independent, intentional travel
There’s no shortage of taxis in Bangkok — you just have to know how they work.
Before going to Thailand, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’d used an actual taxi. As a Millennial, I’m no stranger to Uber, which is similar in theory but totally different in application. When I’ve traveled abroad before, I’ve usually relied on public transportation. Although it may not be the fastest or most convenient way to travel, it sure is cheap. [Read more…]
My favorite way to start trip planning is with good-old fashioned books.
One day, I was living my life like normal. And then it hit me: my trip to Thailand was suddenly just over a month away. And besides booking my flights, I hadn’t done any trip planning. Considering it was my first time traveling to Asia, I really needed to get things together. Fast.
The good news is that after so many trips, I have the whole trip planning thing down to a science. (Which is great! Because having things officially planned makes it seem so much more real, and super exciting.) So… when you find yourself with a trip sneaking up on you and no plans, here are a few of my favorite trip planning tips. [Read more…]
You can travel between Seattle and Vancouver with Amtrak Cascades
In August, my younger sister Carrie and I took a long weekend trip to Seattle. It was Carrie’s first time ever traveling by plane, so we decided to knock out a couple other firsts, too. She wanted to get her first stamp on her passport, so why not spend a day in Vancouver, B.C.?
Now, Vancouver is almost 150 miles away from Seattle. How would we get there? We (Carrie) couldn’t afford plane tickets, I didn’t want to rent a car because of the experience I’d recently had with Avis in Alaska, and hitchhiking was never really an option. That left good old Amtrak — and though I’d traveled quite a bit by train in Europe, this was my first time riding the rails in the U.S.
So we booked our train tickets from Seattle to Vancouver. Here’s my review of the experience with Amtrak Cascades.
The Amtrak train that runs between Eugene, Oregon, and Vancouver, B.C., is called Amtrak Cascades. You can find more information about trains and timetables, and book tickets on AmtrakCascades.com. We departed Seattle via King Street Station at 6:50 p.m. and arrived in Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station at 10:50 p.m.
Seats aren’t assigned in advance; before your train departs, you’ll present your documents (train tickets and passport), at which time you’ll receive a small slip with your assigned seat.
Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, where Amtrak Cascades arrives/departs
Never having traveled by train in the U.S. before, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. When I imagined King Street Station, visions of the train stations I’ve visited in Europe came to mind. So Carrie and I arrived to King Street Station about 2 hours before our train was scheduled to depart.
Turns out, there was no need and nothing to do inside the station while we waited, so we went to a nearby Starbucks to kill the time. We returned about 45 minutes before the train was scheduled to depart and the ticket queue was forming, which kept us occupied until boarding.
That being said, I recommend arriving to Pacific Street Station in Vancouver at least an hour before the train departs, since you must first complete a U.S. customs form. The printed forms are on hand in the station, so you can fill it out when you get there.
There’s no security checkpoint at either of the train stations, which was surprising to me considering we were technically crossing the border. But when it comes to immigration/passport control, it depends on which direction you’re going.
On the way to Vancouver, you’ll receive a Canadian customs form on the train. Upon arrival in Vancouver, the conductor will open each train compartment and you’ll join the line to go through immigration. This line can take quite a while. Also, if you’re American they probably won’t stamp your passport — unless you ask really nicely, like we did! And so Carrie did get her first passport stamp.
On the way to Seattle or elsewhere in the U.S., you must complete your U.S. customs form before boarding the train. As you cross the border, the train will stop and immigration officers will board the train and inspect your forms and passports. Once you arrive in Seattle, you can just get off the train and go on your way.
The train ride can feel long. It clocked in at 4 hours from south to north, and about 4.5 on the way back. It does take longer than it would to drive, as Amtrak is not one of those high-speed trains like you might find in Europe. That being said, it’s not a bad place to spend 4 or 4.5 hours. The Amtrak Cascades train does have Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat, ample luggage racks, and there’s even a dining car. (I recommend bringing your own snacks, though.)
If you’re lucky, you’ll get a window seat facing west — it’s an incredibly scenic journey up the coast!
We paid $64 per person, round trip, for our tickets. There are other tickets that cost more and other tickets that cost less, but we felt this was a fair price — much cheaper than renting a car or flying. Including time spent at the train stations before boarding, it was a 5-6 hour travel experience each way. We only spent one full day in Vancouver, so if you’re on a similar schedule, that may feel like a little much.
But when you’re on a whirlwind of a trip, sometimes it’s nice to sit back, relax, enjoy the view, and try something new.
Have you ever traveled by train in the U.S.? What was your experience? And would you ever travel with Amtrak Cascades? Let me know in the comments.
-Cathy
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