YourFoodSherpa
Train Attendant
Folks,
Long-time lurker, first-time poster. My Amtrak experience is all very recent (Cascades, NE Regional, and Pennsylvanian), but I was bitten by the bug just from a simple SEA-PDX run on the Cascades about 15 months ago. I have scoured the forums here for as much knowledge as I could soak up, and am jumping in feet first into a cross-country-plus trip in a few weeks. I will be traveling solo, mostly because I can't imagine anyone would want to concede to my schedule for two full weeks! People around the office have already scoffed at my plan, but they just don't understand. I knew you guys (and gals) would understand me.
The Plan:
Jan 15 - Fly from MCO-NYC - Yeah, I know "fly" is a bad word around here, but I only have two weeks, and would like to spend SOME time off the train doing other activities. Please don't ostracize me on my first day.
Jan 17 - NYP-PHL (paid ticket; multi-city)
Jan 17 (evening) - PHL-BAL
Jan 18 - BAL-WAS - Just to prove that I did read and learn about some of the tips and tricks before jumping in and posting, the whole NYP-PHL-BAL-WAS ticket was $49; whereas NYP-WAS would have been the same $49. I call this a major win!
Jan 19 - WAS-PGH on Capitol Limited (paid coach ticket)
Jan 21/22 - PGH-CHI on Cap Ltd (paid coach ticket) - I am planning to go to the Louisville-Pitt basketball game that day, which ESPN has decided should start at 9 pm. I think I can still make the train, should the game not run too long, but just in case, I booked a Southwest flight for the first thing the following morning. My thinking is that I can cancel the mode of transportation that I do not take with little penalty - as long as I don't print my train ticket, my understanding is that it is fully refundable; if i don't take the flight, I can get a credit for future travel on Southwest...so, while not refundable, per se, I can still use the value of my fare for another flight down the road. Please correct me if I have this wrong.
Jan 22-24 - CHI-SFC on Cal Zephyr (AGR 2-zone roommette)....and now comes the question part....
Jan 25 - Fly either SFO/OAK-SEA or SFO/OAK-SAN - The costs are about the same either way, so that isn't a factor. The only real issue is whether or not I want to do the CS north-to-south or south-to-north. I haven't done either one yet, so that doesn't help me decide, either. Is the scenery better in one direction or the other? I know that there is a re-route on the northbound route, but since I have never taken the regular route, I don't know that it makes a difference to me there, either.
Jan 26/27 - SAN-SEA or SEA-SAN on the Coast Starlight (AGR 1-zone roommette) - The timing is about the same either way - depart in the morning; arrive late-night at destination a day-and-a-half later.
Jan 29 or 30 - Fly either SEA-MCO or SAN-MCO - Flight costs are about the same, so that is not a determining factor.
My Thoughts:
I am really, really torn. I have friends in both Seattle and San Diego. I LOVE Seattle, but have only been to San Diego once. That said, it is really comparing one full day in one place versus two full days in the other. It's not like it is THAT much of a difference. In my head, this is really a coin-flip, but am curious if someone has some input that could sway my decision in one direction or another. For instance, on the northbound ride, is there enough of a layover time for me to run to Philippe's and get a sandwich? ;-)
Any input is welcome - including things you think I might have missed in my planning. I am really looking forward to this, so talking about it is helping pass the time!
Long-time lurker, first-time poster. My Amtrak experience is all very recent (Cascades, NE Regional, and Pennsylvanian), but I was bitten by the bug just from a simple SEA-PDX run on the Cascades about 15 months ago. I have scoured the forums here for as much knowledge as I could soak up, and am jumping in feet first into a cross-country-plus trip in a few weeks. I will be traveling solo, mostly because I can't imagine anyone would want to concede to my schedule for two full weeks! People around the office have already scoffed at my plan, but they just don't understand. I knew you guys (and gals) would understand me.
The Plan:
Jan 15 - Fly from MCO-NYC - Yeah, I know "fly" is a bad word around here, but I only have two weeks, and would like to spend SOME time off the train doing other activities. Please don't ostracize me on my first day.
Jan 17 - NYP-PHL (paid ticket; multi-city)
Jan 17 (evening) - PHL-BAL
Jan 18 - BAL-WAS - Just to prove that I did read and learn about some of the tips and tricks before jumping in and posting, the whole NYP-PHL-BAL-WAS ticket was $49; whereas NYP-WAS would have been the same $49. I call this a major win!
Jan 19 - WAS-PGH on Capitol Limited (paid coach ticket)
Jan 21/22 - PGH-CHI on Cap Ltd (paid coach ticket) - I am planning to go to the Louisville-Pitt basketball game that day, which ESPN has decided should start at 9 pm. I think I can still make the train, should the game not run too long, but just in case, I booked a Southwest flight for the first thing the following morning. My thinking is that I can cancel the mode of transportation that I do not take with little penalty - as long as I don't print my train ticket, my understanding is that it is fully refundable; if i don't take the flight, I can get a credit for future travel on Southwest...so, while not refundable, per se, I can still use the value of my fare for another flight down the road. Please correct me if I have this wrong.
Jan 22-24 - CHI-SFC on Cal Zephyr (AGR 2-zone roommette)....and now comes the question part....
Jan 25 - Fly either SFO/OAK-SEA or SFO/OAK-SAN - The costs are about the same either way, so that isn't a factor. The only real issue is whether or not I want to do the CS north-to-south or south-to-north. I haven't done either one yet, so that doesn't help me decide, either. Is the scenery better in one direction or the other? I know that there is a re-route on the northbound route, but since I have never taken the regular route, I don't know that it makes a difference to me there, either.
Jan 26/27 - SAN-SEA or SEA-SAN on the Coast Starlight (AGR 1-zone roommette) - The timing is about the same either way - depart in the morning; arrive late-night at destination a day-and-a-half later.
Jan 29 or 30 - Fly either SEA-MCO or SAN-MCO - Flight costs are about the same, so that is not a determining factor.
My Thoughts:
I am really, really torn. I have friends in both Seattle and San Diego. I LOVE Seattle, but have only been to San Diego once. That said, it is really comparing one full day in one place versus two full days in the other. It's not like it is THAT much of a difference. In my head, this is really a coin-flip, but am curious if someone has some input that could sway my decision in one direction or another. For instance, on the northbound ride, is there enough of a layover time for me to run to Philippe's and get a sandwich? ;-)
Any input is welcome - including things you think I might have missed in my planning. I am really looking forward to this, so talking about it is helping pass the time!