Has anyone been on Amtrak?

[NIGHTB1022]

Thanks for all the tips! I think we just might try it. We are in Ohio so I think I may upgrage to a sleeper cabin so the kids can sleep. I think it's going to be a blast. I can't wait, Thank again!

Do it, heck I'm excited for you & the family!!!!! It will be a trip the kids will never forget, it will be a blast for them and you too!

[Mothernature]

Took the Amtrak from Joliet to Dallas in 2000 going out there for the Homebuilders Convention, and I absolutely loved it! I had a sleeper car though because it was a 28 hour trip and I think back then it was just under 700 round trip. Totally awesome, I had steak for dinner, breakfast and lunch served in my sleeper unit, I even had turn down service with a mint on my pillow LOL! The sleeper car I was in was the first car right behind the engine and believe it or not it wasn't even that noisy, but the thing I liked the best was it was a "secured" car, meaning no one had access to it that didn't have a sleeper unit.

There was my own bathroom, sink area and I didn't have to leave my sleeper unit if I didn't want to, just rang for the attendant and I got what I needed.

If you can afford it, that is definitely the way to go. I totally enjoyed just sitting by the window during the day watching everything go past, and at night it was just like being rocked to sleep again like a baby!

Those days are gone. We always purchase a family sleeper car. We go to dinner at the time scheduled. Breakfast is a set scheduled time. Room service is only for the disabled. Shared bathrooms between the lower and upper births.

For some reason, the employees love to talk over the intercom in the morning. I also do not understand why Amtrak has Kosher meals but does not prepare diabetic meals:shrug7:. I may need to talk to the Amtrak rep the next time we book our trip.

[savedsol]

We took the amtrak to Chicago from Central IL. So about a 3 or 4 hour trip. For our trip, there was really nothing scenic about it. We saw the back sides of buildings and alley ways when we went through towns. Over grown weeds along the track, corn and bean fields the rest of the way. (Of coarse in IL that is all you see is corn and bean fields) Also don't expect your train to run on time. They get delayed for a lot of different reasons. It was worth taking the train though. We didn't have to drive in Chicago and pay for parking at the hotel - just took public transportation once we got there.

[aimeebee]

We've taken the Amtrak train a couple of times from Indy to Chicago. While on vacation we went from Kissimmee to Tampa for a birthday trip for my youngest when he turned four. We've always had a great time. They were leave at the crack of dawn and get home late at night trips; so we didn't use sleeper cars. The only difficult part is arranging transportation from the train station to wherever you want to go in the city. In Chicago, the train arrives at lunch time in "Grand Central Station" and that was crazy...especially the time we had a toddler in a stroller! On that trip our little guy never really "got it" because every time the train would blow the horn he would get all excited and look out the window and say "Choo choo coming, mommy!!" He didn't really understand we were on the train; he kept looking outside wanting to see the train. LOL But, we had a great time and we went again later when he was a little older.

[loveagoodbuy]

I think your best bet for discounts will be Triple A. Enjoy your trip - sounds exciting!

[Ggbwg]

There is a discount code for Amtrak it isbuy 1 get 1 50% off. I can not find the code in my house, it is lost. Maybe you can search for one ??

Also i see on there site they have this info, not sure if you had saw it.

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