All about the Autotrain

[pwdebbie]

After saying "never again" after my first AutoTrain trip in December (bathroom in the bedroom was small, uncomfortably small), I will be boarding again on May 5, northbound. This time I am in a roomette (I did not accept the upgrade offer to bedroom) on the lower level and sharing several available toilets with others on my level. I've been told these are bigger than in the bedrooms. I hope so!

 

[erinch]

After saying "never again" after my first AutoTrain trip in December (bathroom in the bedroom was small, uncomfortably small), I will be boarding again on May 5, northbound. This time I am in a roomette (I did not accept the upgrade offer to bedroom) on the lower level and sharing several available toilets with others on my level. I've been told these are bigger than in the bedrooms. I hope so!

The bathrooms on the lower level are compact but comfortable. My DH and I get a bedroom , and I still go downstairs. There is a roomy shower with nice hot water too. I bring Lysol wipes, but the people do a good job being respectful. We love the autotrain!

 

[E2ME2]

After saying "never again" after my first AutoTrain trip in December (bathroom in the bedroom was small, uncomfortably small), I will be boarding again on May 5, northbound. This time I am in a roomette (I did not accept the upgrade offer to bedroom) on the lower level and sharing several available toilets with others on my level. I've been told these are bigger than in the bedrooms. I hope so!

Understood - Yes the bathroom in the bedroom is small but the privacy of having that in our room, especially in the middle of the night for the DW, is worth it. I actually managed to take a shower in that small bathroom once! Don't know that I'd do it again - but it's nice having the option.

 

[E2ME2]

The bathrooms on the lower level are compact but comfortable. My DH and I get a bedroom , and I still go downstairs. There is a roomy shower with nice hot water too. I bring Lysol wipes, but the people do a good job being respectful. We love the autotrain!

Most of the time, this is correct, but the one time that the public bathroom and shower were both nasty, I decided to stay with the bedroom. We also take a box of Lysol wipes on with us.

 

[jimmymc]

We are also from Philly and in our 60's and have driven down & back now for more than a decade. We used to stop over in Fayetteville but now take it much slower and and stay 2 nights along the way. We have considered a 1BR unit on the train but have yet to pull the trigger. What are some of your pros and cons of the train vs. driving?

The biggest pro is that you don't need to drive yourself. It's shocking how much less tired you are arriving after just riding instead of driving.

 

[pwdebbie]

Note to self (based on replies above) -- Put Lysol wipes in my train bag.

 

[Kim&Chris]

My People !
How long does it take you to get to Lorton?

Go Birds!!
Go Phils!!
We are planning on leaving the Cherry Hill area early and (hopefully) get there around 10 am or so. We're probably looking at a 3+ hour drive, depending on how terrible traffic is.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Note to self (based on replies above) -- Put Lysol wipes in my train bag.

ALWAYS.

 

[Kim&Chris]

We are also from Philly and in our 60's and have driven down & back now for more than a decade. We used to stop over in Fayetteville but now take it much slower and and stay 2 nights along the way. We have considered a 1BR unit on the train but have yet to pull the trigger. What are some of your pros and cons of the train vs. driving?

Hi neighbor!! The two times we attempted the drive were two times too many. Being, um, "older", and needing frequent potty breaks, there's just no way we could drive a third time. There are just so many rest stops, gas stations, and McDonalds you can go to without feeling like you need to bathe in Lysol. I didn't really enjoy it at all.

The train, for us, just makes sense. We bid up to a bedroom, so we have our own bathroom for middle-of-the-night bathroom visits. I don't have to worry about my husband driving if he's tired (although he will always say he's OK to drive but I can see that he's not), so that's a non-issue now.

Plus, the cherry on top is that we have our own car, and can take as much as we want. No luggage limits, no quart baggies, no airport parking insanity, no lines for baggage check, no X-ray machine (which I always end up having to go through). No car rental lines at the airport either. It's just a better choice at this point.

 

[pwdebbie]

The chocolate spoon cake served tonight was amazing. That is all.

 

[E2ME2]

Hi neighbor!! The two times we attempted the drive were two times too many. Being, um, "older", and needing frequent potty breaks, there's just no way we could drive a third time. There are just so many rest stops, gas stations, and McDonalds you can go to without feeling like you need to bathe in Lysol. I didn't really enjoy it at all.

The train, for us, just makes sense. We bid up to a bedroom, so we have our own bathroom for middle-of-the-night bathroom visits. I don't have to worry about my husband driving if he's tired (although he will always say he's OK to drive but I can see that he's not), so that's a non-issue now.

Plus, the cherry on top is that we have our own car, and can take as much as we want. No luggage limits, no quart baggies, no airport parking insanity, no lines for baggage check, no X-ray machine (which I always end up having to go through). No car rental lines at the airport either. It's just a better choice at this point.

% THIS & Car Rental costs for 8-12 weeks would be very expensive.