All about the Autotrain

[erinch]

we always bring along a lightweight sweater to wear -- it can be chilly in the dining and lounge cars especially.

 

[CherylA]

Has anyone ever looked into using Amtrak rewards points to book the autotrain? They say you have to call to get the info. I was wondering if anyone had ever done this?

 

[dalspot]

Our trip down in December is free thanks to our Amtrak points! If you do shopping thru the amtrakguestrewards.com website, the points can accumulate quickly. I did call to book the trip.

 

[CherylA]

Our trip down in December is free thanks to our Amtrak points! If you do shopping thru the amtrakguestrewards.com website, the points can accumulate quickly. I did call to book the trip.

Do you mind me asking how many points it was? Do they figure the points based on the cost of the trip? We will be 4 people and a car r/t in feb. It's pricing out at $730 r/t in coach. I have a few amtrack rewards and lots of amex points that I can transfer to amtrak.

 

[dalspot]

Not at all Cheryl - the car was 10,000 points, 15,000 if you have a larger SUV or van, each passenger was 5,500 points. One way, for the three of us and our car, 26,500 points.

Do you mind me asking how many points it was? Do they figure the points based on the cost of the trip? We will be 4 people and a car r/t in feb. It's pricing out at $730 r/t in coach. I have a few amtrack rewards and lots of amex points that I can transfer to amtrak.

 

[CherylA]

Not at all Cheryl - the car was 10,000 points, 15,000 if you have a larger SUV or van, each passenger was 5,500 points. One way, for the three of us and our car, 26,500 points.

Thanks so much for the info!

 

[CherylA]

I'm very excited I just booked our trip on the autotrain! This will be our third trip. Our 1st R/T though. We usually drive down from Connecticut and take the autotrain back. This will also be our 1st time in Coach. On our 1st trip we were 2 adults and an infant in a roomette. On our second trip we were 2 adults and 2 toddlers in a family room. This time I think the kids are big enough to handle being in coach. They will be 4 and 7 on the trip. I already plan to take some Tylenol PM to help me sleep. Any other pointers for a first timer in coach with 2 younger ones? Our travel dates are Feb 14th (We'll have to do something special for Valentines) and Feb 22.

 

[maybegoofy]

if you book coach can you switch to sleeper after the train leave if there are rooms avilable if so is this cheaper than changing to sleeper at the station .leaving on nov 14 plan to drive down but figure with gas going up ,hotle room for night and food for 5 people the price of 462.50 for the train in coach is ont that much different plus fact in wear and tear ton the car.have taken auto train last 4 years all in sleepers no not know how kids will do in coach

 

[heartsy77]

Hello! I am getting ready to book our auto train trip for Aug and I have few ?s.

If I book now but don't have tickets printed and pickup at station, I can apply the code that typically comes out in the spring correct?
We don't have to show id for children correct? We are taking my step children; and i don't have id or birth certificates for them.
My stepson will turn 18 in July, he does not have a drivers license, do I need to get him a government issued id?
What are typical discounts for the autotrain? We have only used it once and could never get a discount.

 

[mwehttam]

I have been checking the pricing for the AT for our July trip. Can someone explain why the price for the trip back from Sanford is so much higher? It is 3 of us, two adults and our 3 yo. The tix for coach are about $50 higher total but more drastic is a bedroom down is about $250 but on the way back it is close to $700! I understand supply and demand but that seems extreme.

 

[Kazzy1548]

Hi all,

We have booked the auto-train for our upcoming trip in august. We plan to drive down from Montreal the day before and stay at a hotel. Can anyone recommend a safe, clean and not to expensive place that we could stay at??? It does not have to be in Lorton, it can be 1 or 2 hours away...
Thank you

 

[heartsy77]

Hi all,

We have booked the auto-train for our upcoming trip in august. We plan to drive down from Montreal the day before and stay at a hotel. Can anyone recommend a safe, clean and not to expensive place that we could stay at??? It does not have to be in Lorton, it can be 1 or 2 hours away...
Thank you

We stayed at the Hampton about 2 miles from station. We went in Jan so we booked it for the indoor pool and free breakfast. It was really nice and they let do late checkout for free as we didn't have to be at the station till 2.
My Dh called hotel directly about three days out and got the best rate from internet etc. I think it was $95.00 but the free breakfast was better then expected. Fruit, juices, coffee cappicino, etc. Brekfast sandwiches, breakfast meat, bagels, cereal. The nice man maintaining the food area encouraged my kids to take stuff for the train ride.

 

[cherylp3]

There is a mariott by courtyard by a mall thats about 30 min away. I do not recommend the comfort inn because the military uses the hotel for deployment soldiers. (I once booked there and they gave away my room)

 

[labdogs42]

I'm thinking about doing the Autotrain for a Dec 2010 trip. How far in advance should I book? I see I can get a AAA discount. Are there any discounts that might be better than AAA? We will be a party of two adults and a 5 year old. Do we need a room or will seats be OK? Thanks!

 

[chartle]

I'm thinking about doing the Autotrain for a Dec 2010 trip. How far in advance should I book? I see I can get a AAA discount. Are there any discounts that might be better than AAA? We will be a party of two adults and a 5 year old. Do we need a room or will seats be OK? Thanks!

I don't know about better discounts but what I can tell you know is, book now, the seats only get more expensive the closer to your travel date.

 

[pixeegrl]

Just booked our August trip with a AAA rate. 2A's 3C's plus oversized vehicle for $884. Is that a good deal? I have a couple of questions..

1.How many does the dining car sit at a table? We are a party of five and the few pics I found looked to only seat 4. If you had more than that in your party what did you do?
2.How many seats are there together in coach? is it 2 and 2?
3.Does each seat have it's own outlet? I have read both yes and no, just wondering what the most recent answer may be lol.

Thanks, we are super excited!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Just booked our August trip with a AAA rate. 2A's 3C's plus oversized vehicle for $884. Is that a good deal? I have a couple of questions..

1.How many does the dining car sit at a table? We are a party of five and the few pics I found looked to only seat 4. If you had more than that in your party what did you do?
2.How many seats are there together in coach? is it 2 and 2?
3.Does each seat have it's own outlet? I have read both yes and no, just wondering what the most recent answer may be lol.

Thanks, we are super excited!

Each table sits 4. The 5th person with be placed at another table with other people. More than likely right next to the same table.

yes, seats are 2x2

outlets not to sure.

 

[chartle]

Just booked our August trip with a AAA rate. 2A's 3C's plus oversized vehicle for $884. Is that a good deal? I have a couple of questions..

1.How many does the dining car sit at a table? We are a party of five and the few pics I found looked to only seat 4. If you had more than that in your party what did you do?
2.How many seats are there together in coach? is it 2 and 2?
3.Does each seat have it's own outlet? I have read both yes and no, just wondering what the most recent answer may be lol.

Thanks, we are super excited!

1. Yes they sit four and will try to fill all the tables. At dinner the four of us had one table. Our sons didn't want to wake up so we had breakfast with a couple from new jersey.

2. Two seats all sitting forward on either side of the aisle. The seats are kind of staggered so they don't line up exactly.

3. On our train there was a line of outlets along the outside wall. So each set of seats has one duplex outlet.

 

[heartsy77]

If I book AAA now can I use the kids free promotion later or do I have to pick ?.

 

[pixeegrl]

If I book AAA now can I use the kids free promotion later or do I have to pick ?.

I remember reading that with the kids free promotion you can't combine offers so you would have to pay full price for the adults. Not sure if it would work out cheaper that way or not....