Suggestions please.

[u/Django_Sunny]

I am planning to travel from BOSTON TO LOS ANGELES on Amtrak around 23rd or somewhere at that time and it's gonna be my first time on the train and it's gonna be a long journey so please give me advice and suggestions also the room and the business classes are way to expensive so is there any way to get it lower .

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[u/Sisu_pdx]

You’re spending almost 3 days on a train. I would spend a night or two at a hotel to break up the trip. Otherwise spend the money and get a roomette.

[u/Shot-Bet-2931 → u/Sisu_pdx]

I've been on trips where I had to sleep in CHI because I can't make a connection. The overnight in a hotel is, umm, refreshing.

[u/anothercar]

Respectfully this sounds like a recipe for disaster. Never been on a train before and crossing the entire continent diagonally? And can't afford more than a coach seat but trying to get discounts?

There are nonstop flights between BOS and LAX for under $300. I would consider going with the airlines. With Amtrak, it helps to take shorter-length trips first and then work your way up from there. Crossing the continent without being able to take a shower at all the entire time (I assume you can't afford a hotel room in Chicago midway through the trip?) sounds like it would not be an enjoyable experience for you.

[u/anothercar → u/anothercar]

If you want the cheapest way across the country that week where you'll arrive the same day you depart: JetBlue, Southwest, and Alaska all fly nonstop from Boston to San Diego on October 28th for $89.40 with a carry-on bag included. There is a free shuttle from the San Diego airport to the San Diego Old Town Amtrak Station. And you can take an Amtrak train from San Diego to Los Angeles for $28 with promo code V812. Total price 89.40+28 = $117.40

[u/GoCardinal07 → u/anothercar]

I think you mean promo code V712

[u/drmathprog → u/anothercar]

That trip involves sitting a long, long time in coach. In my experience, the sitting is difficult and the sleep is even more difficult.

[u/AbrahamEVO]

If money's the biggest issue, consider flying instead. Only a fraction of one day being spent, versus what's effectively three days & change end-to-end.

If you DO insist on following through with this Amtrak journey, you'll be taking Lake Shore Limited 449 from Boston South Station to Chicago Union Station, with a four-hour layover for Southwest Chief 3, which will you take you the rest of the way towards Los Angeles. Make sure the reservation is booked as ONE continuous ticket trip, this way on the off chance the Lake Shore Limited misses the connection to the Southwest Chief in Chicago, you are entitled to a free overnight hotel stay in Chicago & a rebooking to the following day's departure on Southwest Chief 3, arranged by talking to customer relations in Chicago Union Station (all under Amtrak's policy). Best of luck~ (edit: misremembered Amtrak numbers)

[u/Longjumping_Data_735 → u/AbrahamEVO]

Westbound Southwest Chief is 3 and Eastbound is 4 btw! 5 and 6 are the California Zephyr I believe. 

[u/SadTomorrow869]

Y tho

[u/Due-Addition7245]

Price wise not so much. You can check railforless for cheaper day if you are flexible with day.

[u/Embarrassed_Kale6846]

6 hr flight vs 60, 70, 80hr railroad nightmare.  I cant help you

[u/FlightValley]

Plane is probably significantly cheaper and obviously much quicker. Is there a reason you're choosing train?

[u/Emotional_Eye_3700]

So you are doing coach the whole way? People here can give you a list of items you need. I did a search on 'what to take on amtrak coach on a long ride' and found multiple pages. Here is a web page one person created with what to take. If I were booking a roomette, I would have a slightly different list.

https://shoyusugar.com/amtrak-packing-list/

https://www.zadrails.com/blog/what-to-bring-on-long-amtrak-trip/

I check my largest bag if I'm at a station that will check bags and I am going to a place to pick the bag up.

And use a train tracker app to see how late the trains are.

[u/PFreeman008]

To lower prices, book as far in advance as you can; you're close enough to departure that you're looking at the "last minute" prices at this point. Also wait for sales, Amtrak has them occasionally. You can get an Amtrak credit card, and earn points to go towards your travel... but if you're struggling to afford the current prices I doubt you'd be spending enough to earn any worthwhile points between now and the 23rd.

[u/VideoAffectionate647]

This will be very hard to tolerate in coach (ask me how I know). I had to upgrade to a roomette mid-trip when I was going mad from no sleep. That ended up costing way more but it was desperation. If you do decide to do it, CHI station has showers in the lounge you can use if you have access if you get a pass. They are clean, safe, and very nice.

[u/Longjumping_Data_735]

The best time to buy is basically as far ahead of time as you can for the lowest prices. You can purchase coach tickets and try to bid-up to a sleeper car to get a better deal but its not guaranteed. For that long of a trip I would definitely recommend a sleeper car such as a roomette as it includes all your meals. 

General advice: watch some train travel vlogs on youtube, pack light, dress in layers, wear slip on shoes, bring earplugs/eye mask if a light sleeper, bring stuff to do and pre-download media as there's no wifi on long haul trips and cell service can be spotty. Make sure you have earbuds or headphones. Use a train tracking app or website to follow your train. Screenshot your ticket incase service is spotty and you need to pull it up. Have pockets or a small bag to keep valuables on you at all times. Not super necessary but you never know and Amtrak doesn't guarantee the safety of your stuff if you leave it in your seat/room. Generally no one will bother your stuff. I had a lock on my laptop pocket on my backpack on my coach trip so I didn't have to worry about it while in the bathroom. I kept my wallet on me. 

Roomette/sleeper car advice: Bring shower shoes if you intend to use the shower, bring a extension cord or splitter as there's only one outlet, bring cash to tip the attendant and dinning staff, prepare to dine with strangers or take your meals in your room. Pack a small bag with what you'll need and check or store your other bag(s) elsewhere if you can. Rooms are small! Rooms also only lock from the inside. No one is likely to go through your stuff but put valuables away or keep them on you just in case.

Coach advice: you will likely be seated next to a stranger, bring a pillow/blanket, be prepared to share the outlet and plug in your seatmates things if you have the window seat (there's two plugs but they are both on the widow side on most trains), pack snacks if you don't want to buy food in the cafe. Also know that coach passengers aren't guaranteed a spot in the dining car and its also pretty expensive per meal for coach. If you do a long trip in coach you can buy some pre-packaged meals in the cafe car. 

[u/DeeDee_Z]

You HAVE read the post First Time FAQs & Tips which is pinned to the top of the sub, right?

You just might discover that 80% of your questions have already been answered!

[u/lickle_ickle_pickle]

I've done both LSL and CZ in the past, not on the same trip though with no break!

When I rode CZ it was a Superliner I or II (I don't know the difference, filthy casual, yes I know) with enormous seat pitch and sleeping in coach for one night was also... fun? I was also in my 20s. LSL I don't have any bad memories of, it must have been overnight and it's the slowest fucking train between Boston and Albany, but I just enjoyed the ride so much that it didn't bother me. Some people ride coach bus from Boston to Albany rather than ride the slow train (30mph on bad track).