Booked (and paid for) our big trip - any tips?

[Disneymom2hann]

Hi everyone.

I've been mostly lurking on this forum for years but we finally (mostly) booked our big Amtrak adventure. We're taking the City of New Orleans from New Orleans to Chicago, then spending the night, then taking the Capitol Limited over to DC, then spending several days, then ending up in NYC (probably by that latest NEC train that has checked baggage - may change that) and then finally taking the Crescent back to New Orleans after a couple of days in NYC. The trip will take place over the last two weeks in December. Everything is booked but the DC to NYC leg because my husband really wants to stick with checked baggage. That limits us to that last NEC train or to taking the Palmetto from Alexandria (our hotel is just about across the street from the Amtrak Station there).

We are a family of three. Our daughter is a high school freshman. She's brilliant (taking an AP class as a freshman) and also has high functioning autism. We've been to Chicago once many years ago and have never been to the other places. We have taken Amtrak before but never for this long. We have two roomettes booked on each of the long distance legs, all across from one another.

Any tips? How early can we check our baggage in? Can we check baggage in the morning for an afternoon (or evening) train? All suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

MB

 

[rrdude]

If you've been lurking, then I'm sure you've heard these:

Oh, "Welcome" btw!

Don't actually PRINT your tickets 'til the day of travel. That way you can't "lose" them. Printed tix are like cash.

You should be able to check your luggage at any time of the day, providing the baggage office is open, and you are actually traveling THAT day.

Enroll in Amtrak's Guest Rewards. (I'm assuming you have) If you haven't, do, for each of you traveling.

Unless you have a TON of baggage, I wouldn't fret too much about no checked baggage on the NEC trains. You can still get a Red Cap to take your luggage to the train, even though it doesn't allow checked baggage. Just remember to tip them.

Others will post much more important and interesting advice.

Have fun!

 

[AlanB]

MB,

You can book any train during the day and still check your bags. They'll just travel on one of the long distance trains to NY. This might mean that you either have to wait around a bit for them to show up, or go to NY check into your hotel, sightsee for a bit, and then come back to the station to pick up your bags. IMHO this is a much better choice when compared to arriving into NY at 2:00 AM.

 

[dedhd]

With the roomette tickets you have access to the first class lounge in Chicago, Washington, NY, and NO. Access is granted when you have sleeper accommodations for that day. Free bevs, light snacks and a more relaxing space to wait for the next train.