Has anyone been on Amtrak?

[cina409]

We would like to take the kids to South Carolina on a train but, have never tried it myself. It will be a long ride but, I thought it would be a lot of fun. Also if anyone now how to get a discount that would even be better!

[kval07]

I've taken the train to Chicago before, and I'm in MI. Don't sit so you are going backwards if you have anyone in the fam who gets motion sick. Sign up for emails from Amtrak. That would be the best way to find out about deals. When we went, my friend found an awesome deal. We paid $24 round trip which was awesome. He found it by googling Amtrak deals I believe.

[jeweltea]

Yes, we have gone many times - even across the country in a sleeper (but the sleepers are expensive and very small). Amtrak is a great way to go. The seats are very comfortable. We live around DC now and have taken it to NY several times - that is about a 4 to 5 hour trip so not too long. Sorry, I don't know how to get any discounts - its been a long time since we took it.

[gooseandmama]

We're taking the train to New Orleans next week for Mardi Gras. This will be our 2nd taking the train, we loved it last year. The earlier you can book your tickets the better...they'll be cheaper. Great for ridng with kids, take a DVD player or hand-held game & headphones...you can recline the seats, put your feet up & nap all the way...if you're lucky.

[Mothernature]

We've taken the trains to Chicago and back. We also frequently ride the auto train.

If you have a rewards program, check if the program transfers points to Amtrak. Amtrak also has a credit card where you earn 5000 points with the first purchase, 2% on Amtrak purchases and 1% on all other purchases.

Since my husband and I are students, we receive a student discount via Student Advantage. Amtrak gives discounts for AAA, NARP, and Military. I've noticed that mid week travel is cheap. We usually book 6+ months ahead when the prices are the cheapest.

[frugalstafar]

We've taken it from Md to Ny-it wasn't bad and not too expensive. The only thing that was difficult was we had general seating so if the train was crowded we had to split our family up-fortunately I was able to keep the smallest with me and put my two older ones a few seats behind me. If your children are little I would suggest getting an assigned seating train.

[joshmamabear]

When we lived in California, my kids and I love to do this. DH loathes train rides, he says there's not enough room But I've always enjoyed traveling by train when I was a kid, now my kids miss it too when we moved out of LAX. When we get the chance, we'll travel by train again.

[puakinikini]

I remember taking the train to TX when I was a kid and I loved it. I was probably 7 years old, my sister was 5 and my brother was 2. I remember one of the train staff letting me and my sister pass out pillows to the passenger and he gave us a bag of M&Ms. It was a big deal because my mom never let us have any candy. It was one of the most memorable events of my childhood. I have a distinct memory of waking up early and looking out the window and seeing the sun rise over the desert.

[NIGHTB1022]

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!

[cina409]

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!