Hi - tell me about the autotrain! How is the cost pp compared to flying (cheap on SW for ex.) and how long does it take?
Hay Annie... it's been a while since we have flown anywhere. So my take on price comparisons might be a bit off, but....
We hop on the train at around 3pm Thursday and the train leaves at 4pm. We pack everything we could possibly need into our car and watch them load it onto the train.
We now get a sleeper room, which is really just enough space for two people to coexist in, but it gives you privacy and horizontal sleeping space.
The first thing after boarding, we head up to the lounge car to partake in the Virginia vineyard wine samplings.... which includess plenty of cheese, crackers, and chips.
As I said, the train departs at 4pm. You get to choose 5, 7, or 9pm to have your dinner. Dinner for the sleeper car people is very nice ... nice seating, choice of prime rib, flounder, chicken, vegie..... very much like a nice restaurant... They say it is cooked to order.
If we have our choice we choose to have dinner at 5pm. Then we watch a movie at 7pm. They usually have a new release movie. By this time it is bedtime (normally) for us. So we get changed, washed up, and lay down.
The train is nonstop except for Florence NC where they change crew. Sometimes I am awake to see this happen, sometimes I sleep through. Sleeping gets better with experience.
We typically get up at around 6:30 and though I have never done it, Mary Beth will take a shower (she is happy with the facilities). I have to say though that the bathrooms get less inviting as the trip progresses.
I will progess up to the lounge car and grab a muffin and some fruit for breakfast, and the just sit and take-in the passing scenery and towns that go by for the next hour and a half.
Scheuled arrival is 8:30 am. We have hit this about 70% of the time. Once there we wait for our car to be unloaded, and then drive (almost always) to Vero Beach.
We just love that we can take our beach chairs, umbrella, MY boogie board, and anything else that is cheaper to buy at home... And have OUR car to go wherever we want.
On our trips on the AutoTrain we have found ourselves from time to time staying up way late and playing cards with others in the lounge. It has become a part of our vacation that we look forward to.
Now.. as far as the cost. If you can get a cheap fare... the train won't compare. It is more expensive, but you have to figure in the cost of the airfare, car rental, rental of beach chairs, umbrella, the savings of bringing groceries from your local grocery. For us... it makes it worth it.
All-in-all the train trip is a fun part of our vacation.
Hope this helps shed some light on traveling the AutoTrain..
:beahc: