Monday, September 1, 2008

US Tours With Cheap Amtrak Tickets

There are many places you can visit and tour by rail in the US, and the best and most economical would be using the Amtrak Rail services, since they offer cheap tickets which are often packaged together with planned vacations for both the individual and family. And with the growing recession, Amtrak train tours to the Grand Canyon, Texas, LA, Chicago and the various parts of the country will be an attractive alternative to going out of the country and leaving a huge hole in the pocket. These vacation tours rely on the different routes traveled by the train carriages that are already in place, and the idea of having the convenience of stopping and going on any stop along the pre-planned routes is convenience in action.

The Amtrak Rail Tour to the Grand Canyon relies mainly on the Southwest Chief service that plies its way from Chicago to Los Angeles. The station that is nearest to the destination is Flagstaff, where the picturesque Amtrak station is situated in between the nearest stations of Winslow and Williams Junction. The town of Flagstaff itself is interesting enough and most will connect to their tour via the Amtrak Thruway buses that will bring them to the Canyon. Or you can opt for the railroad excursion trip that tours you along the east rim of the Canyon, through the Painted Desert and other wonderful sights.

For the more adventurous, after they get off the rail service, going on the walking trail in the majestic canyon can be a one in a lifetime experience immersed in one of the greatest wonders of nature. Many vacation packages will include discounted Amtrak tickets together that may not restrict you to just one stop along the Southwest Chief, and that provides great value if you intend to see the other sights along the whole route.

Some have wondered about Amtrak train tickets from Texas to Pennsylvania but it is better to travel on the various vacations offered by the rail service from New York to Pennsylvania using a mixture of the Northeast Corridor and The Pennsylvanian train services. This service departs daily from the former and one can reach Philadelphia within a couple of hours.

Between the two main stations, that is where part of the value of the cheap Amtrak tickets packaged with the train tours pays for itself, as a passenger will be able to enjoy the sights offered in and between places like Newark, Metropark, Princeton Junction and Trenton. One can then soak in the other sights from Philly to Pittsburgh after the change in carriages. This particular tour can easily be one of the best one day trip anyone can choose to take on an Amtrak service.

If you wish to soak in the attractions offered in Texas such as what the cities of Dallas, St Louis, San Antonio and more have to offer, then using the Texas Eagle route should be your choice. Taking an Amtrak train vacation using this historic railway service can often be the best way to tour the state and beyond, especially if one decides on long distance commute. The coaches are all of the Superliner class and bedrooms are available for those who wish to take a rest between sights, so accommodations are well taken care of. The Amtrak Texas Eagle is also comprehensive in terms of amenities and facilities, including movies, games, snack bars and food lounges. Of course, one would naturally be able to check in their baggage due to the nature and length of travel.

There are many other great deals on Amtrak train tickets that are constantly snapped up by both the American public and travelers from overseas. The latter are sometimes excluded from certain promotions, and locals stand to benefit even more when that happens, which is not entirely a bad thing. It is always good to learn and see more of one's own country and heritage, and Amtrak do their best to help facilitate that with the value tickets offered on vacation packages or standalone tours. There are always other train services or networks that provide other means of cheap vacations, but using the national railway is one of the best ways to do so, allowing one to save money while getting to use well maintained and extremely scenic routes.