Train Vacations

Save Gas - Save the Hassles

Train Vacations! I've always wanted to take a train across the country or through the Alps. Haven't you?

Many years ago, I remember going with my family to take my Grandmother to the train depot for the first leg of her trip to Hawaii. (I know I'm really dating myself, but airplanes were not widely used by the public back then.) It took her about seven days to get to Hawaii - two days on the train from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and five days on a boat to Hawaii. LONG trip!!

Standing there on the platform waving goodbye to my Grandmother, I vowed to take a train trip myself someday. Believe me, train vacations are a lot more luxurious and comfortable today.

There are two types of train travel:

1. You are going on vacation with a certain destination in mind and you don't want to drive your car or fly; or
2. traveling on the train IS your vacation.

First: the train as transportation to your vacation spot:

The train is your mode of transportation to a destination of your choice. Why would you take a train? It's certainly slower than flying, BUT it's also less expensive and FUN! Just think, no traffic to contend with. Extreme weather conditions? You don't care. You don't have to bother with unfolding and refolding maps. You just relax and let someone else do the driving.

We have all taken driving vacations, missing landmarks as the driver, suffering until the next pit stop as a passenger, squashed in the back seat. True, you won't have a car to travel about when you reach your destination. But if you add up the gas money, and the wear and tear on the car, the cost of the train plus a rental might be cheaper. So check out Amtrak and compare the costs.

Now let's talk about an actual train vacation.

What are the benefits? Well, there's the beautiful scenery you would otherwise not see as the train goes places where no car can travel. Then there's the fun part about meeting people of all ages from various places.

Have you ever slept on the train? The steady hum and sway of the train will rock you into peaceful sleep. And there are a variety of sleeping accommodations, depending on the route you choose.

 

 

 

What's to eat?

On train vacations, there are dining cars offering fine dining or plenty of snack foods.

Just imagine yourself relaxing and watching the sun go by while someone else does the cooking and cleaning. You sleep when you want, read a book, enjoy conversations with others, and you are well fed.

Short on money? You can travel coach, which means that if you travel overnight, you must sleep in a sitting position (like on airplanes). You can also bring your own snacks.

In the U.S. and Canada, there are many rail vacations available. In Europe, travel by train is something everyone does and there are more options available. Some are just to get from point A to point B and some are vacations on the train.

Train travel is a great way to enjoy getting to your destination, or try a few train vacations - just for the fun of it!