T
Track-a-lack
Guest
Hi folks, I just discovered this forum today and have already learned a wealth of things about Amtrak rail travel. I will be taking my first-ever Amtrak trip in about two weeks, from Houston to New Orleans on the Sunset Limited, and then on the Crescent to Charlotte, NC. I will be working in Charlotte from the 18th-20th, then we're on to Williamsburg, VA, to vist family for a couple of weeks. Haven't decided if we're going to rent a car from CLT to WBG or try to take another train. I am leaning towards the train.
My wife and I will be traveling together in Coach. We really wanted to take a roomette both ways but for the two of us a round-trip roomette booking was something like $1700-$2000, which was really hard to justify when we could both fly for about $700. Now I have always wanted to travel by train, and she and I are both absolutely nuts for scenery and novelty. We usually drive from Houston to Williamsburg and back, because we hate flying, and especially airports, security theater, and cramped quarters. My wife suffers from chronic pain and has circulation problems and airplane seats and endless security lines and giant hard-paved concourses are just devastating to her. From all my research the train seems ideal as the seats even in coach are very large and by most reports comfortable and supportive, and there are ample opportunities to move around, step off the train briefly, visit the Lounge, Dining Car, etc.
As of yesterday it seems as though there is a 2-for-1 sale on Roomettes, although to be honest the prices don't seem to me to reflect that in the online booking. That or I am just not remembering what I was seeing before. So here is my situation:
Departing: My work paid for my Coach ticket from HOS to CLT, it is already booked. It was $158. We booked my wife's Coach ticket for the same ride, it was $197, only one day later, yikes! Departing HOS at noon-ish on Dec 16th on the Sunset Limited to NOL, then an overnight layover in New Orleans, where we booked a room at a nearby hotel, and then departing at 7:00AM-ish on the Crescent to CLT.
WBG to HOS, departing January 8th, 2019: 52 hours total travel time. First the 94 Northeast Regional to Washington, DC. A layover of 2-3 hours there, and then the Capitol Limited to Chicago, another 5 hour layover, and then the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth, where they put us on a Thruway bus back to Houston. Two travelers in a roomette , price is $770 if we take coach on the Northeast Regional, or $824 if we do Business Class for that first segment. We haven't booked yet, but I want to book ASAP because of the sale, and because prices always seem to go up when I wait.
On to my questions!
1. My wife and I booked separately. However, we are riding together. Do we count as traveling together, even though we are on separate reservations? So we can for sure sit together?
2. I am not terribly worried about not having a sleeper on the way to Charlotte, because we'll have a good night's sleep in New Orleans, and even though 17h is a long trip, we are accustomed to driving these long distances in my full-size crew-cab pickup, up to 12-14 hours a day anyway, and even though I love my truck and think it's nice, riding has got to be more restful and less stressful than driving. Would you guys generally agree that if I am comparing it to the stress of driving, the comfort level of even a Coach seat will be equivalent or better than even a nicely-appointed pickup truck?
3. Is $824 from WBG back to HOS a good price for two people, in a sleeper? It seems OK, but not really any cheaper than what I remember the return leg being before when I was looking, so I am not sure if the 2-for-1 is reflected in that price.
4. Are the thruway buses ok? I remember Greyhound and similar charter buses from my youth, and I don't remember really enjoying it, especially the small and smelly lavatory compartment. I hate to enjoy two nights in a sleeper and then have a buzzkill on a Greyhound at the very end of my trip! (follow-up question: wonder why ALL my return legs, every time I have looked, always route me back through Chicago and then the Texas Eagle... Not once has Amtrak reservations computer ever offered to bring us home via Crescent/City of New Orleans and then Sunset Limited!)
5. Is the use of the lounges in the big stations a good perk? I am reading mixed reviews of them, but it seems a nice thing, especially if my wife needs to sit down and rest. My comparison would be an airport waiting room or highway rest area.
6. No checked baggage on the Northeast Regional!? That seems so weird to me... what do I do with my extra bags? I think between the two of us we get 200lbs of luggage as carryon, plus i guess like her tote-purse thing and maybe my laptop bag... but we always seem to have more suitcases than normal people (accustomed to having the whole back of a full size pickup to ourselves) .. so how do you handle transitioning form a train with no Checked Baggage to one with Checked Baggage, or vice versa?
7. Is the extra $55 or so for Business Class on the Northeast Regional worth it? It's the shortest segment of the trip overall, but since we still need to get from Charlotte to Williamsburg, I am considering saving the money. I admit I want to TRY Business Class, but not if you guys convince me it's not worth $55.
This is way longer than I anticipated, thank you all for your consideration.
My wife and I will be traveling together in Coach. We really wanted to take a roomette both ways but for the two of us a round-trip roomette booking was something like $1700-$2000, which was really hard to justify when we could both fly for about $700. Now I have always wanted to travel by train, and she and I are both absolutely nuts for scenery and novelty. We usually drive from Houston to Williamsburg and back, because we hate flying, and especially airports, security theater, and cramped quarters. My wife suffers from chronic pain and has circulation problems and airplane seats and endless security lines and giant hard-paved concourses are just devastating to her. From all my research the train seems ideal as the seats even in coach are very large and by most reports comfortable and supportive, and there are ample opportunities to move around, step off the train briefly, visit the Lounge, Dining Car, etc.
As of yesterday it seems as though there is a 2-for-1 sale on Roomettes, although to be honest the prices don't seem to me to reflect that in the online booking. That or I am just not remembering what I was seeing before. So here is my situation:
Departing: My work paid for my Coach ticket from HOS to CLT, it is already booked. It was $158. We booked my wife's Coach ticket for the same ride, it was $197, only one day later, yikes! Departing HOS at noon-ish on Dec 16th on the Sunset Limited to NOL, then an overnight layover in New Orleans, where we booked a room at a nearby hotel, and then departing at 7:00AM-ish on the Crescent to CLT.
WBG to HOS, departing January 8th, 2019: 52 hours total travel time. First the 94 Northeast Regional to Washington, DC. A layover of 2-3 hours there, and then the Capitol Limited to Chicago, another 5 hour layover, and then the Texas Eagle to Fort Worth, where they put us on a Thruway bus back to Houston. Two travelers in a roomette , price is $770 if we take coach on the Northeast Regional, or $824 if we do Business Class for that first segment. We haven't booked yet, but I want to book ASAP because of the sale, and because prices always seem to go up when I wait.
On to my questions!
1. My wife and I booked separately. However, we are riding together. Do we count as traveling together, even though we are on separate reservations? So we can for sure sit together?
2. I am not terribly worried about not having a sleeper on the way to Charlotte, because we'll have a good night's sleep in New Orleans, and even though 17h is a long trip, we are accustomed to driving these long distances in my full-size crew-cab pickup, up to 12-14 hours a day anyway, and even though I love my truck and think it's nice, riding has got to be more restful and less stressful than driving. Would you guys generally agree that if I am comparing it to the stress of driving, the comfort level of even a Coach seat will be equivalent or better than even a nicely-appointed pickup truck?
3. Is $824 from WBG back to HOS a good price for two people, in a sleeper? It seems OK, but not really any cheaper than what I remember the return leg being before when I was looking, so I am not sure if the 2-for-1 is reflected in that price.
4. Are the thruway buses ok? I remember Greyhound and similar charter buses from my youth, and I don't remember really enjoying it, especially the small and smelly lavatory compartment. I hate to enjoy two nights in a sleeper and then have a buzzkill on a Greyhound at the very end of my trip! (follow-up question: wonder why ALL my return legs, every time I have looked, always route me back through Chicago and then the Texas Eagle... Not once has Amtrak reservations computer ever offered to bring us home via Crescent/City of New Orleans and then Sunset Limited!)
5. Is the use of the lounges in the big stations a good perk? I am reading mixed reviews of them, but it seems a nice thing, especially if my wife needs to sit down and rest. My comparison would be an airport waiting room or highway rest area.
6. No checked baggage on the Northeast Regional!? That seems so weird to me... what do I do with my extra bags? I think between the two of us we get 200lbs of luggage as carryon, plus i guess like her tote-purse thing and maybe my laptop bag... but we always seem to have more suitcases than normal people (accustomed to having the whole back of a full size pickup to ourselves) .. so how do you handle transitioning form a train with no Checked Baggage to one with Checked Baggage, or vice versa?
7. Is the extra $55 or so for Business Class on the Northeast Regional worth it? It's the shortest segment of the trip overall, but since we still need to get from Charlotte to Williamsburg, I am considering saving the money. I admit I want to TRY Business Class, but not if you guys convince me it's not worth $55.
This is way longer than I anticipated, thank you all for your consideration.