Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 13:00     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: Flights to Florida are about $500 each at this point. The train, without getting a sleeper bunk, is about $200 each. That is why I am considering it. I did not plan ahead and get a flight early obviously and I an not willing to pay $450+ each way to get sleeper car seats, since that is no better than flying. So the option is to take the overnight train and sleep in the regular seats. I could see doing it one way, but both ways sounds tough for a 5-6 day trip. Thanks for the input.


Which days and what part of Florida?


Tampa area, flexible on days.


A two minute search on Kayak shows that you can get Round trip, non stop flights from DCA to Tampa for $215 on many different dates in April. One example is Tuesday April 10-17.


Yes, but spring break is the last week of March. We may just fly down for a weekend in April instead.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 12:57     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:Just drive, it isn't far


Yeah, I love long drives, but DW and kids FREAK OUT when entertaining the notion of being in a car for more than two hours. <sigh>
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 11:58     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: Flights to Florida are about $500 each at this point. The train, without getting a sleeper bunk, is about $200 each. That is why I am considering it. I did not plan ahead and get a flight early obviously and I an not willing to pay $450+ each way to get sleeper car seats, since that is no better than flying. So the option is to take the overnight train and sleep in the regular seats. I could see doing it one way, but both ways sounds tough for a 5-6 day trip. Thanks for the input.


Which days and what part of Florida?


Tampa area, flexible on days.


A two minute search on Kayak shows that you can get Round trip, non stop flights from DCA to Tampa for $215 on many different dates in April. One example is Tuesday April 10-17.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 00:43     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
My mom just took it and she said never again. She said it was worse than driving. Drive or fly. Get a Southwest credit card and put everything on it for a few months. You should have enough points to get FL for at least 3, maybe more tickets. We did it to FL. We flew into Tampa vs. Orlando since we were renting a car and less points to go to Tampa and better flights.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 00:33     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
The auto train to fl is the worst.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 00:13     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:When we took the auto train it was in July and cost us $1k - $250 each for 3 of us and $250 for our car.

In our case since we were traveling for 10 days in FL +2 travel days with an infant we needed a lot of stuff, flying would have been impractical with extra baggage era and rental car for 10 days, but it’s not the cheapest option.

I would rather never vacation than drive to Florida & back with infants, toddlers or even just adults.


Insane. 2 plane tickets would have been $500. A rental car for $10 days $350. Get there in 2 hours and spend the $150 left over on baggage fees.

As far as I am concerned, there is one way to Florida - on a plane. Period.


How would you choose which family member to leave behind?
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2018 00:03     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:When we took the auto train it was in July and cost us $1k - $250 each for 3 of us and $250 for our car.

In our case since we were traveling for 10 days in FL +2 travel days with an infant we needed a lot of stuff, flying would have been impractical with extra baggage era and rental car for 10 days, but it’s not the cheapest option.

I would rather never vacation than drive to Florida & back with infants, toddlers or even just adults.


Insane. 2 plane tickets would have been $500. A rental car for $10 days $350. Get there in 2 hours and spend the $150 left over on baggage fees.

As far as I am concerned, there is one way to Florida - on a plane. Period.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 21:20     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
I just went onto Southwest.com and found a r/t ticket from BWI to Tampa (March 26-March 31) for $325. Both departures are super early in the morning, but that still beats an overnight train trip-- for me, at least.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 18:49     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
When we took the auto train it was in July and cost us $1k - $250 each for 3 of us and $250 for our car.

In our case since we were traveling for 10 days in FL +2 travel days with an infant we needed a lot of stuff, flying would have been impractical with extra baggage era and rental car for 10 days, but it’s not the cheapest option.

I would rather never vacation than drive to Florida & back with infants, toddlers or even just adults.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 18:35     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: Flights to Florida are about $500 each at this point. The train, without getting a sleeper bunk, is about $200 each. That is why I am considering it. I did not plan ahead and get a flight early obviously and I an not willing to pay $450+ each way to get sleeper car seats, since that is no better than flying. So the option is to take the overnight train and sleep in the regular seats. I could see doing it one way, but both ways sounds tough for a 5-6 day trip. Thanks for the input.


Which days and what part of Florida?


Tampa area, flexible on days.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 18:35     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How can flights be outrageous? Even walk up fares on Southwest are only like $350 each way.


we just flew to Fort Myers direct from DC a week ago and the flights were like $220 each.


Yes, but they shoot up the week before Easter because that is everyone's spring break week.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 18:17     Subject: how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:How can flights be outrageous? Even walk up fares on Southwest are only like $350 each way.


we just flew to Fort Myers direct from DC a week ago and the flights were like $220 each.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 15:10     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:OP: Flights to Florida are about $500 each at this point. The train, without getting a sleeper bunk, is about $200 each. That is why I am considering it. I did not plan ahead and get a flight early obviously and I an not willing to pay $450+ each way to get sleeper car seats, since that is no better than flying. So the option is to take the overnight train and sleep in the regular seats. I could see doing it one way, but both ways sounds tough for a 5-6 day trip. Thanks for the input.


Which days and what part of Florida?
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 14:55     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
OP: Flights to Florida are about $500 each at this point. The train, without getting a sleeper bunk, is about $200 each. That is why I am considering it. I did not plan ahead and get a flight early obviously and I an not willing to pay $450+ each way to get sleeper car seats, since that is no better than flying. So the option is to take the overnight train and sleep in the regular seats. I could see doing it one way, but both ways sounds tough for a 5-6 day trip. Thanks for the input.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2018 11:35     Subject: Re:how bad would the train to florida be?
Anonymous wrote:I have not taken the auto train but I have taken a different train with roomette/sleeper cars. We were going to Jacksonville and it was lovely -- boarded at Union Station at 7:30 pm, had dinner in the dining car, went to sleep, woke up, had breakfast, and got off the train at 9 am. But not a bargain. If price is the issue I would drive.


Agree. Love the train but it is not cheap as you would need a sleeper car and those are $600-$700 each (fit two people) plus the train fare. We spend $2-3K on train tickets for our family.