- Joined
- Mar 21, 2015
- Messages
- 10
Hi everybody,
this May I will finally make a trip that I planned in my mind (and dreams) for years: US coast to coast by train!
I've always used train as my main transportation system here in Italy, but US is so much bigger... Anyway I'm really eager to start!
Here's my itinerary and some doubts I have, if you have any suggestions they are really welcomed!
I'll arrive in NYC around the end of May and stay there a few days. Then:
Day 1: NYP-WAS (no idea which train to take, maybe Cardinal early in the morning?)
night in Washington
Day 2: WAS-CHI on the Capitol Limited
Day 3-4: Chicago
Day 5-6: CHI-ABQ on the Southwest Chief (I loved Breaking Bad, I cannot pass by Albuquerque and not stop )
Day 7: ABQ-FLG on the Southwest Chief
night in Flagstaff
Day 8: FLG-LAX on the Southwest Chief after visiting Grand Canyon (do you think is feasible in one day?)
Day 9-10-11: Los Angeles
Day 12: LAX-EMY on the Coast Starlight and then bus to SF
My trip will end in San Francisco where, after a few days, a boring plane will take me back to Europe
So here's my doubts:
- to Rail pass or not to Rail Pass? I could buy the 15 days one (459$) but, as today, buying single tickets for each segment on the Amtrak website would cost 451$ total. Is there any reason to prefer the pass? If I've understood correctly I'd have to write to Amtrak to reserve every single segment too...
- about checked baggage (something we don't have here in trains): is it mandatory or only for convenience? What if I'm taking a train without checked baggage service, can I bring my luggage inside? I think I'll travel with a big backpack (that I'd ideally check in) and a small one (to keep with me).
- how does reserved seats work? Here when I buy a ticket I can choose the place where will I seat (and get a seat number). In Amtrak, if I've understood correctly, you don't get a predefined seat. So, basically, it's a first come-first served policy? If so, how much time in advance should arrive in the station to choose the best seats?
What do you think? I've planned this trip based on information I gathered on internet (mostly on this website), any suggestion from people who actually traveled this routes would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
this May I will finally make a trip that I planned in my mind (and dreams) for years: US coast to coast by train!
I've always used train as my main transportation system here in Italy, but US is so much bigger... Anyway I'm really eager to start!
Here's my itinerary and some doubts I have, if you have any suggestions they are really welcomed!
I'll arrive in NYC around the end of May and stay there a few days. Then:
Day 1: NYP-WAS (no idea which train to take, maybe Cardinal early in the morning?)
night in Washington
Day 2: WAS-CHI on the Capitol Limited
Day 3-4: Chicago
Day 5-6: CHI-ABQ on the Southwest Chief (I loved Breaking Bad, I cannot pass by Albuquerque and not stop )
Day 7: ABQ-FLG on the Southwest Chief
night in Flagstaff
Day 8: FLG-LAX on the Southwest Chief after visiting Grand Canyon (do you think is feasible in one day?)
Day 9-10-11: Los Angeles
Day 12: LAX-EMY on the Coast Starlight and then bus to SF
My trip will end in San Francisco where, after a few days, a boring plane will take me back to Europe
So here's my doubts:
- to Rail pass or not to Rail Pass? I could buy the 15 days one (459$) but, as today, buying single tickets for each segment on the Amtrak website would cost 451$ total. Is there any reason to prefer the pass? If I've understood correctly I'd have to write to Amtrak to reserve every single segment too...
- about checked baggage (something we don't have here in trains): is it mandatory or only for convenience? What if I'm taking a train without checked baggage service, can I bring my luggage inside? I think I'll travel with a big backpack (that I'd ideally check in) and a small one (to keep with me).
- how does reserved seats work? Here when I buy a ticket I can choose the place where will I seat (and get a seat number). In Amtrak, if I've understood correctly, you don't get a predefined seat. So, basically, it's a first come-first served policy? If so, how much time in advance should arrive in the station to choose the best seats?
What do you think? I've planned this trip based on information I gathered on internet (mostly on this website), any suggestion from people who actually traveled this routes would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!