Additional Coverage:
- I spent 16 hours on a $249 round-trip Amtrak journey through New York. Here are 7 mistakes I won’t make again. (businessinsider.com)
All Aboard the Oops Express! My Amtrak Adventure, Mistakes and All
My recent round-trip Amtrak adventure from New York City to Rochester was a 16-hour odyssey filled with scenic views, relaxing moments, and, well, a few blunders. I booked a coach ticket for one leg and splurged on business class for the return, shelling out $249 for the whole shebang. While I enjoyed the unique charm of train travel, I definitely learned a few lessons the hard way.
Lesson one: Early is good, but too early is just…boring. I arrived at Penn Station nearly an hour before my 7:15 a.m. departure (Amtrak recommends 30 minutes).
While I scored a coffee and felt smugly prepared, my train was delayed over an hour, and the track information wasn’t posted until minutes before departure. My return trip reinforced this; waiting even 40 minutes felt excessive.
Next time, 20 minutes early will be my sweet spot.
Picking the wrong side of the train is a rookie mistake I won’t repeat. On the way to Rochester, I snagged a whole row to myself – score! – but it was on the wrong side for the best views.
I gazed at passing trains while the Hudson River and stunning landscapes whizzed by on the other side. The return trip offered breathtaking scenery, but I still wished I’d seen it all.
Speaking of returns, my business class experience wasn’t quite the upgrade I’d hoped for. The last row of the business class car, at the very back of the train, felt every bump and jolt of the tracks.
Forget relaxing or sleeping – I regretted the extra expense. Next time, I’m sticking with coach and a smoother ride.
Another tip: Pack snacks! The cafe car is a nice perk, but it did close unexpectedly for an hour on one leg. Thankfully, I had Cheez-Its on the return trip, preventing a potential hanger meltdown.
My biggest oops? Not paying attention to the length of the return trip.
Focused on departure times, I missed the fine print: a 9-hour journey, including a 90-minute stop in Albany. While not a catastrophe, that extended pause in a dimly lit, intermittently air-conditioned train car was not ideal.
Lesson learned: always check the total travel time.
Finally, a word to the clumsy: be mindful of your surroundings! I repeatedly bonked my head on the overhead luggage rack. Moving with a little more grace on a moving train would have saved me a few bumps and bruises.
Despite these missteps, I relished the overall experience. Train travel offers a unique perspective and pace, and I’ll definitely be back for more Amtrak adventures – hopefully with fewer self-inflicted mishaps!