Auto Train Riders, Please Chime In

[chartle]

I am eager to hear about your trip! I was wondering why you don't just hop on the train in boston and rent a car or use ME when you are down there?? Did you compare price difference? Gas and travel to VA? I have made the train trip from New England 4 times and would like to maybe try to autotrain but would need to see a big price difference between getting on at home and renting a car vs driving to the auto train and getting on there I hope to try it out someday though!

I don't think can really compare the Auto Train with regular train travel. I'm pretty sure its the only "non stop" route that they have.

We did it from Pittsburgh and it took a little more time travel time but since they drove all night we got there quicker.

The best thing is you get to pack your car anyway you want and it your car not a rental.

 

[Hopefully]

I am eager to hear about your trip! I was wondering why you don't just hop on the train in boston and rent a car or use ME when you are down there?? Did you compare price difference? Gas and travel to VA? I have made the train trip from New England 4 times and would like to maybe try to autotrain but would need to see a big price difference between getting on at home and renting a car vs driving to the auto train and getting on there I hope to try it out someday though!

I agree with chartle, it is not just about price, but for us, more about the adventure. I think you are a lot further north than we are, but yes we have a drive to the station in Lorton. It is one of the things I am thinking about.
The non-stop trip is a plus and we don't have the hastle of changing trains.
Part of our financial consideration is in having our own car and belongings that we can pack in the car on the trip. For example we will save $80+ just by bringing beach chairs and an umbrella for the Vero portion of our vacation. And there are many examples like this for us.

And finally, the fact I didn't mention in my post is that my Grandkids live in MD. We will probably take a few days on our way north and visit with them before we drive back to MA. It makes it all worthwhile.

I read your thread and it was great.

 

[dvcersfromva]

I know this post is late, but I wanted to chime in. We have taken the AutoTrain many times, and it always our favorite way to travel to FL.....but, we do live only about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Lorton. We are DVC members who own at Boardwalk, but our favorite place to go is Vero Beach. So, being able to pack beach chairs, an umbrella, and cooler in our own car is great! We usually bring on board a small overnight bag and a cooler. I need my tomato juice fix, and my husband likes to bring beer on board (which is totally allowed).

We (my husband and I) usually get a roomette, though we have gotten a family bedroom and a deluxe bedroom. The roomette is small...about 3 feet by 6 feet. There are two reclining seats facing each other by day and two bunks at night. There is also a small table top that you can fold out in the roomette. It is good for playing cards or a game while in your room. For us, the price difference between the roomette and the deluxe bedroom is not worth it. The shower in the bedroom is SMALL, and we have no problem with the showers available to roomette passengers.

We usually go straight to the lounge car after boarding for the wine and cheese party. It is a nice, relaxing way to start the trip. There we play cards or yhatzee or something to pass the time. Dinner is good, too, and more complimenary wine is offered. We usually have the early dinner and then try to watch the 7:00 movie. The attendant makes up the beds at a time that you specify.

Sleeping on the train is hit or miss for us. We usually do not have trouble falling asleep (could it be all that complimentary wine, hmmmm?). Sometimes we wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time going back to sleep, but it is still so much more restful than driving and so much less hassle than flying.

If you choose to get a roomette both ways, there are a couple of cars on both the south- and northbound trains that have only deluxe bedrooms on the upper levels (each with their own bathroom and shower) and a few roomettes as well as a family and handicapped bedroom on the lower level. We have found that those cars are the best to request for several reasons. One, you do not need to compete with the upstairs people for bathrooms or the shower; two, they are connected either to the dining car or the lounge car, so the walk is much shorter to either of those cars; and, three, being on the lower level means you do not need to lug your stuff upstairs upon boarding and unboarding, and there is no one walking by your room to get to the lounge/dining room. Those car numbers are 5341 and 5340 heading south, and 5241 and 5340 heading north.

One more thing, make sure you get to the station BEFORE 3:00 p.m. Amtrak is strict about not letting you on if you are later than that. Many times we have seen people pull up to the gate just before 3:00 p.m. with NY or CT tags, and we're thinking they sure are cutting it close!

Again, we love the AutoTrain. It is part of the vacaction for us. While we are ready to get off in the end, it is still our favorite way to go.

Hope this helps! We'll be heading back down next October too. First for a Disney cruise and then a couple days at the food and wine festival. Can't wait.