Can I Amtrak around California?

[WarmLightsAtNight]

I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE. I KNOW DRIVING IS "EASY" IN CALIFORNIA. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE. I FUCKING HATE DRIVING.

Right. I'm starting with San Francisco for 2 or 3 days. Amtrak down to San Jose for two days. Then Amtrak to either Santa Barbara or Santa Maria if I want to break up the journey. Down to LA after that for a couple of days and then finally using the Greyhound bus to travel 5 hours to Las Vegas for 4/5 days. I actually like buses and trains so long as I have earbuds to block out any passenger noise or unwanted conversation. I like being able to just look outside, eat or doze if I want to.

I'm budgeting around £3.5k in total for flights in and out of US, all of the above and spending money.

Am I missing anything? Is this doable? Will be June time.

Thanks

Amtrak around California is fine as long as there are routes that go where you want to go. Greyhound is a bit shit 😬 and I’d probably do anything to avoid having to go on one. I’d personally look to see if there is a better way to get to Vegas. Either fly or go for a more lux bus. There is (at least used to be) a very nice overnight bus between SF and LA. I would also look to see what other stops you could make in between - Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea. And I’d really recommend not staying in ‘tourist’ areas. In SF especially, the usual areas around Union Square for example are not the safest, but they are also a bit rubbish. I used to live in the Inner Sunset and always stay there - the Castro, Dolores Park, the Sunset, some parts of the Haight are all much better. Accommodation will be your most expensive cost. I’d look for people with rooms to let and stay in hotels only when it’s really worth it or the only option.

I Amtraked east coast to west coast (though despite buying a Greyhound ticket to Vegas I wimped out after reading reviews of them breaking down in the desert and flew in the end).

Amtrak is ACE.

Also, if you can tolerate it try Hostel International to keep costs down.

I've used the greyhounds, they were fine, not as nice as national express but still ok.

Amtrak is expensive and infrequent on many routes so just do your research.