I am taking the Amtrak from Chicago to NYC - is there an good time to book to get the best price? Will be booking a sleeper car.

Assuming you've checked the amtrak.com website to check for their standard discounts (veterans, AAA, etc.) and their "hot deals/weekly specials", about the only discount you can hope for is not traveling as a single (i.e., get a "family" rate, esp. for sleeper).

Doubt if timing is important with Amtrak (other than booking early for major holidays) -- but probably worth braving the phone-hell menu-gates to talk to a human and ASK what discounts might be available.

Have a great trip but (a) bring your own snacks and (b) do not expect punctuality.

Agree with soccr. There usually is no best time to get tickets. Just keep checking web site and/or talk with agent for specials, etc. Your meals will be included in your sleeper fare and snacks often available in lounge car, but we sometimes like to take our own snacks just in case.

I have to disagree. Sleeper accomodations are not easy to get. There are a limited # of bedroom accomodations (14 bedrooms and 6 deluxe bedrooms on newer equipment and 10 bedrooms/6 delux on heritage equipment) per car and usually only two sleeper cars on each train set. To make matters worse: The bedrooms are for two and do not have their own bath. Bedrooms sell out quickly. Deluxe bedrooms with their own bathrooms and shower sell out faster! Call AMTRAK and speak with a rep. They will be able to help you juggle your travel days to get accomodations. We always bring snacks but I'm sorry that soccr wasn't more specific about time delays. AMTRAK does not own the majority of the tracks it travels on... the freight companies do. AMTRAK only own the Northeast Corridor from Boston to Wash. D.C. Time delays are the fault of the freight companies that own the tracks and think of AMTRAK as a pest accomodation. Write your Senators and Representatives to let them know that you support AMTRAK. Train travel between Chicago and NYC (overnight) makes sense.

I have no problem supporting Amtrak - but still see no sense in taking an overnight (and who knows how late train) when there are 2.5 hour flights Chicago to NYC leaving practically every hour of the day.

There are many reasons to take a train instead of fly, but that's a whole other thread.

TTJL, I assume you've taken a train trip of this length before, but if you haven't, soccr is correct -- the important thing is to not expect punctuality. In fact, expect there to be delays.

And, as the others have posted, I've never really seen a "best time" time to get a discount.

The only way that I know of to get the lowest price on Amtrak would be to book the trip as far in advance as possible. Amtrak is kind of like the airlines, in that if you wait until the last minute, you might end up paying the top price category.

Grandson won't fly on an airplane and that is why we have taken Amtrak previously. Went to DC. Had a good experience and some luck - not with the schedule as I do understand about Amtrak not owning the tracks. But a week before our departure they called with an upgrade from reserved seats to a bedroom for $50 one way. Took them up on the offer - couldn't refuse meals and a bed and a private room for $50. With that savings, felt I could afford to pay regular price for upgrade on return trip. Didn't know if it was out of the ordinary that that upgrade happened - which I can see by your posts that it was a fluke. Did enjoy the company of the fellow passengers at meal time, and the time to spend with grandson playing games and talking. Thanks for advise and I will call directly to the station to see if I can find a friendly agent with grandchildren who would give me as good a deal as possible.