Amtrak for First Timers. 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Train
I’ve ridden Amtrak dozens of times. Here are the first-timer tips I wish I knew, from cafe cars to seats to sleeping overnight, so your first train runs smooth.
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My Amtrak Packing List: What I Bring on Every Train
I don’t pack much for the train. After dozens of Amtrak rides, including overnights in coach and a few in a roomette, my list has gotten shorter, not longer. I know what I use and what just adds weight to…
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How to Sleep in Amtrak Coach: Tips From Hard-Earned Experience
This is the article for those looking at the price of a roomette and deciding if they’ll be able to ride it out in Coach instead. (Because that’s me.) Look, I love taking the roomettes, but the past couple of…
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My 4 Strategies to Get Cheap Amtrak Tickets in 2026
Next week, I’m taking Amtrak from New York down to Washington DC for $24. It’s not a sale.
I’ve written a lot about Amtrak on this blog. I’ve reviewed half a dozen routes, written a lot of words arguing that taking the train beats flying on most short to medium routes.
Yet, at the same time, Amtrak can be expensive. Under pressure to make a profit, they’ve adopted dynamic pricing just like the airlines. That means the same seat can cost $24 one day and $150 another.
But there are a few patterns and strategies to get cheap Amtrak tickets.
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Rail Europe Review: How I Use It and When I Don’t
Since I was 18 and spent my first stint in Spain living with a host family, I’ve done a lot of traveling through Europe.
And as an American who grieves our lack of trains, I stick to trains as much as possible when I’m in Europe.
That means I’ve spent a lot of time on European train booking sites, and Rail Europe is one I keep coming back to, at least as part of my research process.
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6 East Coast Amtrak Routes to Take This Summer
I consider myself a bit of an expert on East Coast Amtrak routes. I live car-free in New York, I love to travel, I love seeing nature (and let’s be honest, I just love riding trains). I’ve taken the Ethan Allen Express probably half a dozen times, the Vermonter more times than that, and have ridden routes all the way from New York to Chicago in a private roomette.
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How to Get to Every U.S. World Cup Stadium by Public Transportation
If you’re coming to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, you’ve probably heard one thing over and over: You’ll need a car. It’s true, we are hopelessly car-dependent in many places, and I apologize for that. I don’t…
