Hello Reader, it's Kev!

I hate to say it, but the holidays are coming up. If you don’t plan, it could cost you more or leave you with sold-out trains. Get ahead of the Amtrak newbies and plan like a Travels with Kev Amtrak Pro!

But first, a new roomette deal!

Twice as Nice Is Back: Bring a Friend Free in a Roomette

Amtrak’s Twice as Nice sale is back. Book a Viewliner or Superliner Roomette on a long-distance train, and your travel companion rides free.

The basics:

• Book by: October 31
• Travel between: November 1 November 1, 2026 and January 31
• Promo code: C102 (enter this code if the discount doesn’t apply automatically)
• Good on: Roomettes and Accessible Rooms on all long-distance trains except the southbound Auto Train (53). Bedrooms aren’t included.
• Blackout dates: November 18–24 & 27–30, December 17–22, and December 26–January 2. That rules out Thanksgiving week, the run-up to Christmas, and New Year’s

You and your companion must be on the same reservation and in the same room. The deal can’t be combined with other discounts and doesn’t apply to Guest Rewards points or Points & Cash bookings.

​See the full details on Amtrak.com.

Holiday Travel Is Closer Than You Think

For those of us in the USA, Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, weeks from today. If you’re taking the train to see family, now’s the time to book. Thanksgiving week is Amtrak’s busiest of the year, and trains on the Wednesday before and the Sunday after fill up quickly. Now is the time to plan for all the upcoming holidays.

I just finished a complete update to my holiday travel guide, and some rules have changed since last year:

Value fares are refundable for less than they used to be. If you cancel a Value fare before departure, you now get 70% back, not the 75% many people remember. Flex fares remain fully refundable, and during the holidays, the extra few dollars for Flex can be cheap insurance.

If you’re booking a roomette or bedroom now, confirm your dates. You receive a full refund for rooms only if you cancel 121 or more days in advance. For Thanksgiving and Christmas trips, we’re well within that window, so canceling now will cost you 25%.

Train-side checked baggage is available at only three stations: Columbus, WI; Mount Pleasant, IA; and Winona, MN. If your station used to offer it but no longer does, plan to carry your bags or check them at a staffed station.

You do not need a Real ID to ride Amtrak. I get this question all the time. A regular driver’s license or another valid photo ID works fine. However, crossing into Canada requires a passport or another accepted travel document.

Kev’s Tip: If you buy a reserved ticket directly from Amtrak and change your mind, you can cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Unreserved tickets, such as those for the Hiawatha, have only a one-hour cancellation window.

The full guide covers the key dates for all three holidays, which fares to buy, packing, layovers, traveling with pets, and what to do when things go sideways.

​Read the 2026 Amtrak Holiday Travel Guide​

What Is Kev Up To?

We all make mistakes, and I made one last Friday.

I had a great idea: take the kids on a train ride. The timing was tight but workable, or so I thought. By the time we got everyone in the car, we’d arrive at the station just as the train was pulling out. I figured it was better to disappoint them at home than to make them sit through the drive back.

But I made it up to them, and on Tuesday we took that trip! This time, both twins came along, and they were excited. Their mom came, too!

Even the second try almost didn’t happen. I hit unexpected road construction, and my map apps kept sending me down closed roads.

We made it, though, and the kids had a great time! The little guy loved looking out the windows and watching the trains go by. It was a rushed trip, but I think we’re all glad we did it.

Thank You!

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Until Next Week!

Safe Travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith