Starts Today: Half-Price Rail Travel in Canada

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com, a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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VIA Rail Canada is running another half-price sale: Buy tickets by January 26 for travel January 23 through May 31. The deal is 50 percent off the regular high-season adult fares and applies to all classes of service on all trains. The usual limitations apply—there are no refunds, seats are limited, and a three-day advance purchase restriction applies.

Amtrak, too, is running promotions:

The “Winter Sale” covers all Amtrak long-distance routes. But, at only 20 percent off, the discounts are not as big as in the Canadian promotion. Buy tickets by January 23, at least three days in advance, and travel through March 29.
The current “SmartSeats” promotion features 25 percent discounts on the Pere Marquette route linking Chicago with Grand Rapids, Missouri River Runner trains between Kansas City and St. Louis, the Lincoln Service trains between Chicago and St. Louis, and includes all intermediate cities on all three routes. Buy by January 31 for travel May 1 through May 31.

As with most Amtrak promotions, the discounts apply only to full-fare one-way coach tickets, and with these promotions you can’t upgrade to business class or a sleeper. Also, as usual, seats are limited and tickets are nonrefundable.

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