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I'll be flying with my family for a spring break trip to this area. We've done a long distance train trip before and my husband and kids are not enthused about having to cut our sightseeing time in order to catch a long train ride home.
The most affordable roomettes (making the train cheaper than flying) will require us to leave two - three days earlier than we would normally if we flew. I'm wondering if (after several days of national park sightseeing of the canyons, red rocks, etc) the views on this route would be worth the trade off. There is also the "hassle" of the early morning departure, 5:11, which I'm not sure how to manage (rental car drop off, taxi, etc).
Any thoughts?
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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If you're staying at a chain motel or hotel in Flagstaff, ask if it has a courtesy bus and if it will get you to the train at 5 a.m. I stayed in a Holiday Inn there a few years ago and it said it'd take us passengers to the station to meet the train. (As it happened, the train was two hours late.) I recall there were half a dozen passengers for the train. Flag is the jumping off point for the Grand Canyon.
You could get a taxi, too.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Hertz has an office in the Flagstaff Amtrak depot. When I rented there, I just dropped my rental agreement and keys in their drop box at 5am departure time. Their cars are kept in the depot lot a few feet from trainside. It is also possible to find lodging within walking distance from the station. You may check your eastbound luggage the night before, when the station is open for the westbound Chief. Flagstaff may be one of the easiest rental car train transition locations there is. You also can cleanup and have breakfast after you get on the train, or go back to sleep for awhile. Best to check if the train is on time before you leave your motel. The Chief is usually on time.
Scenic highlights include the painted desert in AZ, the red rock country around Gallup, the narrow Apache Canyon just past Lamy followed by beautiful pine and mountain/mesa vistas, and finally Raton Pass going into CO. You get a good look at rural living in New Mexico that you do not see from the interstate. I also find the vast landscape of AZ and New Mexico to be very beautiful in general, and some very interesting architecture.
As a midwesterner, I find the Missouri/Illinois scenery of the second day to be nothing special, with the possible exception of the Mississippi crossing, where you are likely to see some eagles.
It is a fast train, making the trip from AZ in about 33 hours, so it is not quite an extra 2-3 days off your vacation.
mary_228 Member # 3826
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Thanks for the great description of the scenery. What I meant by 2-3 days is that the best fare is offered on Thursday, which shortens the vacation by 2-3 days of sightseeing which we could enjoy is we flew home on Sat or Sun.
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