Any experience with the Amtrak Autotrain?

[westjones]

I would love to hear what people think of this option. Anyone use it before?

I had thought about having us drive down to Florida and then using the Autotrain to return north (leaving us with 9 hours of driving after that---otherwise it is 19 hours).

DJ

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I've taken the auto-train to Florida twice ... once back in 1992 and again in 2002.

I lived in Northern VA so it's just a hop skip and jump to Lorton to catch the train. In 1992 we traveled "coach," but in 2002 I was traveling with my daughter and 2 g'kids so I booked a family bedroom ... this was great. It had a couch that turned into a double bed with a single bunk above it and then there were two kid size bunk-bed berths. Be warned that the room isn't overly large.

The kids enjoyed traveling by train ... it was an adventure in itself.

Unfortunately, traveling via the auto-train is expensive ... it was about $1600 for the 4 of us plus our car ... we flew to Florida this past summer and the plane fare plus car rental was a cheaper than the train fare and it's a two and one-half hour flight vs. a 16 hour train ride.

 

[westjones]

I am starting to figure out it is a costly option. It sounds like fun though (something new to try).

I think we will wait until 2005 and do it after our 4 night cruise when we could have some time to visit Washington DC also. I told DH I couldn't imagine being so close to Washington, and not taking our DDs to see it (and next year we wouldn't have time for that).

I think we will probably fly and rent a car for our 2004 trip, but I would love to try the autotrain sometime for an adventure!

DJ

 

[cherylp3]

it depends how far in advance you book and
what type of car you have and if you want a sleeper

Example I am planning on moving down to FL by April and I want to come up back to MA in August. I checked out prices , for August 2004 for 2 ppl in coach is 512.00

Thats pretty reasonable to me when plane tickets will be $400.

Cheryl