Insider.com and businessinsider.com stories about Amtrak trips

[tgstubbs1]

Another train ride review from Insider ...this one has almost completely positive comments.

"I traveled around the continental US by train in under 30 days using an Amtrak Rail Pass I got for $299 (the price is now closer to $499).

Traveling by Amtrak trains was the perfect segue into the intrepid world of solo travel. The room options were impressive and even more comfortable than flying first class in the air."

I spent over 160 hours traveling to major US cities by train for $299. Here are 10 things that surprised me

As a solo traveler, I spent days riding Amtrak trains with my summer Rail Pass. From kind passengers to fresh meals, here's what I found surprising.

www.insider.com

 

[PaTrainFan]

That is well written, unlike a few of the other recent stories from Insider.com. She comes from a naive viewpoint but it is somewhat refreshing, and it is good to know she is now a fan.

 

[tgstubbs1]

That is well written, unlike a few of the other recent stories from Insider.com. She comes from a naive viewpoint but it is somewhat refreshing, and it is good to know she is now a fan.

True.


"This entire piece is basically a paean to train travel.

With ample legroom, a long digital detox, friendly people to chat with, I can't praise train travel enough. Plus I get to fulfill my dream of staring out of a train window wistfully thinking about my long-lost paramour. "


I think it's too bad she left out her route and the places she visited.
Maybe there will be follow-up articles.

 

[Sidney]

If the author traveled on the rail.pass how did she get a roomette? Of course she could have used a separate segment. i did that on my pass last September adding two roomettes.

Good article and very positive.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Rail travel must be a hot topic. Another Insider trip report. She got a great price.

Nothing much about the food but good observations about LD trains.

I took a 35-hour train ride from Denver to San Francisco for $74. Here are 8 things that surprised me.

I spent over a day riding an Amtrak train from Colorado to California through the Rocky Mountains. Here's what I found surprising from my trip.

www.insider.com

"My ticket cost $74 (thanks to a 50%-off sale from Amtrak), but I was still traveling in coach and had to sleep in my seat.

If there wasn't a sale, flying would've been both a cheaper and more convenient option."

 

[MARC Rider]

"My ticket cost $74 (thanks to a 50%-off sale from Amtrak), but I was still traveling in coach and had to sleep in my seat.

If there wasn't a sale, flying would've been both a cheaper and more convenient option."

I've noticed that even without the sales, the Amtrak coach tickets seem to be cheaper than usual. Is this also true for the airlines? And, when it comes to the cheap airline fares quoted in these sorts of news articles, I never seem to be able to find them when I want to fly somewhere.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I've noticed that even without the sales, the Amtrak coach tickets seem to be cheaper than usual. Is this also true for the airlines? And, when it comes to the cheap airline fares quoted in these sorts of news articles, I never seem to be able to find them when I want to fly somewhere.

It's called "Bait and Switch" Joe!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

"My ticket cost $74 (thanks to a 50%-off sale from Amtrak), but I was still traveling in coach and had to sleep in my seat.

This seems to be a good time to travel in coach for cheap but I'm a bit too old and my trips are a bit too long.

That is well written, unlike a few of the other recent stories from Insider.com. She comes from a naive viewpoint but it is somewhat refreshing, and it is good to know she is now a fan.

It's not exactly balanced but maybe it sparks some interest in people tired of flying or driving.

And, when it comes to the cheap airline fares quoted in these sorts of news articles, I never seem to be able to find them when I want to fly somewhere.

It's called "Bait and Switch" Joe!

If you're very flexible about travel dates and destinations you can find inexpensive fares. People would hear that I flew for whatever price and figure I could find them the same deal, but when they came to me they had already locked themselves into dates and destinations with only the day of purchase to work with.

 

[Exvalley]

The articles just keep on coming:

I spent 60 hours on trains traveling between NYC and Miami to avoid flying. Next time I'll face my fears and get on a plane.

Insider's reporter has never been a fan of flying but thought that the comfort and privacy of long-haul train travel weren't worth the longer trip.

www.insider.com

 

[tgstubbs1]

It seems they often quote the number of hours on the train. 160 hours, 35 hours, etc. I guess it comes from their point of view about the speed of train travel.

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

That‘s the poo puri girl again. It’s not so much the articles keep coming (they do) but each article seems to be published five times with a few tweaks. I’d really like to know who at Amtrak is behind them and what the pay off is/was. Going out on a limb I’d assume it’s Gardner since all the writers are millennials. I’m sure whoever is behind them flipped when the first bunch came out negative. Suggestion to management ride the trains yourselves instead of relying on hired reporters to tell you and the world what’s going on with your company.

My hunch someone at Amtrak knows someone at Insider so while no money or consideration may be trading hands some sort of quid pro quo is going on or at the very minimum a favor between friends.

The articles just keep on coming:

I spent 60 hours on trains traveling between NYC and Miami to avoid flying. Next time I'll face my fears and get on a plane.

Insider's reporter has never been a fan of flying but thought that the comfort and privacy of long-haul train travel weren't worth the longer trip.

www.insider.com

 

[bms]

I just hate how they format these articles as lists rather than actual articles.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I just hate how they format these articles as lists rather than actual articles.

Maybe Insder gives them the format?

 

[joelkfla]

Maybe Insder gives them the format?

Maybe the authors don't possess the skills to write an actual article.

 

[Ryan]

I’d really like to know who at Amtrak is behind them and what the pay off is/was. Going out on a limb I’d assume it’s Gardner since all the writers are millennials. I’m sure whoever is behind them flipped when the first bunch came out negative. Suggestion to management ride the trains yourselves instead of relying on hired reporters to tell you and the world what’s going on with your company.

My hunch someone at Amtrak knows someone at Insider so while no money or consideration may be trading hands some sort of quid pro quo is going on or at the very minimum a favor between friends.

Objection, assuming facts not in evidence.

 

[Night Ranger]

Objection, assuming facts not in evidence.

Objection sustained.

 

[tgstubbs1]

My hunch someone at Amtrak knows someone at Insider so while no money or consideration may be trading hands some sort of quid pro quo is going on or at the very minimum a favor between friends.

But the tone of most of these articles suggest someone else might be behind them.

Probably somebody that works for the airlines

 

[SarahZ]

But the tone of most of these articles suggest someone else might be behind them.

Probably somebody that works for the airlines

This forum excels at finding zebras in a field full of horses.

 

[Exvalley]

The article says that Amtrak did not provide the ticket, so I don't think that they were behind the article.

 

[Cal]

Objection, assuming facts not in evidence.

Objection sustained.

First off, I agree, and I believe they have to say if they are being paid to write positively about a company.
Secondly, why would Gardner want people to publish multiple articles on how bad Amtrak can be, driving away potential passengers? Unless it's part of their anti-long distance plan to drive down ridership.

And lastly, love the language.

 

[flitcraft]

Soon to come article:

"I spent 30 hours on an Amtrak train and survived due to one weird trick"

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Soon to come article: "I spent 30 hours on an Amtrak train and survived due to one weird trick"

"Top ten secrets Amtrak does not want anyone to know. (Number 6 will shock you!)"

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

Longer version of previous article

14 things that surprised me the most about overnight Amtrak rides after spending 60 hours in sleeper cars

Expensive fares, a shower-toilet combo, and fuzzy blankets are a few of the things that Insider's reporter found surprising on Amtrak sleeper cars.

news.yahoo.com

 

[Eric in East County]

Amtrak should figure out a way share the trip reports which are posted on AU with potential customers. These are written by real people who merely want to share their travel experiences, both good and bad, with other people who travel by train. (Those trip reports written by experience train travelers often contain useful tips and information which can make traveling by train a more positive experience.)

We consider trip reports, particularly those that are well written, to be more honest and believable than Amtrak advertising or the articles written by professional writers who, more often than not, have some agenda they wish to promote.

Eric & Pat

 

[Cal]

Amtrak should figure out a way share the trip reports which are posted on AU with potential customers. These are written by real people who merely want to share their travel experiences, both good and bad, with other people who travel by train. (Those trip reports written by experience train travelers often contain useful tips and information which can make traveling by train a more positive experience.)

We consider trip reports, particularly those that are well written, to be more honest and believable than Amtrak advertising or the articles written by professional writers who, more often than not, have some agenda they wish to promote.

Eric & Pat

Amtrak has no affiliation with AU other than the name and what we discuss, but they probably don’t know of us and/or don’t pay attention. Also, why would Amtrak want to share trip reports where the bad is not overlooked?

there are many other ways to share trip reports online, I’m sure.