Hi!! Just a big thank you for all the help and kind wishes from you forumers for our trip from California to Colorado on the California Zephyr!

I ended up paying full fare, alas, because the price of the international pass for us 3 plus the cost for the bedroom (unavoidable this time) put the international pass about 300 dollars over the price of the regular ticket. I am sure that Amtrak is happy with me for paying full fare! In fact, the price of the return ticket on the way back increased more than 80 dollars between yesterday and today! I am just glad I was able to reserve our place on the train for the dates I have.

For those of you that might travel in Europe, it is true that the trains are a little more comfortable, and the coach seats in France pull out so that they lie flat - you have one huge bed the length of the car, this is on the non-TGV trains and the fares are good! The TGV is amazing. Not cheap, but you can find deals on the net for this too, plus the international pass is great.

In addition, you can travel through the tunnel to England from France. I have not done this, but it sounds like fun! The Eurostar is not that sound finacially, but it is hanging on!

As for trains in Lebanon, it is the perfect place for them and they had them once upon a time, but unfortunately they let the rails go to seed! I think I am the only one who stops before the tracks to check to see if a train is coming!

Again, thank you for all your great suggestions! I am really looking forward to tthis trip! I will come back and visit and when we get back I will let you know how it goes! The_traveler, just a question, how many miles have you traveled by train?? You sound like you hold a record!!

Big Thanks
Razzle