There are so many reasons why the Bugs love to travel by train. Here are a few:
- Economical – depending on where you are travelling and when, it usually can be quite affordable to travel by rail. Like many things in Canada, train travel is not quite as affordable as train travel in the U.S. but it still is really a great way to go. Tips for getting a good train fare is booking early, it is not very often that fares drop last minute. Amtrak offers a CAA/AAA discount, and VIA Rail frequently has seat sales – so like everything else in the travel industry – keep watching, and when you find a fare you are comfortable with – grab it!
- You don’t have to get to the train station 2 hours before (unlike the airport) – this is one big advantage, I don’t however recommend you arrive at the train station as the train is pulling up/or away (been there done that, and no they don’t wait for you even if they see you coming), but because there is not the big security lines, you can make better use of your time.
- Relaxing – for a few reasons, I find train travel much more relaxing than air travel. 1. You are free to walk around at any time (there are no seatbelt signs, which always seem to come on as soon as you have to use the restroom, lol) 2. Comfort – it just seems more comfortable riding the train, whether the seats are bigger or just spaced better – we never seem to feel as crammed together as we do on a plane.
- Wifi – yes, many airlines do have wifi these days but the train offers it without interruption, there is no need for “airplane mode” for your electronics, which if travelling with a teen is a life or death situation!
- Food – obviously this depends on what class you travel on both planes or trains, but for the Bugs it’s usually economy – which on a plane equals some peanuts or pretzels (if you’re lucky). On a train you can bring your own snacks and drinks (unlike the “no liquid rule” on a plane), or there’s always the option of walking to the Food Car to get some $4 Ramen 🙂
- Location – usually when travelling by train you are travelling to a city. In our experience most train stations are in the heart of the city which makes it much cheaper and easier for getting to your destination. For example, a cab ride from the train station to your hotel is usually much closer (and cheaper) than a ride from the airport on the outskirts of the city.
