Is travel by train a good idea?

I'm bringing two guests down from the mid-Atlantic. One of them is terrified of airplanes. However, she's also a smoker so the thought of driving down and having to constantly stop so she can take a break terrifies me.

So, it just occurred to me that traveling down via Amtrak might be an option. However, I've never traveled by train.

Do you think it's a good or bad idea?

I've found that I can make this either a very cheap or very expensive travel option. I've heard rumors of scary people in train stations, is this a real concern? Are there scary people on the train? Are the coach seats comparable to airline seats, or should I upgrade to roomettes? (I feel silly doing that for a relatively short trip.)

Thanks in advance!
Sorry, I should have added that we would be renting a car. Most rental companies don't let you smoke in the car.

good

Why can't she smoke in the car? open the windows and it negates the need for stopping.

oh yeah, that's a good idea. back to my old days as a student, i love traveling around Australia, UK & USA by train. it broadens your horizons, trust me & it's a lot cheaper than traveling with domestic flights

yes its cool get the train

train is great... much more room to move, you can stand up and walk... nice view outside etc.. good idea.

It depends on how long the trip is. Coach seats on a train aren't bad because you can always get up and walk around, go the the bar car, etc... If the trip is over 6-7 hours, I might just book a flight, though. Amtrak stops at every little po-dunk town along the route and the trip can get boring very quickly.

Me and some friends are planning a trip to New Orleans from Birmingham soon. We're taking the 7 hour train ride down and catching a SW flight back home. The ride back is always the worst since the train takes longer than driving a lot of the time.

I love traveling by train, and only began last year. I too was unaware of the benefits of train travel, but there are some things to consider. There is no smoking on the train, however, she can take a smoke break at the train stops. Sometimes the train does get delayed, so if you are on a tight schedule, it might not be the best mode of travel.
I travel with a 3 and a 5 year olds and they love the flexibility of walking around the train, switching seats if they want to and eating in the dining car. Also, there are electrical outlets on the train, so they could play their video games and watch their dvd players. You can also bring a small cooler with you on the train and have your own snacks when ever you want.
My kids and I also love to watch out the window and point out our favorite sites along the route.
Amtrak has a great website - www.amtrak.com The train tickets are very inexpensive, the people who ride on the trains are very nice, and there are no issues with bad people at the stations. Take note as to how long the train ride will be. Some routes take much longer to travel then driving the same distance by car. Good luck.

Its cheap and you can enjoy your trip ,
You can view outside and make videos
Relax and don't get tired

I traveled from Ohio to California on a train. It was not bad at all. That took 3 days so I was more than ready to get off that train..but overall it was nice. The seats we kinda like coach bus seats..enough room for you bags to be in front of you..they had a food cart and a viewing car that had large glass windows to look out. They played a movie @ night and the weirdos were as much as any where else, to a minimum.I would do it again for a shorter trip. Go for it!..don't waste the money on the upgrade.