posted
Thanks to the web, you can go online with Amtrak from anywhere in the world. Amtrak also does some promotional work averseas. I have seen some Amtrak information published in Chinese. The same is true for the US airlines that serve international points. I could if I needed to talk to Northwest Airlines in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and certainly some other languages as well. Most of the tourist destinations, many local governments, etc. also have web sites you can find. You just go on line. Now you can call "800" numbers from here. Do not know about other countries. You simply go through a recording that says you will be charged at the international calling rate.
I have not tried to get tickets from here for Amtrak. I know that I can go to a travel agent here and set up plane tickets and car rentals. Usually I pay the plane tickets here in cash and the car rental by credit card at the counter.
Forget going to the US Embassies or consulates for information. They approach useless.
Entering the US from many places is expensive, just to be permitted in. From here it costs US$100.00 to apply for a visa. If turned down and you reapply, that is another $100.00!!!, every time. Also, even though the theoretical presumption in US law is innocent until proven guilty, that does not apply if you are an overseas citizen from a long list of countries wanting to visit the US. In that case, you are presumed to be trying to become an illegal immigrant until you prove otherwise. In other words, guilty until you can prove yourself innocent. I simply cringe whenever any of my local friends and acquaintenaces say they are planning to go to the US. The US is probably the least visitor-friendly country in the world, and it goes from the time you apply for a visa until you are on your way back home when the trip is over.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
This question reminds me that I've met a couple of people from overseas who were traveling Amtrak. One was an Australian, and we had a nice chat.
But my favorite was a fellow from Germany, who was a casting director for their motion picture industry. He traveled to Hollywood a lot on business, but this was his first time riding American trains. He got a 15 day rail pass and spent the entire time riding trains all over the placce. He'd been on the Coast Starlight twice, the California Zephyr, and the Empire Builder. Given his profession, he was not a poor man by any means, but get this: he did all 15 days in COACH! He said he never liked to ride sleepers "Because you don't meet anybody there. All the crazy people are in coach." (By "crazy" he meant interesting.)
He also said he'd been on many trains overseas, but our Superliners were the most comfortable railcars he'd been on.
posted
From the UK it's easy. Visa waiver programme, just fill in the arrival card and remember that the sole purpose of the trip is *not* to assassinate the president (a question which is actually on the work visa).
Booking over the internet on Amtrak.com is straight forward - just turn up at a station before you travel, stick your credit card in the machine, and out pops the tickets. Or ask at the ticket office with ID. Amtrak even send their paper timetables abroad, as I've had a few through the post now.
However, buying online is NOT necessarily the cheapest way. Certainly not if you're doing 3+ long distance trips. For that we get the USA Rail Pass, only available to non-North American residents. It is split into regions and offers unlimited travel for 15 or 30 days in coach - more details on Amtrak's website. However, you can't buy this online and you need a local agent. I have used Leisurail which charge £5 per ticket booked (~US$8).
Similarly, non-Europeans can get a European rail pass for much cheaper than we can get.
Amtrak's coach seats are probably the most comfortable long distance seats I've been in!
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
For my forthcoming trip (3 weeks to go!!!) I put my faith in a travel agent... he organised getting the tickets which if for not a schedule change I'd probably have them now...
I know it's possible to purchase on the internet but I felt "safer" with a travel agent who's job is travel to help me get it right.
Posts: 116 | From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: Jan 2004
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Here in the Netherlands we have a travelagent called "incento" that is specialized in railtravel and amtrak I bought there 5 times a USA-railpass and because of my American-train-stories 5 other couples bought a USA-railpass (one couple 2 times). Entering USA was simple with a visa-waiver. I travelled in sleeper and coach and indeed the superliner-seats in coach (the refurbishd ones) are the most comfortable train-seats I know (with a lot of experience of travelling first class in Europe), only the tracks in the USA are very often in a terrible condition. So if I tell about travelling by train in the USA by AMTRAK to my friends they should imagine about a very comfortable Cadillac on very bad road!!!
Posts: 8 | From: netherlands | Registered: Jan 2004
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That last from dutchamtrakfan was well worth remembering. "A very comfortable Cadillac on a very bad road" The generally prevailing track quality for smoothness in the US is far below that in Europe. That is not to say it is unsafe, just bouncy. For strength, US is equal to better than anywhere else in the world. Expectations need to be adjusted accordingly. You will not TGv / ICE / Shinkansen ride quality.
Having ridden trains in the US and several Asian countries (sorry, I have never been to Europe), I will say the closest I ever came to the US in general excitement of ride quality was in a bottom class open window coach running at 120 km/h (75 mph) on the back end of a long train on the meter gauge railway in Thailand.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Jonathan: you still plan on going to Massachusetts next week? but that is not an international trip Amtrak doesn't serv Mexico
Posts: 193 | From: illinois | Registered: Jan 2004
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Aahh, Thailand.... bouncy track, the wind in your hair, the soot from the diesel engine in your face, onboard at-seat service from hawkers, polished wooden benches that you can't help but slide around on...! It's an experience I'll never forget. Oh, and it was on time!
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Something I have really gotten spoiled to. Generally true here in Taiwan, as well. You know they are serious about timekeeping when "2 minutes late" is posted on the arrivals board. Major holidays can see delays up to about 30 minutes. Also, there is the concept of selling reserved seat tickets until the seats run out, then keep selling tickets for the train, "sorry, no seats" up to some limit that I have no idea how they set.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Jonathon: what is racist about Mexico? i thought you takeing trip to the East coast?
Posts: 193 | From: illinois | Registered: Jan 2004
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