oh yes Kids R Us...lol

    Thats the one that we looked at, but the Verde canyon Railroad fitted into our holiday plan a little easier (we've got a 1 year old and a 4 year old, and the trip would have kyboshed the sleeping/eating of my little girl to much).

    My Dad is taking a trip on the Canyon Railroad in September as part of this trip

    yeeeee haaaaahhhhhh.. all aboooooaaaarrrrrrrrddddddddd :D

    blackcat.gif
  • mitchg
    mitchg Posts: 382 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    Sedona he will like that its a lovely place with all the red rocks and woded canyons you pass through from Flagstaff on. Would love to go back there and stay over last time i just passed through ..wonderful place .. and worth a look at. This train i am doing as a side step from Vegas for a day or two.. got to spend my winnings some how eh..oh just got to win first though thats the snag but i usually do ok on the roulette when there.:beer:

    Am thinking of doing a helicopter trip too not decided yet but i do fancy a fly over as well.

    Where else you going to visit?
    :hello: Lets all save a £ or two, lets all earn a £ or two, and lets all enjoy spending that £ or two wisely.
    :beer:
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