Long trip train travel-How is it?

[ez]

Do any of you guys take long trips with your family via train? I'm talking Fl to NY with sleeper cars. Anyone ever done it and if so , how was it?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

DS and I took the train from Washington to Jacksonville several years ago and had a great time. He loved the novelty and adventure of it, and I loved that we weren't flying.

Train travel is definitely not the most economical way to get to Florida, but I'm glad I did it once.

 

[caitycaity]

dh and i took the autotrain from dc to fl for our honeymoon. we had a sleeper, and it was nice. we realy liked the feeling of "adventure." and it gave us time to gear up to and wind down from the trip.

i agree with ATWDW, it's not very cheap, but dh and i liked it and would do it again.

 

[JohnTBap]

We rode Amtrak's Sunset Limited from Houston to Orlando and back in May of '99. It was a VERY LONG 36 hours. Not to mention that we hit a boat and then later sat outside of Pensacola all night due to a derailment. I hear that the equipment on the eastern corridor is much nicer. Good luck.

 

[DocRafiki]

I rode New Orleans --> Chicago --> Denver and back. I didn't have a sleeper, but I didn't have any trouble sleeping. It was quite interesting. I'm glad I did it. (I was solo).

 

[luv2nascar]

We have taken amtrak from Newark, NJ to Orlando, FL (or whatever that station in florida is actually called)
We had the deluxe sleeping car & I really enjoyed this.
I have never flown and am claustrophobic and probably will never fly.
So really other than driving the train is it for us
The train is really bumpy - I felt like I was on the train for several days afterwards. It really is a neat experience. They treat you well in the deluxe sleepercars. All your meals are included and they turn down your bed at night and you get snacks and drinks for free throughout the whole trip. Amtraks idea of conceirge. I really do like it.

It took us 24 hrs to get there. No major delays. I just like the idea of relaxing and not driving. There is a little tv in the sleepercars that show like two diferent movies all the time. The actual sleeping car is smaller than I thought it would be but you manage.

Hope you enjoy.

 

[Pin Wizard]

We took the auto train from FL to VA. DS was 2.5 at the time. We had a GREAT time! The only thing was the rocking motion. I felt like I was still rocking for a whole day after getting off. That was when we could go for $99 each and the car for a bit more. Can't get those prices now!!!

 

[Tina]

Our friends too the autotrain from DC to FL last year with their 2 daughters, ages 2 and 4. They did not book a sleeper car and they said they regretted it. Next time, they will definitely pay more for a sleeper.

 

[Jenn]

A woman I work with is taking the train from MA to Orlando in Disney. The tickets were $1,600 RT each - yes I said each.

 

[mrsv98]

Yes, this is the only way our DD has traveled in her little life. Last year we went Chicago --> Washington DC --> Orlando and this summer we went to Denver and back. My DH and DD really like it, but I have always been a flyer so it seems really long to me. We always have a sleeper with DD and it is VERY expensive. I think it was $2300 RT to FL. We recently purchased a portable DVD player for our van so this Feb we are driving to Orlando to see the Mouse.