Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tion and other stopovers, and when you know whether you
want to travel in coach or in a sleeping car. The other details—
hotel rooms, rental cars, sightseeing tours, and the rest—can be
filled in later. Early booking is especially important if you want
sleeping-car accommodations. They're very popular, and space
fills up several months in advance, particularly for travel in the
summer months. Better to make tentative reservations and have
to cancel or switch dates than wait too long and find nothing
available.
You can either have a travel agent handle the booking or deal
directly with Amtrak by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. If you do elect
to call an Amtrak reservations agent, you'll find them very capa-
ble and most of the time extremely helpful. Do not call Amtrak if
you're still uncertain about some of the significant details of your
rail itinerary. The reservations agents are very busy and will not
be able to give you the time needed to help you make up your
mind. They may try, but that's when some small but important
detail is sure to fall through the cracks. Besides, filling in those
details is how a travel agent earns her fee.
Whether you use a travel agent or call Amtrak directly, there
are a few important things to cover before you hang up:
• Ask if she's sure you've been quoted the lowest possible fare.
• Ask if there are any minor changes you could make in your
itinerary that might further reduce the cost.
• Ask if there are any connections in the itinerary that could be
a problem.
• To avoid some of the less desirable accommodations, ask for
specific room numbers if you're booking sleeping-car accom-
modations (see chapter 9, “Passenger Train Equipment”).
• Be sure to ask for the cancellation date for your reservation.
If you don't pay for your tickets by that date, your reserva-
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