Train travel with 5.5yo, 3yo, and infant!

[HeatherB]

Any advice? : We're taking Amtrak after the holidays to visit family - a 20hr trip each way (plus 2 hours of driving after we arrive there and then on the way back to the station before heading home). We'll actually only be at our destination for about 3 days.

I know we'll be bringing our own snacks, toys, games, etc. Any advice on particularly good (or bad) kinds to bring? I've never travelled by train before, so this is ALL new to me! And I'm probably perfectly to be doing it with three small kids!

I will have DH with me, thankfully, and figure we'll wear the baby most of the time. Might just invest in a nursing cover so as not to have to worry about sleeping while NIP.

Oh, did I mention we're in COACH for 20hrs? : Well, it'll be an adventure... Hopefully a very fun and exciting one! Thanks for any tips on helping it lean that direction!

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I've never traveled more than about 6 hours with two kids, but I have done that one lots, and on my own. Some random thoughts:

* Like airplanes, you don't have to buy a seat for the baby, but you might want to do it anyway (usually 1/2 of adult fare). You may be really grateful for the extra space. However, all of the trains I have been on have two side-by-side seats, so a fifth seat may not be as useful as it sounds because it would be in a separate row. Not sure how to balance that one.
* Do whatever it takes to get most of your luggage into things that leave your hands free. Have each child carry his/her own backpack, for example. You are probably going to have to shlep all of your luggage up a set of small stairs once you get onto the train, and do it fast. Backpacks are your friends.
* I think you can probably wheel a stroller right on board, but check first. That will help you get stuff on and off.
* Contrary to what I expected, I found the seats around a table less comfortable and helpful for the kids, mostly because they couldn't move around as much. If the train has "four pack" seating, that is what I would take -- that is two rows of two seats each, facing each other. Leaves a great space on the floor for kids to sit / play / baby to crawl if mobile. The disadvantage is that you won't have tray tables.
* Some bathrooms have changing tables. Find those near you.
* Don't bring all of your food -- trips to the food car are a major distraction and a chance to get up and walk. Some yes, because otherwise you could fly with the money you spend on snacks, but not all. Choices will range from the usual junk (chips, soda) to fruit and some pretty decent sandwiches, actually.
* My kids like the usual quiet stuff (coloring books, play dough), plus we always travel with a portable DVD player. Most trains will have at least some electrical outlets so you can plug things in. Unless you are totally anti-media, it really helps. Small trucks and things work well too.
* You cannot use any sort of carseat on trains because there are no seatbelts.

Can't think of anything else right now, but if you have specific questions I'll try.

[HeatherB]

Thanks for the tips!! We don't have an extra seat for the baby for the reason you stated - practically it won't work, anyway. If it were a plane, I'd for sure have one (I guess we'd have to pick planes carefully!) for safety reasons, but there's no way to put him in his seat and strap him in, anyway. So we'll have to do with the 4 seats.

I am REALLY hoping we can find ones that turn to face each other. My FIL seemed to think that we could have someone turn them at our request, but the lady at Amtrak I asked about whether or not the seats would face each other didn't mention it - just said they all face forward. FIL has actually taken this same train in the last few years, but I'm not sure how current his info is, nonetheless.

Great points on backpacks, etc! Thankfully we already have small backpacks the boys can each take their own things in. We've done a similar thing on road trips, with each having their own Chicobag filled with their personal toys. Amtrak does say you can take a stroller as "carry-on," so we may try that - if I can figure out what you do with it once you get on, etc!

Have you ever had trouble getting as many seats together as you need? My DH has this as his biggest worry, since the seats are "reserved" but not actually assigned. FIL suggested it might be more difficult for us as we'll be boarding late at night (around 11 if it's on time! ha!), and folks might not want to move around. I've banked on the idea that the conductors/stewards will help if necessary, so that if we don't spot seats right away we'll ask for help. I'm hoping I'm not thinking too highly of trainfolk and their interest in their passengers!

Thanks again! Appreciate the insight from someone who's been in a similar situation!

[Eris]

Just a thought... Did you look into how much a room would cost? The room cost is a single hit, for all of you, and includes food in the dining car. If you're on a Superliner route, there is a family bedroom that is fabulous, and you should be able to book into it even with five people (when one is an infant), otherwise I think they might not let you get a single bedroom (meant for two adults), though they might (but the online booking won't), and you could get two roomettes- and adding it drops your rail fare to "lowest bucket", so the amount that amtrak lists as the cost of the room might not mean that it will cost that plus what you're currently paying for coach (it may be less, depending how much the fare you have for coach is). Amtrak on teh holidays is very crowded, so there may not be rooms available, and if there are they may be very expensive, but I would strongly recommend looking into it (and keeping your eye on it- sometimes rooms get freed up one or two weeks before the trip).

I've done 35hr trips on my own with my two kids, in a roomette once, and in a family bedroom twice. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I don't have any great suggestions for coach, since I haven't done it.

[HeatherB]

Eris, thanks for the tips! I have looked at the rooms and the only ones currently available are roomettes. We tried booking just one, but it wouldn't let us, so we went ahead with the coach tickets and figured we could look into it on the train. Now I'm thinking perhaps we can look into it via phone? And see about that price drop for the coach tickets. Ours on the way out are a lot more than the way back - definitely high demand. We went ahead and booked, anyway, in fear that they'd go even higher. We were figuring that if we did have a roomette that one of us could be in there at a time with some number of kids - might be really nice with a nursling.

Thanks!

[gaialice]

HeatherB, do you have an Ipod or an Ipod shuffle where you can put some stories on tape that they can listen to? That usually buys me some quiet time. Also, bring plenty to eat and drink. At some point, it is a good idea to take the kids for a walk all the way down to see the end of the train. If you do that, pay a lot of attention to sliding doors, little hands can get stuck in there. Good luck...

[gmvh]

:

Thinking about doing this this summer with my two but alone - 24 hours from Chicago to Moab-ish, visit friend in Navajo Nation, 20 hours from Moab to Sacramento, change trains in Sac with seven hour layover, 20 hours to Seattle, visit family for three weeks, drive to Missoula, visit friend, drive to Jackson Hole, visit friends/join husband, fly home to Chicago.

I think I'm crazy.

Let us know how coach goes!

[HeatherB]

gaialice, great idea! I bet we could hook each of them up with their own, even. They'd think they were way too cool.

gmvh, I think you might be crazy! But I'll let you know how it goes on our trip.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

[QUOTE=HeatherB;9849749]I am REALLY hoping we can find ones that turn to face each other. My FIL seemed to think that we could have someone turn them at our request, but the lady at Amtrak I asked about whether or not the seats would face each other didn't mention it - just said they all face forward. FIL has actually taken this same train in the last few years, but I'm not sure how current his info is, nonetheless.

[snip]

Have you ever had trouble getting as many seats together as you need? My DH has this as his biggest worry, since the seats are "reserved" but not actually assigned. FIL suggested it might be more difficult for us as we'll be boarding late at night (around 11 if it's on time! ha!), and folks might not want to move around. I've banked on the idea that the conductors/stewards will help if necessary, so that if we don't spot seats right away we'll ask for help. I'm hoping I'm not thinking too highly of trainfolk and their interest in their passengers![QUOTE]

Well, I'm not sure where you are travelling -- we do this in California, where the train isn't as popular as in other places. In terms of seats -- the trains I've taken have had 2-3 "sets" facing each other in each car and they are deliberately saved for "Parties of 3 or more" -- there are signs and during croweded times the conductor will move people. I believe the seats can be moved but I've never seen it done.

As for finding seats together, it can be tricky on a full train. Mostly people are really helpful in moving for a family, and I've never had anyone refuse to move so I can sit with my kids. However, definitely pack on the assumption that you might end up sitting with two kids and your DH with the other child further down the car. Nicely though, its not a problem to have kids move from place to place easily and the space between seats is much wider than in a plane, for example.

Do not count on getting help from crew members though -- on our trains there are maybe 2 conductors for 6 or 7 cars, and they inevitably are helping elderly disabled passengers at the stops. If you need someone to move, just hold your baby, take a small child's hand, and smile at the person you need to move and say please. Kids do wonders for getting people to be helpful!

You can move seats as other people disembark, so if you end up separated for a bit, keep an open eye at stops and move fast to get seats closer together -- might take a couple of rounds but you'll probably get all settled eventually. Just remember to take your seat tags with you when you go -- those are the little strips of paper the conductor will use to mark you seats.

[J-Max]

We are seasoned Amtrak travelers (not NEC - totally different ). We have logged over 10,000 train miles in the 10 years we have been married - my dh is a transportation freak, he is also a pilot : We have been on almost every train route, except NEC, including a trip from PNW-Chi-DC-New Orleans (left the day before Katrina hit)-LA-Portland-Home, over 17 days with 8mo, 2 year, and 6 year old.

My tips - book a room if you can, coach with kids can be crazy. You can get 2 roomettes across from each other, and them meals are included.

DO NOT expect to be on time. Being on train time, is kinda like being on island time. Empire builder tends to be the best punctual long distant train, the CA Zephyr is 2nd, but tends to hit some bad rails in the winter and be slower. The Coast Starlight and the Sunset Limited tend to run up to 10-12 hours late (and we have been on them this late) Call the Amtrak 800 number before you leave to see how on time your train is. You can also use the website and see how on time the train has been the last few days, just to give you an idea.

The seats in coach flip to facing, so hopefully you can get a nice attendant to flip the seats for you.

Get out out smoke/break stops, even if just for a few min and let the kids run and get some fresh air.

If the kids are getting restless go to the observation car, there is more room to run (or the play/movie car if you are on the Coast starlight).

A leapster kept our older dd busy and a portable DVD is an option if you want.

If I think of more ideas, I will post them - mostly relax and have fun!

[umsami]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

Eris, thanks for the tips! I have looked at the rooms and the only ones currently available are roomettes. We tried booking just one, but it wouldn't let us, so we went ahead with the coach tickets and figured we could look into it on the train. Now I'm thinking perhaps we can look into it via phone? And see about that price drop for the coach tickets. Ours on the way out are a lot more than the way back - definitely high demand. We went ahead and booked, anyway, in fear that they'd go even higher. We were figuring that if we did have a roomette that one of us could be in there at a time with some number of kids - might be really nice with a nursling.

Thanks!

I would try and book the roomette. I've travelled in one a few times and really liked it. It's small... but still, better than nothing. It will give you a nice bed (sort of like a full-sized) that you could let your kids sleep in... go to nurse on.. etc. (Couch during the day.) Call up Amtrak even though you can't book it online. It was worth the $$ for me.

The great thing about train travel is that the kids can walk around... go to the observation car, dining car, etc. Much easier than travelling by car or plane.

Aquadoodle or Magnadoodle is great for travelling by train.

Toy trains also might be popular.

I like to also throw in a favorite storybook for bedtime as well... to sort of keep the rhythm.

[Eris]

Originally Posted by Jessmcg

(or the play/movie car if you are on the Coast starlight).

The Kiddie Car (the coach car that had a playroom downstairs) is no longer on the Coast Starlight consists, as of like a year ago.

This is a good discussion board for Amtrak travel:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?showforum=3

[J-Max]

Originally Posted by Eris

The Kiddie Car (the coach car that had a playroom downstairs) is no longer on the Coast Starlight consists, as of like a year ago.

This is a good discussion board for Amtrak travel:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?showforum=3

Sorry, Missed that I know they are hit and miss with the Pacific Parlor Cars.

Here is where we read

[HeatherB]

Wow! Thanks for all of the input and resources! I spent most of a day learning what I can about Amtrak. My boys are unbelievably excited about our trip, so I'm hoping it will be a very good one, regardless of how we end up spending the nights!

[Gumbi]

We have done many train trips with our kids at all ages and it is great!! The last on was me and 3 kids ....alone for two days from Michigan to Oregon!! (ages 9, 6, and 18mo) : We made lots of friends who were very helpful and it was a great trip!

One thing that we do is buy a few small, cheap weird presents for each kid and wrap them up...a deck of new cards, something magnetic, coloring book, window clings are great fun too, or "stained glass coloring books" and tape.....and give them to them every once in a while.

Make use of the observation car!! (party car, as we call it) There are booths to sit in and room to play travel games, cards, plastic baggies full of plastic animals,

Books on CD are great bedtime quieter's (Magic Tree House was a fav of the 5 year old)

Bring a small blanket and pillow for each kid....it sometimes is very cold!!!!! They can make forts out of them by spreading them over the seat back and front when they are not sleeping with them.

I would recommend leaving the seat facing away from each other (I know they can switch around, but I have never in all of our travels seen them switched...so I am not sure they will) because then you have the tray table that comes down in front of you...great for coloring and playing and eating!

Bring lots of snacky food and water bottles or juice boxes.

One of those rolling coolers are great (they look just like luggage) too!!

As someone else said...take full advantage of those "smoking stops" and let your kids get off and run!...no matter what time it is...if they are awake...go for it!


Have fun!!! Train travel is the best!!