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In June, I will be traveling on the Amtrak Silver Service from Cary, NC to Tampa, FL (then by "Thruway Bus" from Tampa to Bradenton). The trip will be from about 8pm until 1pm (Overnight). I have never ridden the Amtrak before and, although I am excited, I am a little nervous about being unprepared for such a long ride. I am not getting a sleeper room. I am 22 and fairly petite so I'm hoping the coach seats are roomy enough for at least some rest. I am mainly asking for any tips anyone that has taken a long Amtrak trip can offer. Is there enough room in the seats to have a laptop out to watch movies? Can you bring your own food on the train? Anyone ridden an Amtrak Thruway Bus before? What's that like?
You'll be able to easily use your laptop, the seats are spacious. You are welcome to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. (If you are very discreet you can get away with mixers as well.)
I would also suggest a pillow and light blanket. The trains tend to be very cold. The bus is a typical motorcoach--like a Greyhound.
Don't get too excited, neither is a particularly comfortable or appealing experience.
For long distance plane travel I will usually pack a washcloth and hand towel in separate ziploks and some sort of travel soap. Also a change of underwear and socks with a bag for the dirty clothes - may not be necessary for 15 hours. You might want to travel in a shoe that you can easily slip on an off, comfortable clothes.
I did a cross-country trip several years ago. I was at least double your 22 years, and am not petite (the lack of leg room on airplanes is downright painful). And I thought the seats were more than comfortable.
I second the taking a blanket & pillow. If you're a light sleeper, earplugs and a sleep mask might be good to take along, too. And yes, you can take food with you. And I suggest you do. Food on the train is poor, unless you go to the dining car. And it's all relatively expensive. As your trip isn't even 24 hours, I wouldn't worry about a change of clothes. Just get on the train freshly dressed, and having just eaten.
Not sure if they do it on all routes, but in the evenings they showed movies in the club car. And that was nice, just to get out of sitting in the same seat non-stop.
We've taken Amtrak from Cary to DC. The seats are large enough and people will pretty much keep to themselves. One suggestion I would have is when onboard ask the conductor if any roomettes are available for upgrade. Since it's the last leg of the journey they will probably go cheap.
When we lived in FL we took the Amtrak from Palm Beach to Orlando. On the return trip, once onboard we asked the conductor if any roomettes were available. He sold us one for $40. Included in first class accommodations are meals. Because we were traveling during lunch or dinner hours (I forget the exact time) we got to eat. Adding up the prices on the menu, we actually saved money by getting a room.
I think only the western long-distance (mostly west of Chicago) trains have the big domed-car windows, the eastern ones don't.
Don't know if it's still true, but back when those cars were introduced ... the story goes that the railroad purchased them for the east coast, more heavily traveled, routes. But it turned out that they didn't fit in through tunnels, so they put them into service out west.
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