I got back from vacation today. On the one hand, I had to hang out with my parents, but on the other, they paid for everything. Most of the time we were on a train. We stopped for a few days in Portland, Oregon and San Bernardino, California.
Americans don’t move by train very much anymore. There used to be a time when it was the fashionable, exciting way to travel. Since Amtrak was formed in the 1970s, they’ve worked to bring a little bit of that image back.
Getting a room in a sleeper car costs more than a regular seat, but there are lots of little extras that make it worth the price. Food from the dining car is really good and is free if you get a sleeper. You also get a daily newspaper and all the coffee, juice, and bottled water you can drink.
Sleeping car passengers also get access to the Metropolitan lounge at certain stations. It’s less crowded than the normal waiting areas and includes free WiFi, soft drinks, and snacks.
With all costs figured, going by train is cheaper than driving. Over long distances, it’s also faster. As a poor college student, this is great for me, although I probably wouldn’t have splurged on a sleeper if I was by myself. The sleeper room was big enough for my parents and I to stay in.
If you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, take an airplane. If you aren’t in a hurry and want someone else to do the driving, catch a train.
-Mason Moyer
No comments:
Post a Comment