Guide to Planning Your Amtrak Train Travel
An Amtrak experience is sure to offer you the joy of a lifetime. If you have set your heart on any of the several destinations mentioned in the Amtrak tickets schedule, this article will help you with everything you need to know about planning your Amtrak train travel.
Tickets and reservations
The first step is to study the Amtrak tickets’ schedules. Once you know where you are headed, you can book Amtrak train tickets online through the following methods.
- Use the mobile application
You can book your Amtrak tickets by quickly downloading the app from your Play Store or App Store.
While this is not a conventional method, Amtrak e-vouchers are another way of getting your hands on lucrative ticket deals. In case you downgrade a ticket or cancel one, then you get your refund in the form of an Amtrak e-voucher. This can be used for a concession on Amtrak train ticket prices at the time of future purchases.
One of the most convenient ways to plan your Amtrak train travel is by booking your tickets on the online portal.
In case you visit Amtrak stations, then opting for a Quik-Trak Kiosk is your best bet. You will save on time and may also secure good prices.
Amtrak can send tickets to American and Canadian addresses with no shipping fees. You can opt for this if you are not comfortable with e-tickets. You can book through a travel agent or call the customer helpline to avail of this facility.
You will need to learn about the trains that offer this option. On most Amtrak trains, a pre-purchased ticket remains a prerequisite. However, there are certain situations when you may purchase a ticket with cash after you board the train.
Accepted forms of payment
If you visit any of the staffed stations and are out of cash, then there is no need to worry. Here are some options you can consider to get Amtrak train tickets.
The following are the accepted credit and debit cards.
- Discover
- Universal Air Travel Plan
- China UnionPay
- Diners Club
- VISA
- Mastercard
- Japan Credit Bureau
- American Express
There are certain payment modes that are not accepted or are accepted only in certain conditions. These include.
- Traveler’s check
- Money orders
- In the case of group travel, you can pay using cashier’s checks as well as personal checks. However, for this, a prior arrangement with the Amtrak Group Desk needs to be made.
Difference between Amtrak schedules and timetables
It is important to understand the difference between Amtrak trains schedules and timetables. While you may feel they are the same thing, here is the main distinction between the two.
- You can access a schedule on the Amtrak website. It is mainly a search result of the travel information that you feed into the website’s search bar.
- A schedule search conducted on the Amtrak website will generate the most updated results and will help you plan your trip better.
- Timetables, on the other hand, are lists of downloadable listings that mention both arrival and departure times. They can be downloaded easily and mainly pertain to the timetable of certain train service.
- A schedule result can be altered depending upon the availability of the tickets, while the timetable is fixed as per the initial schedule.
Tips to successfully book your trips
Here are certain tips to help you successfully book your Amtrain train travel.
- Reserve your tickets early. This will help you get tickets of your choice for the route you want.
- Amtrak train travel, as well as the accommodation, tends to be completely full during the holiday season. So, it is advisable to be flexible with your dates and choice of train routes to get a good trip.
- Use passenger discounts (based on age, seniority, and so on) to ensure that you get good deals on your desired ticket.
- Lastly, research your trip well. Check all Amtrak routes and then make the best pick.
With the aforementioned tips, you can make your Amtrak train travel convenient and hassle-free. Remember these pointers and keep up with Amtrak tickets schedules to get the best deals.
