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Traveling by Train
Amtrak
Phone: 1-800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245)
Web site: www.amtrak.com
Amtrak services several central Florida locations, including Orlando, Kissimmee, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. None of the stations are particularly close to the tourist areas, so you will need to make arrangements for either a car rental, taxi, or shuttle from the station to your hotel. Amtrak has a partnership with Hertz Rental Cars, and many of the train stations have a Hertz desk right in the station for your convenience.
Station Addresses and Services
Orlando
400 Sleigh Boulevard
Ticket sales, checked baggage, help with luggage, wheelchair accessibility, enclosedwaiting area, restrooms, pay phone, rental car, taxi service, transit service.
Kissimmee
111 Dakin Street
Ticket sales, checked baggage, enclosed waiting area, restrooms, pay phones, taxi service.
Tampa
601 Nebraska Avenue
Ticket sales, enclosed waiting area, restrooms, pay phones, taxi service.
Pinellas Park
Pinellas Parkside Mall (serving St. Petersburg and Clearwater) Ticket sales, enclosed waiting area, parking, restrooms, pay phones, transit service.
Traveling by train can be a fun new experience for your entire family. You and your children can enjoy watching the beautiful landscapes of America roll right by your window. Traveling by train also provides some child-friendly features that many other forms of transportation just cannot. Some Amtrak stations have a children’s play area to keep the little ones busy while waiting for the train to arrive. On the train itself, changing tables can be found in the restrooms, sleeping cars are available on longer trips, and there is a dining car that provides hot dogs, pizza, and even macaroni and cheese (among other
items).
There are, however, several things that you need to think about before deciding to take the train. Depending on your departure city, the train ride may be quite long, and if you only have a limited time for your vacation, this may not be the best choice for you.
However, if you can take time to smell the flowers, Amtrak is a unique way to travel with your family.
Children under 2 may travel free on your lap, though depending on the length of your trip this may not be a wise way to go. If there is an empty seat after all of the ticketed passengers have been seated, the child may use the empty seat at no charge. Children 2 through 15 can travel for half price as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Two children qualify for the half-price fare per 1 paying adult. Government-approved car seats may be used, but there are no seatbelts on trains, so the seat cannot be secured. You can place the seat on the floor in front of you.
The Pros of Traveling by Train
-Traveling by train allows for more mobility than any other form of transportation. This can be most helpful when traveling with active or restless children.
-Traveling by train allows for a unique travel experience as well as the opportunity to enjoy the view of the countryside along the way.
The Cons of Traveling by Train
-Train travel is time-consuming. If your vacation time is limited, this may not be a goodoption for you.
-It is generally no less expensive than taking a plane.
-Because there are no seatbelts on trains, there is no way to secure a car seat.
Traveling by train is not for those trying to reach their destination in any kind of hurry, so it may not be best for families with young children or several children unless they travel particularly well. Kids over 5 or so may be able to better appreciate the experience.
Baggage Restrictions
You will want to make sure you check your luggage at least 30 minutes prior to the train’s departure. Many larger Amtrak stations offer free Red Cap service to help with your luggage if necessary. Three bags of checked luggage are allotted per ticketed passenger, not to exceed 50 pounds per piece. If you require additional pieces, up to 3 more may be checked for a fee. If any of your luggage exceeds the weight limit, you will also be charged a fee. No luggage over 75 pounds will be accepted. Carry-on items are limited to 2 pieces per ticketed passenger, each individual bag not to exceed 50 pounds.
The following items are not counted in your allocated number of carry-on items:
briefcases, purses, laptops, or baby items such as diaper bags, car seats, or strollers.
All bags, carry-on items, and checked items require clearly visible labels, providing your name, address, and telephone number for identification. You will need to claim your luggage within 30 minutes of arriving at your destination; otherwise storage charges may apply.
You must have your claim check to retrieve your luggage, so keep it safe during your trip. Liability for luggage is only up to $500 per passenger; however, for a fee you may declare up to $2,500.
Seating and Sleeping
There are a few different ways to travel on Amtrak. The first is coach seating. The coach car provides you with a reclining seat, a fold-down tray, and an overhead light (much like an airline seat would). There are also compartments overhead to accommodate your carry-on luggage. Restrooms are also available in the coach car. Seating is generally on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you are traveling with your family, you will want to get there early enough to make sure you will all be seated together.
The second option is business class, which provides reserved seating and beverage service. The type of seating offered is similar to that of coach class. The third choice is to travel by sleeping car.
Amtrak Accommodations
Amtrak offers several types of sleeping cars, The choices available to you depend upon which train you will be taking. For detailed information on what type of sleeping cars are available, visit the Web site listed above.
The Auto Train
The Auto Train allows your car, van, or SUV to come along for the ride. This option is only available from the Washington, D.C. area (departing from Lorton, Virginia) to the Orlando area (arriving in Sanford, Florida). It departs once a day at 4:00 p.m., with passenger boarding up until 3:00 p.m., and vehicle boarding up until 3:00 p.m. for cars, and 2:00 p.m. for vans and SUVs. The total travel time is 16 1/2 hours from station to station. This train offers reserved coach seating, sleeping cars, lounge cars (both coach and first class), dining cars (both coach and first class), and of course the auto carrier.
Because you will be on the train overnight, you will need to pack a small bag of essentials to get you through until arrival the next morning. Dinner and a continental breakfast are included in the ticket price, and, as with the other trains, entertainment is available in the form of feature movies. There is also a play area for smaller kids in both the Lorton and Sanford train stations.
The Pros
-You can take your car without having to do all of the driving.
-You are not limited to the normal baggage restrictions since you can pack up your car with everything you need.
The Cons
-The tickets cost more.
-The trip still requires a good deal of travel time.
-It is only available from the Washington, D.C. area. If you live outside of that general area, additional travel time will be requitrf just to get to the train station.
-Once you’ve arrived in Sanford you will still have to get from the train station to your final destination.
-As the driving distance to Lorton is approximately 4 hours from New York City and approximately 2 hours from Philadelphia this is really only a reasonable choice for those residing in the Northeast.
Things to Think About
-You will need to arrive at least 45 minutes early (just as with any form of public transportation). You may wish to arrive earlier, depending on how many children you have, how old they are, and how much luggage you have.
-Keep your valuables with you at all times. This includes any prescription medication, identification, and travel documents. You will want to keep your camera handy for capturing the sights along the way. Also have a sweater or jacket at the ready since the cars tend to be kept on the cooler side. A small pillow may also come in handy for resting or sleeping, unless you have booked a sleeping car, in which case pillows will be provided for you.
-Though dining cars are available, having snacks with you can be most helpful when the little (or even the big) ones get hungry.
-The train provides some of the most beautiful views of the countryside, but other forms of entertainment will surely be required to keep the kids busy on a long trip. Coloring books, a new stuffed animal, or a personal entertainment system can provide hours of enjoyment for kids of all ages.
-Trains are a bit different from other forms of long-range transportation in that the attendants throughout the train, and most especially those in the sleeping and dining cars, greatly appreciate tips. You should tip them just as you would tip a bellboy at your hotel or the waiter at a restaurant.
Meals and Entertainment
Many trains offer some type of food service, from a casual snack to a full-course meal. You will need to check which type of train you will be traveling on and what route you will be taking to find out what type of service is available on your trip. Children’s meals are available at all meal times where meals are offered.
Amtrak also offers a rewards program. You can check the Amtrak Web site for their list of partners as well as the most current information on earning free travel.
Traveling by Bus
Greyhound
Phone: 1-800-229-9424
Web site: www.greyhound.com
Traveling by bus is yet another option for getting to Florida, and since Greyhoundoperates 24 hours a day, you can pretty much travel at your convenience. A child under 2 can travel by lap at no charge, and government-approved car seats may be used. If you would like to purchase a seat for any child up to 11, there is a 40 percent discount off the full adult fare. Up to 2 children’s fares are allowed per 1 full-fare adult ticket, as long as they follow an identical itinerary. You can purchase your ticket at the station, online, or over the phone.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. This even applies to pre-ticketed passengers, so if you are in need of several seats together, plan on arriving early. No meals are provided, so depending on the length of your trip, you will want to bring plenty of snacks and drinks. Busses following longer routes will make meal stops along the way, but as you know, children tend to be hungrier the farther away from a restaurant you are.
Providing your own entertainment is also a necessity. There are no movies to watch, and watching the scenery pass by your window only goes so far with kids. You will also need to bring along your own pillow and blanket for napping children since none are provided. Unless you live relatively close by, this is the least desirable method of traveling for families, especially those with young children, as it is truly the most difficult.
Station Locations in Central Florida
Orlando
555 N. John Young Parkway
Main phone: 407-292-3440
Baggage phone: 407-292-3414
Customer service: 407-292-3422
This station is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, including holidays, for both ticketing and traveling.
Kissimmee
103 E. Dakin Avenue
Main phone: 407-847-3911
Baggage phone: 407-847 3714
Customer service: 407-454-2487
This station is open from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. each and every day, including holidays, for both ticketing and traveling.
There are also stations located in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, as well
as the mainland city of Cocoa.
Luggage Restrictions
Two pieces of stowed luggage and 2 pieces of carry-on luggage are allowed per adult fare. For a child’s fare, the limit is 1 piece of stowed luggage and 2 carry-on items.
Unlike most airlines, Greyhound considers a car seat, stroller, diaper bag, purse, and laptop as part of your carry-on allowance. All carry-on bags must fit either under the seat or in the overhead compartment with no exceptions. If you need to exceed the number of allowed bags, you may stow up to 3 additional pieces for a fee of $15 each. Checked luggage cannot exceed 60 pounds for 1 bag, or 100 pounds for all 3 bags together.
Measurements of 24x24x45 inches per bag cannot be exceeded. All luggage is required to display an identification tag that includes your name, phone number, and address.
Special tags are available for parents traveling with small children, alerting that help is needed to transfer luggage (if a transfer is required).
If your route entails a change of busses, transferring your luggage is your responsibility.
You will need to retrieve your luggage from the original bus and check it onto the next (another reason this is not a great way to travel with children). Be aware that if you fail to retrieve your luggage, it will leave without you on the original bus.
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