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After weeks of midterms, going home for break is an amazing feeling. Packing? Not so much. Keep all of your bases covered with this list of our holiday break must-haves! With all the bags Amtrak lets you bring, you have a ton of space to pack everything you’ll need! Have a stress-free trip, collegiettes!
1. Student Advantage card
With Amtrak’s Student Advantage card discount students ages 16 and older can receive 10 percent off on rides! In addition, you can receive 50 percent off on other items including clothes, food, entertainment, books and more. A full year of student discount savings is only $20! We don’t go anywhere without ours.
2. Snacks
You’re bound to get hungry during the ride, so don’t forget to bring some snacks! We like energy-boosting, nonperishable snacks like trail mix, dried fruit and lots of water so you don’t get dehydrated. If your snack stash is running low or you forget to grab some, no worries—Amtrak has a café car and a dining car (depending on your route) that serve hot meals prepared onboard for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
3. Clothing to swap
With the weather cooling down, now’s a perfect time to bring all of your sundresses home that are clogging up precious closet space. When you get home, replace them with the cozy sweaters you’ll need for the colder months ahead!
4. Phone/laptop chargers
Our biggest nightmare is probably forgetting our chargers right before a holiday break—so definitely don’t forget this one. You won’t have to worry about keeping your phone and laptop fully charged on the train since Amtrak has an outlet at every seat! Play a game, work on homework or Instagram your awesome ride, all from your seat. Be sure to have your technology handy before boarding the train!
5. Your favorite blanket/neck pillow
If you need to catch up on some sleep, Amtrak trains are perfect for that! With plenty of legroom and seats that fully recline, you’ll have ample space for your blanket, neck pillow and even your favorite stuffed animal! Amtrak’s long-distance trains even have footrests—pretty cool, right? Keep yourself well-rested so you can enjoy yourself the second you get home. (Though we know you’ll probably take advantage of your bed at home, too!)
6. Riding boots
Riding boots are perfect for break because you can wear them with almost anything! Don’t forget to pack your favorite pair at the bottom of your suitcase—and we recommend stuffing them with socks and underwear to maximize packing space.
7. Makeup bag
You haven’t seen your family (and maybe even your SO) for a while, so you want to look your very best when you arrive! Luckily, Amtrak has bathrooms on each car so you can touch up your hair and makeup after your beauty rest. What could be better?
8. A good book
With tray tables and reading lights for every seat, Amtrak provides the perfect opportunity to finish that book you keep meaning to read. Sit back, relax and dive into a story to pass the time!
9. A friend
For an even more awesome trip, take your friend along with you! The both of you can enjoy all the amenities Amtrak has to offer while catching up during the ride. Your friend will definitely thank you for taking her along!
What else should you pack to go home for the holidays, collegiettes?