<p>Could any of the Philadelphia residents or travel experts offer advice for a one night stay, if one were to land in Philadelphia after midnight. The idea is to catch an Amtrak connection early the following morning. </p>
<p>Would it best to stay at the airport or move closer to the rail station? Also, is the rail connection between the airport and the Amtrak station convenient? </p>
<p>Muchas Gracias!</p>
<p>The rail from the airport to 30th Street Station is convenient, but I don’t know how late it runs. Your best bet is to stay at an airport hotel and get up early and take the train into 30th Street station. You would pay a fortune to stay by 30th Street and it isn’t worth it just to sleep.</p>
<p>I agree with MOWC. It’s much less expensive to stay at an airport hotel. Here’s the weekday schedule for the train: [SEPTA</a> | Airport Line Regional Rail Schedule](<a href=“Routes – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority”>Routes – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority). If you need Saturday or Sunday, let me know.</p>
<p>The problem is, there really isn’t anyplace decent to stay right near 30th St. Station. So even if you got there by train (which wouldn’t work if you landed after midnight), you would still have to schlep somewhere else, and then get back to the station the next morning. You might as well stay out at the airport and take the train in the morning, unless your Amtrak train leaves before 6.</p>
<p>A cab from the airport to 30th St. would cost about $30 and take 15 minutes at a non rush-hour time. That’s an option, too, if you are worried about the SEPTA train.</p>
<p>By the way, where are you going? The Megabus or Bolt buses to NYC or Washington are much better values than Amtrak (no more than $10 one-way). They take a little longer, but they are much, much cheaper, and fancy new buses and free wireless make the modest extra time pretty painless. They leave from just outside 30th St. Station, too.</p>
<p>I second the opinion on Bolt Bus or Megabus.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions. </p>
<p>I am not actually doing the travel; my younger sister is. She is traveling from San Francisco to a place 30 minutes south of Atlantic City. There was one way to connect all the way to ACY but arriving there at 2AM does not seem to be such a wise choice. </p>
<p>The Amtrak is only 10 dollars and that seems to represent a pretty good deal. She will arrive on a Sunday morning and I had seen the schedule for the SEPTA. May I ask if taking the SEPTA is compatible with a wheeled suitcase? I do not expect too many passengers on a Sunday morning. </p>
<p>I don’t think that there is a better connection to ACY … unless there is one of those high roller’s limousines available. :)</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>IIRC the SEPTA trains form the airport have luggage racks, and in any event the airport is the first (or last) stop on that line so it’s very easy to get on the train with luggage and find a seat; that’s what everyone does, and that’s what the service is designed for. </p>
<p>I agree that getting in after midnight she’s probably better off staying near the airport; hotels will be cheaper and there’s no real advantage to being downtown if you get in that late.</p>
<p>Thank you, Clinton. I assume that you’ll soon know all the ins and outs of this connection when visiting Haverford --or hauling the frosh suitcases. ;)</p>
<p>During the Great Snowstorm back in early February, I was snowed in at the Phila Airport Marriott for 3 days. Given the circumstances, it was a pretty decent airport hotel. For safety reasons, with a young woman traveling alone, I would call ahead and see what times their shuttles run or if they would come get her when she lands / calls.</p>
<p>With the airport Marriott, you hardly need to call for shuttle schedules. It sits there right in the middle of the medium-term parking, opposite the middle terminal. You walk there with your wheeled suitcase. The other, cheaper airport hotels, the ones that are not actually part of the airport – they have shuttles.</p>
<p>You’re right – I forgot, since I hadn’t planned on staying there at the time, and arrived via car, not from the airport. My mistake. Anyway, that makes it an even better choice for a young woman traveling alone.</p>
<p>So she’ll be taking the train from 30th Street to Atlantic City? FWIW that’s not actually Amtrak, but NJ Transit (this will only be important when she’s buying her ticket–they’re in the same area of the station, but it’s a different kiosk for ticket transactions). Make sure she leaves time to buy the ticket at the station–it’s way more expensive if you buy on the train. </p>
<p>Megabus just began running from 30th Street Station to Atlantic City, also. Fares right now are under $5, so that’s another option. Tickets are available online.</p>
<p>Thank you, Celeste. </p>
<p>It’s interesting that Amtrak sells the tickets for all the services, including the NJ Transit.</p>
<p>[Amtrak</a> - Reservations - Fare Finder](<a href=“http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak]Amtrak”>http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak)</p>
<p>Now, I only need to check the bus schedule and compare. This is much easier than I feared at first.</p>