Great tips! Amtrak is definitely my preferred way of getting between NYC and DC. I know everyone hates promotional emails but Amtrak does occasionally run some very good sales so it might be worth signing up for that email list if you travel the corridor a lot.
You can also get between Philly and NYC by taking the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line From Penn Station to Trenton and then SEPTA R7 (Trenton - Chestnut Hill East line) into 30th St Station. Takes a little bit longer but you save a ton of money vs. Amtrak. When I was in college, that's how I got back and forth for various breaks.
I visited New York this last winter and had to travel to Washington. We were looking into taking a one-way rental car but decided on the train, and I can say it was definitely the right decision. It was extremely convenient for us as we didn't have to spend much time repacking (we were traveling as a family) and the freedom to get up and stretch about means quite a lot, vs. sitting in a cramped car. It was such a nice experience that on a later trip to the UK this last month we made it a point to take trains wherever we went. The trains there go to several out-of-the way places, including ones where the trains don't normally stop unless you hail them like you would a NYC taxi. We went to such a place (Entwistle) and have a souvenir photo of us hailing a train. Wherever you go, I highly recommend making it a point to take trains. Even here in Southern California where the car is the dominant means to move, yet we have the most scenic train journey in the country (the Amtrak service between LA and San Diego, which I had the chance to take this year and really enjoyed the view). From the traditional locomotive-hauled slow services in India to the modern high-speed trains in the UK, I promise you you'll enjoy it. By the way, I've been watching videos from a channel called Londonist that does videos on public transit in London, pointing out little "secrets" one generally doesn't notice on their network. The guy who did most of their videos, Geoff Marshall, just uploaded a new such video onto his personal channel (which is his real name). I'd really like to see you do similar videos but with New York. (In fact, it was thanks to his channel that we discovered Entwistle, as while he generally focuses on London he occasionally goes to other out-of-the way places in London. In 2017-2018 he did a project to visit every single train station in the UK, which he's uploaded onto another channel All the Stations.)
Great video as always! I'm just sad that you left out my hometown of Baltimore! There's plenty of history and interesting things to see in Charm City. It gets overlooked way too much.
The Northeast is the closest you'll get to being able to get around more easily by train and bus like in Europe. I'm jealous because of that but my home is California and I don't think I could handle Northeast winters
At least California has the most scenic train journey in the country. The journey from Los Angeles to San Diego runs right next to the coastline on its southern portions (one of its stops is literally a pier), and I finally got to take that this summer (despite living in San Diego for my life) and I really enjoyed the view.
I love seeing multiple ppl suggesting baltimore here. Come get a crab cake, see an orioles game, walk around fells point or Fed hill. One of the most underrated food scenes in the country.
I'm always for expanding public transit. It's ridiculous that subway riders who want to travel in between BK, QNS, and BX still have to go through Manhattan.
@@UrbanCaffeine Agreed! I think this will be a game changer, I hope it comes into fruition. It will help alleviate a lot of the congestion. Also, there's no direct commuter routes to LaGuardia airport. This will be the answer to travelers prayers 🙏. 😄
Great channel, I just found out about it. I subscribed after watching one of your videos. I live on Long Island with a 4 minutes walk to an LIRR station. I plan to see Washington DC next spring when the Air &Space Museum reopens. Of course I’ll be taking the LIRR to Amtrak.
Thanks Thea for sharing these short and quick trips with us. Would you still rather flying than taking MegaBus to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC? Maybe Amtrak?
@@UrbanCaffeine Good Hotels, Bars, and restaurants in close proximity to each other. Particularly in Center City Philadelphia. You don't need a car per say, and there's an abundance of Philly Cheesesteak Hoagies 😊
Thea - Brilliant Fantastic video thank you. A few great ideas there for tourists like me, although I have previously visited the 3 cities that are the subject of this video. Please can we have a few more videos of this nature as there must be loads of other cities within range of a pleasant 1 to 5 hour train trip away. I'd LOVE to see a few more videos like this 'cause I am a huge fan of train travel and when next in New York would love to do a few more side trips by train from New York to some lesser known cities in that part of the world. Would love to see what other places you might like to recommend. I think you can use this theme to run a series of videos on places to visit from New York by train :) Keep up the great work
You are correct about flying, especially into Washington and Boston from NYC. Why would you fly? Waiting + luggage (if any) + transport into the city common = 2 monuments or 2 lobster rolls. It's a time saver all around! Scenic-wise, correct me, it's probably the same. You can't see anything in the air, and train routes go through rural, industrial areas making it not very interesting. Trains by far are cooler especially on shorter trips. On long trips, that's a different video. It did look like you enjoyed yourself, that's what matters.
I’m the same way. Love to travel but not fond of airplanes. I’ve only ridden Amtrak once, on the auto train from D.C. to Florida, but I would definitely do a trip anywhere on Amtrak again.
Trains are just so much more convenient. And the best part is you usually end up in the city center unlike an airplane where you land in the outskirts of town.
IN MY first time in the city we have the idea of a flash trip to philly, bought tickets on megabus and when we were on the bus we check for back tickes and..... nothing so we arrive in philly, take a cab to rocky statue, take pictures and back to the terminal.... is it worth it??? yeahhh every second.. (i was literally 40 minutes in philly and back to nyc)
Thanks for sharing, very well explained, I’m planning to go this weekend after i saw this, it looks so easy and reasonable price , departure can be done from two stations ? Penn station or Atlantic Barclay ?
Do Amtrak ticket purchases still say "does not guarantee a seat"? It never happened to me but I did have relatives forced to stand for about an hour on the train until a seat opened up. Also Baltimore is worth seeing too although it's not as easy or safe as the other cities you mentioned.
Hi there. I think reserved seats are for business class. You could also try traveling during a less popular hour to guarantee seats. I haven't really had this problem, sorry your relatives had to stand for so long.
The are other bus services like Greyhound or The Jet from Hudson Yards to Metro centre in DC. It’s no faster than other bus services but much more comfortable.
Another great video Thea! We were thinking of visiting Washington DC during our NYC trip, so this video was really useful to us!:) In your opinion could one take the train early in the morning to see the national mall and return in late evening in NYC? Or should one stay overnight in Washington? Your thoughts?
@Jim Allen thanx so much Jim! Being foreigners, we really have no idea how big the national mall is, indeed! We really appreciate you informative response! Greetings from Greece!
@@littlecookingtips Yes, there are scooters that you can rent with the Uber app. But I agree with Jim. You can look into one of those hop on hop off buses so you can easily get from one attraction to the next.
I would recommend Acela the faster train while the others are slow and time consuming if you want you can do both trips in a day however for Boston and DC you have a long day or less time at the city or stay a night you can take commuter rail to Philly NJ transit to Trenton and septa to Philly which is more frequent and cheaper and less time
@@UrbanCaffeine I feel the same way. I live north of NYC on the MTA Hudson Line. I'd go to the city more if the train services were better. It leaves me regretting my decision with all the stops while at the very same time other countries have Maglev trains that go four times further with more stops in the same amount of time. Think about all the major cities within a 5 hour car ride of NYC. They need to cut those times down to keep people off the roads and planes. Apologies for the rambling I'm just sick of it at this point.
Great tips! Amtrak is definitely my preferred way of getting between NYC and DC. I know everyone hates promotional emails but Amtrak does occasionally run some very good sales so it might be worth signing up for that email list if you travel the corridor a lot.
Thanks! That's a good tip for people who don't have strict schedules.
You can also get between Philly and NYC by taking the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line From Penn Station to Trenton and then SEPTA R7 (Trenton - Chestnut Hill East line) into 30th St Station. Takes a little bit longer but you save a ton of money vs. Amtrak.
When I was in college, that's how I got back and forth for various breaks.
It's nice to know there are more options!
I visited New York this last winter and had to travel to Washington. We were looking into taking a one-way rental car but decided on the train, and I can say it was definitely the right decision. It was extremely convenient for us as we didn't have to spend much time repacking (we were traveling as a family) and the freedom to get up and stretch about means quite a lot, vs. sitting in a cramped car.
It was such a nice experience that on a later trip to the UK this last month we made it a point to take trains wherever we went. The trains there go to several out-of-the way places, including ones where the trains don't normally stop unless you hail them like you would a NYC taxi. We went to such a place (Entwistle) and have a souvenir photo of us hailing a train.
Wherever you go, I highly recommend making it a point to take trains. Even here in Southern California where the car is the dominant means to move, yet we have the most scenic train journey in the country (the Amtrak service between LA and San Diego, which I had the chance to take this year and really enjoyed the view). From the traditional locomotive-hauled slow services in India to the modern high-speed trains in the UK, I promise you you'll enjoy it.
By the way, I've been watching videos from a channel called Londonist that does videos on public transit in London, pointing out little "secrets" one generally doesn't notice on their network. The guy who did most of their videos, Geoff Marshall, just uploaded a new such video onto his personal channel (which is his real name). I'd really like to see you do similar videos but with New York. (In fact, it was thanks to his channel that we discovered Entwistle, as while he generally focuses on London he occasionally goes to other out-of-the way places in London. In 2017-2018 he did a project to visit every single train station in the UK, which he's uploaded onto another channel All the Stations.)
It's always nice to hear when people discover how great trains can be.
Great video as always! I'm just sad that you left out my hometown of Baltimore! There's plenty of history and interesting things to see in Charm City. It gets overlooked way too much.
Oh no! I haven't been to Baltimore. But you've encouraged me to go. Perhaps it can be a future video.
I second this. Haha beat me to it!
The Northeast is the closest you'll get to being able to get around more easily by train and bus like in Europe. I'm jealous because of that but my home is California and I don't think I could handle Northeast winters
Haha, yes the winters here are not that kind. I used to live around the Bay Area for a little bit. Weather was gorgeous and I would bike everywhere.
At least California has the most scenic train journey in the country. The journey from Los Angeles to San Diego runs right next to the coastline on its southern portions (one of its stops is literally a pier), and I finally got to take that this summer (despite living in San Diego for my life) and I really enjoyed the view.
CA has Amtrak too, capital corridor is excellent and if you have a hybrid work environment you could live along the line.
@@gparyani I think I saw pictures of those trains. I will have to try them if I ever find myself on the gold coast again.
So happy you mentioned the Arlington Cementery. The change of guard is a must see!
Indeed!
Great suggestions. Amtrak is a under used gem.
So true. Most people usually default to flying.
I been traveling for so many years, yet I still learn something new on Urban Caffeine 😊
I love seeing multiple ppl suggesting baltimore here. Come get a crab cake, see an orioles game, walk around fells point or Fed hill. One of the most underrated food scenes in the country.
Thanks for the tips! I've never been to Baltimore. Now I have to go.
Thank you I love your videos, new subscriber here
The Rocky statue is right outside the Philadelphia Musem of Art, one of the best art museums in the country.
What are your thoughts on this? >
ruclips.net/video/VnfiitqHyhw/видео.html
I'm always for expanding public transit. It's ridiculous that subway riders who want to travel in between BK, QNS, and BX still have to go through Manhattan.
@@UrbanCaffeine Agreed! I think this will be a game changer, I hope it comes into fruition. It will help alleviate a lot of the congestion. Also, there's no direct commuter routes to LaGuardia airport. This will be the answer to travelers prayers 🙏. 😄
Great channel, I just found out about it. I subscribed after watching one of your videos. I live on Long Island with a 4 minutes walk to an LIRR station. I plan to see Washington DC next spring when the Air &Space Museum reopens. Of course I’ll be taking the LIRR to Amtrak.
Nice! I was in DC earlier this year and was bummed that it was closed. I think I'll go back to see it when it opens too. Thanks for the sub!
What about Baltimore?
Thanks Thea for sharing these short and quick trips with us.
Would you still rather flying than taking MegaBus to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC? Maybe Amtrak?
You're welcome! I'd probably take the bus over a plane because it's environmentally less evil. But trains are my preferred way to traveling.
Philadelphia is my favorite of the 3 cities.
Why Philadelphia?
@@UrbanCaffeine Good Hotels, Bars, and restaurants in close proximity to each other. Particularly in Center City Philadelphia. You don't need a car per say, and there's an abundance of Philly Cheesesteak Hoagies 😊
@@naypomjack6459 Oh yeah, Philly does have a great food scene!
Thea - Brilliant Fantastic video thank you. A few great ideas there for tourists like me, although I have previously visited the 3 cities that are the subject of this video. Please can we have a few more videos of this nature as there must be loads of other cities within range of a pleasant 1 to 5 hour train trip away. I'd LOVE to see a few more videos like this 'cause I am a huge fan of train travel and when next in New York would love to do a few more side trips by train from New York to some lesser known cities in that part of the world. Would love to see what other places you might like to recommend. I think you can use this theme to run a series of videos on places to visit from New York by train :) Keep up the great work
Thanks for the idea! Perhaps that something to plan for next summer.
I love ❤️ thanks for promoting my industry
Thanks! 🚊
Your welcome
You are correct about flying, especially into Washington and Boston from NYC. Why would you fly? Waiting + luggage (if any) + transport into the city common = 2 monuments or 2 lobster rolls. It's a time saver all around! Scenic-wise, correct me, it's probably the same. You can't see anything in the air, and train routes go through rural, industrial areas making it not very interesting. Trains by far are cooler especially on shorter trips. On long trips, that's a different video. It did look like you enjoyed yourself, that's what matters.
I'd take two lobster rolls over waiting at an airport any day. 🦞🥖
@@UrbanCaffeine Somehow I knew you would!
Nice!!✌️
Thanks ✌️
I’m the same way. Love to travel but not fond of airplanes. I’ve only ridden Amtrak once, on the auto train from D.C. to Florida, but I would definitely do a trip anywhere on Amtrak again.
Trains are just so much more convenient. And the best part is you usually end up in the city center unlike an airplane where you land in the outskirts of town.
I love the Auto-Train. I visit a friend in FL every year, and take the Auto-Train back. If only they could extend it to Boston.
IN MY first time in the city we have the idea of a flash trip to philly, bought tickets on megabus and when we were on the bus we check for back tickes and..... nothing so we arrive in philly, take a cab to rocky statue, take pictures and back to the terminal.... is it worth it??? yeahhh every second.. (i was literally 40 minutes in philly and back to nyc)
Thanks for sharing, very well explained, I’m planning to go this weekend after i saw this, it looks so easy and reasonable price , departure can be done from two stations ? Penn station or Atlantic Barclay ?
Hi there. Amtrak departs at Penn Station in Manhattan, otherwise the next option is Penn Station in New Jersey. Hope you have a great trip!
Do Amtrak ticket purchases still say "does not guarantee a seat"? It never happened to me but I did have relatives forced to stand for about an hour on the train until a seat opened up. Also Baltimore is worth seeing too although it's not as easy or safe as the other cities you mentioned.
Hi there. I think reserved seats are for business class. You could also try traveling during a less popular hour to guarantee seats. I haven't really had this problem, sorry your relatives had to stand for so long.
The are other bus services like Greyhound or The Jet from Hudson Yards to Metro centre in DC. It’s no faster than other bus services but much more comfortable.
I forgot the bus line I took from DC once but it stopped at Hudson Yards. It's not bad actually.
Another great video Thea! We were thinking of visiting Washington DC during our NYC trip, so this video was really useful to us!:) In your opinion could one take the train early in the morning to see the national mall and return in late evening in NYC? Or should one stay overnight in Washington? Your thoughts?
@Jim Allen thanx so much Jim! Being foreigners, we really have no idea how big the national mall is, indeed! We really appreciate you informative response! Greetings from Greece!
Oh my gosh. Yes, the National Mall is HUGE. Walking it takes forever. I had to rent a scooter to get back.
@@UrbanCaffeine a scooter?! Dear lord thanx for the heads up!:)
@@littlecookingtips Yes, there are scooters that you can rent with the Uber app. But I agree with Jim. You can look into one of those hop on hop off buses so you can easily get from one attraction to the next.
Small math problem at 3:15, otherwise great video!
Haha, yeah I caught that too after it published. Oh well. 🫣
I would recommend Acela the faster train while the others are slow and time consuming if you want you can do both trips in a day however for Boston and DC you have a long day or less time at the city or stay a night you can take commuter rail to Philly NJ transit to Trenton and septa to Philly which is more frequent and cheaper and less time
Acela is expensive though
@@AlexCab_49 so then take commuter rail
@@broyofroyo1207 from NYC to Philly that's doable but from NYC to Boston or DC I think I'll stick to the Northeast regional
@@AlexCab_49 Poh okay
Amtrak and other train services need much better infrastructure and faster trains.
Yeah, it's sad that it takes so long to go cross country with trains. I would travel more if trains were faster.
@@UrbanCaffeine I feel the same way. I live north of NYC on the MTA Hudson Line. I'd go to the city more if the train services were better. It leaves me regretting my decision with all the stops while at the very same time other countries have Maglev trains that go four times further with more stops in the same amount of time. Think about all the major cities within a 5 hour car ride of NYC. They need to cut those times down to keep people off the roads and planes. Apologies for the rambling I'm just sick of it at this point.