Taking a train from New York City to Washington, D.C., may not be as exhilarating as one thinks.
However, it’s worth noting that the moment the traveler leaves Manhattan until the train arrives at its destination is filled with many amazing experiences.
At one moment you find yourself stuck in between traffic while being surrounded by tall buildings and thousands of people. Just after a little while the view from the window becomes dramatically different: now expansive roads and quiet neighborhoods are accompanied by charming countryside.
If you are a foreign traveler arriving in the United States for the first time, this journey becomes an unforgettable experience.
The trip started in one of New York City’s famous train stations, which fully met expectations from such a prestigious location. The train station had a very pleasant atmosphere of both style and elegance, and the place was clean and well organized. Surprisingly, the train station also had air conditioning, which was very welcoming given the hot weather outside.
Now the main question arises whether riding in the first class was worth the price.
The journey cost about $300, which is a lot more expensive than an ordinary train trip in
So, what are the things that come with the additional ticket price?
Many things begin to happen even before boarding the train.
Passengers traveling first-class get their own place to relax – the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge, where they can enjoy facilities just like they would an airport lounge.
One would probably agree that relaxing in a lounge while waiting for your train is such a nice thing to do.
Instead of standing on the busy platform, you have the opportunity to drink in peace, and wait for the time when your train is supposed to leave.
The train was planned to depart at 2:15 p.m. and the good news is that it actually left on time.
This was a big surprise for me as a German, as the idea of trains departing on time seems completely wrong to an average German.
Now was time to enjoy the train ride.
I must admit that the first-class seat was spacious and comfortable enough for a tall guy like me.
At around 1.90 meters tall, one appreciates having some free space in front of him.
There was also a curtain by the window, air conditioning, lights, electricity, and an extendable table that could be used for computer work.
The restroom was quite appealing.
This restroom was relatively large and that made the entire experience more enjoyable than expected.
And then there was the food.
First class service provided a variety of food and drinks. There was mix of different cocktails, spirits, wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks and food.
The meal ended up being ravioli with cheese, bread and a key lime pie for dessert.
Not fine dining by any means, but decent food for train ride.
The fresh bread roll might have been the most memorable. Being originally from Germany and knowing how good bread is perceived in Germany, it was a nice surprise to find such a great bread roll on an American train.
But still the views were even more exciting.
One of the advantages of taking the train is that you can actually see the cities along the way.
Instead of merely flying over everything, you can actually see how places are interconnected. The vast city environment of New York begins to transition into more peaceful regions that seem very countrified.
It is truly amazing to have the chance to check out the standard American houses and wide roads located just several kilometers away from one of the biggest American cities.
What is more, the train offered good Wi-Fi and charging outlets, which allowed people to work during the trip.
Still, the trip was not without its problems.
However, there were some bumps along the way and the train eventually arrived in Washington nearly 20 minutes late. Surely, if the departure occurred without any delays, the arrival, on the other hand, was not ideal.
But for a trip of almost three hours, the problem was not as big.
The next surprise was to be offered right in Washington.
There were fewer individuals, less congestion, quieter thoroughfares, and a far more peaceful feeling overall. The city appeared considerably more ample and orderly, especially near its tourist attractions.
Travel was also quite simple.
It seems like the Washington Metro was much more bearable and better than New York’s subway system. The stations seemed to be cleaner and quite modern, and paying using credit or phone made it uncomplicated.
There was no complicated ticket purchasing process.
Simply tap, ride and tap again at the exit.
The distance from the station to the hotel took only a couple of stops and three minutes on the Metro, followed by a little passage on foot.
Even walking was different.
Streets in Washington were quieter and less chaotic than in Manhattan. And, the city’s residents are significantly smaller than in New York.
However, the political situation was obvious immediately.
Military equipment has been visible in some parts of the capital along with the police and troops. The visitors could see the policemen and National Guardsmen in different locations and witnessing a protest at the same time.
The fact has created some weirdness for the visitors of the city.
The capital looked very peaceful, clean, and calm.
Nonetheless, it was evident that it is the political center of the USA.
The expression could be easily seen from the White House itself.
Before reaching the house, there was time to check some of the main landmarks of the National Mall such as the Washington Monument.
The monument is made in honor of George Washington, the first president of the country, standing in the form of the huge obelisk dominating the landscape of the area.
The Lincoln Memorial is located just by its side.
For the fans of the films, this place can be recognized.
A famous scene from the movie Forrest Gump where he is sitting near the water is remembered quite well. It appeared that the famous landmark is not that beautiful in reality, however the weather has helped to make up for the lack of beauty by bringing back
The main sight has just arrived.
Here it is.
Although the building is quite far from the first viewpoint, at some point the iconic front has finally been revealed.
There it is, The White House, packed with police, tourists, protesters, street traders, and souvenir sellers.
It is amusing how regular everything surrounding this famous construction can be.
People are selling bottled water, ice cream, T-shirts, and various political goods.
The price for a bottle of plain water reaches $3.
But the White House is ’round the corner.
This combination is certainly one of the most stunning features of the place.
The construction has the same look and feel as the widely known image.
In addition to a giant US flag, white outer walls, big lawns, security systems, and of course, clusters of tourists trying to take a decent shot of this picture.
People from various walks of life held placard that exhibited their political standpoints. And a number of protestor groups came together there, with the media crews providing coverage.
For a visitor from abroad, experiencing this many people unabashedly voicing their opinions at one of the country’s most powerful political centers was impressive.
And yet it was also noisy, sometimes chaotic, and what can be described as typically American.
Such an experience makes Washington, D.C. much different from New York City.
While New York City embodies haste, Washington D.C. reflects authority.
What drives the city of New York is a combination of commercial activity, recreational trips and tourism with a constant influx of people.
Whereas in Washington the differences are related to the governmental importance of the city.
You can experience that just at the sight of its state institutions, demonstrations, police and military vehicles on the streets, and people talking politics.
Washington is the capital of the country, and this fact can be felt in the atmosphere of the city, even in its layout.
After several days in New York City, the city Washington D.C. seems like a peaceful oasis.
The hotel offered a pleasant surprise
There were great views of the city.
The price seemed too good to be true when compared to other higher-priced hotels in New York.
Interestingly, it also came to light that there’s a difference in Hilton Gold membership benefits in different parts of the world.
Hilton Gold members in other parts of the world enjoy free breakfasts but this was not the case in this US hotel where the welcome bonus consisted of free water and Hilton Honors points.
That served as a good reminder that benefits of loyalty members may vary around the world.
Then came the other important part of the American experience.
That was burger.
Five Guys was chosen.
The menu is simple consisting of burgers, hot dogs, fries, sandwiches, milkshakes, etc. The standard deal of burger, fries, and a drink cost $15 before taxes.
And yes, Americans add taxes to the prices.
It may take some time for tourists from countries like Germany to get used to how prices displayed generally include the tax.
The burger certainly did not disappoint.
The beef had a rich flavor, and the patty was thick enough to please any meat lover. However, the fries were really salty and mushy.
The overall score would be about 8 out of 10.
It’s good, but In-N-Out remains a favorite hamburger joint in the U.S.
Still, the burger was just a minor part of the visit.
The bigger story is the journey.
Traveling from New York to Washington by train makes the trip slower and more connected to the country. You can watch skyscrapers disappear, small towns pass by, and big cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore.
And you will reach the U.S. capital on that train.
Of course, flying would be a faster means of transportation.
It can be not the quickest of ways to travel.
First class can end up costing quite a lot more than what you thought it would.
However, if traveling is more of an experience than just getting to your destination, it can be a very enjoyable option.
For this specific journey, first class is definitely worth it, as the lounge is a bonus addition, food is fairly good, and the personnel is excellent.
Can we say that it was worth spending around $230 more than on economy class?
That is very tricky to say.
For someone just interested in getting to Washington from New York, I would think not.
But if you do wish to have a nice journey and you love some added perks, then possibly yes.
However, it was perhaps the best part of the whole trip was my thoughts about the city as soon as I stepped out of the train.
Washington seemed to be pretty much the opposite of New York.
It was less hectic.
Neater.
Less noisy.
Safer.
More historic.
And very easy to walk around the city.
By the time they reached the White House, the train ride had been more than a means of travel from one city to another.
It had been a quick yet fascinating peek into the different faces of the country.
The bustle of New York.
The stillness of the countryside.
Historic towns along the East Coast.
The modern Metro system.
The political hub of the city.
And not to forget the most famous residence in the country.
Pretty impressive for a train ride!
