All about the Autotrain

[dromio42]

Has anyone driven from the Albany area to the auto train? We are taking the train the Monday after Thanksgiving - any driving from Albany advice?

 

[heartsy77]

Has anyone driven from the Albany area to the auto train? We are taking the train the Monday after Thanksgiving - any driving from Albany advice?

We live just west of Binghamton and have taken the Autotrain 2x and are going again in Aug.

Since you are leaving so close to winter be careful of the snow coming through the hills of PA. Scranton to Harrisburg, via 81 south, is awful in the snow. On our first trip we knew snow was forecasted ( granted it was January) so we left the night before and got a hotel. Good thing we did; Binghamton to Lorton should only take 5 hours. The snow made it more like 8! It was $100 for a hotel with a great breakfast but so worth the piece of mind! We stayed at a Hamtpon Inn 2 miles from the station great free breakfast pool , and hot tub. We asked for late check out ( 1pm at no charge) and let the kids swim and hang out before we went off to the station. We arrived all happy and relaxed!

Since it will be Aug we won't leave the night before this time.

 

[Marshay]

I think that is the time of year the snowbirds are returning north for the summer from their winter in Fla. I hear the trains are pretty full then. Not many bargains. Maybe March or June would be less full and cheaper.

Got it! Yeah, I guess we'll be doing coach again in May!

I booked it -- Auto Train, here we come! I rode it once when I was about 15 and DH's last AT trip was when he was 3, i believe. We're all very excited about it. DMIL and our 5 year old DS will be along for the ride as well. We went with the coach seats. I'll let you know how it went when we return in December!

Can't wait to hear about it! My 5yo girl loved it and still talks about taking the train!

 

[Pammy jo]

There isn't a shuttle, however, it is really a very short walk over to the strip mall. They even told me the last time I was there to take a cart with me so we didn't have to lug our things.

As for specials, often times there are specials that kids ride free. This past summer they rode for $19. Just keep looking!

 

[mrsgrumpybear]

There isn't a shuttle, however, it is really a very short walk over to the strip mall. They even told me the last time I was there to take a cart with me so we didn't have to lug our things.

As for specials, often times there are specials that kids ride free. This past summer they rode for $19. Just keep looking!

Is there a place or web site to look for specials?

 

[Pammy jo]

Yes, right on the amtrak site in the upper right hand corner you'll see deals and promotions.

 

[MamaPotts]

Thank you, everyone, for all your tips, pictures and such. This thread is a lifesaver for the planning obsessed!

We're booked on the AT going south in just two weeks, and then heading back up north at the end of the month. We'll be in a handicapped private room. I'm hoping that my scooter won't be too much of a problem in the room, and am also quite concerned about not being able to put my leg up for the entire trip. I just may check out the coach seating as it may be more suited to my needs.

I'll admit that I'm nervous about the ~5 hour drive, so I booked a room at the Comfort Inn for the night the train leaves. I'll probably leave NYC around 10, so as to miss traffic. Any "driving in DC" tips?

 

[POOHsie]

I'm hoping that my scooter won't be too much of a problem in the room, and am also quite concerned about not being able to put my leg up for the entire trip. I just may check out the coach seating as it may be more suited to my needs.

I'll admit that I'm nervous about the ~5 hour drive, so I booked a room at the Comfort Inn for the night the train leaves. I'll probably leave NYC around 10, so as to miss traffic. Any "driving in DC" tips?

We booked the Autotrain for end of September. We also have the handicap room and I am using my scooter. In case you haven't seen it, here is a 3-D Virtual Tour of the Superliner Sleeper Car. Choose the Lower Level, then choose Accessible Room & Bath. At the top right of the page are virtual snapshots of the room. You press the arrow and you will see around the room completely. It looks like you can put your leg up on the upholstered seating in the room and there should be room between the seats and the bathroom to park your scooter. Your Steward will bring your meals to your room.

http://www.amtrak.com/media/train_tour/superliner/superlinerSLEEPER_CONTROLLER.html

If you don't want the handicap room, the lower level coach seating could work for you. There is a large accessible bathroom downstairs. The Steward could bring your meals here, too.

 

[MamaPotts]

Thanks! I had seen that link but there's nothing like a first-hand report, don't you agree?

Question for those who have used the AutoTrain re: tipping -- How much and to whom? Thanks!

 

[Marshay]

Thanks! I had seen that link but there's nothing like a first-hand report, don't you agree?

Question for those who have used the AutoTrain re: tipping -- How much and to whom? Thanks!

We just did coach so only tipped our waiter for dinner and breakfast. However, I saw many tables that didn't leave any tip at all. There is no mention about tips so it's really up to you; however, I'm sure the waiters appreciate it. We just guesstimated a price on the food and tipped from there.

If you have the train steward get your meals for you, then you should tip him or her maybe a little better than you would for a meal in the dining car, since he/she has to wrap everything up and bring it to you and clear it away. The dining car can be several train lengths away.

If you get a room, then you can also provide a tip for the "turn-down" and "make up" of the room from seats-to-bed and vice versa, if desired. I would consider them like the maids in your hotel room, so a few more bucks would be nice.

HTH.

 

[MamaPotts]

Thanks!

Also, being a city girl, I'm wondering if you tip the people who take and give you back your car at all?

 

[christinou]

We tip the wait staff at dinner and breakfast as well as the cabin attendant, we never tipped the person bringing the car because you don't actually see them, by the time we get to the car the person is already gone.

 

[spima3]

DH has suggested, since I am driving alone w/ 3 kids, that maybe we should go down the night before and stay in a hotel.

Do many do that? We are coming from NE PA, probably around 5 hour trip.\

Oh, we are leaving on a Sat.

 

[NJBILL]

We will be heading to Florida in a few weeks on Amtrak. I found a great site that gives NWS forcasts for Amtrak cities by route. Good way to monitor and check weather before you go.

http://travelweather.weebly.com/amtrak-cities.html

 

[spima3]

I ordered our tickets back in May for our Sept trip. As suggested here, I chose to pick them up at the station instead of having them mailed in case I changed our travel dates.

So, do they assign the seats when we get to the station? I have 3 kids w/ me and I definitely want us near each other. Is this a concern?

Do I need to get there early, should I call, or should I arrange to have them mailed. Our condo is non refundable, and we will be leaving in 4 weeks.

Any advice?

 

[Marshay]

Thanks!

Also, being a city girl, I'm wondering if you tip the people who take and give you back your car at all?

Nope, you don't. You probably won't even see them since they move so quickly.

DH has suggested, since I am driving alone w/ 3 kids, that maybe we should go down the night before and stay in a hotel.

Do many do that? We are coming from NE PA, probably around 5 hour trip.\

Oh, we are leaving on a Sat.

Spending the night before would make it more relaxing for you...no rushing around to get to the station. However, you have to deal with Friday evening rush hour in DC so consider that (hopefully you could leave Friday morning).

Otherwise, I think leaving on Saturday should generaly be fine. You'd want to leave by 8-9am to give yourself plenty of time to get there if weather or traffic become concerns. There is a little playground at Lorton for the kids to play on to help occupy time.

I ordered our tickets back in May for our Sept trip. As suggested here, I chose to pick them up at the station instead of having them mailed in case I changed our travel dates.

So, do they assign the seats when we get to the station? I have 3 kids w/ me and I definitely want us near each other. Is this a concern?

Do I need to get there early, should I call, or should I arrange to have them mailed. Our condo is non refundable, and we will be leaving in 4 weeks.

Any advice?

Amtrak will make sure your seats are together, esp where kids are noted on the tickets. They don't want kids separated from parents, either. It's not like going on an airplane where you basically just sit there. On the train, they know you are walking around and moving around and of course, sleeping. They will do everything they can to keep you together.

An advantage to getting there early is to guarantee you get the dinner seating of your choice (5pm is most popular with young children).

 

[NJBILL]

Nope, you don't. You probably won't even see them since they move so quickly.



Spending the night before would make it more relaxing for you...no rushing around to get to the station. However, you have to deal with Friday evening rush hour in DC so consider that (hopefully you could leave Friday morning).

Otherwise, I think leaving on Saturday should generaly be fine. You'd want to leave by 8-9am to give yourself plenty of time to get there if weather or traffic become concerns. There is a little playground at Lorton for the kids to play on to help occupy time.



Amtrak will make sure your seats are together, esp where kids are noted on the tickets. They don't want kids separated from parents, either. It's not like going on an airplane where you basically just sit there. On the train, they know you are walking around and moving around and of course, sleeping. They will do everything they can to keep you together.

An advantage to getting there early is to guarantee you get the dinner seating of your choice (5pm is most popular with young children).

We stayed at the Hampton Inn which is about two city blocks from the train station. there is a supermarket a few blocks from the hotel, as well as a burger king/pizza shop across the street.

 

[cburek]

I ordered our tickets back in May for our Sept trip. As suggested here, I chose to pick them up at the station instead of having them mailed in case I changed our travel dates.

So, do they assign the seats when we get to the station? I have 3 kids w/ me and I definitely want us near each other. Is this a concern?

Do I need to get there early, should I call, or should I arrange to have them mailed. Our condo is non refundable, and we will be leaving in 4 weeks.

Any advice?

Im glad to see that I am not the only one that travels with there kids when hubby cannot We are also taking the Autotrain,myself and 2 boys on our way back from Florida.I have traveled before with my 1 son when he was about 5yo. I have driven it myself also but not as much fun when you are coming home. Safe travels

 

[mwehttam]

But i swear that for my late Aug trip the trip back still cost more.

Correct, it's not only in May that the AT costs more going North, its all the time. We used it going south on July 5/6. We left Orlando on July 15th. The AT was twice as much going North as it was going South. We decided to drive.

 

[spima3]

Spending the night before would make it more relaxing for you...no rushing around to get to the station. However, you have to deal with Friday evening rush hour in DC so consider that (hopefully you could leave Friday morning).

Otherwise, I think leaving on Saturday should generaly be fine. You'd want to leave by 8-9am to give yourself plenty of time to get there if weather or traffic become concerns. There is a little playground at Lorton for the kids to play on to help occupy time.

Well, the kids are already missing a week of school, so I had planned on leaving around 4 pm; didn't think about Friday rush hour, so guess we'll stick with Sat 8 am.

Amtrak will make sure your seats are together, esp where kids are noted on the tickets. They don't want kids separated from parents, either. It's not like going on an airplane where you basically just sit there. On the train, they know you are walking around and moving around and of course, sleeping. They will do everything they can to keep you together.

Well, on our return trip, the kids were still pretty young, and they had us spread out all over the place. We were all in the same car, but we were not near one another. Luckily it was pretty empty so they just had us sit together. That is why I wondered if I should call them or did I need to get there early.