Taking a trip....need help

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend and I are planning to ride the train from Columbia SC to Miami FL. We've never done this before, so we would love any and all help that you can give. Hints and should we go for the private room car or just stick with coach?

thanks to all.

[PBenham]

Drive or fly if you can afford to. Amtrak is not the best mode of travel for non-railfans.[:(]

[wjstix]

"should we go for the private room car or just stick with coach?"

Guess that depends on how much money you can spend - private rooms / roomettes etc. get pretty pricey - and whether or not you plan on joining the "yard high club". [:O][:)][(-D][:-,][:-^]

[route_rock]

The bathrooms are big enough in the lounge car to do the yard high club. Go coach hell go train. You have a bathroom and a snack lounge on the train.Amtrak isnt that bad for non railfans. Most people on Amtrak are NOT railfans. they are normal people and deadheading railroaders

[BR60103]

Check the schedule. If it's an overnight run, consider a sleeping car, but check the price. It's one of the most expensive rooms per square foot in America.
Make sure you have some sort of transportation at the other end.

[daveklepper]

If you can ride Amtrak only in the daytime, both directions, by all means do so and thus enjoy the scenery and experience of seeing different places without eyes glued to keeping a car on the road. I think you will enjoy the trip just fine in coach and there is no need to spend more money for a room, unless you plan to sleep on the train. If you sleep on the train, the room is expensive but worth it, because it gives you privacy and relative quiet. If possible check with Amtrak as to if and how much late the train is, originating in New York, as possibly delayed before reaching Columbia. No point just waiting around the Columbia station unnecessarily!. Also, take some emergency food and some emergency toilet paper with you, just in a case the one in a thousand emergency should pop up. Despite some others' comments. I think you will enjoy the trip.

[rogruth]

I rode Amtrak from Savannah , GA to Raleigh , NC and return .
All Amtrak trains to Florida go through this area in the evening , night or early morning .
Both diections so you wont see much .
Coach seats were very uncomfortable after a few hours ,.Go first class if you can .
On my trip , train was late both directions . So what if your not in a rush .
I did enjoy not worrying about trattic and air port harrassment .You do need to show ID .
Have fun .