You can now book tickets for a luxury train ride across the American West
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Want to take a scenic ride this summer and discover our nation's national parks without worrying about fully booked hotels and the ongoing car rental shortage?
Consider a journey with the luxury train operator Rocky Mountaineer, which is preparing to launch its first route in the U.S. in August.
Tickets are now on sale for one of the most exciting train rides on Earth — the Rockies to the Red Rocks — which traverses the American West from Moab, Utah, to Denver, Colorado, with options to extend your trip in either direction to Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah.
You can ride the route as early as Aug. 11 with a seven-night itinerary that starts in Las Vegas and includes a self-drive section with stops at Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer in Moab.
The classic version of the train ride, however, either starts or ends in Moab with two days on the Rocky Mountaineer and a single overnight at a hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Travelers will cross the Continental Divide, get a glimpse of the surreal sandstone arches and rock formations at Arches National Park and enjoy endless Rocky Mountain views. Because the train only travels during the day, you won't miss any of the scenery when you bed down in a hotel at night.
Guests on board can expect SilverLeaf Service (think: glass-dome coaches and an outdoor viewing area for enjoying the passing views of the Colorado River and Ruby Canyon, among other landmarks) plus attentive hosts who will regale you with stories about the area and gourmet meals inspired by the region. You can also splurge on SilverLeaf Plus service for access to a renovated lounge car, premium alcoholic drinks and additional courses during select meals.
Best of all, you won't have to deal with any crowds or traffic while riding the rails.
Rockies to the Red Rocks packages start at $1,100 per person when booking two guests, with a discount of $150 per person for August departures celebrating the new route.
A flexible cancellation policy also means you can get a full refund should your plans change, but you must cancel at least 30 days prior to departure. You can also move your travel dates as far out as 2023 or change the names on your reservation, as long as one original name remains.
Make the most of your train trip this summer by booking with a credit card that earns bonus points on travel, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, both of which earn 3x on travel (on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases per account anniversary year on the Ink Business Preferred).