Train travel with Kids

[btcctomtb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close btcctomtb]

I have booked 2 weeks out west and was planning to take the train from Chicago To Seattle. The fares have gone through the roof for sleeper cars, and or regular fares. I booked my 2 weeks 11/07 and fares were just above $1100 for oneway and are now $2000.

Has anyone ever done 2 day trip in coach seats with kids? I can book R/T Air at a little over $2100. Or does anyone have recommendations for train tour in montana? specifically Glacier NP

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

How young are the kids? Over the summer we went from NYC to Buffalo on Amtrak, an 8-hour trip, with our kids, ages 18, 13, and 9. It went pretty smoothly. The trains had electrical outlets at the seats so the kids could play with their Nintendos or use a laptop. We brought a lot of books, art supplies, snacks (including fresh fruit and veggies and water), and small blankets. The blankets came in really handy b/c the kids put them over their heads to sleep for a while.

Not a two-day trip, but a long trip for us. Definitely better than being stuck in the car for an 8-hour drive! A two-day trip without sleepers will probably be harder on you than on the kids....

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Overnight

I've done about a 24 hour train trip with kids. (Think 5 and 7 at the time). They did fine. This particular route didn't have sleepers, but we did opt for business class which was more private and roomier. No big problems. Kids enjoyed it as we did also. (Might add it was 1 kid at a time each way)

Nancy

[GeoPatSK Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeoPatSK]

We once tried, operative word once, a coach train ride from New Haven, CT to Orlando, FL, with 3 adults and 2 kids (ages 11 and 6). This was a trip of one night, 8am to 11am the next morning. It was not pleasant. They put families together in a few cars, I assume to not disturb adult only passengers. It was nearly impossible to sleep, and with out sleep the kids we irritable. Nearly the entire car was full of moaning kids. The conductors went up and down the car all night announce stops about once an hour. Passengers were coming on and leaving the train all night. The conditions of the bathrooms after about 8 hours were deplorable.

After this trip the only time we took a train was the Auto-Train (no stops) from Washington D.C. (Lorton, VA actually) to Florida with a Family compartment. The benefit of the train was always cost. Kids rode for free and, if we stayed in Florida for two weeks or more, the cost of the car on the Auto-Train was cheaper than renting a car.

Now that the kids are too old to travel for free, we drive or take the plane.

If the cost is that close, I would fly.