We did the train to Florida 3x when I was a teen and it was great - much more comfortable than a car and no stress for the parents. However, we had a sleeping compartment, tiny as it was. I wouldn't do it with just a seat unless the alternative were the bus.

We'll let you know. We're going next week! Auto train with compartment. The price, when you include renting a car on Fl, luggage and meals in airport seems comparable. Like I said, we'll let you know.

If you do the autotrain I think it would be fun.

But if you just spent the 17 hours in coach - miserable. I had to do an overnight train in coach before and it was HORRIBLE.

Yes, I'd do it in a second with my 7, 9 year olds. As long as you have stuff to do, it's great.

If your 8 yo loves trains, do it once while he or she still loves them. It's a memory he or she will always have.

If you don't like it, don't do it again.

And if you can afford it, get the sleeping compartment.

+1 on packing your own food. The cafe car (read: snack bar) is OK for one meal but not for the whole trip.

I just did some poking about with random dates, and it looks like the train is only cheaper if you don't get a compartment. That sounds like a miserable way to travel. It wouldn't be much different than when people have to take 17 hour flights, and no one is ever very overjoyed at that prospect.

Did you look at Expedia? Flights there seemed pretty reasonable, and only about $100 more total than the cost of the train without compartment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever take it to Florida? Cheaper than flights. How bad would 17 hours with an overnight be. With an 8 year old who lives trains but has never been on one for 17 hours.

I did it to Montreal.

It's a LOOOOONG time on a train.

I enjoyed it. Spouse did not so much.

Piece of advice: Bring your own food. The Amtrak cafe is overpriced and stocked with crap. Bonus: They run out.

I also took the Amtrak to Montreal once and it was painfully long. Wouldn't recommend a long train ride to anyone... it gets old fast.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever take it to Florida? Cheaper than flights. How bad would 17 hours with an overnight be. With an 8 year old who lives trains but has never been on one for 17 hours.

I did it to Montreal.

It's a LOOOOONG time on a train.

I enjoyed it. Spouse did not so much.

Piece of advice: Bring your own food. The Amtrak cafe is overpriced and stocked with crap. Bonus: They run out.

OP isn't asking about the auto train. Different pricing!

Can imagine its cheaper than flying...

We've done the auto train LOTS. My kids (now 3 and 6) love it. If you get a sleeping compartment (a must, in my book) its really not cheaper than flying but for us it was much more convenient.

Test it out.

Put two relatively uncomfortable chairs side by side in a room. Pipe in the sound of several people talking loudly on cell phones. Close the door, dim the lights and eat nothing but cold hot dogs and chips. For 17 hours.

Train rides are unbearably long. I took the "scenic" train from San Francisco to L.A. I couldn't wait for it to end.

No. Would you have an overnight compartment or sleep in the seat? If you have a compartment, it sounds like a dream for a child who loves trains.

Anyone ever take it to Florida? Cheaper than flights. How bad would 17 hours with an overnight be. With an 8 year old who lives trains but has never been on one for 17 hours.