Has anyone ridden cross country on a train?

[XOEnterprises]

GF lives on the other coast (South Carolina to be exact), and I decided to move over there after I graduate college, so we can be together while she finishes college there. I don't even want to talk about plane flights(scary expensive for a nonstop to anywhere close), so I looked up the Amtrak schedule. It's a lot cheaper than I expected.

Any advice? I've only ridden the train once, and it was on time(Spokane to Seattle). Are they frequently late? Should I splurge for a sleeper car for at least part of the trip so I can sleep during those four days? Is there a "best" route? Or should I just eat cheap for the next year and buy that $800 plane ticket? :scared:

Thanks!

[fizzgig]

1. $800 airfare?

are you flying from bumblefuck to e. bumblefuck? i know layovers suck, but with some of my trips i have to bite the bullet and do it for the sake of my wallet.

kidding aside, the furthest i've ridden a train was from denver to western illinois (950ish miles) and i hated it. we were several hours late getting in and not having a sleeper car sucks. and from what i understand, amtrak can often be late and very late, at that.

i would road trip it, but that sounds like it's not an option.

eta: i hope it works out and much happiness to you both

[XOEnterprises]

3. Nope-Seattle to Charlotte.

:grr: I'm thinking about the plane-I was looking at them to bring her here for a week, but she's never flown, so we're both leery of having her do that, so that's why I even looked at the nonstops.

Yeah, I was on a night train for Spokane-Seattle, and it sucked then. I can sleep for a time on buses and trains, just not well. I don't think I want to show up looking like a worn out leather shoe when she picked me up. Roadtripping won't work-I don't drive.

Thanks!

[fizzgig]

4. when do you want her to visit?

i just found an early september flight for about $250

[XOEnterprises]

6. End of February-Early March.

I can't pay for both(especially not now, as I didn't take a job in exchange for an internship this summer), since I'm going to need money to set up over on the other coast, and that's her Spring Break, which seems very early for a Break, but I don't make the rules.

[fizzgig]

9. gotcha

here are my tips for shopping for airfare (and i fly fairly regularly)

1) i don't even start looking for flights until about 10 weeks before i travel. and even then, i keep watching them for another few weeks

2) i look in the middle of the night. it's not a peak time for people to be buying plane tickets and it's generally cheaper. i'm talking 2-5 a.m. (usually) eastern time. but my point is check fairs at different times of the day.

3) hit all the meta sites - travelocity, expedia, orbitz, etc. once i do that, i go directly to the airline with the lowest price and can generally find an even lower fair.

4) keep watching the fares after you buy the ticket. if you find a lower fare and call the airline, you can usually get your air fare reduced.

good luck

[XemaSab]

2. I have ridden across the country on the train a few times

It's not cheap, and it's very late.

YMMV.

[XOEnterprises]

7. That's what I'm afraid of.

I could push back my departure from Chicago and stay with friends just in case, but not for the DC connection.

Thanks!

[bridgit]

5. I have, I like traveling on trains. If you go to the Amtrak site they lay it all out...

http://www.amtrak.com There's a 'private room' I think they call it, a bit cheaper than a sleeper but would be *way* cool B-)

[XOEnterprises]

8. I did that.

I like trains, too, just maybe not four days of travelling like.

[bridgit]

12. Oh I hear you, not quite a Viking Saga but still...the riding, riding, riding, oy!

Good luck though, and try to have fun one way or the other :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. I travelled as a child with my parents from Chicago to Wash State.

We had two sleeping compartments and it was lovely!

Now this was a long time ago...

I have no idea about the cost, but we did sleep well.

We ate well too, in the dining car, and the observation car was to die for...

They are often late, or so I hear.

But I would still recommend this as a great and relaxing way to cross the country...

:hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. I went halfway to the West Coast and back in 1969

:shrug:

Minneapolis to Portland to Vancouver BC to Winnepeg to Minneapolis. It was still possible in those days.