Amtrak Guest Rewards - Sanford FL or Orlando FL

With the Amtrak rail sale I can get my family of 6 from Philadelphia to Orlando or Sanford,FL for $396. Our stay at Disney will be during the middle of our two week trip so proximity to Disney is not important. Rather, we will be driving to/from Homosassa,FL, on the gulf coast about 1 hour north of Tampa.

I have two questions 1) which train station will provide easier access to the gulf coast and 2) which will provide more selection/better rates for a minivan or car rental. Of course any other insight would be appreciated as well

Thank you in advance your your help

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Windjammer:

I have two questions 1) which train station will provide easier access to the gulf coast and 2) which will provide more selection/better rates for a minivan or car rental. Of course any other insight would be appreciated as well

Thank you in advance your your help

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Answering the second question first will help answer the first question as well.

Please note that there are actually TWO Sanford Amtrak stations, located some distance apart from each other. One station serves Auto-Train passengers exclusively, and has quite a few station amenities, such as a waiting area, picnic area, etc.

The other station, serves regular Amtrak trains (non Auto-Train passengers) and is a hideous, run down affair. It is located in a remote area, far from town, and shares part of the space with a railroad administrative office. The passenger station itself consists of a room (possibly climate controlled), some seats and vending machines.

There are no rental car facilities on site.

Thus, it would be better to alight in Orlando, where there is a ticket agent on duty, more passengers, and a Hertz car rental desk (staffed only for those holding advance reservations). Orlando station is a few miles south of downtown, in an industrial area, but at least there are more facilities there.

At both stations, taxicabs are on call, with a very good likelihood of cabs meeting trains in Orlando.

I suggest alighting in Orlando. You can also return your Hertz car at that same station.

Thus, the answer to your first and second questions are "Orlando" and "Orlando."

[This message has been edited by Globehopper (edited 01-09-2003).]

Globehopper: Thanks for the great information.