U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Sources & Uses
Highlights
Highlights
Highlights
Learn About Energy
Short, timely articles with graphics on energy, facts, issues, and trends.
Petroleum & Other Liquids
Major Topics
Browse by Tag
Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
Gasoline Release Date: March 16, 2015 & | & Next Release Date:
March 23, 2015
Diesel Fuel Release Date: March 16, 2015 & | & Next Release Date:
March 23, 2015
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices*&&(dollars per gallon)
Change from
Change from
U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices*&&(dollars per gallon)
Change from
*prices include all taxes
What we pay for in a gallon of:
Sources & Uses
Related Sites
Stay ConnectedA guide to train travel in the USA | Coast to coast by Amtrak from $227
A beginner's guide to
Train travel in the USA . . .
coast by train across the USA:&
This is the view from the
dining-car as the most scenic train of all, the California
Zephyr, rolls through a Colorado
canyon.& You'd be crazy to fly! Courtesy Sue Smith.&
For hotels, I
recommend .
You'll see nothing of America at
35,000 feet, so come down to Earth and see the world
class scenery from an Amtrak train across the United States.&
The USA has an excellent rail
network, and although it's only a skeleton network by European standards
it'll take you to almost all the towns & cities a visitor wants to
see.& It'll take you from coast to
coast in comfort, by a variety of routes, at very affordable
prices indeed.& Long-distance
trains in the USA are operated by the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak,
.& This page explains what you need to
know to plan and book a memorable trip across America by train...
On this page...
.& Train times, fares, tickets.
.& Times, fares, tickets.
Train times, fares, how to buy tickets.
Northeast inter-city trains.
trains to Canada.
it works, how to buy one.
This route map
shows where Amtrak trains run.& Each of the very long-distance
transcontinental routes shown in blue
has one daily train, except for New York to Florida
with 2 trains a
day and the
Sunset Limited (New Orleans-San Antonio-Los Angeles)
which runs 3 times a week.& Important short
distance routes (for example, Washington-New York-Boston or
Los Angeles-San Diego) have regular intercity services and are
shown in red.& It's easy to check
Amtrak train times at ,
use their online booking system.&
Sponsored links...
& - one card, one price, free entry to all New York's
major attractions.
operator in USA:
Amtrak, see
for US train times, fares & online booking.
Trans-Atlantic sea travel:
USA rail pass:
Flights to USA:
Time zones:
New York:&
GMT-5& Chicago:& GMT-6& Los Angeles:& GMT-8&
Clocks go forward 1 hour from 2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November.
?1 = approx $1.50&
information:
Each State has a
tourist agency, see&&&& && Dialling code +1
20 March 2015
Across the USA
by train...
Coast to coast, 3,397 miles from New York to San Francisco
in 3 days by train, a journey of a lifetime for as little
as $227 (?150).&
This video gives a taste of what you miss when you fly, it
scenery in Colorado's canyons
from Amtrak's 'California Zephyr', perhaps the most scenic of
routes across the States.& A chance to chill out &
experience America at ground level, yet it costs no more than a
flight.& .&
The 3,000 mile
journey across the United States by train is one of the
world's greatest travel experiences.& It's easy,
comfortable, safe, and an affordable alternative to flying.&
Free route guides are available on board each train, telling
you what to look out for from the window, and the scenery on
many routes is world class.&
In a nutshell...
mile coast-to-coast train ride takes 3 nights, if you do it without stopovers.&
choice of 4 or 5 different routes, each with their own character, the
recommended routes are explained below.& By all
means stop off on the way, but remember that a separate ticket/reservation is needed
for each leg.&
one night from New York, Boston or Washington DC to Chicago where you
change trains, then two nights from Chicago to Los Angeles, San
Francisco or Seattle on a superb double-deck
.& You can also travel
, this takes an extra night as you
need to spend a night in New Orleans.& Most of the trains run daily
all year round, although the New Orleans-LA train only operates three
times a week.
online at , fares
from New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle start at just $227 (?150) in a spacious reclining seat, surely one of the world's
greatest travel bargains.& A private sleeper for 1 or 2 people can be added to your
booking, the extra cost is often quite hefty but the sleeper room charge
includes all meals in the dining-car as well as tea, coffee & fruit
juice throughout the trip. Amtrak's spacious trains also have dining-cars
and lounge cars, open to both seat and sleeper passengers.&
Below is a
summary of
coast-to-coast train times and a
description of each train.& Bear in mind that these
trains run for over 2,000 miles, although they usually arrive
on time or perhaps up to half an hour late, they can sometimes arrive
an hour or two
late, so don't book any tight connections.& You can see
how your chosen trains have performed the
last few weeks using
Which coast-to-coast train route should you choose?
Each of Amtrak's trans-continental routes has its own distinctive character,
even if the trains themselves are the same.& But if you have a choice, one
route stands out as the most spectacular for both scenery & historical
significance.& This is the California Zephyr
from Chicago to San Francisco, which you can take in connection with
the Lake Shore Limited
from New York or Boston to Chicago, or the Capitol Limited from Washington DC
to Chicago.& The California Zephyr is
one of world's greatest train journeys, and in around 48 hours
you will cross the farmlands of Nebraska, scale the Rockies
beyond Denver while you eat egg & bacon for breakfast in the
diner, snake through rocky river valleys in Colorado and pass through the Sierra Nevada mountains to
reach Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area.&
The route covers much of the very first historic
trans-continental railroad route, and there's a commentary for
the most significant section.& To give you an idea of
what a coast to coast train ride is like on this route,
.& or for a snapshot of what it's like sipping a cocktail in
the sightseer lounge on the California Zephyr as it passes
through Colorado,
.& However, all the trans-continental
routes are scenic, and the
Southwest Chief, for example, will take you from Chicago to
Los Angeles over the famous Santa Fe railroad, alongside the
equally famous Route 66, through Navajo Indian country,
another amazing trip, with a chance to
on the way.
Coast to coast by train via Chicago, westbound...
daily train to Chicago
Lake Shore
&Lake Shore
Train number:
New York (Penn Station)
&15:45 day
06:45 day 1
Boston (South
station) depart
&11:55 day
Washington DC
(Union Station) depart
&16:05 day
11:10 day 1
Chicago (Union Station)
&09:45 day
&09:45 day
&08:45 day
10:05 day 2
--------------& change trains
in Chicago & take whichever onward train you want ------------
daily Superliner train
from Chicago
&California
&Southwest
Train number:
Chicago (Union Station)
&14:15 day
&14:00 day
&15:00 day
&13:45 day
Minneapolis/St Paul arrive
&22:31 day
Portland arrive
&10:10 day
Seattle arrive
&10:25 day
Dallas arrive
&11:30 day
San Antonio
&21:55 day
Omaha arrive
&22:55 day
Denver arrive
&07:15 day
Salt Lake City
&23:05 day
Sacramento
&14:13 day
Emeryville (for
Oakland & San Francisco) arrive by train
&16:10 day
Francisco (Ferry building) arrive by Amtrak bus*
&17:05 day 4*
Kansas City
&22:11 day
Albuquerque
&15:55 day
Flagstaff (for
&20:51 day
Williams Junction (for
&21:33 day
Los Angeles
&08:15 day
&05:35 day
* The California
Zephyr terminates in Emeryville and a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus
transfers passengers
across the Bay Bridge to
the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco. Amtrak has a
'station' at San Francisco Ferry Building, and tickets can be
booked through to (and luggage checked through to) San
Francisco Ferry Building as if it was a rail station.
** The Chicago-Los
Angles portion only runs 3 times a week, departing Chicago on
Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays. Daily Chicago-San Antonio.
Use these times as
a guide, always check
current times
& fares at
as they change from time to time.
Coast to coast by train via Chicago, eastbound...
daily Superliner train to Chicago.
California
&Southwest
Train number:
Los Angeles
&18:15 day
&22:00 day
Williams (for
&03:50 day
Flagstaff (for
&04:41 day
Albuquerque
&12:10 day
Kansas City
&07:43 day
San Francisco (Ferry
Building) depart by Amtrak bus*
Emeryville (for
Oakland & San Francisco) depart by train
&09:10 day
Sacramento
&11:09 day
Salt Lake City
&03:30 day
Denver depart
&19:10 day
Omaha depart
&05:14 day
San Antonio
&07:00 day
Dallas depart
&15:40 day
Seattle depart
&16:40 day
Portland depart
&16:45 day
Minneapolis/St Paul depart
&07:50 day
Chicago (Union Station)
&15:55 day
&14:50 day
&15:15 day
&13:52 day
-----------& change trains
in Chicago & take whichever onward train you want& -----------
daily train east from Chicago.
Lake Shore
Lake Shore
Thur, Sat)
Train number:
Chicago (Union Station)
&18:40 day
&21:30 day
&21:30 day
&17:45 day
Washington DC
&13:10 day
17:55 day 4
Boston arrive
&21:10 day
New York (Penn Station)
&18:25 day
&21:45 day
* The California Zephyr
starts in Emeryville.& An Amtrak Thruway bus
transfers passengers from the Ferry Building in downtown San
Francisco across the Bay Bridge to Emeryville.& Tickets
can be booked through from (and luggage checked in at) the
Amtrak station at San Francisco Ferry Building as if it was a
rail station.
*** The Los Angles
to Chicago portion only runs 3 times a week, leaving LA on
Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays.& Daily San Antonio-Chicago.
Use these times as
a guide, always check
current times
& fares at
as they change from time to time.
Facilities on each train...
New York & Washington DC - Chicago
via Indianapolis, 3 times a week. (one night).& ,
.& A slower train than the Lake
Shore Limited, and it only runs 3 times a week.& No
full diner, only a cafe car.& But a useful
alternative through great scenery if the Lake Shore is
Capitol Limited:
Washington DC - Chicago
daily (764 miles, one night).& Superliner train with
California Zephyr:
Chicago-San Francisco
daily (2,438 miles, two nights).& Superliner train with
This train is one of the great train rides of the world,
and if you are planning a coast-to-coast trip, this is
the best route to take.& It climbs through the
Rockies between Denver & Salt Lake City, and through the
Sierra Nevada between Reno and the Bay Area.&
Empire Builder:
Chicago - Seattle/Portland
(2,206 miles Chicago-Seattle, two nights).&
Superliner train with
.& This train winds its way past Glacier
National Park and through the mountains of Washington
Lake Shore Limited:&&&
daily (959 miles, one night), with through cars Boston -
Chicago daily.& ,
, Amfleet lounge-café (Boston-Chicago)
(New York-Chicago).&
This train takes the scenic route up the Hudson River
out of New York, with the train tracks running right
alongside the river, past Storm King Mountain and West
Point Military Academy.& Try and get a seat on the
left-hand side of the train out of New York, right-hand
side heading to New York.& The Boston-Chicago & New
York-Chicago sections are coupled together between
Albany & Chicago.&
Southwest Chief:
Chicago - Los Angeles (2,256 miles, two nights).&
Superliner train with
.& This train
mostly travels via the Santa Fe
railroad, once used by the famous Chicago-Los Angeles
'Super Chief', the film stars' favourite.& It will
take you through Apache Canyon and right through Navajo Indian country, with a
live commentary from an Indian guide over the train's
public address for the relevant section of line.& The
train serves Flagstaff which is one hour by connecting bus from
the Grand Canyon, with day tours available, and
Williams, for the Grand Canyon Railway.
Texas Eagle:
Runs daily Chicago - Dallas - San
Antonio, but only three times a week between Chicago &
Los Angeles (westbound from Chicago on Tuesdays, Thursdays
& Sundays, eastbound from LA on Wednesdays, Fridays &
Sundays).& Superliner train with
.& 2,728 miles Chicago-LA.
What are the trains like?
what the trains are actually like inside & out, and to
understand the sleeping-car, lounge & dining facilities.
Order an Amtrak USA rail timetable or brochure...
You can order an Amtrak national system timetable and/or an
Amtrak brochure, sent to any country.& Order at
How much does it cost?
One-way fares:
Basic fare for
a reclining seat
(per person):
Supplement for a
(per 2-bed room):
Supplement for a
(per 2-bed room):
New York - Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle
New York - Chicago
Chicago - Los Angeles,
San Francisco or Seattle
3,000 miles coast-to-coast overland for as little at $227
(?150) has
to be one of the world's greatest travel bargains!&
Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.&
Children 2-15 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare,&children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per
There is a discount (15% of base fare) for seniors aged over
62.& The discount applies to the base fare but not to
sleeper supplements.
For sleeper travel, you add one sleeper supplement for the
whole room to the reclining seat fare for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements are per room per journey,
not per person, so you pay just one supplement for the room
whether two of you occupy it or just one, in addition to a
basic coach fare (or railpass) for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements vary
enormously by season and in accordance with demand, which is
why a range is shown.&
The sleeper supplements
include all meals in the dining car, morning tea or coffee and
fruit juice and various other first class privileges.&
Roomettes are very small 1- or 2-berth rooms, bedrooms are
larger 2-berth rooms with en suite shower and toilet.
Can I stop off on the way?
Yes of course, but if you want to stop off you'll need to buy
separate tickets for each leg.& To book a coast to coast
trip with stopovers at any cities you want, simply look for
the 'Multi-City' link at top right of the booking form on
This allows you to book a trip with up to 4 segments, and of
course you can book additional segments as separate bookings.&
However, if you buy a through ticket at the cheapest price
between an East Coast city such as New York and a West Coast
city such as Los Angeles, then no, you cannot stop off, you
must travel direct on your assigned trains.& Although the
several hours between trains in Chicago is often time enough
to climb the Sears Tower (now owned by the Willis corporation,
see ) and get great views over the city,
it's only 5 minutes walk from Chicago Union Station!& As
you can see from the fares table above, separate tickets New
York to Chicago and Chicago-Los Angeles (so you can stop off
in Chicago) work out about $35 more expensive than a New York
to Los Angeles through ticket.
Stopping off at the Grand Canyon:&
Quik-Trak self-service ticket machines:& You simply pass
the barcode on your booking printout under the
machine's scanner.& It will ask you to confirm the
journey , then simply click 'print' to print your tickets.&
However, Amtrak has now introduced e-tickets, and with
these you can go straight to the train.
All the trains shown here offer checked baggage.&
passengers (both coach & sleeper) are entitled to check in
up to 2 large items of luggage free of charge, plus an
additional 2 large items for $20 each.& Maximum 50lbs
(23Kg) per item, maximum total linear dimension (length + height + width)
= 75&.& Oversize bags (up to a total linear
dimension of 100&) $20 per bag.& A name and address
label must be attached to each item.& Hand
luggage is limited to two items per passenger, maximum 50lbs
(23Kg) per item, dimensions 28& x 22& x 14&.&
You can check bags through to your final destination, so for
example if you have a New York to San Francisco ticket you
can check your bags in at New York Penn station all the way
to San Francisco Ferry Building.& They will be
transferred for you from train to train in Chicago and from
train to bus at Emeryville, leaving you free of it until you
Anyone from any country can buy
tickets online at Amtrak's website
with a choice of having an e-ticket emailed to you or
collecting tickets at the station any time before departure by going
to one of the Quik Trak self-service machines or (at staffed stations) the
ticket counter.
If you choose a print-at-home
e-ticket, it's valid for travel without further formalities
so you can go straight to the train.& If you prefer to
use the Quik-Trak machines, simply pass the barcode on
your booking printout under the scanner.& It will ask you
to confirm your itinerary then click the touch screen to&
print your tickets.
Booking opens 11
months in advance.
If you want to see which departure dates
have the cheapest fares, go to
and enter a journey and a 30-day
date range to find the price for a seat or sleeper on each date, to find the
date with the cheapest fares.& To enter the journey you'll need to use
Amtrak's 3-letter station codes (for example, New York Penn Station is NYP, Los
Angles is LAX), you can find the codes by using the journey planner at
How to buy Amtrak tickets by
In the USA, you can call Amtrak
24 hours a day on 1-800-USA
RAIL, and either being emailed an e-ticket or picking up your
tickets at the station on departure.
UK or Ireland, you can buy Amtrak tickets by calling
International Rail, call
3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.& From outside the UK +44 844
248 248 3.
If you live in
Australia or New Zealand, you can
call or buy online from
Have your trip professionally
arranged...
Custom-made tours:&
If you want a train travel
arrange your whole trip for you, with trains, stopovers, hotels, transfers
and (if necessary) flights all sorted, train travel specialist
can arrange tours by train to your own specification.& Just tell
them what you want (or ask them for their advice & suggestions) and they can make all
your arrangements.
UK call 020 ,
& US call toll-free 1-888-829-4775,
& Canada call toll-free 1-855-882-2910,
Australia call toll-free
call toll-free ,
Escorted tours
coast-to-coast:& If you'd like to travel with a convivial group of
travellers escorted by a professional tour guide, contact Great Rail
Journeys at
, in the UK call 0.& They have tours
leaving New York for LA & San Francisco between 1 and 5 times each month
from April to October.
Using a USA
railpass...
A USA Railpass is
available covering the whole Amtrak network or just parts of
The view from the train
as the California Zephyr snakes along those Colorado
canyons...
The California Zephyr,
just arrived in Emeryville after its 2,438-mile run from
Chicago, 10 minutes ahead of schedule.
coast by Amtrak, in pictures...
of a train ride from New York to San Francisco on Amtrak's
Lake Shore Limited and California Zephyr.
This is the Southern route, a whole different flavour from the
transcontinental routes via Chicago.&
Crossing the States via
New Orleans
takes 4 nights coast to coast, making it slower than the more
usual transcontinental route via Chicago, as you need to spend
a night in New Orleans - but a stopover down south is hardly a
burden!& For a taste of the deep south, this is the way
Coast to coast via New Orleans,
Coast to coast via New
Orleans, eastbound
&1. Take the
Crescent to New
Orleans, daily&
Sunset Limited.& Runs
Wed, Fri, Sun only
New York (Penn Station)
&14:15 day
Los Angeles
Washington DC
&18:30 day
El Paso depart
arrive/depart
&08:13 day
San Antonio
New Orleans
&19:32 day
Houston depart
change trains & stay overnight in New Orleans& ----
New Orleans
&2. Sunset Limited.& Runs Mon,
Wed, Sat only
change trains & stay overnight in New Orleans ------
New Orleans depart
&09:00 day
&2. Take the Crescent, runs daily
Houston arrive
&18:18 day 3
New Orleans
<font color="#:00 day
San Antonio
&00:05 day
arrive/depart
<font color="#:04 day
El Paso arrive
&13:22 day
Washington DC
<font color="#:53 day
Los Angeles
&05:35 day
New York (Penn Station)
<font color="#:46&
New York-New Orleans daily (1,377
miles, one
night).& ,
, Amfleet lounge-café
The Sunset Limited:&&&&
Runs 3 times a week.& New
Orleans - Los Angeles 1,995 miles, 2 nights.& Superliner train with
How much does it cost?
Normal one-way fare:
Basic fare for
a reclining seat
(per person):
Supplement for a
(per 2-bed room):
Supplement for a
(per 2-bed room):
New York - New Orleans
New Orleans - Los Angeles
Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.&
Children 2-15 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare,&children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per
There is a discount (15% of base fare) for seniors aged over
62.& The discount applies to the base fare but not to
sleeper supplements.
For sleeper travel, you add one sleeper supplement for the
whole room to the reclining seat fare for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements are per room per journey,
not per person, so you pay just one supplement for the room
whether two of you occupy it or just one, in addition to a
basic coach fare (or railpass) for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements vary
enormously by season and in accordance with demand, which is
why a range is shown.&
The sleeper supplements
include all meals in the dining car, morning tea or coffee and
fruit juice and various other first class privileges.&
Roomettes are very small 1- or 2-berth rooms, bedrooms are
larger 2-berth rooms with en suite shower and toilet.
Can I stop off?& See the advice in the section above.
How to buy tickets...
Using a USA
railpass...
A USA Railpass is
available covering the whole Amtrak network or just parts of
Introducing Amtrak's Silver Service from
New York & Washington DC to Orlando, Tampa & Miami...
&#9658; Florida
&Florida &#9658; New York&
Runs every
Runs every
depart (day 1)
depart (day 1)
Washington DC
depart (day 1)
Ft Lauderdale
depart (day 1)
Jacksonville
arrive (day2)
depart (day 1)
arrive (day 2)
depart (day 1)
arrive (day 2)
Jacksonville
Ft Lauderdale
arrive (day 2)
Washington DC
arrive (day 2)
arrive (day 2)
arrive (day 2)
Facilities on board...
Silver Meteor:&
Silver Star:&
How much does it cost?
Normal one-way fare:
Basic fare for
a reclining seat
(per person):
Supplement for a
'roomette'
(per 2-bed room):
Supplement for a
(per 2-bed room):
New York - Miami
Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.&
Children 2-15 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare,&children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per
For sleeper travel, you add one sleeper supplement for the
whole room to the reclining seat fare for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements are per room per journey,
not per person, so you pay just one supplement for the room
whether two of you occupy it or just one, in addition to a
basic coach fare (or railpass) for each passenger.&
Sleeper supplements vary
enormously by season and in accordance with demand, which is
why a range is shown.&
The sleeper supplements
include all meals in the dining car, morning tea or coffee and
fruit juice and various other first class privileges.&
Roomettes are very small 1- or 2-berth rooms, bedrooms are
larger 2-berth rooms with en suite shower and toilet.
How to buy tickets...
You can buy
tickets online at
just click on 'Reservations'.& You can choose to have
an e-ticket emailed to you, or can pick
up the tickets at the station before departure.
Booking opens 11
months in advance.
If you live in the
UK, Ireland or elsewhere in Europe, you can buy Amtrak tickets by phone from
International Rail, call
3.& From outside the UK +44 844 248 248 3.& Lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.
If you live in
Australia or New Zealand, you can
.& Tickets sent to any address.
Once in the USA, you can book online at
or call Amtrak
24 hours a day on 1-800-USA
RAIL, picking up your
tickets at the station on departure.
Using a USA
railpass...
A USA Railpass is
available covering the whole Amtrak network or just parts of
A fast and frequent inter-city
service links Boston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington DC.& New York to Washington
takes as little as 2 hours 48 minutes, New York to Boston just
3 hours 30 minutes.& There are two types of train:
Acela Express 150mph high-speed trains with 1st class &
business class (premium fares apply) and regular trains with
coach class and (in most cases) business class.& There
are also services from Boston to Portland (Maine) and from
Philadelphia to Harrisburg. See
for times, fares and online booking.
Normal one-way fare:
Coach class:
Business class:
First class:
New York - Washington DC (normal train)
New York - Washington DC (Acela Express)
New York - Boston (normal train)
New York - Boston (Acela Express)
Fares vary like air fares, with cheaper prices available the
further ahead you book.&
Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.&
Children 2-15 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare (except on Acela Express where there is no discount for children on
weekdays),&children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per
Luggage limits on Washington-New York-Boston trains:& These trains
don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage with you onto the train
and put it on the racks just as you would on any European train.& As long as
you don't have more than two bags per person, there is no
problem taking normal sized long-haul suitcases or backpacks or roll-alongs on
board these trains.& However, in
theory Amtrak's carry-on baggage size
restrictions apply, which are seemingly written on the assumption that your
'big' bags can be checked in, which on these trains they can't.& If
enforced, it would mean you couldn't use these trains with anything bigger than
a briefcase.& I'm pleased to say that in practice Amtrak do not enforce
their own carry-on size limits on trains without checked baggage, as long as
you don't exceed two bags per person - and no-one will measure your bags anyway.&
Ideally, Amtrak would avoid creating unnecessary worry by creating a proper
baggage policy which recognises this, for trains without checked baggage, but so
far they merely refrain from applying their own carry-on policy on trains where
it is unworkable.& It would also be great if Amtrak's website told you
this, but I suppose they can hardly tell you their baggage policy and then say
that they don't apply it!
How to buy tickets...
You can buy
tickets online at
You can choose to have an e-ticket emailed to you, or can pick
up the tickets at the station before departure.
Booking opens 11
months in advance.
If you live in the
UK or Ireland, you can
.& Tickets sent to any address in Europe.
If you live in
Australia or New Zealand, you can
.& Tickets sent to any address.
Once in the USA, you can book online at
or call Amtrak
24 hours a day on 1-800-USA
RAIL, picking up your
tickets at the station on departure.
Introducing Acela
Express, Amtrak's high-speed train...
Acela Express
travels at up to 150mph, and has first class & business class.&
There's no coach class, and premium fares apply, with no
discounts for children on weekdays.
Acela Express, Amtrak's 150mph business train...
Business class seats on board an Acela Express...
Regional trains...
Cheaper but slower
than Acela Express, with coach class & business class
between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington
Coach class
seats in an Amfleet car as used on& Northeast
Regional trains...
Northeast Regional train composed of 'Amfleet'
cars about to leave Boston South station for New York &
Washington DC...
New York - Niagara Falls
Three daily trains link New York
via Albany with Niagara Falls.& Journey time is a
leisurely 8 hours 30 minutes, a relaxing journey along the
Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King Mountain
and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route, highly
recommended.&
for times, fares and online booking.
York - Toronto, Montreal (Canada)
A daily train called the
Maple Leaf
links New York with Toronto via Niagara Falls, and another
daily train called the
Adirondack links New York with Montreal
via the scenic Adirondack mountains.& Both trains travel
along the Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King
Mountain and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route,
highly recommended.&
Chicago - Memphis - New Orleans
Amtrak's daily City of New Orleans links these cities, with
times, fares and online booking, see
Intercity trains in California
Regular trains link Los Angeles,
Anaheim (for Disneyland), and San Diego.& Regular trains
link San Francisco (Oakland) with Sacramento, Bakersfield and
San Jose.& A daily train links Los Angeles with San
Francisco (Oakland).& See
for times, fares and online booking.
Seattle - Portland - Oakland (San Francisco) - Los Angeles
Amtrak's daily Coast Starlight links these cities, with
times, fares and online booking, see
On the Coast Starlight, sleeper passengers can access the exclusive
Pacific Parlour Car, which has a comfortable lounge with armchairs, tables, and
its own host serving drinks and snacks.
Seattle - Portland - Vancouver
Amtrak runs an inter-city service between these cities, see
- Some of these services use
European-design Talgo trains.
Luggage on trains without checked baggage:&
Some of these trains don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage
with you onto the train and put it on the racks just as you would on any
European train.& As long as
you don't have more than two bags per person, there is no
problem taking normal sized long-haul suitcases or backpacks or roll-alongs on
board these trains.& However, in
theory Amtrak's carry-on baggage size
restrictions apply, which are seemingly written on the assumption that your
'big' bags can be checked in.& If enforced, this would mean you couldn't
use these trains with anything bigger than a briefcase.& I'm pleased to say that
in practice Amtrak do not enforce their own carry-on size limits on trains
without checked baggage, as long as
you don't exceed two bags per person - and no-one will measure your bags anyway.&
Ideally, Amtrak would avoid creating unnecessary worry by creating a proper
baggage policy which recognises this, for trains without checked baggage, but so
far they merely refrain from applying their own carry-on policy on trains where
it is unworkable.
Short distance trains come in
various types, all with comfortable air-conditioned
seating and often with a café car.& On the Boston-New
York-Washington DC route, there is now the premium fare,
150mph Acela Express high speed train, based on
French TGV technology, but running on conventional
...&&&&&&&&&&&&
Long-distance
trains east of Chicago (such as the New York-Chicago Lake
Shore Limited, the New York to Florida Silver Star
& Silver Meteor or the New York to New Orleans Crescent,
but not the Washington to Chicago Capitol Limited) have ,
an Amfleet lounge car serving snacks and drinks, and a
serving full meals at
very reasonable prices.&
If you have paid for a sleeper,
meals in the dining-car are included in the
These distinctive stainless-steel coaches have
comfortable reclining seats with loads of legroom, drop-down
tables & 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles.&
Drinking water is available in each coach.& Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not secure a specific
seat in a specific coach, you can sit where you like once on
board.& An attendant looks after each seats car, and will
place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to indicate that the
seat is taken.
Amfleet cars.&
This is the New York to Chicago Lake Shore Limited at
its service stop in Albany, after a scenic run down
the Hudson river valley.& It'll reach Chicago's
impressive Union Station next morning.
Reclining seats on long-distance Amfleet
cars.& There's loads of legroom, 120v power
sockets for laptops & mobiles, drop-down tables.
All the most
important Amtrak long-distance trains have a dining-car.&
These stainless-steel dining-cars date from the 1950s, but
they have been fully refurbished inside.& The
dining-car is open to all passengers, both coach class &
sleeper.& Meals are included for sleeper passengers
(although drinks are extra), but must be paid for by coach
class passengers.& There are usually several sittings
for dinner, for example at 5pm, 5.15pm, 7pm or 8pm in the
case of the New York to Chicago Lake Shore Limited.& The dining-car manager will come
down the train (starting with the sleepers) to take dinner
reservations for your chosen sitting.& Note that couples
and singles won't get a whole 4-seat restaurant table to
themselves, you'll normally be seated with other passengers, a
great chance to meet people even if you're travelling solo.&
The food is surprisingly good:& The herb-roast chicken &
rice (around $15) was a good choice, and for breakfast next morning a
cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon & potatoes (around $9 including fruit
juice & coffee) hits the spot.& A domestic beer costs around $5, premium beer $6, a half bottle of very good Cabernet
Sauvignon or Merlot costs around $14.& There is also a
children's menu.& Credit cards are accepted.& You
can find sample menus on the Amtrak website
click 'plan' then look for 'meal & dining options.
Heritage dining car.&
The restaurant car on the New York to Chicago Lake
Shore Limited, serving dinner & breakfast.&
.& This stainless-steel
'heritage' dining car
dates from the 1950s, refurbished to modern standards.
The food on Amtrak
isn't bad at all.& The cooked breakfast is good.& You can
wash dinner down with a half bottle of Cabernet
Sauvignon or Merlot...
Long-distance
trains in the East have Viewliner sleeping
cars.& The
distinctive double row of windows on these cars makes them
light & airy during the day, and gives both upper & lower
berths a window for star-gazing at night.& Travelling
by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.& All sleeper passengers get
complimentary meals in the dining car,& and a 'coffee
station' provides complimentary
tea/coffee & fruit juice throughout the journey.& You return from dinner in the
diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper
attendant.& A hot shower is available at the end
of the corridor if you're travelling in a roomette, or en
suite if you are travelling in a bedroom.& All necessary
bedding, soap and towels are provided.& However,
sleeper travel isn't cheap.& In Europe you can pay a
small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper
compartment.& In the US, you have to pay for the whole
room whether there are two of you or just one.& To give
you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in
above.& Viewliner
sleeping-cars
Roomettes (previously called
standard bedrooms):& Each Viewliner sleeping-car has
ten very compact
2-berth compartments called 'Roomettes' arranged either side of a central corridor.&
They're just big enough for two
seats facing each, and at night the seats pull together to
form the lower berth, an upper berth drops down from the
ceiling.& The beds are alongside the windows, and take up most of the room!& Roomettes have a
fold-out washbasin, concealed toilet (your companion
may have to leave the room while you use it) & fold-out
table.&&There is a shower
at the end of the corridor.
(previously called deluxe bedrooms):&
Each Viewliner sleeping-car has two Bedrooms, which are much larger than roomettes,
and they have a private shower & toilet.&&Bedrooms have freestanding chair
& sofa in daytime mode, and upper & lower berths at
night.& The lower berth is extra wide, almost a
double bed by UK standards!
bedrooms:&
Similar to a bedroom, with private shower & toilet, but fully wheelchair-accessible.&
Each Viewliner sleeping-car has one Special Bedroom.
Viewliner Roomette, in daytime mode.& This
photo shows the size of the room.& Two comfy
Viewliner sleeping-car
with its distinctive double row of windows.& Light & airy, even the upper berths
get a window!
Viewliner Bedroom,
in daytime mode.& Sofa, armchair, sink, and private
shower & toilet.& Much more space than a roomette,
but twice the price...
Viewliner Roomette&showing
toilet lid open& & the drop-down sink folded
out.& All of life's necessities in a very small
Viewliner Roomette&in
night-time mode. The door to the central corridor is on the right.
...&&&&&&&&&&&&
Introducing Amtrak's double-deck Superliner
Long-distance
trains between Chicago & Los Angeles/San
Francisco/Seattle/Portland, also the New Orleans-Los Angeles
Sunset Limited, Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight
and Washington DC-Chicago Capitol Limited use impressive double-deck
Superliner cars.& Superliner
trains have ,
.& A route guide
is available free on these trains, telling you want to look
out for along the way.& .
Coach class reclining seats
are spacious with lots of legroom, comparable with business
class on an airliner.& Don't worry if you can't afford a
sleeper, these seats recline to about 40 degrees,
and are quite easy to sleep in, in fact if there is any train
in the world where I wouldn't much mind not having a sleeper,
Amtrak trains are the ones I'd choose.&
There are 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles at
each seat, and drinking water is available in each coach.& Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not
secure a specific seat in a specific coach, you can sit where
you like once on board.& An attendant looks after each
seats car, and will place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to
indicate that the seat is taken.& You can either bring a blanket or buy an Amtrak
blanket from the lounge car.&
Superliner cars...& Even in coach class these
double-deck cars are spacious and comfortable.&
This is the California
Zephyr from Chicago to Oakland (San Francisco), at a
station stop at Galesburg.
Superliner coach class reclining
seats on the upper deck, showing just how much legroom
& recline you get!& There are 110v power sockets
at every seat.&
On the upper deck
is an observation lounge with armchairs & tables and huge
windows for sightseeing.& On the lower deck is a cafe
selling drinks & snacks.& All passengers can use the
lounge car, whether they are travelling in coach class or in
the sleepers.& You end up spending most of your day here,
watching America unfold in front of you!&& Seats are
available on a first-come, first served basis, but it's not
usually too difficult to find a seat or two free.&
However, they do fill up for the most scenic sections of the
Superliner Sightseer
car.& Pictured above left, passengers look
out of the lounge car's huge windows as Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco
crosses the Mississippi river, and so enters America's
Wild West...& You see it all from Amtrak, but
nothing from 35,000 feet!&
Like the lounge
car, the dining-car is open to all passengers, both coach class
& sleeper, for breakfast, lunch & dinner.& Meals are included in the fare if you have a
sleeper (although drinks are extra), but must be paid for if you're in
coach.& However, the food isn't expensive, so treat yourself.&
All the tables in a Superliner dining-car are on the top deck
for great views while you eat - the kitchens are downstairs.& In the sleepers, the dining-car manager comes down the train
asking each passenger which sitting for lunch or dinner they'd
like, and issuing table reservations.& An announcement is
made at the start of each sitting.& In coach, a steward
may also come down the car asking if you'd like to reserve a
seat for lunch or dinner, or you can simply go along to the
diner at meal times and ask if a table is free.& If one
isn't available, they may take your name and announce when
your table is ready over the p.a.& Note that couples and
singles don't get a whole 4-seater restaurant table to
themselves, you'll normally be seated with other passengers. This
is a great chance to meet people, even if you're travelling
What's the
food like?& The food is surprisingly good:& The
Angus Steak Burger (around $8) is great for lunch, for dinner the
herb-roast chicken & rice ($14) is good and the garlic butter
marinated New York Strip Steak (around $24) is excellent.& A
beer costs around $5, a half bottle of very good Cabernet
Sauvignon or Merlot costs around $14.& For breakfast next
morning a freshly-cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon & potatoes
($9 including croissant, fruit juice & coffee) hits the spot.&
There is also a children's menu.& Credit cards are
accepted.& You can find sample menus on the Amtrak
website , click 'plan' then look for 'meal & dining
The Garlic-Marinated
New York steak...& Not
Superliner dining-car
set for lunch.
Superliner
Travelling by
Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.& All sleeper passengers
get complimentary breakfast, lunch & dinner in the dining car,&
and each sleeping-car has a 'coffee station' with
complimentary
tea/coffee and fruit juice available throughout the journey.& You return from dinner in the
diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper
attendant.&
All necessary bedding, soap and towels are
provided.& Superliner
sleeping-cars are double-deck, with 10 very compact 2-berth
roomettes and 4 larger 2-berth bedrooms on the upper deck,
whilst the lower deck has another 4 roomettes, 1 family
bedroom & 1 special accessible bedroom.& The bedrooms
have a private shower & toilet, for roomette passengers there
are toilets on both upper and lower decks, and a hot shower on
the lower deck.& The gangways to the adjacent cars are on
the upper deck.& However,
sleeper travel isn't cheap.& In Europe you can pay a
small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper
compartment.& In the US, you have to pay for the whole
room whether there are two of you or just one.& To give
you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in
Superliner sleeping-cars offer:
Roomettes (previously called standard bedrooms):&
Roomettes are just big enough for two seats facing each
other with a small table by day and 2 berths at night.&
Toilets are available along the corridor and there's a
shower cubicle on the lower deck.& There are ten
roomettes on the upper level, and four downstairs,
arranged either side of a central corridor.&
(previously called deluxe
bedrooms):& Bedrooms
are much larger than roomettes, and have an en suite shower and
toilet.&&All five bedrooms in each car are on the upper level,
off a side corridor.&
Bedrooms have freestanding chair and sofa in daytime mode,
and upper and lower berths at night.& Like the Viewliner
bedrooms, the lower berth is extra wide.&
Located at one end of the lower level, taking up the
full width of the car, the
family bedroom has two adult beds and two
child beds.& There is no shower or toilet in a family
bedroom, but these are nearby outside the room.
Located at the other end of the lower level, also
taking up the full width of the car, the special bedroom
is wheelchair accessible, with two berths & private
toilet.& There is no shower in a Superliner special
bedroom, but a (non-wheelchair-accessible) shower is just
outside the room.
Superliner
sleeping-car...
Superliner Bedroom...
...with shower &
Superliner Roomette... The photo shows its size, it's just big
enough for two comfy seats facing each other.& At night, the seats pull together to form the lower berth, which takes up most of the room,
and the upper berth folds out from the wall above the
window.& Washrooms, toilet & a hot
shower are just along the corridor.&
Bedroom, in daytime mode... It takes up the full width of the
car at one end of the lower deck, and has a
sofa and jump seat that becomes 2 adult & 2 child berths
at night.& Toilets & a shower are nearby.
Video guide:& What's it like on
an Amtrak Superliner train?
There are two main ways to reach the Grand Canyon as part of a transcontinental
train trip.& One is to get off Amtrak's Chief at Flagstaff Arizona, and use a bus to and from the
Canyon, journey time 1 hour 45 minutes each way.& The
other, more interesting way, is to get off the Chief at
Williams and use the historic Grand Canyon Railway to and from
the Canyon, journey time 2 hours each way.
Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon by bus...
Scheduled buses link Flagstaff's Amtrak station (which also incorporates the
excellent local Visitor Centre) with the Grand Canyon's South Rim, with an 8am
bus departure from Flagstaff conveniently connecting out of Amtrak's Chief
from Los Angeles arriving at the Grand canyon around 1 hour 45 minutes later.&
A bus returns from the Grand Canyon at 6.15pm (also at 4.15pm from March to
October), arriving back in Flagstaff 1 hour 45 minutes or so later.& It can
easily be done as a day trip, returning to Flagstaff in time for the evening Chief to Los Angeles, although you can of course choose to
stay overnight at the hotels at the Grand Canyon.& For
bus times, see
.& The bus fare is around $28
Grand Canyon Tours from Flagstaff:& Alternatively, take a tour.& A company called The
Grand Canyon Store
offers 1-day tours from both Flagstaff & Williams
to the Grand Canyon, including the
to the Grand Canyon Village & South Rim, and the more
that actually takes you to the Colorado River at the
bottom of the canyon, not merely to the South Rim as with other tours and the
scheduled bus - not surprisingly the Inner Canyon Tour is their most popular!& They also do a
section below.
Williams to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway...
The more interesting way to reach the Canyon is on the Grand Canyon Railway from
Williams to the Canyon's South Rim.& One option is to get off the Amtrak Chief at Williams.&
The Amtrak station at Williams is William Junction, a halt in the woods some 3
miles from downtown Williams, but a Grand Canyon Railway shuttle bus meets all
Amtrak trains and transfers passengers to/from the original Williams railway
station in downtown Williams.& Williams is a pleasant town with plenty of
motels, shops & diners. From Williams station, the Grand Canyon Railway runs a
daily morning train some 65 miles over the Santa Fe's historic railway to the
Grand Canyon South Rim station in the Grand Canyon Village, right on the edge of
the Canyon's South Rim.& The train returns in the afternoon, arriving in
time to have dinner then catch the shuttle bus to Williams Junction for&
Amtrak's Chief onwards to Los Angeles.& The Amtrak
reservation system at
will actually let you buy through tickets between Los Angeles
and Grand Canyon in either direction, although it refuses to
book through tickets between New York or Chicago and Grand
Canyon as this involves an overnight stay in Williams.& But you can
book your Amtrak trains at
then book the Grand Canyon train at the GCR official website,
.& Alternatively, you may find it more convenient to
use Flagstaff as your base, getting on and off the Chief there, as the
arrival time from LA is less early, and the station is in the city centre with
all the city amenities, hotels, restaurants to hand. A company called The Grand
Canyon Store ()
offers 1-day tours from Flagstaff by tour bus to Williams to pick up the Grand
Canyon train to the South Rim, you can
&Williams &#9658; Grand Canyon
&Grand Canyon &#9658; Williams
&Train runs
&Train runs
&Williams, AZ depart (downtown station)
&Grand Canyon (South Rim station) depart
&Grand Canyon (South Rim station) arrive
&Williams, AZ (downtown station) arrive
&Return fare,
per person
Observation
&Williams to Grand Canyon & back:
The fare includes entry to the Wild West show at Williams
station in the hour before departure, and some Wild West
entertainment on board!
Grand Canyon railway
station, with the afternoon Grand Central Railway
train to Williams boarding passengers...
The Grand Canyon.& This
is the view from the south rim, just 3 minutes walk from
the station.
See America with an Amtrak USA
Railpass...
One of the best
ways to see America is with an Amtrak USA rail pass, just be
aware of its limitations before you invest in one.
A 15-day (maximum
8-segment) rail pass costs ?315 or $449.&
A 30-day (maximum
12-segment) rail pass costs ?476 or $679.&
A 45-day (maximum
18-segment) pass costs ?616 or $879.&
Children aged 2-15
get passes for half price, under 2's travel free.
Segments:&
Sadly, since 2008 Amtrak's USA railpasses no longer give unlimited travel.&
They only cover a maximum of 8, 12 or 18 'segments' depending
on your pass duration.& This is the maximum
number of individual train rides you can take during your
15, 30 or 45 day pass duration.& A segment is one train ride on one train,
so a 2-day trip counts as one
segment, and so does a 30-minute one!& A journey involving a
change of train counts as two segments.
Will a railpass
save you money?& Very probably, if you intend making
8 or more long-distance train rides.& Here's the maths:&
Depending on which pass you buy, a railpass works out at
$47-$54 per segment assuming that you use it for the maximum
8/12/18 segments.& For comparison, a point-to-point
ticket from New York to Chicago costs $86 if you book in
advance or maybe $105 bought on the day. Chicago to Denver
costs $97 in advance or $146& San Francisco
(Oakland) to Los Angeles costs $61;& New York to
Washington DC costs $49 in advance or up to $106 on the day.&
In other words, as long as you are making 8 or more train
rides, and making long-distance journeys rather than many
short hops, a pass is likely to save you money.& If you
only intend making two or three train trips, or only making
very short trips, then ordinary tickets are likely to work out
Reservations,
upgrades & quotas...
Railpasses are
valid for any Amtrak train in the USA except Acela Express
high-speed services and the Auto-Train car-carrying service.
Reservations
are still required!& The railpass is not a ticket, you
must make a (free) reservation before boarding any train.&
You can make reservations as you travel around the States at
stations or by calling Amtrak's 24 hour freephone number,
1-800-USA RAIL.& Alternatively you can make some or
all of your reservations in advance from outside the States by
calling Amtrak on (001) 215-856-7953.
Upgrading to a
sleeper:& If you want to
travel in a sleeping-car room, you need to pay the appropriate
room charge in addition to your rail pass.& For an idea
of sleeper room charges, .
Warning about
passholder quotas:& Although in theory you can make a reservation
with a railpass even on the day
of travel, trans-continental trains get busy in summer & at
Thanksgiving, for example, and passholder places are
limited by quota.& This quota for railpass holders is
reportedly set to zero when a train becomes 75% full.& In
other words, you buy a pass and they then have your money, but
when you try and use it you may be told all the trains are
'full' for railpass holders even though seats remain available for
customers paying cash.& So don't fall into this trap.&
At busy times of year (summer, Christmas, Thanksgiving) I'd
recommend either buying your pass and reservations together
from an agency by phone (so if there are no seats available on
the trains you want, you don't buy the pass) or simply booking
regular point-to-point tickets online which include a
confirmed reservation.
How to buy an
Amtrak Railpass...
1-888-829-4775 (USA)
Custom-made tours by train around the USA with
Train travel specialist Railbookers can arrange a
tour by train across the United
States on Amtrak, starting any date you like, to your own
specification with hotels and train reservations all made
for you, hassle-free.& They know what they're doing, and
take good care of their clients, and I have no hesitation in
recommending them.
UK call 020 ,
Call toll-free 1-888-829-4775 or
Australia call toll-free
& New Zealand call toll-free
Coast-to-coast
escorted tour with
you fancy going coast-to-coast across the United States or
Canada by train, but would rather do this as
part of an all-inclusive organised tour with other travellers and a
guide, UK-based company Great Rail Journeys () offers
5-star rail-based
from about ?2,500
per person.& They also offer rail-based holidays to other countries.& Check the holiday details online, then call
to book or use their
.& Seat61 gets some commission to
help support the site if you book your holiday through this
link and phone number.
get the most from a visit to the USA, you'll need a good guidebook.&
independent traveller, I think this
means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.& I
personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer
the Rough Guide.& Both guidebooks provide the same excellent
level of practical information and historical background.&
You won't regret buying one of these..!& Seat61 gets a small
commission if you buy through these links.& For a specific guide
to train travel around the States,&
Click the images to buy at
Alternatively, you can download
just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format
, from around ?2.99 or US$4.95 a
City Sightseeing's
red-and-yellow open top tour buses are now a familiar site in 100 major
cities on 6 continents.& They do a hop-on, hop-off tour bus ticket for
New York, Washington DC, Hollywood & Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Antonio
& Hawaii.& I find their bus tours a good way to
orientate yourself in a city, returning to explore in more depth later.&
It's also less wearing on the feet, especially with kids!
Buy your tour
tickets online before you go, redeemable on any
day you like within 3 months of buying it, see
in the USA
&#9668;&#9668;
Hotel search & price comparison.
checks all the main hotel booking sites at once to find the widest choice of
hotels & the cheapest seller.& It was named as the World's Leading Hotel
Comparison Site at the World Travel Awards 2013 and I highly recommend it, both
to find hotels in even the smallest places and to check that another retailer
isn't selling your hotel for less!
is my favourite booking site.& It's really clear and you can usually book with free
cancellation and so confirm your accommodation at no risk months before train
booking opens.
Tripadvisor hotel reviews...
is a good place
to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels.&
It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.
Backpacker hostels
in the USA:
:& If you're on a tight budget,
don't forget about backpacker hostels.& Hostelbookers
offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in
many places across the States at rock-bottom prices.
in the USA:
allows you to pre-book nights in someone's home, just as you'd book a hotel.&
Verified hosts earn extra money from letting out their rooms, and you
get to experience the people & culture of a country in a way you wouldn't if
you stayed in a hotel - but often for little more than you'd pay for a hostel
Personal recommendations...
Washington DC:&
.& A great choice, directly
across the road from Union Station so handy for arrivals and
departures by train, with an excellent Irish Pub doing great
food & Irish beer on the premises, and just 2 minutes walk
from the capitol.& From around $154 for a double.
Los Angeles:&
This has got to be of the most fascinating places to stay,
anywhere.& If you go to Los Angeles, consider making
your base to explore the Los Angeles -
Hollywood - Disneyland area.& The original Queen Mary
of 1936 has been permanently moored at Long Beach in
California since the late 1960s, some 25 miles from Los
Angeles Union Station (about a $90 taxi ride), and it's
undoubtedly the most wonderful place to stay in LA.&
The hotel consists of most of the original first class
cabins on board the Queen Mary, and there are plenty of
restaurants and bars available on board, too.& Hotel
guests can more or less wander the ship at will, and even
sign up for ghost hunts at night on board (and yes, from my
own experience there is something going on on that beautiful
ship!).& Wood panelled art deco interiors have been
preserved, although a few modern items have been installed
such as televisions, and (as we worked out from a historic
deck plan) in some cases two of the Queen Mary's original
cabins have been knocked into one hotel suite by turning one
of the en suite bathrooms into a connecting corridor.&
She is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever
Queen Mary at Long Beach, California...
Cabin 401 in Hotel Queen Mary
to the USA
1)& Check flight prices
You can't beat trains for travel around the
USA.& But if you need a flight to get there in the first place, try the excellent
from London to New York, they're great on both
price and (above all) service.
Check flight prices at
Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes
worldwide across 600 airlines...
Lounge passes...
airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge
pass, it's not as expensive as you think, see
Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable
insurer, with at least ?1m or preferably ?5m medical cover.& It should also cover
cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible
multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip
policies even for just 2 or 3 trips
a year, I have an annual policy myself.& Here are some suggested insurers.&
Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these
the UK, try
to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65
(no age limit), see
you live in
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
If you live in the USA try
Carry a spare credit card, designed for foreign travel with no currency
exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...
It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.&
If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're
not left stranded if
your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.& In addition,
some credit cards are significantly better for
overseas travel than others.& Martin Lewis's
explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency
exchange commission loadings when you buy something
overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use
an ATM abroad.& Taking this advice can save you quite a
lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street
bank credit card!
You can avoid ATM charges and expensive exchange rates with a
Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or their
multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, see
Get an international SIM card
to save on mobile data and phone calls...
Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're
not careful you can return home to find a huge bill.&
, which can slash costs by up to 85%.& Go-Sim
cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide,
and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.& It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty
when you get home.& It also allows cheap data access for laptops
& PDAs.& A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't
expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some
others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone
number' for life.