If you are going across country and have the time, train is a great way to go. And it is surprisingly economical. I had to go to a convention in LA and also had to burn at least half my 4 weeks accrued vacation around the same time. I booked AMTRAK [with the double sleeper room] and got a rail pass. 1st Class meals were included. Got good rest, lots of time to see the country. Also, no jet lag either way ...
Went from DC-CHI - overnight, then CHI-SEA - 3 days, then SEA-LA - 1 1/2 days. Spent 5 days in LA for the convention, then went LA-NO [New Orleans] - 3 days. Spent 5 days in NO. Then, went NO-DC - 2 1/2 days.
Total cost [including stays in LA and NO] was about $2800. My firm picked up $1600 as a business expense. So, it cost me only $1200, or $60/day [20 days]. If I had had to pick up the total coat, it was only $140.00/day.
I've gone cross-country on Amtrak, and being poor, I couldn't afford a sleeper. 2 and a half days from Seattle to Chicago in a partially reclining seat was pure misery.
I'll give points for the scenery, though.
Well, except for North Dakota at night.
Not much better in daytime.
Did you get to squeeze any tits along the way?
We traveled coach on Amtrak From Jacksonville TO D.C.. We arrived 12 hours late due to various mishaps. Upon arrival we immediately lodged complaints with Amtrak and in recompense, they upgraded our return trip form coach to a private stateroom.
Amtrak is a very nice way to travel if you have a lot of flexibility in your schedule and book a stateroom.
If I added correctly, you spent 10-1/2 days on a train. That sounds like a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime adventure. But it’s hard for train corporations to build a solid business case around people taking once-in-a-lifetime adventure joyrides.
Next week we are s off on an adventure
We are drIving up I 81 two Syracuse and Amtrak to Toronto,thence on the Canadian to Vancouver then from Victoria across the ferry to Washjington,thence after four days in the national park by bus to Seattle and Amtrak back to Syracuse
I’ve lost trAck of the cost but it is what she wanted for our 50th anniversary