Brief job in Palm Springs, no vehicle (San Bernardino: motel, home)

[Smitty211]

A prospective job in San Bernardino recently fell through for me, and so I'm now looking at a six-week internship in Palm Springs.

Trouble is, I'll be flying down there from the PNW. Still living with the folks here at home, and based on the potential for snow in the mountains on the driving route down there, they're advising against taking my car, especially because the gig will be so short.

I'll be living with a host family for the internship, and there's no guarantee they can give me consistent transportation to and from work. What is the public transportation system like? And is Palm Springs a walkable city, if I need to get around on foot at all? I'm working with the wallet of a typical recent college grad.

Any other pointers anyone can offer for a first-timer are welcome!

[Gandalara]

Busline for the Palm Springs area - Sunline Transit Agency

Short answer - IMO, I wouldn't leave home without a car..
Just take the 5 Freeway all the way down and go east on the 10

[TBCasino]

Originally Posted by Smitty211

A prospective job in San Bernardino recently fell through for me, and so I'm now looking at a six-week internship in Palm Springs.

Trouble is, I'll be flying down there from the PNW. Still living with the folks here at home, and based on the potential for snow in the mountains on the driving route down there, they're advising against taking my car, especially because the gig will be so short.

I'll be living with a host family for the internship, and there's no guarantee they can give me consistent transportation to and from work. What is the public transportation system like? And is Palm Springs a walkable city, if I need to get around on foot at all? I'm working with the wallet of a typical recent college grad.

Any other pointers anyone can offer for a first-timer are welcome!

Drive down, it'll be worth it.

[Adamson865]

Depending on when you're going down, there's one brief bit of high-altitude mountain driving through the Siskyous and a lower bit through the "Grapevine". Other than that, it'll be clear sailing. But, if you've never driven in snow and have no confidence that you wouldn't end up sailing off the road into a tree, you might want to consider having someone go with you and then flying them back. Do you know someone who wants a quickie vacation?

Palm Springs is no fun without a car. Because there will be lots of things to see and do that aren't in Palm Springs proper, and Sunline bus is rather lousy.

[Smitty211]

Originally Posted by rah62

Depending on when you're going down, there's one brief bit of high-altitude mountain driving through the Siskyous and a lower bit through the "Grapevine". Other than that, it'll be clear sailing. But, if you've never driven in snow and have no confidence that you wouldn't end up sailing off the road into a tree, you might want to consider having someone go with you and then flying them back. Do you know someone who wants a quickie vacation?

Palm Springs is no fun without a car. Because there will be lots of things to see and do that aren't in Palm Springs proper, and Sunline bus is rather lousy.

What's lousy about it?

And just for the record, I'll have little free time. It's a sports internship, and I'll be busy from early morning til mid-afternoon, mostly seven days a week.

I would be reporting for work in early January. If there's even the slightest threat of snow, my car isn't an option and I'll have to fly. I live in eastern Washington, so as I understand it, my two driving route options are cutting through central Oregon and passing through northern CA, or going down through Boise/Twin Falls, ID and trudging through the sparse Nevada wilderness. Both would be primed for snow that time of year, yes?

[Adamson865]

I can't speak to any of those routes. I grew up in Portland so I did the I-5 drive many times to SoCal. Interstates are much better maintained on the whole, so you might want to consider coming over to I-5 and going straight down.

I used to live in PS. On the rare occasion I took SunBus or considered it, it either took five times longer than I could drive myself, or it wouldn't go within a mile of where I wanted to go. If you're going to be busy all the time, you don't want to waste your precious free time stuck on a bus.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by Smitty211

I would be reporting for work in early January. If there's even the slightest threat of snow, my car isn't an option and I'll have to fly. I live in eastern Washington, so as I understand it, my two driving route options are cutting through central Oregon and passing through northern CA, or going down through Boise/Twin Falls, ID and trudging through the sparse Nevada wilderness. Both would be primed for snow that time of year, yes?

I can't answer for central Oregon, but once you got on the 5 freeway in CA, there would be no problems.

My niece drives down from Montana to SoCal/AZ every January.
She takes the 15 Freeway, takes her about 12 - 13 hours to get to Las Vegas.
She hasn't had to hole up in a motel yet - although she may not be telling her old auntie about all her driving experiences

[nightlysparrow]

You will be sorry if you don't drive your car down. Ever wait for a bus with the sun beating down on you? In blowing sand? These are year-round conditions. A hot January is not unknown, either.

[Smitty211]

Alright guys, yes I understand it'll be "lame" and whatnot without my car--as much as I'd like it to be a vacation though, that's not the case. I've been in 100-degree heat plenty of times before and can stand it, and I don't mind waiting as long as it gets me to my destination on time. I've been in worse settings (Boise, ID snow plus wind chill, for one). But my folks are advising against the car for the logistics I mentioned previously, so looking for more insight accordingly. How early/late do the buses run?

For the internship, it appears that breakfast and lunch are provided. But for evenings I'd like to know the food options within reasonable walking distance of Palm Springs Stadium? Fast food, chain restaurant, grocery/deli?

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by Smitty211

For the internship, it appears that breakfast and lunch are provided. But for evenings I'd like to know the food options within reasonable walking distance of Palm Springs Stadium? Fast food, chain restaurant, grocery/deli?

Four are close ...

Do a 'Search Near' on google maps for restaurants and more come up - don't know how far you want to walk.

Good luck on the internship