Kaylie Wang is a English freshman and Mustang News opinion columnist. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
The Amtrak is highly underrated.
Since the beginning of this school year, I have taken the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner nine times. I live in Orange County; the journey from and to San Luis Obispo is a seven-hour train ride.
So far, the Amtrak has been my favorite way to get home because of its affordability and the fun experience.
During the Palisades fires in January, I flew from the SLO County Airport to San Diego to avoid traveling through Los Angeles. My round-trip flight cost $486, significantly more expensive than the $131 Business class train round-trip.
Plus, I experienced a lot of turbulence on the flight due to the heavy winds. I get motion sick easily, typically when on a plane or in a car, so I also appreciate the smooth ride on the Amtrak.
The two other ways I have traveled between San Luis Obispo and home are driving with my parents or flying to San Diego and then driving to Orange County.
My parents dislike driving because the estimated trip is around five hours, but ultimately it takes more time because of the Los Angeles traffic and bathroom breaks.
Another benefit of Amtrak is the beautiful sights of the Central Coast. I take the train that departs at 4:12 p.m., which allows me to watch an ocean sunset from my window seat.
With this sunset view and smooth ride, I have found the Amtrak to be very relaxing. Since my ride is seven hours, I have plenty of time to nap, but also for work. The tray tables and charger under the window create a conducive work environment.
I need to acknowledge that my experiences are especially enjoyable because I rode in business class. Compared to a one-way coach seat that costs $48, a one-way business seat costs $73.
In the business class cars, the walkway and seats are much more spacious, and there are always fewer people; many times I have enjoyed propping my feet up because the seat next to me is empty.
It also means Amtrak provides a complimentary snack box and a drink. In the past, I have received fig bars, pretzels and beef jerky in the snack boxes.
If you’re planning on taking the Amtrak for spring break, book your seat as soon as possible. Here are my tips to make your trip more enjoyable:
Kaylie’s Ten Tips for the Amtrak
- The Amtrak WiFi isn’t the most reliable, so use a phone hotspot to work on a laptop or tablet.
- Save $14 when purchasing your ticket on the Pacific Surfliner website. Under the promotional code, select the option of CA student discount.
- Exit the train from the same doors you came in from. The train doesn’t open every door, so make sure you can leave at your stop. You can ask the train staff to confirm where you should exit.
- Dad tip: Place your bag in the overhead compartment across your row, so it faces you at all times and you can keep an eye on it.
- Call an Uber or Lyft roughly an hour before your train departs so you can get to the train station early. Expect the train to be busier on Fridays, and Ubers may take longer, too.
- When you get back to San Luis Obispo, order an Uber or Lyft before you exit the train. The apps often hike prices, and the wait times increase when a lot of students call for a ride at the same time.
- Share a ride to and from the train station with other students for safety— you can also split the price of the ride.
- The in-train cafe serves food from hamburgers to sweets. However, I prefer ordering sandwiches and pastries from Starbucks to eat on the ride. Starbucks food is packaged in bags, so I can easily store it in my backpack.
- Bring headphones for music or to watch movies and a portable charger for your phone and other devices.
- Bring an extra layer to bundle up because the train gets cold at night.
