We've got two sales to tell you about, one for the masses and one decidedly more upscale.
Whatever your opinion regarding our beleaguered national rail carrier, a sale's a sale and Amtrak is offering some pretty good savings for travel through the late fall. They're taking 20% off most one-way tickets purchased by September 2 good for travel now through November 15 (Labor Day travel is, unfortunately, blacked out). We say most because the Metroliner, the Downeaster and the Acela trains (well, those that are back on the tracks) are excluded from this offer. You also can not combine this discount with any other discounts such as those offered through Veteran's Advantage we wrote about earlier. A couple other provisos according to Amtrak's promotional page; you must select "Adult" as the fare type and you must not provide a membership discount number (this will override the 20% discount you're aiming for). Instead, use H231 as the discount code when making your reservations online. For booking, sample itineraries with discounts and other details, visit the sale page on Amtrak's Web site at www.amtrak.com/savings/onlinediscount.html.
The other rail sale is for the private luxury passenger train of American Orient Express, which offers grand scenic tours up the West Coast out of Los Angeles winding it's way up to the Pacific Northwest to Seattle. The company is taking $500 off its standard fares bringing the total to $2,390 per person based on doubly occupancy. For that price you get the seven-night journey in restored vintage cars from the 40's and 50's, an overnight at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Spa, tours of LA, Hearst Castle, Muir Woods in San Francisco, and a Napa Valley Winery (including tastings and lunch) and all other meals, plus the exquisite views from the dome and observation cars. You must make your reservations by Saturday, August 31 for the discount. Trains for the Pacific Coast Explorer tour depart on November 1 and again on November 3 out of LA. For details go to www.americanorientexpress.com and click on "Special Offers and News" or call 800/320-4206. If you book through a travel agent, be sure to mention code PCF02 to get the $500 taken off.