by Debra Karplus

Train travel is an excellent alternative to flying or driving. Here are the many other advantages to consider.

Considering cheaper and less stressful ways to travel?

While car travel costs way less than flying, the driver likely won’t consider it a stress-free way to go. And even though flying can be the quickest way to travel longer distances, it is costly and comes with its own stressors.

A train can bring you to your destination in a reasonable time, for a reasonable cost and with little stress. Some say it is the most enjoyable way to travel.

Maybe it’s time you explored the option of taking your next trip by train, specifically Amtrak. Besides generally being affordable, there are many advantages to a train trip for your next vacation.

Amtrak offers better customer benefits than air travel.

Amtrak trains allow two carry-on bags weighing up to 50 pounds each and measuring up to 28 by 22 by 14 inches. Additionally, they allow personal items, such as purses, laptop computers, travel pillows, and jackets. Try finding an airline that’s so generous with its baggage policy!

If you need to modify or cancel an Amtrak reservation, it can quickly be done on its website. You will receive credit on your credit card or an e-voucher to be used on a future Amtrak trip. Air travel allows for that, but for a price.

Trains offer sit-down dining options and a café with sandwiches, beverages, and more. Prices are comparable to those on planes, but there are more choices. Of course, bringing your own food on the train makes traveling by train even more affordable.

And if your train happens to be late, Amtrak states that they will make sure you are booked on a later train or a bus. And, if they are unable to get you to your destination until the next day, they will provide you with hotel accommodations and meals. You won’t need to spend that night in a train station the way you might get stuck in an airport for an air trip.

Related: Budgeting for Travel as Part of Retirement Planning

Overnight train travel is more comfortable than you might imagine.

Whether you sit in coach or book a room on the train, being able to walk around wherever you want is just one of many reasons people love traveling by train.

If you are willing to spend a few hundred dollars extra for each leg of your train trip, you can reserve accommodations in one of Amtrak’s Superliner rooms. Amtrak offers roomettes, bedrooms, and bedroom suites for up to four people. Beds come with linens. Pay a bit more if you want a toilet and shower in your room rather than sharing a restroom with others on the train.

For passengers traveling this way, meals in route are included. At $10 to $15 a meal, that savings can add up! The level of comfort in those sleeper cars gets mixed reviews. It is somewhat dependent on the physical stature of the passenger and the ability to sleep well in general.

But for those who want to spend a night or more on the Amtrak, a good night’s sleep is doable in coach class, the least expensive seats on the train. There is ample legroom on trains. Reclining seats and elevating leg rests make it easy to get into a decent sleep position. Many experienced train travelers have learned to bring a pillow and blanket since Amtrak doesn’t include them in their baggage count.

There are several restrooms in every train car that are large enough to shave and perform other grooming tasks, as well as some with benches that make changing clothes easy.

Related: Don’t Wait Till Retirement To Act on Travel Dreams

Seeing breathtaking countryside is just one of the perks of train travel.

Have your camera ready if you are taking a long trip by train.

Each train has an observation car and a lounge car with a lot of room for enjoying the view. People who have traveled on the California Zephyr rave about the fabulous mountainous scenery just west of Denver and all the way to the San Francisco area where that train ends. Amtrak.com has a map showing all their routes.

Some people are afraid to travel by air but want to see more of America. Taking the train is a wonderful alternative to flying. And if your destination is one of America’s smaller towns like Galesburg, Illinois, a train can easily get you there, unlike a plane.

Amtrak’s reward program is easy to join and provides redeemable points toward free travel. Points are determined by the number of dollars spent on Amtrak. So if you book one of their vacation packages, you accrue more points.

Consider traveling by train for your next trip. And make sure you check to see if you qualify for any discounts. Amtrak offers seniors, the military, students, and AAA members some pretty good deals.

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Reviewed June 2023

About the Author

Debra is an occupational therapist, accountant, teacher and freelance writer. She is a writer for Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners. She also writes for Grand Magazine, has some items (fiction and non fiction) selling on Amazon (Kindle), has written several travel articles for the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette and several articles for freelancewriting.com and volunteers as a money mentor for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension money mentoring program. Learn more about her at DebraKarplus.blogspot.com.