Travel with amtrak and traveling by train for the first time

Taking that First Amtrak Trip

Booking

There are several options to select from when beginning to book your reservation. Everyone is entitled to check two free bags. WiFi is free. You will need to know if you want to secure a saver, value, flexible, business, or premium booking rate. The main differences are as follows (check out the “options” link above for specifics):

Saver

These are the largest discounted rates, which are not always available. When available, they are only eligible for refund within 24 hours of the original booking time. Saver fares require advance purchase.

Value

Value fares are always available, but they are limited in quantity. You must book these fares within 15 days or more out from your departure date if you want a 100% refund. Otherwise, there is a 25% processing fee.

Flexible

Paying the flexible rate guarantees you a 100% refund prior to departure, should you need it. This is ideal for individuals who are not sure if they will be able to make the trip or not.

Business

This fare entitles you to extra leg room and non-alcoholic drinks during your trip. You are also guaranteed a 100% refund prior to departure, should you need it.

Premium

This is for an Acela First Class experience which includes all meals and a private room.

Costs

Deals abound with Amtrak, plus you can earn points when traveling. Amtrak has six the United States broken down into six regions, and there are 35 possible routes that you can travel whether you plan on going from north to south or from east to west. They have a map of the United States posted at the Amtrak website (and at the underlined link) showing all the routes on it and all the cities you will be passing through to get from one destination to another.

Costs vary from one city to another. It can be as little as $9 to go from one city to another (depending upon which cities are selected), or it can cost around $350 to travel Value fare, or $825 for Premium to travel from somewhere like San Francisco to Washington, DC. Just type in your departure and destination cities at this link to see what the costs will be: https://www.amtrak.com/experience/why-amtrak.html.

Accommodations 

Viewing Deck

The viewing deck sits on the upper half of Amtrak Trains and it is open to every passenger on the train. It is also open 24 hours. The full range windows allow you to view out 360 degrees to see the landscapes surrounding you and surprisingly, photos taken with camera’s set at 600 to 800 ISO are very good. That is they capture the motion well. Anything slower (ISO 100 and 200) will have some blurring to them, but that may be the effect you are going for.

There are both tables and single seats around the viewing deck and you will find people playing cards, on their laptops, reading books, or talking with each other. It’s a great place for meeting new friends. Don’t expect it to be quiet, even late at night there is a lot of action going on up there.

Dining Car and Snack Services

Dining car

Although everyone also brings plenty of food in their backpacks, try to treat yourself to a meal in the dining car at least once. If you are lucky you will be seated with someone you’ve never met and the experience will be very enjoyable.

Be served in glass dishes and drinking from glass coffee cups and glasses is novel too on a train. The waitresses and waiters have an air about them that suits the atmosphere. The food is classic-prepared, but the overall train setting ambiance still gives the dining experience a certain amount of joy. Especially the breakfasts. Nothing like smelling bacon and coffee after just waking up and hearing all the chatter when entering the dining car.

Snack Services

There is also a snack service that is open for a certain time period during the day and evening. It carries things like packaged burgers, sandwiches, yogurt, chips, chocolate, candy, gum and beverages. There is only one booth in the snack area, so plan on taking your purchase back up to your seated area or the viewing area with you.

Sleeping Car

You can get a sleeping car for two people or for a family. I’ve never had one, but I heard they are very comfortable.

Coach Seating

The coach seating is surprisingly comfortable. Depending on the length of your trip, you might be able to take advantage of two coach seats if no one sits besides you on long trips. When you get closer to the larger cities, count on needing to be confined to your one seat.

The foot rests can be extended which makes it a little nicer. The curtains close, if you want to block out the light, and you are allotted some overhead room above your seat for your backpack. In all my travels on Amtrak, I’ve never had any problems with theft, but I am sure to take my purse and camera with me where ever I go.

Travel and Travel Time

What to bring on your trip

Definitely pack some snacks, I recommend cheese sticks, beef jerky, or peanuts for protein, apples, some water, and gum. Pack a blanket and a pillow. If you are going to be on the train for more than a day, put some fresh underwear and socks in your backpack so you don’t have to dig through your suitcase in front of everyone. Don’t forget your toothbrush and toothpaste.

There isn’t smoking on the train, but smokers can step outside of the train at many of the stops when passengers leave and get on.

Bring extra batteries for your electrical gadgets. And don’t forget your charging cords. Bring a camera, you will want to take pictures.

You may want to bring some extra cash. The train does make stops at certain cities and you will be allowed to get out and look around at a few shops. No guarantee you’ll find something you want, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Travel Time

When booking your reservation, it will tell you how long your trip is expected to be. Know now that it is an approximation. Things happen that cause trains to run late. You can download the Amtrak app on your cell phone that lets you track where the train is at in proximity to your pickup.

Even with delays, traveling via Amtrak is a very enjoyable ride.