Amtrak Charleston To New York City (Columbia: hotel, price, train)

[Browsing Duo]

Anyone out there taken the Charleston to New York overnight Amtrak train round trip? Would you recommend the experience in terms of punctuality and comfort? Flying is just so awful these days, we've been thinking of giving the train a try.

[OrangeCountyGirl]

Originally Posted by Browsing Duo

Anyone out there taken the Charleston to New York overnight Amtrak train round trip? Would you recommend the experience in terms of punctuality and comfort? Flying is just so awful these days, we've been thinking of giving the train a try.

Anyone have any info on this?

[pokrplr]

My sister-in-law did and would NEVER do it again! She'd rather walk...

[waccamatt]

I took the train from Columbia to New York once and I would never take such a long train ride on Amtrak again. I now either fly or drive to New York, but a shorter train trip (8 hours or less) would be fine.

[emilybh]

When I was little I remember taking the train from New York to Florida and it was great! We later took the auto-train, first driving to D.C and then getting on the train with our car and going the rest of the way to Florida and that was fun too. Just don't expect a wonderful night's sleep. But being able to walk around and watch the topography change is fun. The price, unfortunately, is sometimes the same or more than flying which makes flying, since it is so much quicker, often the most preferable. The seating is MUCH more comfortable than on plane and you can STRETCH out, which is nice.

[Jim3310]

I'd rather fly. A pain in NY, sure, but VERY easy from here.
Fast & pretty cheap if you look at AirTrans.
jim

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Jim3310

I'd rather fly. A pain in NY, sure, but VERY easy from here.
Fast & pretty cheap if you look at AirTrans.
jim

Or check out cheaptickets It turns out at least to and from San Antonio, AirTrans isn't the only competitive option out of Charleston.

[amrombe]

We came to Charleston in June from Baltimore on Amtrak overnight. We have 2 small kids and went with my parents and 2 brothers. We didn't think it was bad at all. It was comfy, there is a good amount of room in the seats, and my kids slept most of the night. We just had coach seats, not a sleeper car. We did just go one way and flew back because it was cheaper.

[OrangeCountyGirl]

Well, I checked into it after posting here.

I'm all over it! I absolutely hate to fly and wouldn't fly for free anywhere with additional free hotel accommodation! Just HATE to fly.

When we moved here from California, we packed everything (including our 90lb. lab and drove here! It was fabulous.)

Wish me luck!

[empire]

My wife and I did it, and it was great. Got on board in the evening, had a cocktail and dinner, went to bed, had a nice night's sleep, woke up and enjoyed breakfast in the dining car and then we arrived. Would do it again anytime. Good luck.