<p>Great idea about the train. Maybe that might be a way to go. Colcon, we were lucky enough to meet the business associate, wife and 2 boys while we were at Accepted Student’s Day. As a matter of fact, they had us over for lunch so that Soph could be a little more comfortable at their home! I thought that was so nice! Hmm, as soon as I get off of here going to look at the train!</p>
<p>By the way that’s 250 pounds per person, you can put two people into a roomette with just the single room charge, free meals for both and the reduced coach charge per person. Depending on where you’re traveling from and to that’s a lotta luggage for free compared to the airlines.</p>
<p>One other quick train trip, I know it sounds like I work for Amtrak’s publicity department, but check those roomette and bedroom prices for various days. They vary wildly from day to day, month to month and even the same day’s trip will change from Monday to Tuesday. Probably the best you’ll get for an overnight up to 3 day trip would be around $400 (roomette for 2) but remember that’s with all the free food and drink, huge amounts of luggage, you can take 5 bags per person (2 carryons), etc. So if they want $650 today for a trip on the 9th of September check the 8th, it might be only $450 for the same room. And check over a week as that $650 on the 9th could easily drop to $450. I once change a reservation while on the train on a trip out, the roomette on my return had dropped $200 and since they don’t charge penalties I was able to rebook while traveling out.</p>
<p>I haven’t used Space Bags, but have used “compression bags” which you can get really cheaply at an Army surplus store. You shove everything in, and then there are straps that compress it down from the top and sides. They’re useful in the dorm rooms too, to store out of season clothes or anything that 's not immediately needed.</p>
<p>artsmarts, You are making me want to go on a rail vacation! Thanks for sharing such great tips, and pointing out the extras when you book a sleeper compartment. Sounds like a fun way to travel!</p>
<p>I love the train. But you do need to be flexible, something is likely to go wrong but roll with it. Also allow yourself some extra time if you have to be somewhere on a certain date, they’ve been very on-schedule lately but that isn’t always the case. Give yourself an extra day or two if you’re going for an event that you mustn’t miss. Having flown back in the days of luxury for everyone and not just first class, meals, leg room, courtesy, I just can’t take the way the airlines are operating anymore so unless it’s an emergency it’s Amtrak for me.</p>
<p>I absolutely love Amtrak, and yes, if it goes where you need it to, it’s great. We went Amtrak from Orlando to Washington DC, had an 7 hr stopover which gave us time to see the sights, then Washington to Chicago. Then took a shuttle from the train station to the airport and flew into Minnesota. We would have taken the train the whole way except for the times involved, and the fact that the Amtrak location in Minneaolis was not conducive to picking up a rental car. My D has the charge card that accumulates points for Amtrak travel, so we got one of the sleepers free for both legs. The other great thing about the sleepers, is that qualifies you as first class, and you are allowed to use the private Amtrak lounges in the train stations. They are equipped with TV’s, snacks, drinks, comfy chairs, and you can leave your carry-on luggage there without having to drag it all over town or appoint someone a sentry. Such a far cry from the airlines. I look forward in retiring in a few years so I have time to travel like that more often.</p>
<p>Phillyartmom, we just brought D1 home from MICA with 6 suitcases and the vacuum space bags saved us. We have family nearby who offered to store extra stuff for this summer, but next year it is going to the storage unit. Last fall, we flew into Baltimore with suitcases and hit Target for the rest.</p>
<p>We just came back from Minnesota with 3 large suitcases, a Coast Guard seabag (which holds and amazing amount of clothes stuffed in and still stays below the 50 lb limit), and 2 carryons. Everything else went into the storage space. My D had some some of those vacuum bags and she put all her bulky winter clothes in there. It was amazing how much they shrunk down. Next year she’ll be going into an apartment, so we will make the van trip to Minn again, and hope we can get furniture while we are there!</p>