I fly constantly, and have had a few years recently in which I racked up over 100,000 miles per year on one airline alone. I'm used to airport congestion and weather delays and figured that something would go wrong for a quick Christmas trip to visit my family, so I decided to take Amtrak.
I'm so glad I did. I booked a Viewliner Roomette on the Crescent because I guessed that the trip would be less hassle than flying most of the way and driving the rest. I was right.
I got to New York Penn Station shortly before departure, printed out my ticket on a Quick-Trak kiosk and boarded through a stairwell to the tracks that had no line. After boarding, I settled in my room, pulled out a book, melted into the big seats (and stretched out between the two seats in the room) and watched New Jersey and Pennsylvania race by. I grabbed a drink from the Cafe Car and just chilled.
I prefer the train — it was so comfortable and offered uninterrupted, productive, relaxing time...
I never knew that long-distance trains had room service, but dinner was brought to me in my room, which was wonderful. I just read, dined and had snacks and beverages as Delaware, Maryland and Virginia raced by. I soon got into bed, read and chilled more, and drifted off to sleep.
The track was smooth, particularly on Norfolk Southern, and I slept like a log, waking up just before the train pulled into my destination in South Carolina.
After hopping off, I was in the car within literally 15 seconds and was home in about 10 minutes. No airport can beat that.
Amtrak, thank you for such a relaxing trip. I took the train one way and flew back the other way, and even though I was upgraded on the flight, I prefer the train — it was so comfortable and offered uninterrupted, productive, relaxing time, which flying doesn't really do (even when upgraded).
The Crescent is my travel mode of choice after this trip.
The Crescent passes through more states (including the District of Columbia) than any other route.
Easy and Relaxing Holiday Travels on the Crescent
Just What I Needed to De-stress
by Chris Edwards
New York, New York
I fly constantly, and have had a few years recently in which I racked up over 100,000 miles per year on one airline alone. I'm used to airport congestion and weather delays and figured that something would go wrong for a quick Christmas trip to visit my family, so I decided to take Amtrak.
I'm so glad I did. I booked a Viewliner Roomette on the Crescent because I guessed that the trip would be less hassle than flying most of the way and driving the rest. I was right.
I got to New York Penn Station shortly before departure, printed out my ticket on a Quick-Trak kiosk and boarded through a stairwell to the tracks that had no line. After boarding, I settled in my room, pulled out a book, melted into the big seats (and stretched out between the two seats in the room) and watched New Jersey and Pennsylvania race by. I grabbed a drink from the Cafe Car and just chilled.
I never knew that long-distance trains had room service, but dinner was brought to me in my room, which was wonderful. I just read, dined and had snacks and beverages as Delaware, Maryland and Virginia raced by. I soon got into bed, read and chilled more, and drifted off to sleep.
The track was smooth, particularly on Norfolk Southern, and I slept like a log, waking up just before the train pulled into my destination in South Carolina.
After hopping off, I was in the car within literally 15 seconds and was home in about 10 minutes. No airport can beat that.
Amtrak, thank you for such a relaxing trip. I took the train one way and flew back the other way, and even though I was upgraded on the flight, I prefer the train — it was so comfortable and offered uninterrupted, productive, relaxing time, which flying doesn't really do (even when upgraded).
The Crescent is my travel mode of choice after this trip.