15

the train is very much how we like to travel and i do like to spend a good few days in places so you can get a real feel for them. we dont mind long distances overland, if it offers any insight we spent 3 continuos days going across australia on the indian pacific and 3 days on the ghan and loved it...alot of that is desert but i enjoy the actual journey not just the destination. we also travelled around india on trains and buses and it doesnt get much more arduous than that! i do think its a good way to really see a country but appreciate that it does take more time.

i will spend some time today looking at these options but if anyone can suggest good places on the route (either bus or train) to stop and hang out for a few days that would be great.

thanks again for all your advice...its so helpful, i cant believe i havent discoverd this before.

16

I also enjoy the train and have used them throughout the world; except in the US. Here trains are considered more of a luxury form of transportation and definitely not an alternative form of budget transportation (except for a limited corridor in the northeastern US).

You'll soon find out they are not cheap; especially on longer trips if you get a sleeper compartment.

17

On your proposed route... Sacramento(California Rail Museum),Yosemite,Flagstaff/Grand Canyon,Albuquerque/Santa Fe,El Paso & San Antonio are the most productive places to pause... Short renting a car for a "loop" drive to Natural attractions. Say,Carlsbad Caverns/White Sands out of El Paso... What are the travel plans after New Orleans ??? carracar

18

How about this, San Francisco to Yosemite then over to the coast to San Luis Obispo, maybe Santa Barbara, then San Diego, East through Phoenix and up to Flagstaff for the Grand Canyon. Then over to Albuquerque/Santa Fe, up to Grand Junction thru Durango, over to Denver then down through Texas to NO. Train and Bus. Alternatively fly from Denver to NO.

19

i am heading back to england after new orleans...sadly i only managed to wangle 4 and a half weeks off work this time so its a bit of a whistle stop tour. i have been busy looking into all the info you have all kindly passed on...not really sure i know where top start! i am liking the idea of the rail pass cos we would make good use of it and hopefully get our moneys worth....a couple of overnighters on the train will also save on accommodation! the california zephyr and the southwest chief look appealing...has anyone done either of these cos it sounds like the scenery on route could be pretty cool? also any advice on how best to go/do the grand canyon from san francisco for about a week before maybe heading to sacramento to possible jump on the california zephyr?
cheers all

20

Spending the night on a train is not a cheap option in the US. There are no compartments with multiple berths like in Europe. You have to book a room.

21

The "best," assuming no stops in between:
Fly to Las xVegas, drive to the canyon, drive back to Las xVegas two days later, fly to Sacramento.
With stops: See #18 for ideas.

The scenery on the Zephyr will be better, but it involves much more travel to add to the schedule (you head south for the canyon, then back north for the train, then back south to New xOrleans).

With 4.5 weeks, I don't see an issue with driving through TX, unless you plan on a lot of time in CA. (Though glancing back through the thread, I don't readily see a time of year for the trip. Summer can be quite hot at times.)