Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Amtrak rail network has many routes available in the United States and some spectacular scenery to enjoy on many routes as well. However, many people are frustrated with trains not always running on schedule, and ticket prices are not always the cheapest either, and while there usually won’t be much you can do about when the train will run, there are a lot of things. you can do to make your trip cheaper and more comfortable.
Check all available discounts
There are a host of different discounts available to Amtrak riders, and while some are available to members of certain organizations, others are simply discounts for certain parts of the population. Those who are students, international students, military veterans or seniors are eligible for discounts, while there are also discounts for disabled travelers, with a 10-15% discount for all these people. Members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) get a 10% discount on tickets, while members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) get the same discount.
See if buying guest reward points is cheaper than buying a ticket
The Amtrak Guest Reward Points scheme runs through a website that you can access through the main Amtrak site. However, in addition to saving reward points from your travels, the website has the option of purchasing guest reward points. The intended purpose is to allow you to recharge your reward points for a particular trip, but always check the price in points against the price in dollars, as in some cases it may be cheaper to buy the points and redeem them for your ticket rather than for buy the ticket for your trip!
Book your tickets early
The general rule of thumb for purchasing Amtrak tickets is that prices will generally increase the closer you get to your travel date, so buy your tickets as soon as you’re sure when you’ll be traveling. It’s also worth keeping an eye on trip prices after purchasing your tickets, as if you see the price drop, Amtrak will generally adjust your fare with the difference.
Leave your luggage at the station
Unless you are boarding at a small railway stop, most large stations will have a place to store your luggage, and you can leave your luggage at the station up to 24 hours before the train departs. This is perfect if you want to enjoy the last day of your trip and return home, but don’t want to spend the day carrying your bags.
Save money on food during your trip
In terms of cost, the dining car is generally the most expensive place to buy food on the train, and the cafeteria offers cheaper food, but a good tip is that they will give you free hot water if you want to bring instant noodles or soup with you to eat. . There’s no problem with bringing luggage either, so adding a cooler with a picnic and snacks for the trip is a great way to save money.
Earn discounts as a regular traveler
If you use Amtrak regularly for your travels, whether for business or pleasure, it is worth using an Amtrak Guest Rewards Points account to accumulate points that you can later use for free travel. It’s also worth getting the Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card, which will allow you to accumulate points on spending your daily expenses, while also earning a bonus of healthy points simply for signing up for the card.
Get a good night’s sleep without sleeping quarters
The cabins or roomettes found on Amtrak trains are a bit more expensive than regular seats, but sometimes you will find that upgrades can be quite inexpensive if you talk to the train staff. Remember, though, that even if you’re not in the bedrooms, you can still get some sleep, so bring a travel blanket and pillow. Most people find that the seats in the observation cars will often have a bit more room to relax and stretch, and there will be fewer people there at night, and they are a good place to sleep for a few hours.
Ask the staff for their advice
Make friends with the train staff, they are there to help you and if you tell them what you want, like a break to stretch your legs or ask where you can go out to buy hot food, they will let you know which cities have a stop where you can do that. . The staff will have their own experiences too, so ask for their advice and they will often have some good ideas for you too.
