Dont be scared off, this is a "HIGH Bucket"(top price, sold out train price!)The differences in prices CAN BE vast depending on when you book your trip! That's why I suggested you book early as possible, have your itenerary ready when you purchase your rail passes ($389 X 2=$778 for 15 days/8 segments).Whoa Henry - now I'm really confused. We thought the Rail Pass got us anywhere we wanted to go within the limitations of the segment rules and routes).
You are saying (I think) that you have to pay extra fares for different segments on top of the Rail Pass?
i.e in your post..."From SFC to BUF(Buffalo/Niagra Falls) a roomette is $448 for the Chicago leg and an additional $207 between Chicago and Buffalo". and "The Roomette charge between New York and Orlando is $344. So the total cost of your trip for two would be around $1,800.
That's a lot more than we expected - 2 x $389 (Rail Pass), plus upgrade to a bedroom or roomette, whatever that costs.
Can someone please clarify.
We have decided on the California Zephyr in mid-August BTW, though maybe not if those prices are correct!
I made a test booking in August of this year on Amtrak.com (you can do this too!) and found the following using August 16 as your date to leave
Emeryville-CHI CZ#6 Roomette for 2 $262 (the absolute lowest price, called Low Bucket!), 2 1/2 days/2 nights, 7 meals for 2!!! CHI-BUf LSL #48 8/18-8/19 Roomette for 2 $165
(only 1 meal/breakfast, not necessary!), NFLS-NYP Empire Serice 8/20 Business Class $27 (not necessary)/345AM!-1235PM or The Maple Leaf from NFLS-NYP
12:40PM-9:35PM (Biz class $27, again not necessary). Spend the night in NYCity: NYP-TPA (Tampa) Silver Star #91 10:50AM-12:35PM 8/21 Sleeper for 2
including 3 meALS $198. Thats looking 8 months ahead, the longer you wait the higher it gets! Of course the LA-New Orleans-WAS route would be a little cheaper and quicker but dont know about air fares from NZ-USA??? Hope this helps! Jim
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