Amtrak Vacations

[dmw16]

You said if you take the train you won't need to rent a car? I am assuming you'd take the auto train? I don't think that is all that cost effective for a short trip. Probably be cheaper to fly and rent a car when you get there.

If going long distances I'd either fly or drive (if the path is interesting).

 

[LilPima]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Amtrak is shitty. I'd rather drive if I want to see lots of small stops, or fly if it is a few major stops.

this.

 

[HannibalX]

I few years back my wife and I decided to head back home to Chicago for our anniversary (from FL). This was 2005 mind you. To ride the train to Chicagoland from Orlando Metro was going to cost $3000.00. Yep, roughly $1,500 per person. Now mind you, we opted for the sleeper cabin because the trip was 2.5 days each way. Why so long? Because there are no trains that run North and West out of FL - we would have to travel to Washington D.C. first and then head NW to Chicago.

Basically, as you can imagine, we said fuck that and both flew round trip for $450 and had an extra 5 days off.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

train rides are more for the experience, not just getting there quickly though. Each has their own benefits and disadvantages.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape
train rides are more for the experience, not just getting there quickly though. Each has their own benefits and disadvantages.

I have always loved and been fascinated with trains since I was a kid. I would love to take a month off in the summer and just ride Amtrak across the country. I am old enough to have riden passenger trains prior to Amtrak and those are some great childhood memories.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: LilPima

Originally posted by: TruePaige
Amtrak is shitty. I'd rather drive if I want to see lots of small stops, or fly if it is a few major stops.

this.

HEY!

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I took Amtrak from LA to Sacramento. I hated it.

A golden chariot pulled by a thousand naked nubile coeds would suck if your destination was Sacramento. What a pit.

 

[Drekce]

My wife rode on Amtrak last week with my kids (my son wanted to ride on the train). It was so bad that I ended up driving to where they were to bring them home. She didn't even use the return tickets.

 

[Joemonkey]

I don't see what the point of travelling by train is unless you're going to hogwart's or something

 

[Majunior]

My train experiences have all been positive. As for destination. Glacier is sooo much better than yellowstone. Both parks are cool, but Yellowstone is much more crowded.

 

[vailr]

Originally posted by: ballmode
Amtrak Link
I'm really thinking about heading from Chicago and going to a national park. Do you guys recommend Glacier, Grand Caynon, or Yellowstone?

Going by train to Yellowstone would also involve some bus travel.
The closest Amtrak gets to there is probably: Salt Lake City, Utah.
How about Rocky Mountain National Park? Amtrak's California Zephyr train stops at Granby, Colorado.
Amtrak has a 15 day pass available for $389. Stop for a day or two in Granby, then continue to Emeryville, CA.
Then maybe north to Seattle, returning to Chicago via the Empire Builder. Or South to L.A., and the Southwest Chief
return to Chicago. Stop for a day trip in Williams, AZ & the Grand Canyon Railway, if you have the time.
Amtrak Vacations would be much more expensive than a design-your-own Amtrak vacation, riding in coach & staying in Motel 6 type accomodations.
Amtrak's Weekly Specials here:
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/WeeklySpecials

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

beware though, summer is when they do track work and bring out the buses and detours.. be sure to check on that too.

 

[MrChad]

I wouldn't use Amtrak outside of the NE corridor (Washington D.C. -> NYC or NYC -> Boston). That said, I've always wanted to take a cross-country roadtrip one day.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I took Amtrak from LA to Sacramento. I hated it.

A golden chariot pulled by a thousand naked nubile coeds would suck if your destination was Sacramento. What a pit.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I took Amtrak from LA to Sacramento. I hated it.

A golden chariot pulled by a thousand naked nubile coeds would suck if your destination was Sacramento. What a pit.

but if you've never been to CA in your life, the perspective is a bit different though. We left bakersfield at 450am, watched the sunrise though the central ca inland, a nice chat with some sheep farm owners from martinez and got to emeryville about 10am.