Amtrak VacationsReviews of amtrakvacations.com

They are using deceptive advertising, promising stress-free, seamless travel that cuts through complexity and delivers outstanding service, amazing value for the total cost, and an unforgettable experience from start to finish. My travel from August 2 to August 11, 2026, to National Parks with Zephyr Rail was just the opposite: full of anxiety and nightmares throughout the 10 days of travel, except for the hotel stay and National Parks visits. - On August 2, no observation car was available - The bedroom was freezing cold - The breakfast was part of the hotel stay; I had to either call customer service for reimbursement or skip it altogether because of a scheduling conflict - Had to spend 6 hours in high 90s temperatures in Salt Lake City because the Amtrak lounge was closed to customers between 5 PM and 10 PM. No alternative arrangement was made to address this. - On August 6, the bedroom assigned to me didn't have a working toilet - Complete logistical failures in managing the transport from Emeryville station to the assigned hotel both ways. Had to take an Uber. - On the return journey from Emeryville to Chicago (two nights and three days, about 60 hours), I had to survive with a downgraded menu (fast food) since the kitchen had a major breakdown. - The Amtrak train was never on time, running late anywhere from 1 to 3 hours throughout. After I complained directly to Railbookers and the BBB, the company issued a meager refund and a travel voucher; however, that does not come close to the refund I expected (I should not have to pay for Amtrak at all). After what I went through on Amtrak trains, I'm afraid to take another journey with them, even with the travel voucher. The company failed miserably in its mission, so be careful when booking travel with them.

Very Disappointing Experience with Amtrak Vacations. Unfortunately, our experience with Amtrak Vacations was extremely frustrating. The customer service was very difficult to work with, and we felt like we had to fight to get answers and assistance throughout the situation. We were not notified that our trip would be canceled. This caused a great deal with confusion and inconvenience especially because we planned our vacation around this trip. It was extremely disappointing that they would not even reimburse us for the second half of the trip. For the amount of money and time we put into this trip, I would’ve expected better, communication, and customer service. What a disappointment with Amtrak.

We Used Amtrak Vacations to book a summer national parks tour in July 2026. Failure of one their vendors to properly provide transfer address resulted the loss of our Yellowstone portion of the trip. We lodged a complaint and have received no concrete reply. At this point we’re just going to file a complaint with the better business bureau (BBB). I would strongly advise avoiding them

I would like others to be wary of Amtrak Vacations, along with the company that writes the policy for cancellations and trip insurance Trip Mate. Several segments of our family are rail travelers and train enthusiasts and rail is our preferred way of traveling. We scheduled a trip that was to begin on July 21, 2026 and to end on August 5, 2026. (trip number AV294377) The day prior to the trip, our special needs son who was recently diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, announced that he did not want to go on the trip. Beginning on the evening before the trip, I called Amtrak Vacations to discuss re-booking the trip for another date and to discuss how much money of my 2,7xx dollars would be able to be used in a voucher. The agent during 2 phone calls that evening told me that all of my vacation money would be taken because I was not calling 24 hours prior to cancelling the trip. Amtrak Vacations agent gave me a phone number and some type of code where I could speak with agents from Trip Mate about a possible claim since I had purchased the trip insurance (code given was (F528V). After 1 more call to Amtrak Vacations and then still another call to Trip Mate---I had no clear-cut path to retrieve any of the money that we had saved up for the vacation. During the morning of the trip I spent 4+ hours going back and forth between the companies. (Amtrak Vacations and Trip Mate). Here is the conclusion that I arrived at after talking with representatives from the two companies: 1. Trip Mate told me that Amtrak Vacations was not allowed to add the stipulation that you must cancel a trip 24 hours prior to the start of the trip. 2. Amtrak gave me a phone number of Trip Mate, which proved to be incorrect (according to Trip Mate) -- and then read verbatim the rule from Amtrak Vacations that 24-hour notice is required. 3. When speaking with Trip Mate agent on the day of the trip--I was surprised that Amtrak Vacations stated that I did not cancel the trip prior to the train departure on the day of the trip! (Recall that I had 2 prior conversations with the Amtrak Vacations agent the night before the train left.) 4. To take away 2,7xx dollars from someone for cancelling a trip is harsh. I offered to give medical documentation of my son's condition and verification of sometimes erratic behavior. In the past, Amtrak Vacations has offered vouchers so that scheduling another trip would be possible--even with a penalty attached. 5. It seems that Amtrak Vacations and Trip Mate agents do not know or acknowledge procedures in sync with each other for the customer's benefit. Knowing how the companies work together would help to facilitate a resolution that would be fair for the customer. 6. It appeared to me that the two companies worked together to confuse the customer and unnecessarily make what should be a happy vacation experience into a situation that felt like a well-deserved vacation expenditure had turned into a robbery.

We paid for washington, dc to san-antonio texas. We purchased travel insurance. We got to chicago and all amtrack service shutdown due to a satelite connection issue. The mean angry bureaucrats (yes that's a swear word) offered no info at all for HOURS!, an ETA on repair was unavailable, no info available regarding what happens when the system starts working - could we even make the trip south? "NOT ON THOSE TICKETS!!" was the response ... we had travel insurance so we took a taxi to the airport and then flew to san antonio. Upon returning home we files all documentation as directed with the insurance company and contacted them by certrified return receipt US mail and phone - no meaningful reply, no refusal, no payment of claim - NOTHING, just no response. Contacted AMTRACK directly to help - the said you did not buy your tickets from us, so no refund. Also, they claim to have no influence with AmtrackVacations or the travel insurance company. AMTRACK BE DARNED!!! - the Amtrack website has direct clickable links to AmtrackVacations We were just "out" of several thousand dollars

I contacted them nearly a month ago for a quote. Never heard back, but they are more than happy to spam me with useless emails. Blocked and no longer interested. If Amtrak doesn't want my money, I am sure I can find someone who does.

My husband and I had planned to travel to Montana, Seattle and San Francisco in Aug 2025. On July 10th my husband who is 80 years old fell and was admitted to the hospital and was discharged at the end of August , almost 3 1/2 weeks after the trip. I took out insurance with Faye Ins to cover us just in case . Since the hospital admittance, my husband has now been diagnosed with lung cancer and we have been advised that he can no longer travel anywhere at any time. I notified Amtrak immediately the same night and the Ins Company as we had to cancel the trip due to the fall and now cancer. I provided all the necessary documentation and the attending physician statements and even pictures. After almost two months of back and forth crap , I had to file a dispute with my credit card company. The trip was close to 14 k. Amtrak refuses to reimburse me and offered me a travel credit and the insurance company refused to reimburse me as Amtrak has offered a travel credit good for two years. So after that they keep my 14 k. They issued a cash credit for 4 k but I’m out 9k. Even with all the documentation, they refuse to honor my request. I’m deeply disappointed with the lack of compassion for a terminal ill person who would love to have traveled but can not. And to expect me to travel alone as time is not on his side is so sad. I truly hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else as I will never travel by Amtrak to anywhere.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! False advertising on 'what's included' and the 'from price'. Ad stated hotel, CitiPASS, HopOn-HopOff bus and a dinner was included in base price of $509. It would be more based on the hotel we picked and the rail cost. We booked, got the cheapest 3 star hotel and added on the cost of the rail which totaled $1650pp! The itinerary did not include the HopOn-HopOff bus nor the dinner. Called to rectify the situation to no avail. They wanted to charge MORE to include what should have been included based on their advertising. This company and their poor policies and deceptive practices should be avoided at all costs!!