The train company advertises an outdoor viewing platform. While the Rocky Mountaineer was a luxe trip, I found that a few aspects didn't meet my expectations. I imagine that an Amtrak experience would feel less like a vacation and more like a commute, but I'm not sure the Rocky Mountaineer's amenities, while far luxer than Amtrak, were worth the significant price difference, in my opinion.Ī view from the observation deck on the Rocky Mountaineer. According to Amtrak's website, a similar journey from Denver to Green River, Utah, which is about an hour north of Moab, costs passengers $50 for a coach seat and about $418 for a private roomette cabin this upcoming May. If I decide to book another train trip out West, I'd consider Amtrak. I stayed in welcoming chateaus in Utah's Little Switzerland and ate meals at famed Moab breakfast joints. I drove 700 miles around the state and explored more than a dozen of pit stops. The rest of my five days in Utah cost a little over $2,100, which included food, accommodations, national park entrance fees, activities, gas, and a car rental.ĭuring those five days outside of the train, I thought my dollar stretched further without sacrificing the quality of my meals or accommodations. Spending more than $1,000 on a two-day train trip, which doesn't include accommodations back to your departing city, wouldn't be possible if I wasn't reporting on the ride for work. Not only am I at a time in my life where exploring wilderness makes me happy, I'm also at a point when $1,000 is a lot of money. I'd rather be in nature than view it from a glass-dome window.Ī view from above Glenwood Springs, Colorado, after the train dropped off passengers for the evening. I'm at a point in my life where adventuring into the wilderness is where I find joy. I learned too late that I might not be the target traveler for the Rocky Mountaineer. As I sat in a pleather seat sipping prosecco, I realized that I would rather be hiking, sweaty, and snacking on trail mix instead. To me, it felt like I was seeing the outdoors instead of experiencing it. That feeling felt like a theme of my train ride as we passed historic tunnels, mesmerizing views, and powerful rivers. As the train flew by, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed: I would have liked to admired the stairs for more than a few moments. I saw the stairs for a split second, and everyone eagerly checked to see whether or not their picture turned out blurry. In just a few moments, our train host said we would pass a set of stairs carved into the rusty red La Sal Mountains, which were created by the Ute people hundreds of years ago. Plus, the Rocky Mountaineer advertises itself as a 'daylight-only train,' so I'd have an overnight stop at a hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, included in the train ticket.Ī picture of the staircase just past the Utah-Colorado state border.Īs we crossed the Colorado-Utah state line, our train host, who served as a tour guide for most of the trip, excitedly told us to whip out of phones and get ready for a photo opp. I admired the company's commitment to appreciating the landscapes the train passed: There'd be a train host in each car who would explain the region's history. The railway company operates three routes out of Western Canada, and last year, it launched its first US route between Moab and Denver.Īs I booked the two-day trip, I was enticed by glass-dome windows, quality meals, and endless spirits. The Rocky Mountaineer is heralded as one of the most luxurious trains in the world. My solo ticket for the two-day journey retails for $1,465, although I bought my ticket on sale for $1,052. It would be my first major railway trip in the US and also one of the most expensive trips I've ever booked.

Last May, I boarded the Rocky Mountaineer train in Denver, Colorado, and headed to Moab, Utah. A passenger steps onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train in Denver, Colorado.

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