Conference moira::parenting_v3

I, too, would be interested in these comments.  I'm sick to death of air
travel.  I told my husband the next time we go to Minneapolis (my in-laws),
we are going by train.  But I know nothing about train-travel.

Q's 1. For long trips, do you get to use sleeping cars?  What are they
       equipped with?  Bathrooms? or just beds?

    2. Is it very expensive?  Or comparative to airfare?  

    3. Do young children enjoy it? Or, because of the length of travel time,
       would they be more likely to get "cabin fever" and bored?

� �ori �

    There was an article someplace (can't remember where, sorry) about a
    month or so ago about a family w/ 2 school-age kids that took an Amtrak
    train from St. Louis to L.A.  The "all-aboard America" ticket entitled
    them to 3 stops anywhere along the way.  The writer said that it was
    a great way to travel because it made the "getting there" part of the
    vacation, plus the 4 of them weren't cooped up in the car for days. 
    The kids thought it was a great adventure.  The writer also said that
    it was cheaper to just sleep in the seats, but getting a cabin was well
    worth it.
    
    This article might have been in Working Mother (or maybe in the Globe
    travel section.. maybe someone remembers seeing it?)

    FWIW - the SENIOR::DISNEY Notes file has info on taking the train to
    Florida.. I know that's not your destination, but it could be helpful.
    
    J.

    I took Carrie at age 2 1/2 on an overnight to Reno from Denver.  We
    slept in the chairs, rather than rent a sleeper (it would have almost
    doubled the cost)  She loved it!  
    
    One thing I did do was keep her on a leash, so that she wouldn't get
    lost, or fall down the stairs.  The trains west of Chicago are dual
    deckers with a narrow spiral staircase.  It was great not to drive, or
    to white knuckle my way through an ailine flight, the food was fair,
    and it is a rolling party.
    
    Have a great trip
    
    Meg

    I used to love the train -- sleeping in the seats was part of the
    adventure.  I strongly suspect that as an adult I'd prefer the
    sleeper if I could afford it.  The double-decker cars .4 talks
    about are great -- you get an up-high view of the world, and
    changing levels gives you a simple and quick change when the kids
    get tired with where they're at.  
    
    While we were in France we took the train a couple of times (we
    didn't do any overnighters, though) but while we, and Steven, who
    was then 3, loved it.  He could move and fidget around a lot more
    than in a car, and since we didn't have to pay attention to
    driving, we could watch and see what he was looking at and answer
    his questions and play games.  
    
    And you get a very different perspective on the world looking into
    its back yards . . . 
    
    --bonnie

    Very timely, Jane.  I'll be going to NYC next week to take care of my
    mother (who has just had some surgery).  I'll be taking one of the kids
    and was considering taking the train.  Beats driving all by myself...
    
    LZP
    

    In May 1989 my husband, my son - four in April of 89 - an I took
    the train from Framingham Ma to South Bend Indiana.  It was GREAT!
    
    We had decided to take the train over plane for the adventure of
    taking a train W/sleeper.  The train trip was part of the vacation,
    not just a means of transportation.  It was NOT cheaper than taking
    a plane - maybe $10-$20 dollars cheaper.
    
    We reserved a sleeper from Framingham, we could have waited to Albany
    New York for a sleeper and it would have been cheaper.  We boarded the
    train at 5:15 PM in downtown Framingham, arrived at the South Bend
    train station at 11:15 the next morning!  This was ideal, just enough
    time upon boarding to get settled and check things out, then have 
    dinner (included in the fare) and back to the sleeper for reading etc.
    
    the sleeper was small, a bench seat W/ armrest that fold down.  About
    two feet from the bench seat - not a lot of room but enough for Sam to
    sit on the floor and play with his legos to the wall.  We had a bathroom,
    with a pull down sink - VERY small but servicalbe!!  The sleeper had two
    bunks, Sam sleep with one of us in a bunk - tight but not too tight.
    
    The trip was just long enough and just short enough.  Meals, snack etc
    take up some time, walking to the club car etc. Sam liked. Once again
    meals were included with the first class ticket (which we had to have
    to get a sleeper before Albany)  We took food with us, juice boxes,
    books, toys etc.  We all enjoyed it and I was not dreading the return
    trip, so the trip out was not bad!  I'd love to do it BY MYSELF!  What
    a great was to travel - not hassle to and from an airport, for us no
    changing trains etc.
    
    But I would not have wanted to sleep in the chairs - just my personnel
    quirk - but it would have been MUCH cheaper!  We all could have gone
    out and back for what it cost us for one adult w/sleeper!  But it was
    train W/sleeper or it was plane!  So the over all cost was the same
    for us.  I would do it again, don't know if I'd want to sleep in the
    same bunk with Sam again but .....
    
    If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them!
    
    Kathye
    

    .7 made a crucial - imho - point : timing...  I made several train
    trips with my daughter and found that it is important to balance length
    of trip with travel times.  The longer the trip, the better it is to
    travel (in sleeper - I prefer by far) overnight.  I could suggest also
    a tape recorder/walkman for listening to stories.
    
    Enjoy your trip - it's a lot of fun and sure beats driving all those
    hours !

    Here are the prices for Boston to Milwaukee and back.  You can see why
    I need to know if we can get by without a sleeper!
    
    Adult Roundtrip: $149
    Child Roundtrip: $75
    
    Additional charge for sleeper ONE WAY:  $279 for the family, includes
    meals
    
    The trip takes 24 hours each way.
    
    How does it work when you get a sleeper for part of the way?  Can you
    reserve it that way?  How is it priced for a partial day? 
    
    Keep that info coming!

    When we went to South Bend from Framingham Ma, we had the option
    of getting a sleeper right from Framingham or waiting until Albany,
    NY to move to a sleeper.  We boarded the train at 5:15 and went 
    immediately into our compartment/sleeper.  If we had opted for picking
    up a sleeper in Albany we would have sat in coach until we reached
    Albany at 11PM or so that night.  We did not want to get settled with
    Sam, then four, who we hoped would be alseep by 11PM, and then have to
    move everthing again.  But we were not trying to save money - the train
    trip was the vacation, South Bend and Chicago were the manditory
    visiting relatives vacation!  We had a different motive for the train
    trip than the noter in the original note.
    
    Again the length of the trip, and the time that you travel - holiday
    vs. mid-week non-holiday time, will make a difference.  We went the
    end of April, and returned early May.  I would have thought that this
    was not the busy season but the sleepers were all full and the coach
    was full - not many if any empty seats!  Maybe the person making the
    reservations could tell you when it might be the least crowded - so
    that the kids can move to different sides of the train etc - it might
    make it more comfortable.  Also I've heard that west of Chicago that
    the trains are double deckers, that would probably be fun for the
    kids!  But remember trains don't pass through the prettiest parts
    of towns and cities! But the areas in between can be pretty!
    
    Kathy