nelsonian

We took Amtrak from Baltimore to New York two years ago. We had one reasonably size suitcase each and carryon and put out luggage in the racks at the back of the carriage. We sat fairly close by to keep an eye on it. We were only the second stop in though so the racks may be full by the time the train stops at Philadelphia. We didn't have any problems at Penn Station, just wheeled our luggage through the station and took a cab to our hotel.

lcuy

I've taken both on the Boston NYC lines, and prefer a seat in the quiet car on an Acela train to Business class on the regular train. Acela trains are a bit faster and and sometimes cheaper (than business) too. The business cars are noisy with everyone yakking on their phones.

basingstoke2

I fully agree with Travelbuff and YK. Consider going by bus - I prefer Bolt bus -for the reasons stated. It is nearly as quick, much less expensive ($10), the driver loads your luggage, you have a reserved seat (you must make advance reservations and pay by credit card online) it is clean and comfortable.

Anonymous

The drivers didn't load the luggage when I've taken the Blot bus. In fact, at the end of one trip my suitcase had slid to the far back reaches of the undercarriage compartment and I had to crawl into it to get the suitcase.

basingstoke2

Must have been a bad day. They usually take care of it.

MLTimes

Bolt would have liability issues if they let passangers reach or crawl in to get their luggage out themselves. I've never had an issue with Bolt (Mega on the other hand . . . a complete fiasco.)

In any event, I like Bolt for the price, but I also love Amtrak (when someone else is paying). I've carried a lot of stuff back in forth on Amtrak over the years (an expanded 22" rollaboard, briefcase, 2 shopping bags and a case of wine on a recent DC-Phila trip) with no problem. Also, it has only been on rare occasions (around holidays) that I have had to stand for part of the trip, and that was only because I was a courteous college student who always offered my seat to a "grownup."

MikeT

Given what I've read above about there not being seats sometimes

That only happens because people want seats together or someone is hogging two seats. There are no unreserved trains on the Northeast Corridor, so every rider should have a seat.

travelenthusiast

I've taken the Amtrak trains that ultimately go to NYC. We get on in Harrisburg which is the beginning of the route. For two people we have each taken a medium/large suitcase and we share a carry on.

They had luggage racks in some cars that are very convenient for people who can't lift their suitcases above the seats. You might have to walk through the train to find open space in one of these luggage racks and if you can't find one, you may have to put your suitcases above the seats. I can always find a helpful strong guy that is willing to assist in lifting the suitcases.

There are elevators in the station that you can take if you can't maneuver the escalators. This is a very convenient option for me when I take my 70 plus year old mother to NYC. We always enjoy our travels on Amtrak. I find it to be a relaxing way to travel.

Hannah_reads_for_fun

As a Jersey girl in college in Maryland facing a HUGE blizzard at the beginning of winter break this year, I gave up my dream of a $20 bus and took the Amtrak from New Carollton, MD to Newark so that I wouldn't have to spend hours and hours and hours in transit.

Because I was traveling to visit my parents and then fly to Israel for two weeks, I had a fair amount of luggage, and none of it rolled. I had more than enough space right by the doors to dump the duffles.

Philadelphia is the station where half the train gets off. There is SO much luggage room from Phil. going North that you won't have any trouble at ALL finding space for the bags.

Finding two seats together may actually be a bit tougher, but should be manageable. I think.

I've also taken the Amtrak to and from Philadelphia 30th Street Station. The southbound train track was down one flight of stairs from the main entrance,but I don't remember where the Northbound one was. The tracks are also different on different days.

The stairs going down are a bit narrow, but Philadelphians are, for the most part, fairly kind and they will try to help you with your luggage.

As far as Penn Station goes.... It's going to be really irritating, but manageable. And it's the City. They know tourists over there.

You didn't mention how you were planning on getting TO the hotel from Penn Station, though. Getting on a subway with more than one duffel bag can be a total disaster. (Ok. At least, It was for me, and all I had was a large duffle and a heavy shopping bag. Different trip, BTW)

As a college student, I've done the $10 or $20 bus thing. If Amtrak isn't too pricey, I'd definietly do that. You may have the tiniest bit of inconvenience with stairs, but if your bags roll, that will be minimized, I should think.

doug_stallings

People who are asking about using porters in train stations aren't going to be taking the subway. They will catch a cab once they arrive in NYC. The difficulty is getting luggage up onto the street in a chaotic station.

If you pack light, then I don't see it being a huge problem, but you may have to walk up stairs with the luggage.

SusanCS

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! Our final decision - only made today - is to take a car service to NYC. I know it sounds extravagant (not to mention lazy), but my husband and I are in our mid and late 60s, he had two major surgeries last year, and we're not the spring chickens we used to be - well, perhaps we are in our minds.

If we were in NYC often, we wouldn't make the splurge, but this will be the first time we've been there since a couple of weeks before 9/11, and we may not be back for several years.

It just seems SO much easier this way. To those of you who went out of your ways to explain the options to me, thank you so much!

cdwp

Susan, My husband and I will be traveling from Philadelphia to NYC with luggage in October. I was checking on Amtrak and then happened to find your comments here. If you dont mind could you let me know what car service you ended up using for your July trip. Thanks

tomfuller

I made a 30 day trip on Amtrak with ONE carry on bag of about 44 lb. If you can't lift your bag over your head and put it in overhead storage, you are traveling with too much stuff.
You are allowed 2 bags up to 50 Lb. Between cities on the NE corridor checking bags is usually not an option.
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...=1241267371724
My first Amtrak trip was from Washington to New York in 2001.
I have checked bags twice, both times in California.
You will pay lots more to use a car service. Tip your porter well.

nytraveler

A car service will be very expensive - probably at lst twice as much as renting a car.

If you want to find a realiable service look at the airport website. They may even list a group shuttel that will go to NYC.

PaulRabe

I've traveled from Philly to NYC twice this year. If you can specify a day and hour, up to three days ahead of time, you can travel between these two cities by Greyhound for $7.

That's right -- $7.
There are about ten departure times each day, all at this price.
No stops -- direct service between the two cities (about two hours)
Free wireless on the bus.
Free use of a 120V outlet.
Booking four days in advance means you'll be first on the bus, so you get pretty much any seat you want.
While waiting at the Philly bus terminal, you get a special section that only "Express" passengers are allowed to sit in.
And the Greyhound terminal in Philly is as pleasant and clean a bus terminal as any I've been to -- and I've been to a LOT of them.

As much luggage as you can carry will be put under the bus, and they'll unload when you get out. Note that you will have to sit with your luggage until the bus is ready to board, at which point you'll have to carry it yourself to the bus.

Note also that the place you arrive at -- the lowest level of the NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal, is NOT one of the most pleasant bus terminals to be in. At this point you're on your own as far getting the luggage out of the terminal.

But for $7 (about one-tenth the cost of Amtrak), I don't see how you can complain.

SusanCS

This thread is the gift that keeps on giving...our trip was two years ago! We were really happy with our choice of using a car service...no heavy luggage to deal with, and door-to-door delivery. I don't remember how much it cost (or the name of the service), but we felt that it was worth it. We booked the car service through the concierge at our hotel - the Sofitel, which was lovely, by the way.