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eling on Amtrak, and those points can be redeemed for future
Amtrak travel or at hotels and rental-car companies. It doesn't
cost anything; in fact, there are usually some free points awarded
just for signing up. I certainly recommend it. There's nothing to
lose, and you could end up with a free train trip. You can sign up
by going to www.amtrakguestrewards.com.
A Word About Rail Fares
When traveling by train, all passengers pay a basic rail fare that
covers the cost of a seat in coach class. If you want an upgrade to
one of the several different sleeping-car accommodations, you'll
be paying the basic rail fare plus an additional fee for the sleep-
ing car. The cost of the upgrade will vary depending upon the
type of accommodations you select and how far you're travel-
ing. I'm not able to quote any specific examples because both the
basic rail fares and the sleeping-car surcharges go up and down
depending on the time of year you choose to travel. Fares tend to
be lower between November and March, but you'll pay more at
holiday times and during the busy summer months. And the cost
also goes up when there are only a few rooms left on any given
train—one more reason to book space as early as possible. Once
you have specific dates in mind, get a current fare quote by going
to the Amtrak Web site (www.amtrak.com) or calling a reserva-
tions agent (1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-872-7245).
Rail Passes Are Another Option
The USA Rail Pass is Amtrak's equivalent to the popular Eurail
Passes, which are sold for discounted train travel throughout
Europe. Like the Eurail Pass, it's available for 15, 30, and 45
days of travel and for a varying number of segments. The USA
Rail Pass is good for coach travel only, but you can upgrade into
sleepers along the way if space is available. There are a number
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