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I’ve taken the auto train with a sleeper from DC to Orlando. The food was great. You’re seated with strangers for meals, like on a cruse, and the conversation is interesting. The bed was comfortable, but sleeping was impossible with the air horn blowing all night while the train rattled and bumped its way through the night.

“I’ve taken the auto train with a sleeper from DC to Orlando. The food was great. You’re seated with strangers for meals, like on a cruse, and the conversation is interesting. The bed was comfortable, but sleeping was impossible with the air horn blowing all night while the train rattled and bumped its way through the night.”

I’ve never taken the auto-train, would like to sometime. I wish it come up to NYC or Boston.

My family used to take the auto train once or twice a year to head to grandma in Florida. It was such a treat. We started in 2001 when our girls were small. My mother-in-law paid the first time because she wanted the girls to experience the train. We were hooked. Hubby won’t fly so it became standard for us to drive one way, autotrain the other. I would tell my family and friends, “it’s not cheaper..but it’s part of the vacation...an adventure”.

We did it for about 15 years. It was wonderful. We always booked Bedrooms. Wine and cheese party before 4pm departure in the sleeper lounge car, a nice steak dinner with 2 glasses of wine included, then off to bed. Sadly, the last few years the “adventure” has gone down and the prices have gone up. Gone are the wine and cheese tasting, gone is the wine at dinner, gone are the beautifully set tables...now basically plastic cups, etc. The first time they took away the sleeper lounge car to force all passengers into one lounge car, we saw the handwriting on the wall. It became a very expensive no-frills type trip. But..we had a good run with them. The girls are grown and have fond memories of our adventures.