Train Travel

[Jake_Taylor]

I need to take the kids out to see my folks and I'm considering Amtrak. Me, a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old on a train for about 20 hours. If I can get a good deal on a sleeper car, is that idea completely insane?

I think the girls would think seeing the country that way is cool, but if things aren't going well we could be trapped for hours upon hours. I'm not sure if it's better or worse than dragging them through airports.

 

[Chef2]

You gonna stop and see Cousin Patty?
(tip of the cap if anyone gets this)

 

[bigpern23]

I've never done anything close to a 20-hour trip, but my experience riding Amtrak with my kids has been outstanding. They can get up and move around a lot more than on an airplane, seats are more comfortable, the air isn't as dry. We've done a couple of 4-hour trips with a 6- and a 3-year-0ld and it's been super easy.

I recommend the Red Cap service to make it a little easier. It's free (though you'll probably want to tip the server), you get early boarding privileges and they carry your bags for you so you can focus on the kids.

Pro tip: Bring food or visit the cafe car early. It often sells out of certain foods.

 

[Gutter]

You gonna stop and see Cousin Patty?
(tip of the cap if anyone gets this)

He doesn't have a Cousin Paddy.

"You lied to me!"

 

[Chef2]

He doesn't have a Cousin Paddy.

"You lied to me!"

 

[Songbird]

Amtrak (and trains in general) is a great mode of travel. I always take the train from Rensselaer to Gotham. So relaxing to chill for a few hours with a laptop and the views of the Hudson. I love to drive but sometimes it's much easier to let someone else get you there.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

I've done it solo on shorter trips and love riding a train. If the price is right I'm thinking it can't be much worse than taking kids on a plane, plus it should be memorable for them.

 

[bumpy mcgee]

About 30 years ago my mom took my sister and I (who were about the same age as your kids) from Galesburg, Illinois to Dallas aboard Amtrak. She still swears it was the worst trip of her life.
We did not have a sleeper car though, so that would probably be worth the investment.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I always take the train between New York and Boston. There is no good way to travel to and from those two cities, but Amtrak is the least bad. But 20 hours is a long time. If you can't get a sleeper car, don't do it.

 

[TigerVols]

Jake, have you checked the price? I would think 3 tickets on a sleeper would be about the same as an airline trip.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Jake, have you checked the price? I would think 3 tickets on a sleeper would be about the same as an airline trip.

There is an Amtrak rep supposed to call me. I’ve been told there is a deal to be had, but I’m not doing it unless it’s cheaper than plane tickets. Flying sucks because my parents live a couple hours away from either KC or Wichita and neither is cheap to fly to from here.

 

[Batman]

There is an Amtrak rep supposed to call me. I’ve been told there is a deal to be had, but I’m not doing it unless it’s cheaper than plane tickets. Flying sucks because my parents live a couple hours away from either KC or Wichita and neither is cheap to fly to from here.

You also need to consider what's in and around the train station vs. the airport. I know some cities have the train and bus stations in the same large depot and it's like the third circle of hell. Bad parts of the city, not a lot of rental car facilities around, etc. Airports, for all their faults, at least have rental cars readily available and themselves are relatively safe. Even if there's a price difference, ask yourself if it's enough to make up for any inconvenience you might encounter once there.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

That's not really an issue. I'd be leaving out of our tiny little local station and most likely picked up by my sister at Union Station in KC. No parking or rental car concerns. Neighborhoods are both great.

 

[Wenders]

Took the Amtrak from KC to Chicago two years ago. It was a great trip, would do Amtrak again. You can take enough luggage on board to actually MOVE to where you're going, the seats are spacious, some lines have wi-fi so you can watch Netflix the whole way if you want. It was only a six hour trip but I am intrigued to hear if your sleeper car plan is cheaper.

 

[Vombatus]

Jake, go for it.

Of the 20 hours, do you know about where you will be during nighttime? It’s a lot harder to see the scenery of course.

Sleeper car if you can afford it. Coach can be done, but sleeping is rough. One tip is to break up a coach ride by going to the club car, and playing some cards.

Getting the kids to drink some whiskey, oops, I mean cough syrup, and falling asleep might help too.

Good luck!

 

[Azrael]

Couple things.

First. The train is always late. Say it with me. The train is always late. And not just a little late. Hours late. So factor that into your thinking. What if that "20 hour" trip becomes a "26 hour trip"?

And the sleeper car always sounds better than it is. I would guess especially for kids. My concern would be that you and the children get no sleep at all, and begin your visit exhausted.

The train should be better, and on some commuter routes is better, but I'd be wary of it when traveling with children.

Maybe part of the price of flying is the relative convenience. Good luck.

 

[Songbird]

Maybe part of the price of flying is the relative convenience.

And, you get to dress up to fly; or are expected to by those who do.

 

[Azrael]

And, you get to dress up to fly; or are expected to by those who do.

I dress up for both!

Just like Cary Grant in 'North by Northwest.'

 

[Buck]

Took Amtrak from Philly to Miami when I was very young,

I dress up for both!

Just like Cary Grant in 'North by Northwest.'

Actually a good point tangential to yours:
There seems to be a lot of murders, mysteries and spy chases on long train rides
I don't think I'd want my kids around that

 

[typefitter]

When I was a kid, my family took epic trips every summer. Sometimes those trips were by train. Once, we took a train all the way down the east coast, from Toronto to Miami, stopping in New York, DC, and so on. Another time we took the train across to Chicago and down to New Orleans.

We were not well off, so the sleeper car was somebody else's dream. I remember night falling and sitting in my seat trying to sleep. I can still remember the look and feel of that vinyl seat, what, more than thirty years later? I remember dozing off and waking up every time the train pulled into a station, because the whistle blew and the speed changes and the bustle as people boarded and disembarked. I remember sitting there watching lights streak past the window and wondering whether I might ever sleep again. I remember when we finally got to New Orleans, the euphoria of it, and I remember when I saw my first naked woman, when a starkers stripper ran into the street. I remember getting back on the train to come home and thinking, I'm not sure I'm going to survive 23 hours in this seat. I remember the pizza, in a wet cardboard box, I ate from the canteen for breakfast.

On the plus side, I remember all of those things, as clearly as though I am living them now, and it makes me think of my mum and dad and how hard they worked for us to see the world even though money was tight, and I could almost cry thinking about it.

Put me down on the "Do it" side of the ledger, please and thank you.