I'm thinking of going to NYC via AmTrak in the very near future with my 3 kids. I think it would be a great way to get to see the country, not bad as far as prices go (all 4 of us get 2 way for about $100 each)
Has anyone traveled this way? How was it? Would you recommend it or not?
[question posted by hockeygal4ever]
responses and comments:
I ahve when i was younger in england and europe was awesome and have had relatives ride it from Toronto to Vancouver they thought it was a great a trip. The only time I rode on Amtrac was with sons team adn we were 13 hr on a 4 hr trip ended up being bussed the last 70 miles but all in all rail is a great way to travel [huggiebear22]
I have been considering the same thing for a trip from Iowa to Florida. I love riding on a train and think the children would really enjoy it as well. I need to figure out the cost and the time it would take though. I think you should give it a try. Trains are awesome. [loved1]
I rode AmTrak to my mom's in Oregon from California when my eldest son was still a baby; stroller and all. It wasn't that terrible but it wasn't as comfortable as I'd have liked it to be. I had to keep getting up and walking through the cars to stretch my legs. It's a bit hard to sleep as well if you're travelling by nite. Later in life I actually worked for AmTrak and during training we were able to take train to Oregon again but we got to share a 'sleeper' room...Soooo much better but expensive if you had to pay for it. All in all the trips went fairly smooth; with 4 of you, I don't know...laugh out loud! [cjsmom]
Plenty of times when I was a kid, but I'd take flight any given day. Now the only place I'll take a train to is one that isn't connected by flight. Air travel gives me greater time to spend with the people I'm dying to meet and places I'm keen on exploring. I love the time saved plus the fact that I don't really need to get into meaningless conversations with other passengers. I don't feel too chatty when I'm travelling, I'm so caught up with the buzz and excitement of vacation that I just like to savour that feeling, without people intruding on my space and somehow I always end up with the most curious, garrulous bunch as co-passengers, so I stick to flights. [gbala9]
I would definitely recommend it. I love to travel by train, I prefer it to traveling by car. It's not so confined, you can get up and move around, can eat pretty well in the dining car and best of all is the scenery you can see much more than by plane or on the highway. [whiteheather39]
Ooh you are going to have one fun train trip!I have always loved train travel, there is so much charm in it! when I was in my country most of our trips were taken by train and they would last 2 days and we would have one great time. we would make new friends, play uno, cards, read up all the magazines and the caterer would come every one hour with some delicious stuff to eat followed by tea, coffee. Ofcourse in US you need to go to the diner area for that but still it is fun. We sit for hours by the window watching all the small towns and cities go by.the beautiful sunrise and sunsets , and the insane sleeping hours we would have, train trips were most memorable ones, we have so much fun that it is as much a joy being an adult as it was when I was a kid. In the US I have not travelled great distances by train only short ones, so I really can not say what to expect, but the general things are always the same, the laid back attitude, the towns and cities passing by you slowly, the people you can met and befriend and ofcourse you do not need to get as much worked up about catching a train as you would incase of a flight! so if you are a person who does not mind travelling a few hours instead of one short flight I would say go for it. [DeaXyza]
I have travelled to and from Toronto a few times with my sons in the last few years. We are only a 2 hr drive west of T.O., but it's still a very nice trip on the "via" trains. My sons are now 6, 6, and almost 8, and being typical boys, adore trains.. so it was an obvious choice for us. The cost was only slightly higher than the greyhound buses, and it's so worth it! All I suggest, is that when you purchase your tickets, that you request pre-boarding status and group seating, because you have kids with you. It's really nice to be the first ones on the coaches, and have those 4 seats facing each other. :) [QueenKaren]
Thanks for the tips! I would have never realized to do that and would have ended up at 2 opposite ends I'm sure! LOL [hockeygal4ever]
I went to my Grand Mother's home in the past by train sometimes. I think that there is nothing bad in travleing to go by train but we seldom went by train bcuz it did n't go exactly to my Grand Mother's hometown & we had to changed our transport. I enjoyed my that journey & yeah, u r right. We have to spend less amount of money if we travel by train instead of by air or bus etc. [sweetie88]
I traveled a lot by train when I was a child until my parents purchased a car. And know I travel by train when I go from my campus to my grandmothers farms. The price for a ticket is about 1$, very cheap. I traveled with my friends too and we had a lot of fun. We played all sort of games, we had a lot of interesting discussions, we have seen the country. It was great. [scarfaceboston]
I went by train to work at a summer camp one year back in the late 1980s. Also in the early 1990s I went with my family, mum, dad and sister on holiday to Cornwall on the south west coast of England. We travelled by train to the nearest railway station and then got a bus to the place where we were staying I seem to recall. I think that might be because it was a bit expensive to go by taxi. It seems like a long time ago now. I really enjoyed that holiday we did a lot of walking as it was a walking holiday where we stayed in a hotel and all meals were provided. They gave us packed lunches to take when we went out for the day. [organiclady35]
I'm a light packer! LOL I could get us all packed in 2 suitcases or less. I do think I'd take the plunge and get 2 cases on wheels though. Thanks! [hockeygal4ever]
yap...when i was young,,,at province,,,that is my first and last experienced to ride a train...but its nice and enjoy! [inovator]
for me train is the most interesting mode of transport , ur free to move about as desired and i really like the repetitive sound of the wheels passing over different rails . u can sleep , u can play . its really amazing . hail the inventor of steam engine and trains in general . [karan1563]
its good but depends on your kids when we went to vacation my little brother justs keeps walking around all the time as there is space to move abt that was i think the only disadvantage otherwise the experience was gr8 [p0tterific]
My sister took a train to NYC not long ago. She told me that it was not a bad experience and she would do it again. I am trying to convince my husband that this is the way to go when we finally do get to go to NYC. Rather than drive our car, have to pay for parking, etc. [ElusiveButterfly]
I think that is a great idea. I have travelled this way on quite a number of occasions. I took a plane to Prestwick airport in the UK and then travelled by train to Glasgow. It was great to be able to look out through the window at all the beautiful Welsh countryside and not have to concentrate on driving. I would definitley recommend it and I will definitely be doing it again. [Alexandria37]
yes i have done this. We took the train from our town north to Edinborough and then north-west to Glasgow. From here we took another train out to Oban on the North-west Scotish coast. It was beautiful blessed be [ESKARENA1]
I traveled by train to Florida from Pennsylvania.It was a nice trip. At the time I had a 4 yr old and he had more freedom then on a plane.I would recommend, I have always wanted to travel out West on the train but when we went we drove. I think you will have a nice trip and the price is great. [suscan]
whenever we go on vacation its mostly to my hometown 2000km away from my place. we always go by the direct trains but it takes 36 tiresome hours through 4 states to reach my home. [totalearnings]
yes,friend,i often take the train for a vacation or going home,when i studied in another city and now when i am working in other place. in fact,i would like to go anywhere by train,except for too long distance.because,when you are seat in the train nearby the windows,you can watch the scenery outside.i think that it is a nice experience.but if the distence is too long ,and it will take above 10 hours to me,i believe i would be tired and do not like take the train again.lol... [vicky19810]
I took the train to NYC for a weekend vacation. It was a great way to travel. The only down side is that you will have to keep the kids occupied for a while so they don't run around the train. But, if they bring something fun to do this shouldn't be a problem. [bethechange]
Wow, if you can go that cheap to NYC and back for 4 people for that price, I would definately say GO FOR IT. That is a great deal. My husband and I are going to NYC in September, and due to constraint of time we are flying. We did get a Good deal I thought from Seattle to Newark. Well, looking forward to hearing if you went or not, and did you have Fun? [KrauseHome]