So, we are planning our Spring Vacation for April and the airfare is quite high. I can save over $1000 if we use Amtrak instead. The only drawback is it will take 27 hours! Ugh! Better than driving I guess.
Can some of you let me know how you passed the time and how did you like traveling by train?
Also, it looks like on parts of our travels we can only bring carry on, as Amtrak does not do check baggage on the train. Thoughts on this?
Any insite would be welcome.
Thanks.
Welcome, we use Amtrak for the past 15 + trips, it's a 39 hour trip for us, we're from northeast Ohio and make a switch in DC, plus a 6 hour layover but we enjoy it. We board at an unmanned station so no baggage car, we tote our bags, we each have one rolling duffel and 1 carry on, plus a small cooler with food, drinks and snacks. It's very easy, there are places in the rear of the cars for baggage and overheads in the coach for other bags. When we board in DC, we use the baggage car, we also use the Red Caps in DC, they take you to the train car before all the others line up and board, all for a tip, no line ,we pick our seats and we're on board 10 minutes before all the others and all settled. We also use the baggage car because we always ask after we pull out of DC if any sleepers are available, if they are, we get them for about half price of pre-booked price and can easily tote our carry-ons and cooler thru the train to the sleeper cars, great as meals are included. Can't do it with large luggage, no room.
We take books, magazines, gameboys, Ipods, portable DVD player to keep us occupied. Our cooler has drinks, sandwiches and snacks for our enjoyment and we each have a small travel blanket since it does get very cold with the A/C in the coach cars. They usually give out a small pillow and the coach seats are very accommodating, recline, foot and leg rests and tons of room around a pair, not cramped like the airlines. All electronics must use headphones, they try to limit cell phone use, lights out at 10pm but each seat has a reading light in the overhead for your personal use.
Yes, it's a long trip but relaxing. You can nod off at any time, watch out the window and day dream. If you're a fidgety person it can be a tough trip but if you want to kick back, enjoy some rest with no stress over traffic, gas and directions, Amtrak is a good choice. We haven't had alot of problems other than the train usually runs late but we're OK with that, we get there in one piece. Food is reasonably good but pricey and the club car has some hand food, drinks and snacks for munching. Like I said, wife and I from Ohio to Kissmmee, round trip coach for 450.00 total. We use
AAA discount, 10% on tickets and have Guest Reward points and use them for free tickets or up grades alot. We always detrain in Kissimmee, next stop after Orlando where most everyone gets off and the station is a mad house, same to board there, too much of a hassle. Kissimmee is a small station and very few get off, very convenient and closer to WDW. We have a car service pick us up, 120.00 round trip with a 30 minutes grocery stop and we stop at the Publix on RT. 192 with a liquor store next door, money saver for us.
Hope this helped out, we know the ins and outs of train travel and we're willing to answer anything you may need.
