I am thinking of putting my tax refund this year into an Amtrak rail pass but-being a novice at this-I am confused about what the Amtrak website is telling me. If anyone has any experience may I pick your brain?
From Amtrak's website: "After you advance purchase your USA Rail Pass on Amtrak.com, you have one year to exchange it for a paper USA Rail Pass and begin travel.
So, if I have a year to pick it up after buying it online, can I pick it up before the date I list?Once I physically pick up the paper pass, I have six months to complete my travel. OK. But it asks when my first travel date will be. Well, I don't know. In the fall, sometime. What do I do now?Can I make Rail Pass reservations online?Help!
Kevin, welcome to world of Amtrak travelers!
First, you need to decide upon when and where you want to travel. I plan my trips so that I know what day I will travel on each train (I cover many legs on each trip), and the day that I will end my trip; you are given six months from the day you make your reservation to complete your trip; of course you have the option of buying a 15 day pass, a 30 day pass, or a 45 day pass, and each pass allows so many legs. And, you do have to present a ticket for that train when you board a train.
Since my traveling is involved, I always call Amtrak to make my reservations--and I pick my pass and the individual tickets up at home. You have the option of paying by credit card when you make the reservation or when you pick the pass and tickets up. If you call, be sure to state that you want a so-many-day pass--else the agent will have to start all over when you do make that known.
In all my traveling on a Railpass, I have never been asked to show the pass--but every conductor on my next trip may ask to see it (I will board eight trains on that trip).
You may pick the pass and tickets up at any station that is staffed. On one trip, I had to make a change en route--and had no trouble doing that.
Johnny
Thanks-I have ridden Amtrak before (though it has been a while) but I haven't used a Rail Pass in donkey's years. It sounds like, when I buy my pass online, I have to determine what date and location I will pick up my pass. Then, it also seems (as I read it, anyway) that I must have my travel plans ready when I pick up the pass itself. That seems to kind of defeat the purpose of the advance purchase of a travel pass.
Kevin, I advise you to make your reservations well in advance, especially if you want to sleep in a berth at nights. Here is the rub, which went into effect early last year: when trveling on a railpass, you must finish your trip within six months after the date you make your reservations.
I used one on my USA trip in 2012. It sort of helps with the trip planning, having to reserve your seats at the start. I think I ended up making one change before i even started the trip, which cost nothing. However, by the 4th trip, I had to change the last 4 segments completley, The station agent in Charleston,WV, did this efficently. I only had to pay around $ 30 extra, for the Reno -Sacremento portion of a trip to the West coast, and down to LA.
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