NYP - BOS (Traveling with Kids)
Jun 4, 2015, 1:57 pm
#1
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NYP - BOS (Traveling with Kids)
Travelling with 2 toddlers from NYP - BOS. Any suggestions on which train to pick and possible benefits - Regional Business, Regional Coach or Acela Business? Thank you in advance for the help.
Jun 4, 2015, 5:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
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Regional Coach is very nice. No amenities, but the seat is larger, wider, has more padding, and has more legroom than most domestic first class airline seats. The major difference is that there is no center armrest.
Regional Business is essentially Regional coach with more legroom, slightly thicker padding on the seats (the coach seats are already very nicely padded), free non-alcoholic beverages in the cafe car, and a free newspaper. Definitely not worth the cost unless coach is very full and you want more space to yourself (I've been on trains where coach is beyond full, yet business class pax get entire pairs of seats to themselves).
Acela Business is like Regional coach, except you're on a faster train that makes less stops, and has the highest priority over other trains.
If you're just traveling with toddlers, aren't in a real rush, and don't want to pay a lot, Regional Coach is the best bang for your buck.
Regional Business is essentially Regional coach with more legroom, slightly thicker padding on the seats (the coach seats are already very nicely padded), free non-alcoholic beverages in the cafe car, and a free newspaper. Definitely not worth the cost unless coach is very full and you want more space to yourself (I've been on trains where coach is beyond full, yet business class pax get entire pairs of seats to themselves).
Acela Business is like Regional coach, except you're on a faster train that makes less stops, and has the highest priority over other trains.
If you're just traveling with toddlers, aren't in a real rush, and don't want to pay a lot, Regional Coach is the best bang for your buck.
Jun 5, 2015, 7:54 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2015
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The Acela trains are super cool looking, especially the locomotives, so if your kids like trains, that could be an advantage. It also is a substantially faster than the regional (from ~30 minutes to almost an hour, depending on which regional you comapre it to: the Acela is 3:39).
Jun 5, 2015, 8:06 am
#4
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In terms of overall experience: Regional coach < Acela biz < Regional biz < Acela First.
However, like diburning says, Regional coach is probably the best bang for your buck.
Jun 5, 2015, 5:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
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Another factor for traveling with kids is getting seats together. The Acela has lots of tables in each car that is nice for a family of 3 or 4. The regional have tables in the cafe, which can be a nice way to break up the trip.
Be sure to get a red cap at NYP and Boston to take your family down to the train together and beat the general boarding.
As others have noted, coach on the regional is more or less the seat pitch of a domestic first seat - the seats are 2x2 in both Coach and Business. The only 2x1 seating Amtrak has is on the Acela in First Class.
Be sure to get a red cap at NYP and Boston to take your family down to the train together and beat the general boarding.
As others have noted, coach on the regional is more or less the seat pitch of a domestic first seat - the seats are 2x2 in both Coach and Business. The only 2x1 seating Amtrak has is on the Acela in First Class.
Jun 6, 2015, 6:48 am
#7
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Thanks all for the great advice. I ended up booking the Acela with time being the deciding factor. I figured getting home half hour early is worth the extra points.
@nerd - Acela indeed does offer the same half price tickets for kids under 2.
@nerd - Acela indeed does offer the same half price tickets for kids under 2.
Jun 9, 2015, 9:01 pm
#13
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Your kids will love the Acela. Not only can you knock as much as an hour off the trip (which can be helpful if you add in time to/from the station on either end), but the look of the train, the large windows and the 4 seat with a table configuration all lead to something which makes the ride fun.
Sep 16, 2015, 10:55 am
#15
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The journey was fantastic and very seamless (which is a rare instance when traveling with a Toddler & Child). The 4 seat tables were perfect for the family. Good tip on the Red Cap service - I don't we would have been able to get the tables without their help and assistance. No more trips by Car or Planes to NY!!