Originally Posted by
toomanybooks
May I get tickets in advance at my tiny local Amtrak station in Homewood, IL?
Do we have to show our passports when buying tickets, or just crossing the border?
Is there any reason to rush to get tickets, or will the train likely not fill up? How long in advance do you show up at the station for a trip like this? Any tricks for discounts on this itinerary?
You can buy tickets at Homewood between 2-9:30 PM every day. However, it's just as easy (indeed, more flexible) to buy them online and print them at the Quick-Trak machine in Seattle just before boarding. I usually show up for trains 5-10 minutes before boarding, but that's me. You'll probably want to show up a bit earlier -- but not too early, since the Seattle train station doesn't offer much entertainment. (This being Seattle, though, there are coffee shops across the street, and Pioneer Square is a brief walk away.)
For the train, you will clear customs/passport control upon arrival in Vancouver; for the bus, you will do so at the border.
You should generally make Amtrak reservations ASAP, since you can change them very easily and since fares only go up as the travel date approaches.