OT** need help with Amtrak train

[4fireworks]

I posted this on another forum and didn't get the response I needed so I thought I would give it a shot here.
I want to take my family to Chicago for Fathers Day, and we have never taken the train before so I don't know anything about it. It looks like it is cheaper on Saturday vs Friday, and Monday vs Sunday. I can handle that, but what I'm needing to know is are they any ways to get it cheaper? Iv'e gotten it priced for $144. for all 4 of us, and since we've not ever used Amtrak before I don't know if that can get any better or if that's a good price. The only discounts that we can use are kids 1/2 price which looks to be standard.
Should I book now or wait til closer, I don't know if trains are like airlines where they run last minute specials or not.
We can always drive but I would like to take the train b/c of the novelty of it. I think it would be neat!

 

[gw_lit]

I'm not sure where you're leaving from in Illinois to get to Chicago, but $144 for 4 of you round trip is only $36 each. That's a pretty good price.

Go to www.amtrak.com and then click on "Hot Deals" on the menu bar at the top of the page, then click on weekly specials. There are special deals here that change, well, weekly. Usually the deals are only offered about a month in advance, so you'll probably have to get closer to your travel date before you can book them.

If you have AAA membership, you get 10% off of your tickets (but this can't be used with the "Hot Deals"). When you select your ticket type, select AAA on the drop down.

 

[4fireworks]

Yeah that sounds pretty good when you put it that way, but I would still like to get it down more, especially since I'll be paying top dollar for the Cubs tickets for Fathers Day!! My dh is worth every penny ( most of the time ), but still every penny saved is a penny saved!!
I'll keep looking at the hot deals, but I wasn't sure if anyone had any secrets to getting good rates that I may not know about.

 

[gw_lit]

Its a good thing you didn't mention you were going to the Cubs game in your first post, then I wouldn't have tried to help! I'm a St. Louis native and a Cardinal fan. Before you get a chance, I'll give you credit for the sweep last weekend, but I'm still saying the Cards finish in front of the Cubs.

Seriously, hope you get a great deal... and have a good trip!

 

[4fireworks]

Hey I never said I was a Cubs fan!!! My dh is the black sheep of the family But nonetheless I will endure it for him!

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I was told by a reservationist (sp?) at Amtrak that if you book now and a better deal comes out, you can apply that to your ticket. I was also told, the closer to the date the higher it will get. So I went ahead and got our tickets for Flordia.

 

[4fireworks]

I was told by a reservationist (sp?) at Amtrak that if you book now and a better deal comes out, you can apply that to your ticket. I was also told, the closer to the date the higher it will get. So I went ahead and got our tickets for Flordia.

Thank you!! That's really good to know! I will probably be getting my tickets in hte next couple of days then! Have a great trip to FL.