What are some things to know when traveling by train?|146504

In about two weeks, I_m going on a two day trip by train, with one transfer in Chicago. I_ve never traveled by train before, and I_m not really sure on what I_m going to need to remember. I_ll only be able to bring two bags as carry ons, no checked baggage allowed. One will be my guitar. The other an actual bag with stuff in it. I already know to get to the station early. That_s about all I know. Any and all advice is appreciated.

Firstly, your seat assignment will be made as you board. If you have a preference of window or aisle, be sure to tell the car attendant that when they_re assigning your seat. You may have a seatmate, you may not, but you_ll have quite a bit of legroom to play with. I_m assuming you_re going by coach rather than in one of the sleepers. Definitely take a blanket - the trains get cool at night and, while Amtrak usually sells them, do you really want to pay $10 for one? Bring a pillow if you_d like, but the attendants in each car will pass out airline pillows if you want one. Ear plugs are a good idea to bring along as well if you_re a light sleeper or in case someone in the car snores loudly.

In terms of bathing and grooming, if you_re in coach you have no access to a shower, so you may want to take a wash cloth and some soap to sponge-bathe in one of the bathrooms or some Wet Wipes to freshen up. It_s a good idea to bring a little toiletry bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, a razor, shaving cream, a comb or hairbrush, and any over the counter meds you might want to bring (Rolaids, Tylenol, etc)

For entertainment and recreation, it_s a good idea to bring a book, MP3 player, portable DVD player, or the like. Be sure to bring headphones! The only word of warning is that not every seat may have a power outlet and you won_t know for sure until you actually get onboard. A deck of cards is usually a good idea and you can always find someone in the lounge car who might be interested in a game. Check to see what dining accomodations the train has - meals in the dining cars on Amtrak are about the same prices as you_d get at a Denny_s-type place ($7-$9 for breakfast, $6-$9 for lunch, and $9-$19 for dinner). If there_s a lounge car, you can buy packaged snack foods or microwaved meals - prepare to pay a little more than you would at the grocery store for this type of stuff. Amtrak takes both cash and credit, so either way you_re good. Be sure to tip just as you would in a restaurant though! You can also bring food/snacks onboard if you prefer, but be considerate to your fellow passengers and try not to bring anything onboard that smells too much.

If you smoke, Amtrak does not allow smoking on board, although at longer station stops you can get off the train and light up - just be sure to get back on when the conductor calls _All Aboard._

Above all, have fun - train travel is a fun experience and you get the chance to interact with your fellow passengers a lot more than you would if you were flying. Look out your window and enjoy the view, talk with other passengers, and just enjoy it.

Pack some snacks if you are going to be on the train for a long time and are likely to get hungry. Most trains will have a snack car - but the _snacks_ will be limited and priced higher than normal.

Also, bring something to do - magazines, book, laptop, etc.

Other than that, it_s smooth sailing.