Considering Amtrak

Hey Everyone,

I am traveling to a friends wedding near DC in April. I have a back injury that makes flying next to impossible and a drive from Denver to DC very daunting. I'm looking into Amtrak, namely the California Zephyr to Chicago and then a 4 hour layover before getting on the Capitol Limited to DC. We would go the same route home. I have a family possibly going with me (a wife, 3 kids ages 11, 8, and 4). My only Amtrak experience is the California Zephyr out to Glenwood Springs from Denver, which is a daytrip in coach.

Amtrak quoted us a fare of $3300 for a Family Bedroom (4 bunks) out and back. We don't have that kind of money except credit and we are wondering if it is really worth it to get a sleeper. Coach would be about a third of that fare. Another alternative is flying the others out a couple of days after I catch the train. I really don't want to split us up but we may be forced to if we can't get a break on the fare.

Last, does anyone know of some sites with good advice for traveling on Amtrak (aside from their own site)?

Steve

 

I rode once overnight, and we "slept" in the coach. It was not my favorite sleeping experience. I wandered off and found an empty row of seats so we could both stretch out. "Stretch out" = fetal position pretty much. Made it through the night, though, and was anxious for that coffee in the morning. In retrospect, it was an adventure, and overall the trip was a real gas.
Not sure how the kids would like it, but they are usually indestructable in the long run. Besides, this would make a great family story years from now...
We were thinking of a trip to DC, but two nights of a sleeper, one-way only, consumes the entire budget for the vacation, and I'm not going to try to convince Mrs. P to repeat the coach thing. Maybe I'll investigate the sleeper after I get that big raise I'm chasing.

 

I've ridden Amtrak many times, sleeper is the only way to go. In a family bedroom your kids will have room to play and "be themselves" Trying to sleep in a crowded coach is difficult espicially with young ones. Don't forget your meals are included when you go sleeper, and that can be a big cost saver in itself. The Zephyr is usually late reducing your layover in Chicago. Also,you & your family will have access in Chicago to the Metropolitan Lounge making it easeir to keep track of the kids. I know Amtrak is expensive, but if you go do everyone a favor & go sleeper on both The Zephyr & The Capitol Ltd.

 

Thanks!

Fred and Campp,

Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. If we can afford it, a Sleeper is the way we'll go. Giving the kids their own space and keeping them in a lounge at Chicago would be worth it.

Does anyone have any advice for getting the lowest fare? There's probably no "priceline.com" for Amtrak, but are there ways reducing the cost? Even knocking a couple hundred off would be helpful. Did I mention that I'm disabled and only employed part-time? :embarassed:

 

Joe

Hi Steve,
This forum is probably the best way to get accurate information. I take Amtrak every year. I use their guest rewards MasterCard for everything and carry no balance so my travel is free, usually. This year I took a round trip on the Zephyr from Chi. to Sacramento. I can't imaging making that trip in the coach. Coach is fine, I take it on the leg from Toledo aoard The Capitol Limited. But for two and a half days a room is a must. Don't plan on the connection in Chi. The Zephyr is always held up between Reno and Salt lake City. I've made two round trips on that train and all four legs on that stretch were slowed by UP freight engines with power problems. Combined with track restrictions and signal adjustments that leg of the trip is just slow. Because of this your train will get in Denver late. They won't hold the Cap. Ltd. in Chi., but they will hold the Lakeshore Ltd. That train has no family room and terminates in New York. It's only a few hours away from Washington on one of the local NEC shuttles. The Lakeshore Limited is a fine fast train and riding in the coach is not a bad experience. You will see some beautiful scenery and still get in Was. about the same time dispite the transfer. I would suggest you only get the room between Den. and Chi and coach between Chi. and Was. That way if you're bumped to New York for the transfer to Was. Amtrak picks up the difference. Going back will not be a problem because the bottleneck is west of Salt Lake. You can plan on a room all the way back because the Capitol limited is a double decked train and will almost be on time to Chi.
I hope you can swing it because the trip is great.
Joe

 

I think AARP is one, (but you have to be old enough) or AAA discount I believe is (or was) available.

 

I suggest you go to http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage and check out every link within the site. Amtrak may offer "deals" and special fares that are not obvious to the casual observer, but can be found by digging into every linked page. Just a thought.

 

For your family, you do need to consider the cost of food. As for Amtrak travel sites, don't forget the Amtrak Travel Planner. It will give you an idea of what to expect on the train. They include a section of what's in the cities enroute. You have to check your timetable to tell what can be seen in daylight. The Travel Planner may also include some tours available thru Amtrak/Grey Line in cities. You may get a deal on rooms with some sightseeing tours.

From Denver to Chicago s/b mostly overnite, not much scenery. A 4hour stay in Chicago may give you time to visit 1-2 downtown "attractions", although April can still be cold/snowy. From Chicago to DC will also mostly be overnite.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?&&CODE=00
This is another Forum that covers Amtrak travel. There may be others. They may not help much in getting a lower fare, just give you a better idea of what to expect on the train.

The Metra/CTA site in Chicago does have a downtown guide to any attractions you may like. On a clear day, the Sears Tower Skydeck is very close to the station & worth a short walk. There may be a fun place to get lunch nearby.

 

I know the earlier you book your tickets on Amtrak, the better the fare. Cost based on ticket availability,booking early can save you a lot of $$$

 

When I mentioned the $3,000 pricetag for a sleeper out and back, my dad literally shuddered! I think that would be the standard reaction that people have to such a price. Given my prior exprerience with Amtrak, I was expecting it, but hoping we could find some way of bleeding off some of the price. While I might be able to drop the price a little, there's no likelihood of getting a big discount.

It may just be me going coach or we'll drive with the kids. I don't see how we can put down that much cash for a sleeper. How can Amtrak expect to sell these sleepers when they price them out of the range of the middle class family?

 

There are elements of traveling by train that are hard to quantify as value. THe train ride is an adventure itself and can be more memorable than the vacation itself. I sypathize with the exspense for a family, it isn't cheap. Think of it more like a cruise ship than an airplane. The things you see and the people you meet are alo part of it. As was mentioned earlier the meals are part of the package with priority seating. The food is outstanding, prepared by chefs, not cooks. Yes it is very pricey. It may also be a once in a lifetime thing that you, your wife, and your children will never forget. How do you put a price on that?

 

Good points. With the price, it definitely is once-in-a-lifetime. We may still actually go, but this price puts it in the "windfall" or "won the lottery" bracket.

I guess if you're rich, your land cruise is the AOE or some other stuffy service and if you're the average joe, you get an Amtrak land cruise and hope you get a good attendant and a clean set of sheets.

 

Double post. sorry...

 

Having ridden in a Family Bedroom on the Empire Builder I can tell you that it is the best room you can get for a family of 4 on any Amtrak train.
Having said that...$3000.00 is truly outrageous.

I would buy Coach tickets and try to get sleeper arrangments after you get on board.
It worked for me on the Silver Star. What would have cost almost $600.00 for a Viewliner Bedroom ticket from D.C to Deerfield Beach, Fla cost me $125.00!!!

Worst comes to worst you can camp out on the floor in the Lounge car on the overnight portion.

You can join the NARP (National Association of Rail Passengers) and save 10%.

Some advice for traveling on Amtrak.

Bring a small surge protector if you plan on re-charging batteries or using any electronic device.

Bring a large can of Lysol. (learned this from cruises) Treat the room with it in all places where you would touch things with your hands.
This will also come in handy in the restroom if your car attendant is a slacker like ours was.

Be vigilant if your car attendant (or any other crew member) is less than you hoped for. Threaten to call Amtrak right then and there (with cel phone in hand) to report any rude or aloof behavior of any crew member. There are some wonderful people working for Amtrak, and some who should be charged for a ticket to ride rather than be given a paycheck.

It is the latter that will make you regret spending 3 grand...

Here is a site that I have found to be helpfull:
http://www.amtraktrains.com/

 

I find that on the trains I use, Bleach would be more effective

 

Points well taken!

 

The ride..

Well I can tell you this Ive ridden Amtrak alot up and down the east coast when I was stationed at Ft Bragg and would go back to Philly for leave and always had a good time and a great ride.
I was stationed on the west coast and pacific area for a while and when ever I came home for leave I did my best to take the train across country. The sites you see along the rails is nothing compared to flying or driving, its relaxing and peacful for the most part.
WhileI have to admitt the food was pricey but it was well worth it. I diid however recieve a Military discount for travel and food, it was still expensive.
I did most of this traveling in the 80's and 90's so rail is still a good time for both young and old. I wish they would bring Amtrak back through NAshville Tn. I miss riding the trains.

 

My wife and I took the CZ from Omaha to Grandby and back last May, and the CZ from Omaha to Chicago and Capital limited from Chicago to Cleveland last Aug. They were great trips. We took a family sleeper from Omaha to Grandby, and rode coach back to Omaha. We had roomettes from Omaha to Cleveland. My wife will never ride coach again. Some people put up with it, she won't. On none of the legs we were on, could you spread out in coach, lots of single seats taken, nobody wanted to move. On the Omaha to Grandby leg, we met a young couple with 3 small children at the station in Omaha waiting for the train. When we saw them later on the train (it was late into Omaha, and left about midnight), the woman was in tears. She couldn't even find 2 seats togther, most everyone was all spread out and already asleep, nobody wanted to move. The kids were tired and cranky. I would not count on making the Chicago connection between the CZ and the Capital Limited. I tracked the connection times for over a month and the CZ got to Chicago maybe 2 times early enough to make the connection, and a few times where you had under 30 minutes to make the connection. If you miss the connection, Amtak will put you up in a hotel for the night and put you on the Capital Limited the next day, but if you were planning on a sleeper, there might not be one available on the next day's Capital Limited. To keep my wife happy (she can take or leave...mostly leave the train), I planned on missing the connection, paid for a hotel in Chicago, and had a sleeper booked the next day on the Capital Limited. As luck would have it, on our trip the CZ made it to Chicago in time to make the connection. I couldn't risk angry wife, and we had a BLAST in Chicago. Ticket prices, especially sleeper prices fluxuate often, and it doesn't seem to follow any patterns. Except as the sleepers sell out, the price rises, until just before the trip when any sleepers left might be a deal. We had a roomette booked on the CZ, and a day or two beforehand the family bedroom dropped to like $50 more than the roomette, so we took it. I have tickets on the CZ and the Coast Starlight this coming summer, and I check the prices everyday to make sure I have the best deal I can get. As long as you don't pickup the tickets prior to the trip it's very easy to exchange them. Good Luck, hope you take the train...I think it's quite the ADVENTURE. Another good website for travel tips is http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtrak-tips.shtml