Arriving in style on Amtrak -- Business Class

If you are a peace-loving, laptop-lugging, slow-going Lowcountry soul like me, you'll like traveling on Amtrak. As long as it's business class. My recent one-way trip from the DC area to Yemassee had a base cost of $89. I paid $45 to upgrade to business class. It was well worth it. Here are the many reasons why:
- Reserved seats. These are ample, cushy seats that recline to a restful angle.
- Space. Lots and lots of space. With lots of leg room, a sturdy tray table, and a well-placed footrest.
- You get your own electrical outlet. It's 2-prong, not 3-prong, so bring an adapter if you need it.
- Marvelous silence. There might be an occasional conversation. Also you can count on brief random computer noises from people who forgot to hit the mute button. Otherwise it's quiet.
- You're toward the back of the train. This is good because 1) the whistle is almost inaudible; 2) there are fewer people stumbling around; and 3) you're really close to the refreshment car.
- You get beverages for no additional charge, albeit not in the refreshment car itself.
So yes, I enjoyed my journey on Amtrak's Palmetto line. The train takes longer than a plane, sure, but the slower journey takes less of a cognitive toll. Compared to airline experience, it was a breeze. No need to arrive hours ahead of time. No frenetic drives to the airport. No speed-walking down miles of crowded corridors. No waiting in a boringly boxy boarding area filled with grumpy stressed-out people. No endless delays due to bad weather and snarled air traffic.
The long trip also stokes your creativity. For people like me, nine uninterrupted hours is pure heaven. That's lots of time to read. To listen (and I mean really listen) to music. Time to write, to organize, to study, to text, to play, to pray, to daydream. Other possibilities are meditation, guided imagery, napping, and that good old standby, staring off into space.
Also, you may talk on your cell phone. This is the spot where it's typical to include a superfluous reminder that this is a free country. I'm mentioning it just in case you are in the habit of forgetting that, while traveling in the U.S., you are free. You are liberated. You are a liberal in the truest sense of the term. It's really not such a negative label; it just needs better PR.
But back to cell phones. Your neighbors will appreciate it if you keep your conversations civil and brief. And please remember to use your inside voice.
There is only drawback to traveling business-class on trains bound to and from the Lowcountry: no wi-fi. But there's plenty of that where I came from and plenty where I am going. And even though it may seem utterly inconceivable, researchers have demonstrated conclusively that one can survive for nine hours without wi-fi.
Now a word about the complimentary beverages in business-class. It's self serve. Amtrak leaves out warm cans of orange Juice, apple juice, water, cola, and ginger ale. The cases are right there in your car, only steps away. You take what you want when you want it, and if you want it cold then you go get a free cup of ice from the nearby refreshment car. Bring some change, or maybe a dollar bill, so you can leave a tip for the guy behind the counter.
A note to juice lovers: The supplies are not replenished frequently and the juice goes first, so if you think you might want juice you gotta get while the getting is good.
Will I still fly? Sure, if my schedule is tight and my wallet is thick. And it's more likely that I'll fly if prices for plane tickets in this region go down. I must confess that I have high hopes for low fares now that Southwest Airlines is serving the Lowcountry.
But if I want a low-stress experience and quality time with my muse, Amtrak's business class is just the ticket.