Anyone ever go on.....

[JLS]

an Amtrak destination tour/vacation? its called america by rail and they go to different places.. anyone ever stay on a train? do they have much room or are they tight?? Not expecting a 2000 sq ft room but don't wanna be squished on top of each other the whole time either..

[vbailey]

Originally Posted by JLS

an Amtrak destination tour/vacation? its called america by rail and they go to different places.. anyone ever stay on a train? do they have much room or are they tight?? Not expecting a 2000 sq ft room but don't wanna be squished on top of each other the whole time either..

I went to New York City on one once, they go really fast. You really can't see much out the window going that fast. And the motion would possibly make some folks feel sick. I did not like it and it was only for a short trip.
We have a 5th wheel ( camper ) now that is the way I would want to travel cross country. We are planning a trip for next yr.

[BadGirl (Premo)]

I did an Amtrack train trip years ago. The trip that I took started at Union Station in DC and took me the southern route of the US to California, then up to Washington State, then through the mid-West, then finally back to DC. From start to finish, the trip took me three months, and I could get off of the train anywhere I wanted, for as long as I wanted, as long as the entire trip was completed within 90 days. I never got a formal sleeping car, but instead, I slept in the regular seats. Most often, though, I got off of the train and stayed at local Hostels in the area. Yes, there are Hostels in the USA (lots of 'em, in fact!), and you don't need to be young or old to stay there. Also, the costs to stay in a Hostel were incredibly cheap...as cheap at $6.00 per night on up. Much cheaper than staying at a hotel.

I had a great time on the train, and I'd love to do it again. It was very comfortable, and very reasonably priced - I seem to recall that the cost was about $238 for three months' worth of travel.

[dn0121]

Ive gone from Ohio to LA and back by train. It was nice, but I was a kid. My parents went from Ohio to San Antonio last fall and had a sleeper car. They ended up trading in their return tickets for airline tickets. My mom has a bad hip, and it was too uncomfortable. I have a bad back so I don't think I could do it. We also had some cookies stolen from our overhead storage when we slept. I would like to do it again, but I think it would be too painful.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by JLS

an Amtrak destination tour/vacation? its called america by rail and they go to different places.. anyone ever stay on a train? do they have much room or are they tight?? Not expecting a 2000 sq ft room but don't wanna be squished on top of each other the whole time either..

Rode Amtrak to boot camp .
room was about the size of a hotel bathroom. Bunk beds folded down for sleeping.
Go on the Antrak site, they have info on the compartments.

[united]

I went from Tampa to DC on a train, I just had a reg. seat, it was more like a bench seat, the guy next to me practicly slept on my lap, I couldn't find the food car so i starved the whole trip, it was the worst 19 hours of my life. Also you have to babysit your stuff, because people will take it if you leave it out of your sight.

[SoMDGirl42]

I did a DC to Mass trip in the late 80's. We sat on the track for 8 hours waiting for another train that was coming from the other direction. Our 8 hour train trip ended up taking more like 18 hours.

My son and daughter took train from DC to JAX, FL Was supposed to be 14 hours. It was nearly 24 hours beginning to end.

Good luck

[JLS]

Originally Posted by dn0121

Ive gone from Ohio to LA and back by train. It was nice, but I was a kid. My parents went from Ohio to San Antonio last fall and had a sleeper car. They ended up trading in their return tickets for airline tickets. My mom has a bad hip, and it was too uncomfortable. I have a bad back so I don't think I could do it. We also had some cookies stolen from our overhead storage when we slept. I would like to do it again, but I think it would be too painful.

Oof.. I have a ruptured disc in my lower back so if its kinda jolty per say, it may not be good for me either !?!?!? I'd like to try it once - just to say I did it ya know, but am hearing different things - good and bad..