The Crazy Vacationer
Train Attendant
To date, I've ridden Amtrak 3 times: St. Paul to Duluth (one way), and St. Paul to Wisconsin Dells (round trip) - both times in coach.
I'm taking my family - wife and 2 sons (9 and 14) to Glacier in June 2011 for a family vacation. We have also talked about taking the train for a vacation. When doing our vacation planning, we decided that driving to Glacier made more sense, and that we would wait with the train for another trip. My 9 year old was disappointed, but he understood and said it was OK.
BUT I decided to take one more look at the train, and booked that instead.
From STP to GPK, I've booked ourselves sleeping accomodations. Due to the way things are priced, I was getting a headache as I was booking for four people and 2 roomettes - the roomette prices kept jumping up much higher than indicated. So I booked tickets and a roomette for two and it worked perfectly. Then I went back to book the other two and a second roomette; the price for the roomette had almost doubled. But for $40 more, I could get the family room, so that's what I did. We're in car 2730 (Portland sleeper); the roomette is #2 (upstairs) and the family room is downstairs. I would have booked the family room only, but my 14 year old is taller than I am, so I doubt he would fit on one of the child bunks in the family room. We're going to check it out on this trip. I'm thinking this is actually a good plan, because we'll be able to be in the same room during the day. (I'm going to sleep in the roomette with the younger son since the rooms are on different floors; if they were next to each other, I would have considered letting the boys be by themselves.)
For our return trip, though, the room cost is quite a bit more, so it will be coach, for now. I plan on checking to see if a room is available when we board.
The only bad thing about this trip is that I have to rent a car when we get there. I do save 4 days of driving, though, by taking the train. Plus, the train becomes part of our adventure.
Depending on how things go, I'm already thinking about booking the train from St. Paul to Washington, DC for March, 2012 during the boys' spring break. Connecting through Chicago, timing wise, works well, and you really don't need a car in DC with the Metro. It's too early to book travel to DC now, but it's high on my list.
I've been reading my way through these boards; very informative. I'm going to feel like a newbie pro when I get there.
Thanks everyone and have a great day.
Tom
I'm taking my family - wife and 2 sons (9 and 14) to Glacier in June 2011 for a family vacation. We have also talked about taking the train for a vacation. When doing our vacation planning, we decided that driving to Glacier made more sense, and that we would wait with the train for another trip. My 9 year old was disappointed, but he understood and said it was OK.
BUT I decided to take one more look at the train, and booked that instead.
From STP to GPK, I've booked ourselves sleeping accomodations. Due to the way things are priced, I was getting a headache as I was booking for four people and 2 roomettes - the roomette prices kept jumping up much higher than indicated. So I booked tickets and a roomette for two and it worked perfectly. Then I went back to book the other two and a second roomette; the price for the roomette had almost doubled. But for $40 more, I could get the family room, so that's what I did. We're in car 2730 (Portland sleeper); the roomette is #2 (upstairs) and the family room is downstairs. I would have booked the family room only, but my 14 year old is taller than I am, so I doubt he would fit on one of the child bunks in the family room. We're going to check it out on this trip. I'm thinking this is actually a good plan, because we'll be able to be in the same room during the day. (I'm going to sleep in the roomette with the younger son since the rooms are on different floors; if they were next to each other, I would have considered letting the boys be by themselves.)
For our return trip, though, the room cost is quite a bit more, so it will be coach, for now. I plan on checking to see if a room is available when we board.
The only bad thing about this trip is that I have to rent a car when we get there. I do save 4 days of driving, though, by taking the train. Plus, the train becomes part of our adventure.
Depending on how things go, I'm already thinking about booking the train from St. Paul to Washington, DC for March, 2012 during the boys' spring break. Connecting through Chicago, timing wise, works well, and you really don't need a car in DC with the Metro. It's too early to book travel to DC now, but it's high on my list.
I've been reading my way through these boards; very informative. I'm going to feel like a newbie pro when I get there.
Thanks everyone and have a great day.
Tom
