We learned about a great Amtrak deal at the Chicago Seminars we attended last weekend. As a consequence, we've just transferred 30,000 Continental points into our newly established Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts. As this blogger notes, it won't be possible to do that after December 31, 2011, at least until details of the revised program are announced.
What will 30,000 points provide? Quite a bit. In fact, it will provide the two of us a with a bedroom for travel in two zones, for example Seattle to New Orleans, including meals. Check out the rewards chart here.
It's not the Orient Express but still... Are we adding this to our travel plans for 2012? We'd be fools not to.
Oh, and if anybody out there wants to open an Amtrak account to accomplish this, feel free to let us know. We'll refer you and both of us will earn bonus points.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.