Don't Book An Amtrak Bedroom Do This Instead
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- Опубликовано: 1 фев 2024
- Today we will share with you why we don't book am Amtrak bedroom and what we plan to do instead. We will share our experience in a variety of bedrooms on Amtrak as well as what we plan to do instead of booking a bedroom again. We hope this option works well for you you guys. This is what we would do on both an Amtrak Superliner and an Amtrak Viewliner.
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I always get the bedroom as I prefer my own bathroom. My wife used to go with me, but got tired of the hard beds and constant motion. I am not so fussy. Roomettes are too small for two people and even larger people like me. I have never seen a toilet in a roomette. Yes, the bedroom bathroom is tiny, but there are tricks for getting around the negatives which, due to the delicacy of comment, will not be discussed here. When showering, put a towel on the floor right outside to catch the leakage through the door. Also, take the toilet paper out of the dispenser to keep from getting it wet. I always take my shower at about 4 pm. Many folks take showers in the morning so, if you use the public showers, use them before dinner. This precludes waiting in line. I have a whole list of suggestions for riding Amtrak in a room (either one) which I give to my friends who want to try Amtrak. Happy landings!
Thank you...I use the same helpful hints to enjoy roomettes and even Business Class, depending upon reason for trip. I do enjoy the dining car and excellent meals, so that is a consideration also. In all these years, I have never had a problem sleeping on a train.
I always book a roomette because I travel alone. It's perfect for one person. The toilet in the roomette is a bit awkward, but again, I travel alone and I'm a small person so it's not a problem for me. The new cars do not have a toilet in the roomette or the upgrade room. They only have toilets in the handicapped room. It used to be enclosed, but now is right out in the room. If there are two people traveling together, one person has to wait out in the corridor if you want some privacy.
Glad my traveling days are over.
I believe the older view liners have a toilet in the roomettes
Eastcoast
@@mikemadden4084 Yes. That is correct. I like the old roomettes. Perfect for one person.
I have done both and find the bedroom much more convenient especially with nighttime bathroom visits.
I absolutely agree! But I usually can’t get a lesser expensive one so go for the roomette. I’m always alone now, but when my young/teen son came with me, we got the bedrooms. I go on the AutoTrain. Even when I was fat, I found the bedroom’s bathroom to be more comfortable.
Bedrooms are way more comfortable to sleep in because the bunks are perpendicular to the tracks. When the train sways it’s pushing you along the bed. In the roomette the bunks go parallel to the tracks, so every time the train sways it tries to roll you out of bed. I slept great in the bedroom, couldn’t sleep for the entire trip in the roomette.
I have only done the bedroom. I use the bathroom in the night too. Sometimes more than once. And I have to be careful on stairs. If I have to get up, get dressed, put on shoes, navigate down stairs just to use the bathroom I'd not be having a fun trip.
Never had a problem in the bedroom 6' 215 lbs.
What's the average $$$
My husband and I have experienced the bedroom on three trips. We loved every minute of it. I highly recommend the bedroom over two roomettes. To each his own!
Another reviewer said on some bedroooms, a bunk lays out at a 90 degree angle from the motion of the train, so that constant train jostting side to side affrects one's sleep. Whereas, in the roomettes, the beds lay out in the direction of train travel, so the rocking of the train gives a forward and back motion instead, which is better for sleeping.
I'm in my 70's & I grew up on trains. My father was a Jr Exec for the Pullman co & we traveled for free, so we travelled a lot. My father was the person the workers on the train didn't want to see if they weren't doing their job. as he was an inspector. I love trains. When we travelled as a family we always had a bedroom or what was called a drawing room. Needless to say, back then, there were no bathrooms in any room. The bedrooms had a toilet & sink & so did roomettes, but in a roomette, you had to put the bed up to use the toilet or sink which had a lid on it that doubled as a seat. I don't know if the beds were bigger but my parents always slept in a lower berth. There was only one bed in a roomette, they were made for single people. I so enjoy watching your videos. I have ridden on several trains & the ride is much more smoothe than it was before Amtrak!
I think the room names were different some years ago. Amtrak announced that the single bed with a toilet was being discontinued some years ago, but I never knew what replaced it. I'm not familiar with current rooms and their official names now. I did travel with my parents in one room, but I saw older people in other cars with much fancier rooms. I think they had white curtains and were first class rooms. Later, as an adult, I used to get the single beds that were in a super small room, with a toilet. That's all that was in there and very tight. Those are the ones Amtrak discontinued. I think the roomettes replaced them.
@@BrandonLeeBrown I have not been on an overnight train trip since 1969 & the sleeping cars were still Pullman. They did have roomettes back in the day but had a Murphy style bed & the toilet that had the cover on it & the sink pulled down from the wall. When the sink was put back up, the water drained & anything on it went down the drain People lost many things down the drains. Many times the items were retrieved. We always stayed in a double bedroom because there were 4 of us, but mom & dad slept in a lower berth. There were 4 beds.Sometimes it was 2 rooms with the dividing wall open. The drawing room was actually 2 separate rooms, with one being more like a living room & the other room having 4 beds. Needless, to say, we always had first class accommodations & very upscale meals where we even had finger bowls after the meal. I have no idea what other bedrooms were like & just assumed all were the same. The destination of a train also gave different eating choices so I assume there were different rooms. A couple of times I remember eating in a dome car which was so exciting. In all of my years of travel, I never saw a waiter drop anything even if there was a sudden stop. My father could have worked for Amtrak, but already had other employment before they spoke to him, so he recommended a coworker who accepted the job.
My son and I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco and I booked a bedroom. We used the bathroom in the room most of the time but if there was solid waste involved 😊, we would use the community toilet. I did shower one day in tiny wet bath and it was a real challenge. I am six-feet tall and weigh 235. If you drop the soap, there is no space to bend over and pick it up. We did not have any water incursion into the room, but I would just use the community showers from now on. I love the idea of two roomettes! That would have made the trip go from good to great! We stood turns in the seat that faced backwards (which for us was the small jump seat). My wife can't sit still for more than an hour, so she has no interest being on a train for days at a time. For my son and I, it was a great chance to catch up (he is in graduate school, has a son, works part-time and lives 1500 miles away). We played some games, talked about life, marriage, etc. and just really enjoyed our time together. We want to do it again and when that happens, we will for sure be booking two roomettes!
too much information, dear, way TMI
@@Marcel_Audubon
I appreciated the info.
@@joanmary90 weird
We are on the California Zephyr right now. We took your advice on getting 2 roomettes across the hall from each other instead of a bedroom and we are very glad we did. It was so beautiful going through the Sierra Nevadas today and not missing anything because we had views on both sides. Also, just having your own little paradise is so relaxing. Thanks, you guys! I’ve told all our meal partners about your RUclips channel.
I love the bedrooms . I get a bedroom even if I traveling alone. My husband and I have slept on the lower bed together. I have slept in the upper bed also because he is 6’2”. The bathroom may be small but I’m not sharing with people I don’t know. Thanks for sharing.
If you are old and take medication that makes ya run. You don't want a bathroom down the hall! Or a room for two with NO baggage service at your station. And have to take your luggage with ya! Amtrak in the Anderson-Trump years cut all the baggage services across the country! Shut down of most routes was next, then Biden got in.
I did this on the coast starlight. I tried to book a family room because I had my husband and three kids (at the time)
with me. One of my children was 7 or 8, the next was 2 and the youngest was about 6 months old. They had ran out of family rooms for that trip. We were on the Coast Starlight. We went out of San Jose and were going into Vancouver B.C. Canada. So the person on the phone suggested 2 roommates. We did that. I wouldn’t have wanted a bathroom in the room. And the roomettes were perfect. My sister traveled on the same train with her four kids and her husband but they went coach. It was a huge difference. My son had the run of the train and he would take his cousins with him and run back and forth from coach to the car we were in. The staff made the tables into beds at night. We had access to the little area with snacks and the food was included. We had the option of having dining in our roomettes or they would make us reservations in the dining car. They also had a cheese and wine tasting. My kids watched polar express for the first time right before leaving on the train. It was Christmas time and the train ran behind almost a day because of a snow storm. I didn’t mind because it was almost magical being on the train and watching the cascades with all the snow out the windows. We loved having windows on both sides of the train. I saw this title for the video and thought you meant getting any room was not good and thought you were mad. But I realized what you meant the second you said roomette. I kind of did get to use the family room though because there was no one in the family room most of the trip. We realized there was no one in that room despite it being booked when we called. I’m kinda glad we didn’t though because the 2 roomettes across from each other was better. And yes I showered in the public restroom. It was fine except when a rather large older woman didn’t lock the door and my husband accidentally opened the door in the middle of the night when he went to use the restroom. He was really embarrassed. Lol 😂 I highly recommend doing it that way. I drive for Uber in my spare time and I always recommend people to take the train. I think too many people just forget that they can travel that way and that planes are not the only form of travel. It really was magical.
Why was it necessary to mention the woman’s size and age? If it had been a thin younger woman, that would have been ok?
It's called a Wet Bath. Many small RVs use it to conserve space . Navy shower, gets you clean but uses very little water, so quick clean up
Yes, I was thinking, “Clearly you’ve never showered in a small RV.”
I love the bedroom. Being a senior, I'm not going to go out of my room at night to a bathroom. My husband and I both love the bedroom. We both can fit in the lower bunk. We are train people and love TRAINS AND AMTRAK!!!!!... and on to the Cheery Blossom festival this springvia the TRAIN!!!!
I respectfully disagree. We took the Texas Eagle from IL to LA. We really enjoyed our time in the bedroom. I am 6'2" and 215 lbs. I had no issues with the bathroom or shower. I have no desire to get dressed and walk to the public bathroom. Especially in the middle of the night.
Also, the public facilities are never as clean as our private room.
I agree with you. The private bedroom with shower was fun. I am also over 6' with a 33-inch waist - no problem with moving around in the shower. And if water goes all over the place Amtrak provides plenty of towels to dry the room.
Two roomettes also means two power outlets!
When we book two roomettes across from each other and use one for our luggage and power strip during the day and use the other one to sit and eat... Neither of us can sleep as well in the upper bunk compared to the lower bunk...
The bedroom suite is a good option. The bottom bed in a bedroom is much bigger than the top bed. The bedroom suite is more expensive, but it allows both spouses to sleep in a large comfortable bed. The bathroom in the bedroom works for us, and the water from a shower drains quickly. I used to go for roomettes when I was younger and saving money. Now that I'm retired, the increased cost for a bedroom suite is not a problem.
My very first trip from Chicago to Seattle I booked a roomette. When I got on the train I was put in the ADA room! you want to talk about a spacious toilet area! And yes its lower level, but a window on both sides.....It was pretty awesome!
Thank you for mentioning this. I'm disabled, & have been considering a train trip for some time, & was wondering what accomodations might be like.
@@kellykat8057 I heard each train does not have many ADA rooms so plan well in advance to request one for your trip.
I have traveled often in the ADA roomette as I am disabled. They are at the end of a car and are from one side of the train to the other. The seats that make the bunk beds are on one side and the other side has a sink and a toilet. Plenty of space in the middle for a wheelchair or a scooter. I always get the steward to make my bed as soon as I get on. My legs swell and I have to keep them up. I travel alone and Amtrak is great about helping you with getting on and off. When you book ahead they will add the needed car with has the ADA roomette in it. So book sort of early and there is no problems. I have lost a lot of weight but at one point when I was 350 pounds I still found the bed big enough for me. Personally the sway of the train puts me to sleep, so I never have problems sleeping. Also with the ADA the steward with bring you your meal as the dining car is usually up steps. Also there is a discount for people with a disability. Enjoy your trip, I love the train! @@kellykat8057
Thank you. I am needing to go to California and was wanting to go by train. I am disabled and have been interested to know more about the ADA room.
I got that room too because they had accidentally double booked my roomette. I had to have lower level because of physical issues, and they had moved me upstairs so gave me ADA room to compensate. It was great.
My mother and I did the two roomette option while taking my 6yo nephew on a trip- we loved being able to spread out with the doors open so we could chat across the hall and the little guy could visit and hang with Grandma or me whenever he pleased! We rode from Florida to DC and over to Chicago and had a blast.
Great video. I see your point for couples or families traveling by train- using two roomettes could be a better option. I am a solo traveler and I love traveling by train. I always choose the bedroom over the roomette as I get a bit claustrophobic in the roomette. Also, I am an introvert and get uncomfortable having to constantly table share with strangers and make small talk at meals so I tend to take my meals in my room too. I have showered without any problems using the in-room bathroom however, I am only 5'3. And on smother portions of the track, with the extra bit of room, I can get a bit of a workout in the cases of inclement weather during the station breaks.
I travel alone, and simply have the conductor person bring my meals to my roomette, as I can't manage the stairs due to arthritis. It's way more pleasant traveling alone. When booking the trip, I always make sure to get a downstairs roomette with an exposure which is appropriate for the season and direction I'm traveling; north side of train for summer, south for winter. .
We did that because neither one of us were able to climb up to the upper bunk. Worked out really nicely.
This sound fantastic compared to my first rail trip west. Back in the early 1970s I went with a friend from St. Paul to Seattle. For the first leg, we were on wooden floors, but the view on both sides and of the stars right above us were amazing. It was hard to sleep since the flatcar was empty and had a rudimentary suspension. As soon as you fell asleep the hard wooden floors would bounce up and meet your face, waking you up. By the next night we were so god awful tired that we had to sleep. There were bathrooms was either side off the flat car, but you had to make sure that the wind does not blow it back on you or your riding partner. The train would stop in various locales, like Minot ND, sometimes to break up the train. This would give you a chance to get some food and drink. I remember more of the drink than the food. The best accomodation we had was in an autorack car, with 3 levels of new little trucks, bound for the west coast. It was easy to flip the vent window and unlock the door. The seats were comfortable and the views of the rockies was great through the windshield. The Burlington Northern yard cops were tolerant, but told us to not ride inside the vehicles.
The travelers we met were interesting and informative. Havre, Montana was a wild place. We went in a bar for some needed refreshment. But just after we got comfortable, a respectable couple walked in and started yelling something unintelligible at the bartender. The woman in the couple then through a billiard ball at high speed at the barkeep. He ducked and it shattered the mirror behind him. That was our cue to leave. We found an old school bus with comfy seats and called it a night. There were assorted other fellow travelers. Minot Louis would pour vodka into a plastic Coke bottle "to kill the disgusting taste of the Coke." Another old timer offered a drink out of his water jug, but since the water looked suspicious, I went thirsty. The thought was nice, though. And then a really old former railroad worker in Wenatchee, WA said that things were never the same after diresel replaced steam. That's some real wisdom. Speaking of which, a long tunnel through the Cascades almost asphyxiated us from the diesel exhaust. But I heard that they put bigger fans in there. More than 50 years later, I'm still in Seattle but still yearn for the road.
I liked taking that highline route, most of which the Amtrak Empire builder follows these days. So I took my daughter from Seattle to Milwaukee on the Amtrak route, and every minute in our roomette seemed like phenomenally incredible luxury. I was perfectly fine in the top bunk. But there were no stars overhead.
Great stories. Thank you.
Great stories! When I was a teenager many years ago I would stand or sit by the tracks and seriously think about hopping on a train and going wherever. Today I'm glad I didn't but still think about the rush I might have felt if I did. Are you familiar with Abby the Spoon Lady? She has a channel here and is famous for her spoon playing. Anyway she used to hop trains and tells about it, including boxcar wind whizzin' in a few of her older videos. Check her out.
Wow... what a story! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!!
I like the two roomettes idea. I’m elderly and travel with a friend and neither one of us need to be climbing on a ladder in the night to use the toilet. We both use CPAP so extra room is good. Can always sit facing forward. Always have view of scenery without standing in the hall. We camp a lot so community showers don’t bother us. Thanks for this tip.
I have booked two Roomettes across the hall but the problem is the lack of a bathroom and the need to get out of bed in the middle of the night. Also I don't like using public bathrooms in the age of Covid if I can avoid it. The toilets downstairs are extremely small. For claustrophobic people it's scary, especially as the lock could break (this happened to me on a bus once) trapping you in a coffin sized room. The Bedroom is fine for one person but admittedly not great for two due to the tight upper berth.
Interesting you should say that. I’m working on a trip from Chicago to Emoryville and have been seriously considering doing exactly that. I just checked for September and it’s several hundred dollars cheaper to do two roomettes. Great minds think alike!!!
We love the bedroom! We find the shower and bathroom adequate and not too small and love the privacy and the ability to move around the room.
I booked a bedroom for the first time when I took the Southwest Chief last year with my fiancé after having done roomettes in the past. I was a bit disappointed. The bathroom takes up so much of the space, and the bathroom itself is too tight to comfortably use for anything. Also, the chair in the room was pretty uncomfortable when compared to the couch. With that said, I had a much easier time sleeping on the bottom berth since it’s wider than the roomette ones, and sleeping perpendicular to the train’s movement eliminated the issues I’ve had with being rolled around since I’m normally a side sleeper. The two Roomette approach is a clever idea.
I found the suggestion of 2 roomettes across from each other very helpful. My brother & I are planning a trip from NYC to Tampa, FL next winter to see our sister, & neither of us can climb into the upper bunk. Since it would only be 1 overnight the shower wouldn't be an issue. I've taken the roomette myself previously & the in-room toilet was very convenient since I'm a bit unsteady walking around. Same for brother, so having his own roomette would also provide convenient privacy for him. Thanks for the advice! 😊
Depending on which train you’re riding, you’ll pass through my town here in Southern Pines NC. My wife and I have taken Amtrak 91/92 from Southern Pines to Tampa on two different times. Each time was a roommette. The first time was the older car with the toilet in the car..as they mentioned in the video..kind of awkward especially if you’re dropping an A bomb. The beds in each..well, leave the word “bed” up to your imagination. I slept just ok, she up top, had a sore back that next morning. The entrance to the roommette was old school, inside the car was fairly quiet, curtains could use some refreshing. Our second trip, we had the newest liner with no toilet in the car. You had to walk down the hall, and if there was a line…well you know. There were those from other cars, came to ours to use it. Sadly doing so..clogged one of the two up. But the entrance to the room was much better, it had a nice slide door, curtains were much better and cut out maybe 80% of outside noise. Even screaming children. Beds…again.. much to be desired. But our ride was only 14 hours, and that was the quickest. The second ride down was 16 hours. If you’re renting a car in Tampa…you pray Amtrak makes it there in time. We had a car reserved there at the depot, but they close at 2pm. We didn’t get there until 4, so we had to call a taxi and go out to the airport to rent a car there. Yes, the same rental company and they honored our rental…once we gave them the details. BUT…all that depends on which train you’re on. Ours was PO91/92 the Silver Star. PO 89/90 is the Silver Meteor leaves New York and runs down the A line the entire way to Tampa. PO91/92 leaves New York as well, but when it reaches NC, it branches off the A line and follows the S line. It runs that until Savannah Georgia.
If you are in a view liner 2 the roomettes wont have a toilet.
@@bernardschmitt6389 While I would use the Viewliner I roomette toilet to pee, I never use it to poop... At my senior age my poop smells too much...
We traveled from Denver to Emoryville CA. Roomette was comfortable. Bathroom across the hall was roomy. Never a line. Neither of us wanted to go to upper bunk so we slept side by side opposite directions. Worked well.
They need to update the rooms, paying that much i wanna be comfortable
Yea that’s not worth it I’d rather stay in coach
Amtrak apparently will be rotating in more and more of the new sleeper cars.
They are updating the viewliners and they are comfy
I was shocked by the prices for train travel in general. I have always been fascinated with train travel. I priced out a trip to Michigan to visit my family and decided to just fly instead. While I would love the slower pace and sightseeing possibilities, the price (and time) do not justify train travel for me. Maybe one day I will do the train trip but getting somewhere in 8 hours as opposed to 55 hours (and the added costs) I'll just fly for now...
@@richardfowler3254 for coach?
As a solo traveler who has always booked roomettes, I find myself seriously considering a bedroom for future trips. The extra room would be very nice to have, particularly when trying to get dressed in the morning!
I booked them on a few short trips last winter using the “bid up” feature and it was really nice being able to stretch out and having a nearby private restroom since I’m pretty much always sipping on a bottle of water or some sort of beverage. Imo, they aren’t really worth paying full price for, especially when traveling solo, but depending on your budget, priorities, mobility level, etc. I could see it being worth the hefty price tag for certain specific types of travelers.
What is the ‘bid up’ option?
@@arlenestanton9955 it’s where you can buy a coach or even roomette fare and they will sometimes offer to let you submit a bid for better accommodation. If your bid is accepted they will notify you a couple days before departure. It was an option on both legs of both of the two round trips I took on the California Zephyr last month, but I’m guessing it’s subject to the route you plan to travel and private room availability.
@@arlenestanton9955 it's a feature that will basically let you "name your price" for an upgrade and Amtrak will aprove or deny it.
I travel Solo and roomette is perfect for me
I did a cross country Shreveport,La to Baltimore,Md when I was a kid with my mother and I remember the private room we had was very nice size with a folding out couch bed and private bath.. This was like 1954..
What I do in the Roomette !! Is I'am able to keep all My stuff up on the upper bunk. And than during the trip you just tip the upper bunk up to give you head room to sit Worked out really nicely.
This is a novel approach for sure! Don’t know if it would work as well for us as we’re tall and lean; the bathroom/shower in the bedroom works well enough for us and we bump knees when facing each other in a roomette. (This is a length vs. girth issue 😁)
I'm from the UK, and the idea of permanent bedrooms on a train is mindblowing. Yes, there are sleeper cars with drop-down bunk beds, but there are no routes long enough to justify a permanent bedroom.
I'm booked on the WB Zephyr this fall in a bedroom and traveling solo. I wanted the extra space and privacy of my own toilet at night. I am also planning to eat my meals in my room. And I was willing to pay the extra amount to have windows on both sides of the car so I wouldn't have to go to the observation car.
There is no way to pay extra to have windows on both sides of your room and have a toilet in your room. Unless your talking about leaving the door open to a 1st class sleeper, but for that you do not have to pay extra.
Loved the tips to get two facing room-ettes instead of one shared rooms and especially knowing to book by phone to ensure roomettes are opposite. But laughed about the bathroom. A wet bath is standard for a smaller RV or boat. Don't compare it to the bathroom in your hotel or on a cruise ship. Compare it to no toilet or shower at all. ... TY for the informative presentation.
We always ordered a roomette going from SF to Chicago. No shower to worry about. Would much rather have the space in our room. We must have always been lucky and had a nice big window right beside our lounge chairs with table.
We did the two roomettes thing on the Coast Starlight a few years ago and it was great! I don't like the connecting door between bedrooms, they always rattle and are very thin so sounds from your neighbor can be a bit of a distraction. The roomettes seem to be soundproofed better, in my experience.
I agree that the upper bunks on Superliners don't have much headroom and feel cramped, but for a night or two I was ok with them and slept reasonably well. But if you're claustrophic or shall we say not exactly a marathon runner, don't even think about it. I also didn't mind the bedroom bathroom size, but it was just me and this was back when they were fairly new, years ago. Not having to leave your room to use the bathroom in the middle of the night is a big plus. The access bedroom also has a bathroom by the way.
I've taken the Empire Builder and have always had the roomette. It IS small but it works just fine for me and I just use the restroom not included in the roomette have never had a problem. I've learned to take as little as possible in my carry-on and I've only ever had to be on the train for 2 days/nites and have learned how to dress to make my travel as easy as possible.
Thank you for this tip. We had a Bedroom booked for the California Zephyr, EMY to DEN in April and I just changed it to two Roomettes (7&8). I love the idea of each getting a bottom bunk and she won’t have to put up with my snoring. Haha😂
I hope you will come back and update how your trip was. The more opinions I can collect about this, the more likely I am to convince my husband to give train trips a chance.
I think the two rooms across the hall sounds the best and I'd love to know what you thought. Please update👍
@@cyn4476 we decided to cancel the overnight portion and are driving from Flagstaff to Moab and then to Grand Junction to pick up the train there.
@jwinva ah, thank you for letting me know. Quite the change, but it sounds wonderful too! Enjoy your trip!
We went on the Texas Eagle from LA to Chicago. I am 186cm tall and claustrophobic, we had no problems and loved the train.
Very cool to discover your whole range of configuration options, and to see y'all's delight in having conquered and solved problems from your prior bedroom bookings. Y'all seem like a happy couple who enjoy adventures.
These are fantastic tips for making a multi-day Amtrak trip a wonderful and comfortable experience. PLUS you wind up getting twice the points of a single roomette! Question - Is there any disadvantage of one spouse booking both Roomettes, or should each spouse book their own Roomette?
We got in trouble by the attendant for laughing too loud in our shared roomette, so two roomettes across from each other would get me thrown off. The roomette was awful. We upgraded to a bedroom for the trip home and had no regrets. You helped us prepare us for our trip! Thank you!
Yes.
You ARE in Public.
Act accordingly . . . ☆
@@fjb4932 Okay, DAD. Didn't know we couldn't enjoy ourselves...you must be a ton of fun on vacation hahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaa! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA.
Solo traveler here with roomette on the upper level traveling from WA to MI. Bathroom and showers are on the same level. Awesome trip. People across from me came over for views and I went to theirs for views also, worked out well. Here to FL next time (I'm an older traveler and have no problems at all.
Interesting concept, but we've never had enough points to consider more than a single roomette. Good tip about calling to reserve, instead of booking online. That's also a way to avoid being assigned to the lower level of a Superliner when you want the upper level (or vice versa).
Your advice is welcome. I’ve aways wanted to travel cross-country by train. It’s only as an adult that a passenger terminal is close enough to make such a trip feasible. Because I’m finding as I get older, the cattle call that is air travel is bothersome. My wife and I are both retired and I have some mobility issues with the larger airports such as Atlanta, Chicago, or JFK. So, every time we travel to visit our daughter and her medical resident husband-and the grandchildren-I check out the train. Hasn’t worked out yet, but I’m determined to make it happen.
We booked 2 roomettes across from one another when we had 2 kids with us as well. They were older kids--tween/young teen, and all of those plusses you mentioned worked for us, too. In our case, if someone needed an in-room bathroom, the extra person just walked across the hall and hung out there. It allowed us to have the kids together during the day, if they wanted to hang out together, but in a way where we could keep an eye and ear on them. And as you said, with views on both sides, we could keep changing up where people were sitting to see new things. Then at night, we could have one parent and one kid per roomette. The kids were still smaller than us back then (They're both taller than me these days. 😉 ), so they were happy to clamber up onto the top berths. 🙂
I've been a subscriber to your channel for some time now. Love your Amtrak advice. In the past I've done some limited Amtrak coach travel in the northeastern U.S. and mid Atlantic U.S. and also in between Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL. There is nothing that compares to train travel. You either love it or hate it. I love it! You definittely need to have a lot of time to travel by train because it can take you 3 times as long when compared to traveling by car. It's all about the journey when traveling by train. Love your roomette suggestion for long haul travel!
I always ride the City of New Orleans from Memphis to Chicago and back. Since I travel alone and it's a nighttime trip I just get a roomette which doesn't have a toilet in it. It's more than enough space for just me. There is a small public toilet and what I call a big bathroom (toilet, sink and big shower) on each floor. I've never taken a shower on the train (only on it for like 8 hours) but I do like to use the big bathroom especially for brushing my teeth and washing my face plus it is more comfy. I enjoy eating in the dining car and meeting people I get seated with. One year there was this big group of retired people travelling together. They do this every year or every other year. This year they were doing the grand canyon/ghost town thing. Had to switch trains in Chicago. Anyway we were in the dining car talking and I asked if anyone had the song going through their heads. Next thing I knew one guy started singing City of New Orleans and the whole dining car including the staff joined in. It was a riot.
I've taken Amtrak from Oakland to Chicago, and I totally used my bathroom and shower. I'm a big person and while it was tight, it was fine and such a luxury to have my own facilities.
I always book 1 roomette for my husband & I & never thought about the tip of booking 2. I'm going to try this out on my next Amtrak trip!! Thank you!!
Great and timely video as my daughter and I like to visit my mother in Austin. Flying has been extremely arduous. The most important part of this video I think is that people need to check out what works for them. Try each of the options, go with what works.
Also, I think the couple here is adorable!!
Great idea booking two Roomettes. Prices for one bedroom have been astronomical lately! As I get “younger”, it’s becoming more challenging to climb that ladder to the upper berth!
My friend and I took the Zephyr to Omaha from Sacramento and booked 2 roomettes across from each other. It was great. The only annoyance was foot traffic but the pros totally outweighed the cons. Loved it!
Thanks for the Real info video.
That upper berth reminds me of my USN shipboard racks. I remember my first night aboard, and assigned a top rack of 3 High. We were in the trough of Cape Hatteras, and I woke up to the sound of the props coming out of the water. I sat up and immediately slammed my head into a pipe that was routed across the rack. Definitely saw the stars!
Tks again for an excellent video.
Bedroom all the way! Worth every penny
You guys are awesome ❤
Thank you for the recommendation to call to book 2 roomettes across from each other instead of a bedroom. We haven’t booked a trip yet but someday!
I used bedrooms out West and found in room bathroom nice for getting up in middle of night. Was able to squeeze both of us in bottom bunk, head to toe diagonally. And sink in room is nice also.
Yeah, this is why I booked a bedroom for myself on the auto train.
Is it big enough for 6'4" man?
Not for a full stretch out. But most folks sleep with their knees bent some so 6'4" would 'probably' be ok.
This sounds brilliant!
Something that I'm surprised they didn't mention is that by doing it this way, it seems that you could use the upper bunk for your belongings.
11:00 you guys have a great way of addressing everything...great point of the bright hallway lights and door rattling
As always, thanks for an excellent and informative video! I have to admit, my Amtrak experience has all been aboard Superliners out of Chicago and New Orleans. I've done Bedrooms and Roomettes, and while there might be some advantages to the Bedroom, I would not include the combo toilet/shower. As you said, it isn't for a larger person...I felt like needed to be greased up to get in and out. Since I mostly travel solo, a Roomette works fine, and the communal bathrooms and showers I've seen have all been clean. Even though I would be by myself, though, I'm giving serious consideration to booking two Roomettes, and as you suggest, using one as the day room and the other set up for sleeping the whole time. Thanks again for providing food for thought!
The top bunk has more room than the "coffin rack" than I slept in in the Navy.
Of course, I'm also bigger than I was back then.
I agree... But I am also much bigger now too...
Exactly what I was thinking!
We loved the experience this past thanksgiving. You all did a great job preparing us for our travel experience. The movement during sleep was an adjustment. However being able to lay down is the advantage vs the 17 hour + flights I have been on less relaxed. We are going to do these long train travel in the near future. Lastly the food was far better than we thought. Excellent service atmosphere and the view. Thank you both so very much.
Can’t wait to see your videos on two roomettes ❤😊
Last time we booked a trip on Amtrak we booked the Family room room. Sleeps 5. Worked great. Lower part of the car and you get windows on both sides.
Cost?
Sounds lovely
Family room $1.419 .Bedroom $1677. Roommate $977.😮😊
@@donnalynn6348 depends on the route
If windows are on both sides, then where is the access hallway?
This is really smart! And I agree... the 'public' shower is just fine - roomier and not overly busy.
What a awesome idea getting 2 roomates makes it a lot nicer !!
Roomettes, not roommates!
I recently did the Boston to Denver (layover and change trains in Chicago) round trip. Since I was traveling alone, the roomette was perfect.
This video is very valuable to me! Thanks!
We are selling our home in CO, and moving full time to our second home near Altoona PA - which is on The Pennsylvanian Amtrak line. I expect to do multiple train journeys in the next 5 years, and I appreciate your advice!
Good idea on two roomettes. Thx!
After watching your videos multiple times l took my first trip from LA to Chicago and also planning to take other 3 trips as per your recommendation
Back in the mid-1990's I booked a bedroom for myself on the Sunset Limited when it went all the way from South Florida to LA. I left from Ft. Lauderdale. Loved the spaciousness of the bedroom and the convenience of having your own bathroom. Of course I slept in the bottom bed which was also very comfortable. I was a smaller person back then and the bathroom size was fine. In January, 2023 my partner and I took the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville. Booked the bedroom again. I had to use the top bunk which was not comfortable at all. And now that I was bigger than I was in the mid-1990's, the bathroom was uncomfortable just using the toilet, let alone when I had to use the shower. Until Amtrak introduces updated sleeping cars, we will never book the bedroom again. Booking two roomettes across from one another sounds like a good idea. However, my partner does like to use public toilets on the train which is the main reason why we booked the bedroom on the Zephyr.
Thank you guys for sharing you nice observations of the train rides. Yes, the long-haul trips to Los Angeles are what my Mother liked. And she would always pay for the Sleeper First Class cabins. I have to say that my Mother was 5'5" tall and average weight so, my Mother would always give her report about the cabin and service. She had no problems sitting in her cabin. She liked being by herself when traveling. I had tried manyvtimes to give my Mother my former airline employee pass but she did not want or liked to be waiting at the airport with flying on "employees space available pass" with hoping she wpuld get on!!Also, back then as well, I had asked my Father if he want to use my former passes he said no also!😊
Also, my Mother always liked to go up to the Observation Glass deck to watch the country side go by with her reading books that she would take. I am glad I have traveled a couple of times with her but I brought a separate First Class Sleeper cabin fir myself. Now for me, I am 6'2" and yes the shower was small for me but I made it work for me. But I am glad I had that bathroom was in my cabin. I, like my Mother, like my privacy when traveling. With the airlines I had used my points for Business Class before my airline career and afterwards to travel. I know what it was to travel in Economy and I had that experience for a while.😊
Yes, I hear you two about being together married and traveling. My Mother used to drive on summer vacation with the second marriage to my Step-Father. But they would drive to Ohio or to Arkansas many years before he passed back in the early 1990s. After that driving, Mother lived the trains to go places. My Mother did not marry again. After two husbands she said no more. Haha😊 And again, I am mot married. And I was and still am with great memories her first son!😊
Finally, I never had this idea years ago when I did travel with my Mother out to California from here in Chicago. I think my cabin and my Mother's cabin were on the right side. But we did meet in the dinning cabin of yes, upstairs in the Observation Glass Deck cabin. So, I will tell other older family members who like trains as well to do thus set up. Across from each other in future reservations!! Nice!!!😊 As I have continued to travel, I usually bring work to do and a book or two that I am finishing up yo read on the aircraft. 😂 Hahaha, yes, I am like my Mother like her a person who like his privacy.😊
Thanks for the video. My wife and I travel by train occasionally and this is super helpful. 😊
Excellent points in this video! Definitely things to consider when making our future Amtrak sleeper bookings. Thank you! Your Amtrak videos are super helpful.
Love you guys, enjoying all your journeys. hugs
I agree totally, thank you guys.. I moved to Nashville Tennessee from Fullerton California hoping Amtrak will come here so I can ride again.
What's with Nashville? No train to Atlanta? A 27 hour trip to Memphis via bus and train with a 6 hour Chicago layover. Sad. Maybe don't hold you breath waiting for Amtrak service.
YES...Looks we'll finally get a Memphis to Nashville route! Couldn't believe there wasn't one before!
@@deb7518Oh really? When perhaps?
I have serious incontinence, so the in room bathroom is a must! I’ve showered without problems.
Me too. I have never traveled on a train, but I am planning on doing it this year if they have handicapped accommodations, I am not driving and my husband passed away, So, I had to sell our beautiful 36' diesel pusher.
@@marycarricaburu3683they have ADA compliant rooms. I don't have the details, but you can ask Amtrak about it. I would also suggest talking to AAA (Triple A) and see if their travel experts can help you set up the trip. I too am considering going on a train trip to Arizona from the Midwest sometime in the next year or so. Saving up for it!!
Great idea!! Thanks for the suggestion!!
my sister and I are heavier people and I have not booked the long trips with bedrooms because neither of us would want the top bunk. so two roomettes sounds WONDERFUL!!
I prefer the roomette with a toilet. I love sleeping in the top bunk, which has the great view, and is very cozy. Memories of a tree house! It's like being hugged to sleep. I just leave the lower bunk as two comfy chairs, and stow my luggage on one of them.
It's so convenient to use the toilet at night without having to go out into the hall.
I prefer traveling alone. Like Rudyard Kipling's quote, "Down to Gehenna, or up to the throne, He travels fastest who travels alone." It's always such an adventure to interact with people from all walks of life, from other countries, with whom I would not likely cross paths.
And it's such a luxury to loll in my bunk, reading, meditating, sleeping. It's the only refreshing way to travel for me!
Haven’t been on a train since I was a kid but I enjoy your videos… reminds me of my parents. RIP mom and dad. (I’ve traveled across the country by train a few times). We were a summer RV family and would often take the train to meet up with the RV.
Incredibly helpful. Thank you, and happy trails to you.
Thank you so much for all the great information! Happy traveling!
Thank you for the advice and information.
You two are so easy to listen to & learn from!! Can't wait to check out your daughter's channel, too!! Blessings! 😊🙏
Awesome Idea, I hope to soon be traveling with my Grandson and this sounds like a splendid idea. Thanks for all your Videos and info . I enjoy watching them.
My favorite way to travel ❤ Thank you! This is good to know!!
Your tips are most appreciated. Thanks
You guys are awesome. Great information.
My adult son uses a scooter. We rode from Philly to Orlando and were able to get a handicap accessible room. They actually called the bathroom the garage because it was large enough to store the scooter at night. It was a wonderful trip.
We ended up with that room for our LA to San Antonio trip for hubby with limited mobility (also used a scooter to get around). I was disappointed that the room was essentially a roomette with lots of floor space and a toilet in the corner. I ended up storing his scooter and our luggage on the top bunk and my fat butt slept on the floor with the mattress from said bunk for most of the trip.
@@JLinder1379 I’m really sorry. I guess different trains don’t have same layouts. Yours sounded uncomfortable.
If you think the sleeping area in that upper bunk is tight you should take a look at the berthing on small Navy ships. Imagine not being able to book an area with more room and living in that small space for 6-12 months. Good times!
I love your videos and totally respect and appreciate your advice! I am taking my young son on Empire Builder from PDX to CHI in a bedroom on Wednesday. I have to accompany my kiddo to the bathroom on trains still, plus I get up to go to the bathroom nearly every night, so I think the bedroom is still the best all-around option for us. We took a roomette from PDX to OKJ last year so I am looking forward to the comparison! Keep making great Amtrak videos.
The problem I had with using the toilet in a bedroom sleeper room is that there's no way to vent the bathroom smells outside. That means that the entire bedroom area fills up with toilet smell. If you do #2, it gets bad. It's actually better to use the public toilets downstairs and leave that smell down there.
I didn't find that showering in the bedroom sleeper's bathroom was any better or worse than using the one downstairs except that I needed to lay a towel down outside to wick up any excess water. I actually had to do the same downstairs, but because the downstairs shower has both a prep area and a separate shower room, the water stayed contained to that room.
The best part of having the bedroom was having the sink. This allowed me to brush my teeth and and easily wash my hands without having to traverse down that treacherous little staircase to get to the restroom downstairs.
What a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion.
Your best tip yet!
Love this idea! Thanks!!!!
That’s great advice. One of my issues with the bedroom is the lack of space after the lower bed is made up. Trying to squeeze between the bed and sink to leave the room is impossible.
We haver traveled the entire route on The Empire Builder and the Texas Eagle. We loved the bedroom. I had no problem taking a shower but I've done that in RV'S so it's not a surprise.We also had the family bedroom with two children. I didn't like using the full access showers. I feel like I'm at a campground. Yuck. I don't need fungus foot .
The best deal was getting two bedrooms for the price of one! 💥
Great idea! 💯
Texas Eagle has been my worst experience. I hated the Flex dining for the first 2 days and no observation car for the 1st 2 days.