If you plan on making Amtrak part of your travel plans, you can learn about traveling with the company by getting the most recent edition of Amtrak Vacations. This annual guide generally weighs in with around 40 pages of premium information, allowing readers to become familiar with the various routes and packages along with the cars and sleeping compartments. To get your hands on the vacation guide, you can call Amtrak at (800) USA RAIL or online through Amtrak's website.
The journey by Amtrak train always starts at the station. With Amtrak, you've got 500 of them to choose from, so being able to navigate your course before you get on the rails is important. While airlines recommend you get to the airport at least two hours before departure, with Amtrak you only need an additional 30 minutes. Like the airport, Amtrak stations offer ticketing kiosks so you can get your ticket without having to stand in line. They also offer free Red Cap baggage service.
One of the biggest differences between plane and train travel is the amount of time that you could be on either. If you're taking a long distance trip on a train, you could be on the train for a week or more. One thing that doesn't change is the amount of room you have at your disposal. Just because you are in a sleeping car doesn't mean you have room to spread out and pack heavy. You have room in your compartment for bringing a small carry on, and can stow whatever else you may need in the baggage cars.
