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I just got back from a Chicago to Indianapolis trip. I was attending a conference there and this seemed like a good excuse to ride Amtrak. With the AAA discount, the one way price was $23. For two travelers, the train fare worked out to be less expensive than driving. Note that parking at the...

My wife and I live in the Chicago area, and last summer we started planning a winter escape for January 2013. We were mainly interested in a Caribbean cruise and did not care which port we cruised from. We found some very attractive pricing on the Navigator of the Seas out of New Orleans. To...

I will be riding to New Orleans in roomette from Chicago. When I arrive at the station with my bags, can I go direct to the lounge and check in and check bags there, or do I need to go to one of the Amtrak desks first? Also, where do taxi's drop off at the station, and from that point, how do...

I will be riding the City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans for a cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. In a way, my cruise will start as soon as I step on the train. I have a roomette and am very much looking foward to this trip. Here's my question: on the way back, I will have roughly...

I have enjoyed several day trips on Amtrak, and now I have just booked my first overnight trip. We’re in a roomette on the CONO all the way from Chicago to New Orleans. I’m very excited about the trip. January may not be the ideal time for this journey, but we’re cruising out of New Orleans and...

This was our first trip on a long distance train. I made the reservations for my wife and me about two months ago. We live within a ten-minute drive of the Glenview station (GLN in Illinois), so boarding in Glenview made for an easy start (and end) to the trip. We opted for a roomette in order...

The Empire Builder from Chicago to Glacier National Park fills up amazing quickly for travel during the summer months. If I want to travel next August or September, it is time to book. I am curious as to what the best strategy is. Amtrak allows you to book trains up to 11 months in advance. To...

By the shores of Gitche Gumee, otherwise known as Lake Michigan in this travelogue, I went on my very first Amtrak trip. What follows are the observations and thoughts of a first time rider. This was a short trip from Glenview, IL to Milwaukee, WI and back. My wife and I were off to a weekend...

AstroCat here. I have been reading the forum for a few weeks and posting questions as I plan my first trip. I probably will not have much more to say until I take that trip. This forum seems like a pleasant and informative place for Amtrak conversation, and I like the pro-rail attitude...

My Glenview (Illinois) to St. Paul trip in October was going to be my first Amtrak experience. However, I am going to Milwaukee in a few weeks and it occurs to me that it might be fun to ride the Hiawatha instead of driving. The Milwaukee trip would then be a warm-up for the St. Paul trip. I...

Greetings all! I am in the process of arranging my first Amtrak trip, a round trip from Glenview, Ill to St. Paul, MN on the Empire Builder. As part of my research, I read the FAQs and the First Time Rider Info, which were very helpful. They answered some of my questions, but led to ever more...