Hi guys, Im suffering of fear to fly and I should travel from miami to LA, Im interested in tips to travel by Amtrak, its will be my firts "escape" on train, I know it will be 4 days in train and three stops but i need advises about it.
2007-03-29 18:16:03 · 5 answers · asked by freedomxxx2001 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Other - United States
If at all possible, do a sleeper car on one or two legs of the trip. If you can't because of cost, here are some tips for your comfort.
1) Do take a blanket and pillow ...the trains can get cold, and you want to be comfortable.
2) An eye mask is not a bad idea! Also, an mp3 player or CD player is almost a must ... it helps you sleep in the coach sleeps, as well as entertaining you and drowning out noise when you are awake.
3) Take a collapsible cooler of beverages and foods. Non-carbonated drinks can be frozen to keep the cooler warm and will gradually thaw, keeping you in cold drinks throughout the trip. Pack fruits like apples, oranges, grapes; cereal bars; tuna in foil packaging, or preserved meats (jerky, pepparoni); crackers, and things like that. Eat one meal a day in the dining car (or more if you want). (Meals are included if you travel via sleeper car). Meals run around $10 each and aren't bad. Snacks are expensive for what you get, and there isn't a large variety, nor are they very good.
4) Take a camera if you have one! You can take some great photo's through the windows, especially the observation car. Train trips are very scenic, as train go places where there aren't roads in many areas.
5) Visit with other passengers, at least a bit, it can be both fun and educational!
6) In most cases you will not want to leave the train station during your stops, as frequently these are in seedier parts of town. If you have a number of hours, then inquire about a local tourist sight and take a taxi there, but be sure to get back in plenty of time for your train.
2007-03-29 18:37:53 · answer #1 · answered by Pichi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Last year I had butterflies in my stomach since it was my first time to travel via Amtrak from San Diego to LA. My 2nd trip was better, after a few days, I travelled from San Diego to Camarillo. It was a 4 hour trip but I was find it quite boring. It is good that I the 2 persons besides me where both travelling on their first time too.
Be sure to check the weight of the things that a person can bring so you wont be paying for excess!
Buy new magazines prior to your trip! Bring your MP3, try to bring a book!
I suggest that you study all the stations that the Amtrak is passing by from Miami to LA! I had studied Geography through Microsoft Encarta for Kids 2006, Premium DVD, Yahoo travel and Yahoo answers.
Check the temperatures of the places that you will be passing by! I monitor 20 cities at the same time through my yahoo! Once I log in at yahoo messenger, I compare the weather of the different places! Prior to my trip at least I know the difference between the weather in my place and in the place I am going to ! I expected rains during my trip to Hongkong prior to my trip so I wasnt surprised when I came there!
You can make letters to persons you havent written for quite sometime! Probably send cards for the coming Easter, birthdays of your friends!
I also take hold of a small notebook during my trip to make some interesting points about the things I learned from my trip!
Explore the place that you are going to through yahoo travel, go to travel guides and click the place! The bottom page will give you the top 10 attractions in the place and at the upper left hand will be the slideshow of the place.
Make sure to bring some food with you! There are foods for sale at the Amtrak but I havent tried eating over there. However, if you have the money, then try it! Bring bottled water!
Riding the Amtrak is like riding a plane but the difference is that you are seeing the places who are passing by! However, the seats and the comfort room are basically like the ones in the plane! It is more comfortable than riding in the bus!
Expect to have low back pains after a long trip! Better stretch once in a while!
2007-03-30 03:53:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How are you going to route this trip? It is my understanding from Amtrak that due to the hurricane damage the "Sunset Limited" has suspended service east of New Orleans. You would have to go from Miami to Washington D.C., to Chicago, and then to Los Angeles. What a big detour.
As for the airplane, President Franklin Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear it's self".
2007-03-30 03:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by Peedlepup 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Movies to see- people to meet- sights to see- great food to eat. the bar car at night, the train gently rocking you to sleep, forget the mp3's 'cause you miss out on the trip's best points- experiencing other people . Meet, chat (for real), learn, take pictures, food & booze is costly, so pack as much food (or money) as you can. I'm off to Boston next month from L.A. I have never had a sleeper before but never missed it either, but do bring something soft to lay out on the floor. Have fun on the train - or terror for 4 hours on a plane.
2007-03-30 01:59:31 · answer #4 · answered by know it all 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring along Nyquil, and plenty of it. Especially if you don't have a sleeping car--you're going to want to try to sleep through most of it. Also, pack a travel pillow, and bring a travel blanket and earplugs and an eye mask if you can.
2007-03-30 01:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋