Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel in style on the Amtrak Coast Starlight one way from Los Angeles to Seattle. The trip takes about 35 hours and you can go in either direction on any given day. I did it on Amtrak points and with the current offer for the Amtrak card from Bank of America, here’s what you get when you meet the minimum spend of $2,500.
- 40,000 BONUS POINTS After making at least $2,500 in purchases within 90 days of account opening
Superliner bedroom on points
The one-way ticket for two people in the Superliner Bedroom accommodations with full private bath in your room, side chair and big picture windows costs 28,428 points. I called today to make sure the credit card offer of 40,000 points still covers the listed amenities below. The typical bonus is only 20,000 points.
Included in the one-way fare for two, you also get access to:
- All your meals (the food is pretty good)
- Access to the Sightseer Lounge Car with really comfortable seating and open views of the mountains and sea. I’m seriously considering doing it again. This time from north to south to see the sights we missed the last trip while sleeping.
Keep in mind that you can sit in your room, dining car or Sightseer Lounge car. Break up the trip by enjoying all three experiences. The views are great from wherever you are.
Family bedroom
There is also a Family bedroom. option that fits four with a shared bathroom in the same car. That is about $1120 and includes all meals for all four of you it that is your choice. I certainly like the one credit card option much better than paying over $1000 for a memorable experience.
And the options are morning or evening departure from Los Angeles most days and a morning departure Seattle. You can choose which scenery you’d like to see and what you’d like to skip by choosing one of the three choices.
My trip
I left from Los Angeles in the morning and rode up along the California coast most of the first day with the ocean right beside us. Slept through Northern California and was awake again for the mountains of Oregon and Washington on Day 2.
On the train, you are away from civilization most of the time and riding through pristine forested mountains. You don’t get these views from 36,000 feet or driving along an Interstate Highway. This is America at its best. Here’s my routing and schedule.
Remember you want the Coast Starlight train, not one of the ones that has you jumping from train to train or on the bus part of the time. Hunt around the Amtrak website for more info. It’s just as easy to navigate as most airline websites.
Check out Amtrak.com and the Coast Starlight trip. Here is the link to the current 40,000 point offer from the Amtrak Guest Rewards World Mastercard that covers the one-way ticket cost for two and leaves points left over for future Amtrak travel.
I can assure you that the comfort level is terrific, you’ll actually see America and the staff is friendly and polite. Try something a little different. You won’t regret it
Rick, We did a trip like this from Chicago to Flagstaff. That train did not have bathrooms in the sleeper car. Trying to sleep in that upper birth kept making feel like I was falling out. The track was extremely rough in places. The food while edible is not what you get in Bus. class on planes. It was already prepared back in Chicago somewhere and just reheated for dinner, lunch, and breakfast.
On the flip side, it is a unique way to travel and beats driving.
Would we do this again. Yes, if on a better train.
A few years ago we went from WI to Glacier National Park (stopover for a week) and then onto Seattle. We had a room with 2 chairs facing each other next to a big window. The chairs then folded out to a bed and the other bed was a pull down cot that you had to climb into (akin to closing your closet door and trying to climb up to the top shelf). It was (I think) 36 hours. And it was nighttime when we went thru some of the best scenery. The staff was good, the food was good and plentiful. The shared bathrooms were not pretty by the end. And it is a long time to not be active. I am glad I did it and I might do it again. But I would get a room with a bathroom next time. This was before I knew about points.
Hi Arianna!
Next time try Denver to Vancouver, the CO & UT portions are really special. I’ve made the trip twice and may even do it again. Fly to DEN (stay downtown) and leave the station @ 8a. Lowest point is 10 hour layover in Sacramento.
Hope to see you in CHI.
charlie
(sorry ’bout your walmarts!!)
Thanks Charlie! Not sure yet if I’ll be in Chicago but if I go, I’ll share it on social media.
What a dumb post
Great post. Something unusual to do with points. I’ve thought about doing this for years.
I don’t get the negative comments I read sometimes. You folks are sharing information. I am sure most readers, like myself look forward to seeing what the two of you have to say. Keep it up, I am glad your back sharing.
Troll
The article or this comment?
Mike, what made you say this was a dumb post. I am about to get a $1000 value out of this tip.
Looks like there is a $79 annual fee. How long did you hold on to the card?
At least 11 months 😉
lol 🙂
I got the card last year. On renewal, i wanted to downgrade to the No Annual Fee version — what a rigamarole to go thru. They originally said they would not refund the AF even if I cancelled right away. I eventually got to the support team via Twitter, and am waiting for the refund to post. Other than that little glitch, the card was fine.
What ages of kids would you recommend? Anything else to do on the ride?
Look out the window, eat in the dining car, play games in your room. We did not see any young kids when we went. But video games should keep them occupied if they go for that stuff.
Any preference for which direction to go? (South to North like you originally did; or North to South like you are planning for on your repeat trip? This would be our first time riding Amtrak for such a scenic trip.
I wish I could answer your question but haven’t done the reverse yet to compare
Interesting idea – if another family member gets this card, are Amtrak points transferrable for booking this trip?
The 2-day Amtrak sale starting today excludes this class of service.
When I look up fares for the trip you mention… superliner bedroom, 2 people, la/seattle I get a fare of 52751 points. How on earth did you find a fare for 28k?
The points vary by date. I was looking midweek spring
Call them if your close to deciding
Thank you for this tip! We just booked a California Zephyr Amtrak trip from San Fran to Chicago. I was going to initially go with the LA – Seattle one but the SF – Chicago one is even more epic. I booked the 1 Bed room with shower and toilet for about 39,000 points.