I have traveled on the Coast Starlight, from Emeryville to Seattle, many times. A couple of years ago, I was assigned a roomette on the lower floor, for the first time. I found that I actually preferred it. I have requested it, ever since. On that first journey "below," I did have the room adjacent to the family room, and I don't recall it being terribly loud ... it was a family with 3 kids. I like the relative feeling of privacy on the lower floor, and there are 3 bathrooms. I don't think I've ever had to wait. I also like the "foyer," for stretching my legs, and for having access to the doors that provide scenes from both sides of the train. On my last trip, in July, I was talking with a gentleman in the room across the hall. He wasn't enthusiastic about being downstairs, and I told him that I prefer it. We had a good group of neighbors on that trip, and we visited the lounge together, and even coordinated dinner times to eat together (southbound). That gentleman was persuaded, and said he would request a lower room, in the future.
Thanks for your story. I actually have a trip coming up on the 8th Oct from Sac to Tacona on coast starlight in a roomette. We normally get a bedroom but they were all sold out. I think the room we are assigned may be on the lower level Room 12. If so this would be our 1st time in a room being on the lower level. We are accomstomed to being on the upper level so I wonder how the experience will be. Especially after hearing your experience and this video. I hope I like it lol
I'm an older person and not real steady on my feet on a moving train, so I LOVE rooms 13 and 14. Much better than dealing with those tiny winding staircases whiile the train is moving.
I was so surprised with this video. I was able to get the family bedroom when I solo traveled on the California Zephyr. And I absolutely loved it! When I travel on the Zephyr again I will definitely book the same room. I didn't notice any problem with noise or bumpiness. And I had a great time interacting with the people that were in the 2 roomettes in the same car. Because I'm short, I was able to sit at the window on the left side. Put my suitcase under my knees and put the blanket straight across. Put my feet up and stretch out sitting up watching out the window. Beautiful views from either side of the train, and I was able to share those views with the people in the roomettes. My only problem was the one outlet was up high and I didn't have an extension cord. But the wonderful car attendant did and loaned me her extension cord so I could use it throughout the ride.
Wow! I just booked a trip for late Sept. and they put me in roomette #13! I called and spoke to an agent and requested a room change & Wahla I got room #2! Thanks for your video because if I hadn't watched it, I wouldn't have known to change anything. Your're awesome.
As someone who had ridden trains a lot in 78 years (and some 20,000 miles during two rail "marathons" recently) I generally agree with your evaluations. I did one stint in roomette #14 and then in the family bedroom and was not aware of the sound problems, but it was mostly the overnight leg when most everyone was asleep. I have ridden bedrooms and roomettes on both Viewliner and Superliner equipment. Had a roomette on a Viewliner II sleeper-baggage combo, a family bedroom on a Superliner and even the handicapped bedroom on a Viewliner (long story). I have also ridden a "cabin for two" on Via Rail's Renaissance equipment and also a roomette (aka "Cabin for one") on the Canadian. Never mind riding older equipment earlier in my like (like sections on old heavyweight Pullmans). My "bottom line" is no accommodation will be absolutely perfect but most of the Amtrak equipment is good travelling as long as you do your research and are prepared for the differences. You all do a good job of highlighting the differences -- which some will find a pro and others a con.
I suppose for someone such as myself with hearing aides who removes them at night this issue self resolves, lol. So top floor or bottom floor it becomes an issue of climbing the stairs more so🤣 than volume.
I loved the family bedroom! I didn’t get the noise from neighbors like you did. And room 2 is also my favorite roomette. It’s also next to the coffee maker.
I rode the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville. Didn't experience anything they're talking about. Didn't hear any conversations or noise from other cars, nor did any passengers knock on my door about my music, which I played at a respectable level at all times. Love them, but this one's a NO for me.
Oh thank you for this! Are taking a trip soon and booked the family room for the first half and a roomette for the second half and were assigned roomette 2!
Pretty sure that I was in a Superliner I on the Southwest Chief. It was just me traveling (on a budget) so I got a roomette because that leg was 43hrs from Chicago to Los Angeles. My roomette was the very last room on the left (if you’re looking toward the back of the car) in the last car, upper deck. It was definitely a bit noisy / rocky but I still managed to sleep pretty well. I loved the overall experience. My stateroom attendant was also fantastic.
I was is a family bedroom once. I had blown out my knee and was going to be on two crutches. So my wife and I booked the family bedroom, figuring the window on each side was some compensation for me having no chance at getting to where we usually spent most of our time: the observation car. Didn't find either being over the wheels or the neighboring roomettes a problem. And our car attendant was pleased with the generous tip he got for delivering our lunches and dinners. (My wife went to breakfast on her own.)
For me, a roomette is OK for one person and a one night trip. It is way too small for two people. I always go for the bedroom with shower and toilet combo. Even that is a bit small to move around in (the bathroom, that is) for a tall or large person. Also, noise isn't a problem for me - I just take out my hearing aides and voila!
This about Roomettes 9 & 10. Which I have had several times and the knowledge passed onto me by an excellent car attendant. When making up the bed, have your attendant position your head away from the end of the car. It makes a big difference in the noise you'll hear where the couplers banging and smashing together and the vestibule. Plus the door opening and closing.
The stairs are in the middle of the car. If you go one way, you find the rooms starting with letter A. If you turn the other, you find the roomettes, starting with 1. If you keep going past 2,3,4, etc, you will eventually reach the end where 9 & 10 are located. If you keep walking, you will be in the vestibule which is over the coupling.
I took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA last month as a solo traveler in a family bedroom and I can’t imagine going any other way. I loved being able to stretch out, having the closet (however small), and the solid door. I never heard my neighbors and had no noise from above. The bed was wider than a roomette’s and very comfortable. With windows on both sides, I never felt shorted on the views despite being on the lower level. If you’re traveling alone but want space at a relatively affordable price, the family bedroom is the way to go.
Trains were our favorite mode of transportation while stationed in Germany, they went everywhere. Since then it has been my dream to go on a vacation via Amtrak, preferable thru Colorado towards San Francisco. Your videos have been a tremendous help in planning this trip. Can't wait for spring 2024!
Take the California Zephyr from Denver to Oakland (the train stops there because of SF Bay), then catch transit across to San Francisco. The journey through the Rockies is magnificent, as is that through the Sierra Nevada. You will be sleeping through most of the boring desert parts. If you want a shorter trip, try Denver to Salt Lake City, which takes you through the Rockies and Glenwood Canyon. Be in the dome car for Glenwood Canyon.
I loved travelling by train when I lived in Germany, Berlin the first time and Mannheim the second time my military husband was stationed there. The transportation and volksmarching was what I lived for.
Can confirm about the roomettes near the family bedroom. I was in room 12 for a few hours with two kids in the family bedroom who bickered and whined in typical sibling fashion the whole time with a grandmother who had clearly given up on moderating them. I had my door closed but they might as well have been right outside my door. It was not the relaxing trip I was hoping for. On the flip side, I had room 19 on the Southwest Chief LA to Chicago and it was the quietest, most peaceful experience ever. It was my first long train ride and I've been trying to recapture that experience ever since, haha.
Just booked my first trip in an Amtrak sleeper for the end of Feb! Thanks to you all I feel prepared and ready to go! Taking SWC from LA to CHI, staying one night (Pizza and a Hockey Game in Chicago) then taking TE all the way back to LA. You mentioned room 2...I got Room 2! On BOTH trains! Pretty excited about that now lol. Anyway, thanks for the content, keep up the amazing work!
I was actually in the family bedroom on the Capitol Limited once (because, as you note, it was quite a lot cheaper than the roomettes). I liked it, because it provided an incredible amount of space for one person. In the car I was assigned to, it was next to the shower and a toilet rather than next to roomettes (the handicapped room was near the roomettes). I think that made it quieter than what you describe, and it was also convenient to have the toilet right outside the door. You are right, though, that the windows are MUCH smaller than standard. The Capitol Limited mostly runs through darkness, so that really didn't make a lot of difference to me.
Family bedroom next to the heads? Wow! I have never encountered that layout. We try to get the Family room for the windows on both sides, and convenience. We've never had the sound issue that you mention. It's also easier to have clean windows. When we leave Dallas, I clean the windows on the platform side, then when we get to Mineola or Longview, I clean the other side. Sometimes, I will clean others down there if I'm in a genial mood. It seems to annoy the SCAs for some reason. In addition to our other supplies (Keurig One Cup, electric cooler bag with edible food, snakebite medicine, etc), I have a collapsible windows squeegee which will reach the upstairs windows. Yes, the Eagle's windows are always filthy.
The very first time I took Amtrak, from New Mexico to Portland, OR, back in 2015, I was booked on both segments (Lamy to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Portland) in a roomette on the lower level. I was a bit disappointed, and it didn't occur to me that I could perhaps call and change the room assignment. I very quickly learned the advantages of the lower level. The increased privacy is HUGE. The only people walking by the roomette are those in that part of the train. Plus, if you need to get something out of your luggage that's in the luggage place, it's right there. If you have mobility issues, going up and down the VERY steep and winding staircase could be a problem. Lucky me, I don't have mobility issues. But if you do, you could have all meals delivered to you room, rather than trying to make it to the dining car. Plus, for a better view you can always go up to the observation car. Win-win, as far as I'm concerned. Towards the end of this month I'll be taking the Southwest Chief from Lamy, to Kansas City, and scored the family bedroom in both directions. Lower level, windows on both sides. I'll be tempted to not bother going upstairs at all, and do all my meals down there.
@@sheilahartney9777 Thank you for this information. Is there a car that you would prefer? Or do you not travel that much? I'd love to hear your experiences.
11 is the best room downstairs, 12 you're right next to the stairs and you will hear everyone going up and down them. lower level is great if you dont like the sway the Superliners can get on less ideal track
My first train ride is Sunday, Sept. 3rd and I was glad to hear she gave me roomette 2 and then roomette 3 to Chicago. My daughter and I are going by train to Seattle and then an Alaskan cruise and then back by train. We are very excited and have watched many of your videos so we kind of know what to expect. Thanks so much for all your info.
I've travelled in nearly every Amtrak sleeping accommodation available over the last 50 years from heritage slumbercoach roomette to Superliner bedroom suite including the family bedroom. I've never encountered any to be avoided - all are appropriate depending on the price you are willing to pay and your travel situation ( not to mention what's available). I traveled with my family (2 adults, 2 teens, 1 child) and we went with the family bedroom for me and my wife and daughter and roomette for the teen boys. It was perfect and the least expensive option. The family bedroom being the full width of the car is more than twice the size of a Superliner roomette. Access to the lower level restrooms and shower are more convenient than for upstairs rooms and are just outside the door in the hallway. No issues at all with adjacent rooms, noise, or rough ride. Good track rides well up or downstairs, same for rough track riding bad. Didn't follow criticism that beds disproportionately fill up family bedroom. Roomettes are completely occupied by beds when they are down. Given that there are only two family bedrooms ( 1 accessible, 1 regular) per car, it is more likely you could have trouble booking this type of room than having the option of avoiding it.
Valuable info! I've always phoned Amtrak's reservation center & specified my routes & accommodations. Their online reservation system offers only routes & rooms it sees that are available. If I need to book reservations for 2 adjoining deluxe bedrooms, their website cannot make it happen. It may take longer waiting to speak with a phone rep, but I will come away knowing exactly what I want. I'll add that in all Superliner I & II sleeper cars, Room A is configured differently than rooms B-E. Room A is smaller with the restroom facing the car's corridor-not outwards. When the Transitional Sleeper Cars were introduced during the '90's, they were originally intended for the train crew. Employees were pushing back after Roomettes were being sold in cars intended for them. They didn't think it was fair to have paying passengers sharing spaces with them. Amtrak won.
My wife and I traveled from Indianapolis to SLC and back on the CZ, and decided to get two roomettes on opposite sides of the train for the different views, plus neither had to struggle into the top bunk. The roomettes were fine, except in the morning trying to put on your shoes without sticking them out in the hallway. You give good advice on the rooms, and I hope more people ride and support Amtrak. Keep up the good work.
In about a week, I'm traveling the Coast Starlight to Chicago (coach, sadly) and then onto the Empire Builder to Seattle. I have roomette #8. I can't wait! Thanks for the video.
I am plus size so the roomettes were a nightmare for me. There was no room to move and we ended up leaving the door open more often than not so we could have some air circulation. Also, the dining car booths aren't comfortable for more plus size. Just keep that in mind when you book.
Thanks for mentioning this, I appreciate knowing since I get kind of claustrophobic. I’m not going to have a total meltdown, but I would have to spend a lot of time distracting myself from the tight quarters.
@valerie if you’re claustrophobic remember this. I’m 5’ tall and while sitting on the edge of the bed my feet are touching the door of the room and that’s WITHOUT me stretching my legs. That’s just normal sitting position. 😂😂
@SquigglesMcgoo yes! The bed is quite roomy really. And the seat is comfortable. The halls are a little awkward to walk down and going up and down the stairs so I would suggest a top level of you're train has one to avoid having to go up and down the stairs. The bathroom is a little bigger than one on a plane so that isn't too bad.
@candidulce0714 Thanks for your perspective. I'm 6'3" and heave an offensive lineman build. I'm a solo traveler and I booked a Roomette on The City of New Orleans.
We are taking the long way to Oregon in August and because it was cheaper than the bedroom, my husband booked the family one - just us two. We have done Roomettes a few times and are both 80 years old and trying to climb up to the bunk gets a little harder and especially when there is not much room to turn around. So, I guess thanks for the info. Will see how things go.
So interesting about the transition car! Last time we took Amtrak, something went wrong with the holding tanks in our car, so we had to use bathrooms in different cars. And I used that transition car bathroom!
Superliner Room A is the only one that doesn't have a sliding door between it and the next sleeper (which lets them convert to a suite), That door rattles unless wedged. More importantly, you share the air, so you can catch a cold, flu, or whatever other fun bug your neighbor's brought aboard. Last November, a couple coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper from LA to Chicago gave me covid for the first time. The covid itself was mild, but covid + rheumatoid arthritis can trigger weird health complications and teach you fun new vocabulary such as "uveitis" that you never wanted to learn or experience. It was months of scary and a lot of pain and several months of being blind, and I now have to take 2 expensive medications I didn't before, and I don't wanna go through that again.. But I don't wanna stay at home forever, either, so I've had to find ways to mitigate the risk. On two legs of my last 2 trps, someone was coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper. For protection, I wedged the sliding door hard against its frame with hand towels, used a small portable air purifier, and masked when not eating. I'm sure the attendant thought I was crazy. I didn't have to worry about all that with sleeper A. Same thing with the handicapped room at the end of the Viewliner I where I got put after the bathrooms on my Cardinal car broke down. No room is hermetically sealed, of course, but at least you're not breathing in what your neighbor's breathing out all night.
We have traveled Amtrak many times and we always get a family bedroom for the two of us. We have NEVER had sound issues from the wheels or the neighbors. We don’t use the upper bunks so we have the attendant make up both lower beds and we sleep feet to feet. We love having two windows and the view is not much different than the windows 3 feet higher.
I agree regarding the windows, wheel noise and neighbors. We thought about using the two lowers, as my wife is right at 5 feet tall and she felt it was too tight for her (the upper and lower "kid-sized" side bunks are only 5 feet long.) As a result, she got the lower adult bed and I got upper adult bunk. One note: I'm glad I had slip-on shoes available -- climbing the ladder to the upper with bare feet was painful!
Allie and Rob regarding your management suggestions for Amtrak--More salient than any other comment is the need to have more than one observation car on long distance scenic routes. Twice on the CA Zephyr we were only allowed 45 minutes and this was especially tedious when we were traveling through the rockies and the Sierra-Nevada range. One of the problems is not equipment because you can always find at least four ob lounges in the yards, but personned. On the CA Zephy, Southwest Chief and Coast Starlight, as well as the Capitol Limited, the opportunity is lost to take in the beautiful scenery because there is one attendant for each such car, and when you hear that the lounge is closed, that one person is taking a break and for longer periods and unpaid break. As you both stated, those of us who love train travel would be happy to have a slight price increasein order to have at least two Obs cars with attendants. The dirty windows is inexcusable, especially for the two long-distrance trains that spend a fair amount of time in the sun. Only once, in 2016, did they cllean the windows on the Westbound Zephyr at Denver. Once when boarding in Chicago to travel home to Sacramento we were informed that our sleeper would have a slight left-leaning lilt. It did and we bounced around on what appeared to be only three air cushioned trucks. Thanks for your recommendations. Hope they are listening. just a postscript, The Coast STarlight did have a second observation car until about 2015. A former ATSF lounge was used as a family car along with the Pullman-Standard built obs car. When these cars were disconitinued due to age, AMTRAK chose not to continue with the second OBS for a family car. And yes--ALL PASSENGERS should be able to buy meals in the dining car. These censorious regulations make one feel as if traveling on American, Southwest, United or Delta Airlines.
Seemed like you mainly described optimal roomette choices on the Superliners. What about optimal bedrooms? I believe they’re all upstairs anyway, but are some bedroom placements better than others? And how do the numbers run for the bedrooms? Thanks!
Thanks for this info! We booked a bedroom on the Coast Starlight, and thanks to this video we knew we wanted to avoid getting one of the connecting rooms -- success! Excited for my first train trip!
I think I got lucky. I just had room 13 a few weeks ago on the lower level next to the family room and it was enjoyable. I love the convenience of the lower level. The only thing was finding the dining car was confusing from there lol. I enjoy your videos by the way.
Interesting comments on the family bedroom. My late wife and I rented the family bedroom on the Empire Builder twice in the early 2000's, and loved it! Roomy and very comfortable, no issues with adjacent room noise or wheel/ rail noise.
Now the roomettes, on the other hand, are just double-deck coffins. My head touched the wall on one end and my feet were flat against the opposite wall, with less than 18 inches from my nose to the bottom of the upper bunk.
We had the very last bedroom at the end of the Empire Builder. It was a looooong hike to the dining car, but we didn't mind. And if we'd known, we'd have brought lawn chairs to sit and watch through the window at the end of the car! lol
The Superliner "transition" cars were designed primarily to be a crew car for the staff, especially when the trains provided more on-board services. They have only roomettes -- no bedrooms. The ends of the cars have two different doors -- a lower-level door on one end to allow the crew direct passage to the single-level baggage car, and a an upper-level door on the other end for passage to the rest of the cars. As crew sizes have been reduced, Amtrak has started booking the unused rooms in these cars for paying passengers. Since they only sell a portion of the roomettes, the attendant in the next adjacent sleeping car is usually tasked with taking care of passengers in both.
It's really not a bad ride. Nice and quiet, and if it is on the tail end of the train, you can park yourself downstairs and watch the tracks come together in the distance.
Good info. I am taking the autotrain in May 2024 and looked up my car/bedroom. Looks to be on the second floor. I am getting a better understanding of how the trains are laid out. I selected a bedroom as I need room to myself and my own bathroom :)
@@GroundedLifeTravel Thanks. I look to be next to the stairs so easy on/off. I can be a heavy sleeper if needed. Years of on-call have taught me how to id then fall asleep.
@@GroundedLifeTraveldo you think it’s worth the price difference to have your own bathroom? I was thinking about doing a big loop. Rather ambitious since I’ve never been on a train for longer that 10 hours. I’m thinking about starting in LA to Seattle. The Seattle to Chicago. And then either Chicago back to LA or Chicago to New Orleans to LA. What are your thoughts. Any reply is helpful. Thanks!
Thanks.I've never been on an Amtrak. I'm going from St. Paul (Coach) Empire Builder, to New Orleans on The City of New Orleans. I have rm #3 Roomette. I am going to see The Eagles in concert. I take a Delta flight back to MSP. It's a four day weekend.
In the last two weeks, we took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. Then took the Coast Starlight south to Sacramento and then the California Zypher back to Chicago. The things I found interesting about the trains: 1. Amtrak Trains are filthy. All three of our roomettes had trash, wadded-up tissues, and candy wrappers under the seats. We used Clorox wipes to wipe down the Roomette, and they were black by the time we were done. The observation cars could have been much cleaner. Candy ground into the carpet. Seats were sticky. 2. Trains have very poor air circulation! We thought we missed something when we noticed several people had small personal fans. #1 complaint from several people that it was hot. Roomettes do not cool down if you close the doors. So to have some measure of airflow from the hall requires you to keep your room door open. Several people were complaining about the heat. 3. A Roomette is too small for two adults. The pull-down bed has a 1" mattress. This might work for a child. 4. A lot of the country we thought we would see, we went through at night due to train delays. 5. The menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner was the same all 5 days we were on the trains. N Overall, it was a different experience for us but I don't think we will be booking Amtrak anytime soon.
we have been disappointed with the cleanliness of Amtrak on the Empire Builder route as well. I wrote them & they gave us a discount - but frankly, America just wants cleaner accommodations on the train. There's PLENTY of employees on-board to get it done as well.
The Transition Sleepers were used on the Eagle for awhile, back then the Eagle was a nice train. (Now it is treated like a rented mule, no Sightseer lounge, FLEX garbage instead of dining... ). The end with the stairs down to the end door was used for crew sleepers. It's really not a big difference, other than since it is at the end of the train, the foot traffic is almost nonexistent, and the toilets get much less use. Haven't seen one in awhile, though.
Great advice, folks. I have several train segments booked for the future - 2023 up to NYC from Atlanta. Both going and coming back I’ll be in Room 2. Then in 2024 I have 14 different segments, with 8 in Room 2, 3 in Room 3, 1 in Room 4, and 2 coach trips. I’m so glad to hear I’m in a good location. Especially about being on the lower level roomettes and avoiding them if possible.
Trust me, the lower level is wonderful. The very first time I took Amtrak, in 2015, I was assigned rooms on the lower level. I was dismayed, at first, and very quickly into the trip realized how good it was. Almost no one walking by me. If I wanted an upper view it was easy to go to the observation car. The lower roomettes are fabulous.
I've been in roomette a few times, and seem to have been lucky. I'll definitely use your tip what to avoid next time. There might be a time I won't be very lucky.
I guess I've been lucky on my trips. I've only been on Superliners (Chicago to the Pacific) and when I have been in roomettes 13 & 14 on the lower level, there's either never been anyone in the family bedroom or they were only there for a small portion of the total journey, or they were quiet. The one time I was in an upper-level roomette was fine, but the screeching of metal against metal from the end-of-car doorway, not to mention people going through it at all hours, was bothersome. I don't know about ALL of Amtrak's transition cars, but in early years they were holdovers from the old AT&SF hi-level cars, so not quite the same as Amtrak's Superliners. I accidentally wandered into one once (my very first trip) overshooting my car on my way back from lunch--I thought they were only for the crew, so interesting to hear you can sometimes be booked in one.
This video saved me a phone call. My Roomette for the Coast Starlight was changed to Room 23. I know Superliner Sleeper Roomettes went to 14, so Roomette 23 confused me. Thanks for the explanation.
Thanks for the information. I live in Ireland and have enjoyed your videos for some time now. They inspired me to try Amtrak for a holiday trip last year. I really enjoyed it. So I booked again for this coming October. However, even when you think you have rooms that you like, nothing is certain. I booked several months ago and was given Room 2 on the Chicago-LA and the LA-Portland legs of a big trip. Unfortunately, last week they changed these to 6 and 12 respectively. They didn’t even ask for my views.
A thought on where to sit on coach after many tips. For a while I was sitting on the most forward seats. One side is for accessible needs. One can sit there, but if someone boards and needs your seats, you obviously have to move and that's fine with me. The two one the other side are for anyone. At first I liked the massive legroom. The lack of a tray in front of me was worth the trade off of not having a tray.. The problem for me that I learned was everyone in the coach passes by to use the restrooms. Many people leave the door open after they leave which creates noise when it bounces around and bathroom smells creep out. At the end of the day the regular coach seats with the fold down tables still have lots of legroom. Also, the center of the coach gives a better ride as compared to being near the wheels. More noise, especially if one of the wheels has a flat spot on it.
According to Trains Magazine April of 22, "Amtrak is currently operating 15 of 25 Viewliner II cars and 16 of 50 Viewliner I sleepers." I was also told by staff on the Cardinal that it's now mostly viewliner 2's. But of course one just can't be sure as there can be last minute substitutions. RE: another room to avoid on the Superliner is roomette 2 as it is adjacent to the upstairs bathroom, coffee station, and attendant's room.
Love your channel . . . but we mostly had GOOD experiences with the two day/evenings we used the Family Bedroom #15, out of the 7 o'nites we did during June'22. Less expensive than the full Bedroom . .. Way more roomy to turn around and store luggage than the Roomette. Biggest plus was being able to watch the scenery from BOTH sides of the train; Being on the 1st level meant we could (depending on the stop) clean the outside windows, also proximate luggage rack storage and the bathroom/showers were at the other end of the same level. It's NOT over the wheels, but yeah the two lower-level FBedrooms are "toward" the wheels. We didn't find it particularly noisy. Lower berth in FBedroom is wide enough for two . . . just saying. Yes, the FBedroom #15 (vs. the FBedroom reserved for Disabled, which is on the opposite side past the bathroom/showers) is right next to Roomettes 13 & 14, although the closet space is between the FBedroom and Roomette 13 . . so some sound buffering there. But if we all had our doors open, we were basically in the same space, so your point is valid.
Thanks for the info. I used it to call Amtrak and switch to a different roomette. I didn’t get your top pick, but I’m not in #14 anymore. I watched your other video about seats in coach as well. I couldn’t get a sleeper for the longest portion of my return trip (Chicago to Los Angeles) so will be in coach, so will use your tips there too, to try to get at least some sleep.
I've made 4 amtrak trips. The last leg of the last one, i upgraded to a roomette on the zephyr. It was plenty comfortable, and I'm not a little guy. Though I was still tired when i got home at 5am, it was a lot easier on the body than a coach seat.
We were in room 14 and it was really as you described. We could hear the people in the family room for sure. The worst part of it was we saw the attendant once. My husband saw her upstairs and asked if she could come down and take our breakfast order. She never showed up and we never saw her again. No breakfast for us. We went to the dining car for the rest of our meals. At least the scenery was great!
Hi Guys...yes, this one is so helpful. I'm going in my first long distance train trip on October 14. Your explanation of the room numbers and what level of a Superliner your Roomette is on sure took care of my concerns. Our room numbers are 8,3,5 and 2. I feel like we won the roomette lottery! Thank You both, you are enormously helpful! Matt Josephson near Nashville, TN
Good advice. However, nothing was said about the bedroom. Although in my opinion, when it comes to the bedroom, the price is high but extra convenient.
Since booking my upcoming trip to New Mexico, I've religiously watched your channel. I just got my tickets which I booked through Amtrak Vacations, and thanks to your suggestions in this video, I have requested a different roomette. I'm in numbers dun...dun...DUN! 13 AND 22! I don't think I'll mind the transition car, but being next to the bedroom, I can't. Hopefully, they'll accommodate my request. Again, thanks for your excellent and informative videos!
I've always adored the lower level roomettes. especially though Colorado, you get to see so much wildlife and the scenery is awesome. Lower level is also better for people who get motion sickness from the swaying. Also Once they put me into the Handicap sleeper car and it was horrible, the smell of the breaks was overpowering and nauseating and it went on for two days ugh! worst trip I have taken.
I was by myself on Capitol Limited in the family bedroom. So great for space. Windows don't mean much since most of trip is at night. But you are correct, very hard sleeping due to wheel noise. Definitely would take ear plugs next time.
I had room 12 on the Sunset Limited and liked it, because since the aisle was a dead end there was less passing foot traffic, and I never had to wait for a toilet or the shower. I didn't find the view to be that much poorer. As for the Viewliners I've never had a complaint about the Viewliner I, and I rather like the idea of having the toilet right in the room. I onlu wish the Crescent would return to "traditional dining".
Amen, brother, We have to use the Eagle for the first segment of any trip, it also is treated like a rented mule. FLEX garbage, no Sightseer Lounge... It is so sad too see such a venerable train as the Crescent treated in this manner.
Very relevant and informative video. I am going to take my girlfriend back to Chicago where she's from on a train and this glimpse into the intricacies of Amtrak are great. I want to get the best experience for her that I can (cost irrelevant) and this gave me all the info I needed; you are awesome!
This is definitely the most informative channel for newbies ive never been on a ship cruise or train ... im thinking about taking a trip from houston texas to the west coast maybe up the coast then across the states at the top or the middle route then back down to houston texas
I had Roomette No. 13 on the auto train and I liked it. I prefer the lower level, it's less busy and the bathrooms are nearby. The family bedroom next to me was occupied by an elderly couple who were very quiet, so I don't remember it being particularly noisy.
The HVAC intake vent always sucked in odors from the braking system, so every time the train slowed or stopped, my lower level roomette stunk for a few minutes. This was annoying at night when I was in the room for many hours. Aside from that, and the noise from the wheels on the tracks, I liked the lower roomette because there was virtually no foot traffic.
Thank you so much for this. I am very sick and medical tourism is killing me. Flying is literal torture. I am taking the train for my actual surgery and back and I am really worried about it. This helped me know what to look for.
So, when you talk about the coach air being torture it is the size of the seats? Cause one thing to be aware of, in the trains I have been in, the bumpiness was akin to light to moderate turbulence on an aircraft except it is almost always going on. It is not smooth. The seats are IMO WAY better than coach air though. and of course you can get up and walk though, you will need to stabilize yourself when you do because of the rocking.
@Gouranga56 the size of the seat is an issue, but uprightness itself is the main problem. I would be uncomfortable sitting up in an arm chair at home for more than 30 min. So a ride in coach for 18 hours is not possible for me. The bedroom, where there is a bench to lie on the whole time is the way we are going. Im worried about the "turbulance" a car ride on a bumpy road can be miserable for me. I'm hoping that if I am laying down, the bumps wont bother me so much.
I took Zephyr from Galesburg to Denver. Got a great deal on room A with Bid Up. I was so excited. The movement of the train was similar to the second or two when a plane lands. You sway back and forth and it’s bumpy ALL night long! I felt terrible all day after the trip. Thankfully I had a hotel to go to immediately because if I had to wait from 8am until check in.
We have had roomettes and sleeper, or the one with the couch that makes into a bed, shower and toilet...those were fine but the worse one was the handicap room.Right behind the engine or baggage car..every bump or anything that was thrown up against the bottom of the train was felt. It was noisy and the ride was rough...never again..
I would like to add that bedroom A on superliners in a non-connecting room so you don't get all the rattling noise from the connector door. I think its quieter too. The down side is that due to it being at the end of the car, the hallway protudes into the room and cuts out considerable space. The bathroom opens toward the cabin door, not towards the window. There's zero space between the sink and lower bed at nightime so getting to the bathroom can be a problem. I still prefer this room because it is quieter.
Have you all ever used a travel mats either foam or air filled to provide additional padding for the thin mattresses. I’m considering getting one since I travel round trip twice a year in a roomette from L.A. to Texas and back. I’m always kind of sore after sleeping. Great videos, keep up the great work.
I loved the family bedroom when traveling with my kids. As for view and such, we tended to spend a lot of time hanging out in the lounge car, playing games, watching the world roll by and enjoying the freebies.
Hi . I went to California from N.Y. I loved it and would definitely go again. I watched all of your videos before I left . BTW do you have a twin sister ? I received a newsletter from my union in N.Y. And there was a woman in the newsletter that looks exactly like you…exactly . I think your channel is great . I was able to relax and enjoy myself on the train . Thank you ❤
I find the family bedroom to be the absolute best room simply because it has windows on both sides. You never have anyone walking in front of your room through the aisle.
Im so glad i stumbled onto your channel!! Its always been my dream to ride the California zephyr from the east coast to California but now i have health issues using a walker and wheelchair so i think i will look for one on the lower level thanks for the info!!😊😊😊
A few years ago, a friend & I took Amtrak from L.A. to Flagstaff and we had seats in the middle near the stairs (for a smoother ride) and late in the night when we wanted to get some rest, the couple across from us wouldn't stop talking AND had their bright overhead light ON! So, we moved to the rear of that car where it was empty but then we were over the wheels where the car sways much more back & forth PLUS each time the slider door opened or closed as someone passed through the hallway, the sounds of the rails, etc. was pronounced! TRAINS.
Lower level rooms also feel less sway when you move. Trains tend to rock as they roll, and that sway is more noticeable in the upper level. Track noise is also more noticeable in the lower level, but as a train lover, that was music to my ears.
Leg 1 Walnut Ridge to Chicago (Bedroom)Texas Eagle Leg 2 Chicago to Pittsburgh (Roomette) Capital Limited Leg 3 Pittsburgh to Harrisburg (Business Class) Pennsylvanian i was on a 3 leg trip from Walnut Ridge AR through Chicago to Pittsburgh and eventually got off at Harrisburg... my first leg was the family room and i dont know if it was superliner 1 or 2 BUT i was right behind the locomotive that trip... every crossing that was not "no horn zone" i got to hear approach and through put horns haha. to me it wasnt nearly as annoying as it might be for most i mean i just saw it as part of the ambiance of traveling by rail... i do NOT have the kind of history traveling with Amtrak as the two in the video but i have tried coach roomette and family room... coach (for me) was just a non starter... it reminded me of the days when i had to travel by greyhound... lol a ton of people crammed into an open car... yeah no thanks... i spent ALOT of my trip walking the train or hoping there was a car that had the bubble window looking out over the top of the train haha The roomette is really best for my personal travel type... its not totally private for exactly all the reasons you guys point out in the video but its private enough for me... so 9 times out of 10 when i book it is a roomette for me the bedroom i got the one trip was more or less just to try it out... what i LOVED about the bedroom is you fold out a bed and you have the option of looking out either side of the train so that was a plus in my book. the roomette you are limited to one side while you are in it... That last leg of my trip aboard the Pennsylvanian passes through the famous Altoona horse shoe turn :). it really is something to see and experience ❤️ actually there is a small rail museum/park where folks can stand and watch trains make the loop going east or west :). i still havent driven up that way to see it from the ground but have seen it several times riding the rails back and forth between harrisburg/pittsburgh! ❤️ anyway i wanted to say thank you for the "room education" and it will definitely affect future bookings for me. Take care
Great information, you constantly give me more ideas and helpful hints for our anniversary train vacation coming up in Spring 2025. I just read a post that I can book it 11 months in advance, is that what you'd do?
Went by train from L.A. to Boston and back last year, and had a roomette on both LAChicago legs, #21 going east, #13 going back. Didn't have any problems with either room, luckily. I think both had the same type of bathroom (with shower connected). One issue I did have was an apparent allergic reaction to the hand soap Amtrak had in the bathrooms. Was a novel experience, but I opted for flying when I went out there again this year.
I ride Amtrak at least twice a month from Tennessee to different States do to hubby's job. I'm usually lucky i really prefer the roomettes because its only me at times i also like the two big windows, ive never had any problem with noise. If hubby's riding we get the single room with the bed & two chairs along with a bathroom and shower.
The best rooms on amtrak in my opinion would say are the roomettes on the viewliner ii because they are much cleaner and have more room. The viewliner roomettes are more quieter than superliners since viewliners are single level cars, they try to make them less noiser and make everyone comfortable, that is the advantage for passangers who come from New York City or any other city with viewliners.
@@GroundedLifeTravel I live in New Jersey and I see several Amtrak viewliner trains passing by in my town Harrison which is the suburb of Newark. They consist of Siemens acs-64 electric locomotives which are between New York City and Washington DC, and the GE Genesis p42 diesel locomotives from Washington DC to either Chicago, New Orleans, or Miami. The trains also consist of amfleet ii, and either viewliner i or viewliner ii sleeping cars, viewliner ii dining cars, and viewliner ii baggage or dorm cars.
I was on the California Zephyr in May. I made my reservation on Nov 22. I was supposed to be in car 532 room E but got room H. I didn't know about the change until I stepped onto the train. The cars that I passed through all had letters, not numbers. You left out room H which is the dirtiest room on the train because of its location. The trip was interrupted by a washout so they bussed us five hours from Denver to Grand Junction. They did give me a total refund for the Zephyr trip after a couple of emails. The next trip will be on The Canadian.
In a Superliner sleeper, I usually try for roomettes 9 or 10, which are across from each other at the end of the car furthest from the bathroom and attendant's room. I always find them to be very quiet (only sharing one wall with another roomette instead of two walls), and nowhere near the noise in the center of the car where the bathroom, coffee/water station, stairs, etc; are located. And really, it is just a few steps down the aisle from the bathroom when I want to use it, and if it is occupied, there are three more just downstairs. I agree that the worst roomettes are the two that share walls with the Family Bedroom, which is the worst Superliner room altogether. I have never stayed in the Accessible/Handicapped bedroom, and have not tried to because I don't want to tie it up f a person who needs it is trying to book a room.....having said that, I rarely see anyone using that Accessible bedroom, except that it is often used by the attendant for storage or as his/her office when not busy helping a passenger. The Transition Sleeper car can't be all that rare, but it might be rare for regular passengers to be assigned a room in it. This car is put on every train that has a baggage car AND Superliner passenger car, because its special design has the high level connecting door (to match the Superliner cars) at one end, and a low level connecting door (to match a Viewliner cars or baggage car), and the crew needs this to pass between all non-locomotive cars on the train. It may be that mostly only the conductor uses this special car to pass through. Certainly the Transition Sleeper car is used by the crew (conductor, cafe car attendant, dining car staff, and sometimes the train police) as their own sleeping and office accommodations. I have never seen a train west of Chicago that did NOT have a Transition Sleeper car. Depending on how many train staff are expected to be on the train consist, some of their roomettes might be unused, and then AMTRAK makes those available to regular sleeper passengers. I have heard that they are the quietest sleeping accommodations on the train, because most of the time, hardly anyone is in them except for at night, and then those crew are sleeping. And yes, I have heard that the restroom/bathroom/shower situation in the Transition Sleeper can be different, and sometimes less than optimal, because there is no attendant assigned to look after those facilities. And, the lower level is supposed to be off limits to passengers; that is the crew's private area and office area.
Room 2 is great because the coffee is right there. 🙆🏻♀️ But I like to stay downstairs because there isn’t a lot of foot traffic plus it’s easy to step on and off easily although I don’t mind the transition car either.
Bedrooms on the Superliner have some negative aspects. Bedroom "A" is very cramped, had one several years back in swore I'd never ride in one again. The downside is the john/shower door does not open fully and generally the room is cramped when compared with B through E. Bedroom E is over the entrance door on the lower level and depending which way the car is faced can be opened at all hours of the night if the platform happens to be on that side, most are on the right on the Southwest Chief that I take. Doors are normally slammed shut because of the waterproof gasket. This coming spring I'll be in 11 on the Southwest Chief. Although I have a bum hip the stairs are not a problem as there are handrails on both sides, I just take it slow and declare it 'one way', mine! Really like Amtrak and it is a great way to travel, sure beats flying...
So true with that Superliner room Pic. Many times I had had to call amtrak to get my room changed after I made my reservation and find they put me in 11 or 12. Can't ride thatvlower level where the bathrooms and showers are
This month I took my first train ride in Coach. What a disaster! Could not find a decent bathroom and I did your advice and searched the entire train (not the sleeper cars as they don't allow that Lol).... If I take a train again I will splurge the extra cost to a sleeper roommette!!
Hi, I noticed you didn't mention the roomettes on the Cardinal from Charlottesville VA to Chicago. My husband and I traveled that route several years ago and were dismayed when we saw the toilet was in the roomette! Unfortunately, the years (and children) had "broadened my horizons" and I found the toilet too small to comfortably use. I had hoped that these cars had been retired, but am worried that the trip I am taking in a couple of weeks will present the same problem. I want to take that route for the scenery through the New River Gorge, so I guess I'll just put up with it if the roomettes are still the same.
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I have traveled on the Coast Starlight, from Emeryville to Seattle, many times. A couple of years ago, I was assigned a roomette on the lower floor, for the first time. I found that I actually preferred it. I have requested it, ever since. On that first journey "below," I did have the room adjacent to the family room, and I don't recall it being terribly loud ... it was a family with 3 kids. I like the relative feeling of privacy on the lower floor, and there are 3 bathrooms. I don't think I've ever had to wait. I also like the "foyer," for stretching my legs, and for having access to the doors that provide scenes from both sides of the train. On my last trip, in July, I was talking with a gentleman in the room across the hall. He wasn't enthusiastic about being downstairs, and I told him that I prefer it. We had a good group of neighbors on that trip, and we visited the lounge together, and even coordinated dinner times to eat together (southbound). That gentleman was persuaded, and said he would request a lower room, in the future.
Thanks for sharing
You probably helped to bring him out of his lonely, nervous shell. Congrats to you
Thanks for your story.
I actually have a trip coming up on the 8th Oct from Sac to Tacona on coast starlight in a roomette. We normally get a bedroom but they were all sold out.
I think the room we are assigned may be on the lower level Room 12. If so this would be our 1st time in a room being on the lower level. We are accomstomed to being on the upper level so I wonder how the experience will be. Especially after hearing your experience and this video.
I hope I like it lol
great great video. very candid conversation. considering, curious about this mode of travel.
@@susbow8223 13 and 14 are the worst, 12 will not be too bad.
I'm an older person and not real steady on my feet on a moving train, so I LOVE rooms 13 and 14. Much better than dealing with those tiny winding staircases whiile the train is moving.
Yes, the winding part is the hard part
I’d get an accessible room always on the bottom
Had room #13, for a trip in October…just called today and booked room #2…thanks to your wonderful video.
I was so surprised with this video. I was able to get the family bedroom when I solo traveled on the California Zephyr. And I absolutely loved it! When I travel on the Zephyr again I will definitely book the same room. I didn't notice any problem with noise or bumpiness. And I had a great time interacting with the people that were in the 2 roomettes in the same car. Because I'm short, I was able to sit at the window on the left side. Put my suitcase under my knees and put the blanket straight across. Put my feet up and stretch out sitting up watching out the window. Beautiful views from either side of the train, and I was able to share those views with the people in the roomettes. My only problem was the one outlet was up high and I didn't have an extension cord. But the wonderful car attendant did and loaned me her extension cord so I could use it throughout the ride.
Wow! I just booked a trip for late Sept. and they put me in roomette #13! I called and spoke to an agent and requested a room change & Wahla I got room #2! Thanks for your video because if I hadn't watched it, I wouldn't have known to change anything. Your're awesome.
It's not "wahla" (that means nothing), it's "voila," which is a French word for "there it is." You learn something new everyday!
As someone who had ridden trains a lot in 78 years (and some 20,000 miles during two rail "marathons" recently) I generally agree with your evaluations. I did one stint in roomette #14 and then in the family bedroom and was not aware of the sound problems, but it was mostly the overnight leg when most everyone was asleep. I have ridden bedrooms and roomettes on both Viewliner and Superliner equipment. Had a roomette on a Viewliner II sleeper-baggage combo, a family bedroom on a Superliner and even the handicapped bedroom on a Viewliner (long story). I have also ridden a "cabin for two" on Via Rail's Renaissance equipment and also a roomette (aka "Cabin for one") on the Canadian. Never mind riding older equipment earlier in my like (like sections on old heavyweight Pullmans). My "bottom line" is no accommodation will be absolutely perfect but most of the Amtrak equipment is good travelling as long as you do your research and are prepared for the differences. You all do a good job of highlighting the differences -- which some will find a pro and others a con.
I suppose for someone such as myself with hearing aides who removes them at night this issue self resolves, lol. So top floor or bottom floor it becomes an issue of climbing the stairs more so🤣 than volume.
I loved the family bedroom! I didn’t get the noise from neighbors like you did. And room 2 is also my favorite roomette. It’s also next to the coffee maker.
Yes the very important coffee station!
I took the California Zephyr as a solo, and it was fantastic, I had windows on both sides, no idea what you're complaining about.
I rode the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville. Didn't experience anything they're talking about. Didn't hear any conversations or noise from other cars, nor did any passengers knock on my door about my music, which I played at a respectable level at all times. Love them, but this one's a NO for me.
Oh thank you for this! Are taking a trip soon and booked the family room for the first half and a roomette for the second half and were assigned roomette 2!
Alas, also next to the toilet.
Pretty sure that I was in a Superliner I on the Southwest Chief. It was just me traveling (on a budget) so I got a roomette because that leg was 43hrs from Chicago to Los Angeles. My roomette was the very last room on the left (if you’re looking toward the back of the car) in the last car, upper deck. It was definitely a bit noisy / rocky but I still managed to sleep pretty well.
I loved the overall experience. My stateroom attendant was also fantastic.
I was is a family bedroom once. I had blown out my knee and was going to be on two crutches. So my wife and I booked the family bedroom, figuring the window on each side was some compensation for me having no chance at getting to where we usually spent most of our time: the observation car. Didn't find either being over the wheels or the neighboring roomettes a problem. And our car attendant was pleased with the generous tip he got for delivering our lunches and dinners. (My wife went to breakfast on her own.)
For me, a roomette is OK for one person and a one night trip. It is way too small for two people. I always go for the bedroom with shower and toilet combo. Even that is a bit small to move around in (the bathroom, that is) for a tall or large person. Also, noise isn't a problem for me - I just take out my hearing aides and voila!
This about Roomettes 9 & 10. Which I have had several times and the knowledge passed onto me by an excellent car attendant. When making up the bed, have your attendant position your head away from the end of the car. It makes a big difference in the noise you'll hear where the couplers banging and smashing together and the vestibule. Plus the door opening and closing.
What is the “end of the car”?
The stairs are in the middle of the car. If you go one way, you find the rooms starting with letter A. If you turn the other, you find the roomettes, starting with 1. If you keep going past 2,3,4, etc, you will eventually reach the end where 9 & 10 are located. If you keep walking, you will be in the vestibule which is over the coupling.
I took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA last month as a solo traveler in a family bedroom and I can’t imagine going any other way. I loved being able to stretch out, having the closet (however small), and the solid door. I never heard my neighbors and had no noise from above. The bed was wider than a roomette’s and very comfortable. With windows on both sides, I never felt shorted on the views despite being on the lower level. If you’re traveling alone but want space at a relatively affordable price, the family bedroom is the way to go.
How’s a roomette?
Trains were our favorite mode of transportation while stationed in Germany, they went everywhere. Since then it has been my dream to go on a vacation via Amtrak, preferable thru Colorado towards San Francisco. Your videos have been a tremendous help in planning this trip. Can't wait for spring 2024!
Not here...Amtrak only serves a very small section of America...not worth every taxpayer paying for it...
Take the California Zephyr from Denver to Oakland (the train stops there because of SF Bay), then catch transit across to San Francisco. The journey through the Rockies is magnificent, as is that through the Sierra Nevada. You will be sleeping through most of the boring desert parts. If you want a shorter trip, try Denver to Salt Lake City, which takes you through the Rockies and Glenwood Canyon. Be in the dome car for Glenwood Canyon.
Book early if you want summer. Better rates and the trains fill up. Also, be flexible wrto to expected arrival times. Just like this channel suggests.
I loved travelling by train when I lived in Germany, Berlin the first time and Mannheim the second time my military husband was stationed there. The transportation and volksmarching was what I lived for.
@@janebeckman3431 I heard the Zephyr is very good.
Can confirm about the roomettes near the family bedroom. I was in room 12 for a few hours with two kids in the family bedroom who bickered and whined in typical sibling fashion the whole time with a grandmother who had clearly given up on moderating them. I had my door closed but they might as well have been right outside my door. It was not the relaxing trip I was hoping for.
On the flip side, I had room 19 on the Southwest Chief LA to Chicago and it was the quietest, most peaceful experience ever. It was my first long train ride and I've been trying to recapture that experience ever since, haha.
Must have been a transition car, so probably a great bathroom too!
@@GroundedLifeTravel it was :)
Good to know. Trying to book a first time "adventure" train ride❤
I was in 11 a few years ago on the Auto Train. Not bad, but one of the other passengers whistled. Badly.
@GroundedLifeTravel what is a transition car, transitioning to or from what?? Can you request that car? What is reason it's liked?
Same. We LOVE the family room. It’s not a bedroom with a toilet. It’s the BEST for us and a great value for a family of four.
Just booked my first trip in an Amtrak sleeper for the end of Feb! Thanks to you all I feel prepared and ready to go! Taking SWC from LA to CHI, staying one night (Pizza and a Hockey Game in Chicago) then taking TE all the way back to LA.
You mentioned room 2...I got Room 2! On BOTH trains! Pretty excited about that now lol. Anyway, thanks for the content, keep up the amazing work!
Thanks so much and have an awesome trip!
I was actually in the family bedroom on the Capitol Limited once (because, as you note, it was quite a lot cheaper than the roomettes). I liked it, because it provided an incredible amount of space for one person. In the car I was assigned to, it was next to the shower and a toilet rather than next to roomettes (the handicapped room was near the roomettes). I think that made it quieter than what you describe, and it was also convenient to have the toilet right outside the door. You are right, though, that the windows are MUCH smaller than standard. The Capitol Limited mostly runs through darkness, so that really didn't make a lot of difference to me.
Family bedroom next to the heads? Wow! I have never encountered that layout. We try to get the Family room for the windows on both sides, and convenience. We've never had the sound issue that you mention.
It's also easier to have clean windows. When we leave Dallas, I clean the windows on the platform side, then when we get to Mineola or Longview, I clean the other side. Sometimes, I will clean others down there if I'm in a genial mood. It seems to annoy the SCAs for some reason. In addition to our other supplies (Keurig One Cup, electric cooler bag with edible food, snakebite medicine, etc), I have a collapsible windows squeegee which will reach the upstairs windows. Yes, the Eagle's windows are always filthy.
I am going to be in room 20 on my next Southwest Chief trip! I've never stayed on the transition car before and am very excited after seeing this!
I have preferred the downstairs roomettes in the past as the foot traffic was much less. Plus, the proximity of the bathrooms was appreciated.
Did you ever get roomettes 13 or 14 and could you sleep in those roommates.
The very first time I took Amtrak, from New Mexico to Portland, OR, back in 2015, I was booked on both segments (Lamy to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Portland) in a roomette on the lower level. I was a bit disappointed, and it didn't occur to me that I could perhaps call and change the room assignment. I very quickly learned the advantages of the lower level. The increased privacy is HUGE. The only people walking by the roomette are those in that part of the train. Plus, if you need to get something out of your luggage that's in the luggage place, it's right there. If you have mobility issues, going up and down the VERY steep and winding staircase could be a problem. Lucky me, I don't have mobility issues. But if you do, you could have all meals delivered to you room, rather than trying to make it to the dining car.
Plus, for a better view you can always go up to the observation car. Win-win, as far as I'm concerned.
Towards the end of this month I'll be taking the Southwest Chief from Lamy, to Kansas City, and scored the family bedroom in both directions. Lower level, windows on both sides. I'll be tempted to not bother going upstairs at all, and do all my meals down there.
@@sheilahartney9777 Thank you for this information. Is there a car that you would prefer? Or do you not travel that much? I'd love to hear your experiences.
11 is the best room downstairs, 12 you're right next to the stairs and you will hear everyone going up and down them. lower level is great if you dont like the sway the Superliners can get on less ideal track
My first train ride is Sunday, Sept. 3rd and I was glad to hear she gave me roomette 2 and then roomette 3 to Chicago. My daughter and I are going by train to Seattle and then an Alaskan cruise and then back by train. We are very excited and have watched many of your videos so we kind of know what to expect. Thanks so much for all your info.
Awesome! Have a great trip!
So now that you are back home, how was your full trip, even to Alaska?😊
I've travelled in nearly every Amtrak sleeping accommodation available over the last 50 years from heritage slumbercoach roomette to Superliner bedroom suite including the family bedroom. I've never encountered any to be avoided - all are appropriate depending on the price you are willing to pay and your travel situation ( not to mention what's available). I traveled with my family (2 adults, 2 teens, 1 child) and we went with the family bedroom for me and my wife and daughter and roomette for the teen boys. It was perfect and the least expensive option. The family bedroom being the full width of the car is more than twice the size of a Superliner roomette. Access to the lower level restrooms and shower are more convenient than for upstairs rooms and are just outside the door in the hallway. No issues at all with adjacent rooms, noise, or rough ride. Good track rides well up or downstairs, same for rough track riding bad. Didn't follow criticism that beds disproportionately fill up family bedroom. Roomettes are completely occupied by beds when they are down. Given that there are only two family bedrooms ( 1 accessible, 1 regular) per car, it is more likely you could have trouble booking this type of room than having the option of avoiding it.
Valuable info! I've always phoned Amtrak's reservation center & specified my routes & accommodations. Their online reservation system offers only routes & rooms it sees that are available. If I need to book reservations for 2 adjoining deluxe bedrooms, their website cannot make it happen. It may take longer waiting to speak with a phone rep, but I will come away knowing exactly what I want. I'll add that in all Superliner I & II sleeper cars, Room A is configured differently than rooms B-E. Room A is smaller with the restroom facing the car's corridor-not outwards. When the Transitional Sleeper Cars were introduced during the '90's, they were originally intended for the train crew. Employees were pushing back after Roomettes were being sold in cars intended for them. They didn't think it was fair to have paying passengers sharing spaces with them. Amtrak won.
Thanks for sharing!
My wife and I traveled from Indianapolis to SLC and back on the CZ, and decided to get two roomettes on opposite sides of the train for the different views, plus neither had to struggle into the top bunk. The roomettes were fine, except in the morning trying to put on your shoes without sticking them out in the hallway. You give good advice on the rooms, and I hope more people ride and support Amtrak. Keep up the good work.
In about a week, I'm traveling the Coast Starlight to Chicago (coach, sadly) and then onto the Empire Builder to Seattle. I have roomette #8. I can't wait! Thanks for the video.
I am plus size so the roomettes were a nightmare for me. There was no room to move and we ended up leaving the door open more often than not so we could have some air circulation. Also, the dining car booths aren't comfortable for more plus size. Just keep that in mind when you book.
Thanks for mentioning this, I appreciate knowing since I get kind of claustrophobic. I’m not going to have a total meltdown, but I would have to spend a lot of time distracting myself from the tight quarters.
@valerie if you’re claustrophobic remember this. I’m 5’ tall and while sitting on the edge of the bed my feet are touching the door of the room and that’s WITHOUT me stretching my legs. That’s just normal sitting position. 😂😂
Would a roomette be comfortable for a single plus size traveler?
@SquigglesMcgoo yes! The bed is quite roomy really. And the seat is comfortable. The halls are a little awkward to walk down and going up and down the stairs so I would suggest a top level of you're train has one to avoid having to go up and down the stairs. The bathroom is a little bigger than one on a plane so that isn't too bad.
@candidulce0714 Thanks for your perspective. I'm 6'3" and heave an offensive lineman build. I'm a solo traveler and I booked a Roomette on The City of New Orleans.
We are taking the long way to Oregon in August and because it was cheaper than the bedroom, my husband booked the family one - just us two. We have done Roomettes a few times and are both 80 years old and trying to climb up to the bunk gets a little harder and especially when there is not much room to turn around. So, I guess thanks for the info. Will see how things go.
So interesting about the transition car! Last time we took Amtrak, something went wrong with the holding tanks in our car, so we had to use bathrooms in different cars. And I used that transition car bathroom!
Superliner Room A is the only one that doesn't have a sliding door between it and the next sleeper (which lets them convert to a suite), That door rattles unless wedged. More importantly, you share the air, so you can catch a cold, flu, or whatever other fun bug your neighbor's brought aboard.
Last November, a couple coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper from LA to Chicago gave me covid for the first time. The covid itself was mild, but covid + rheumatoid arthritis can trigger weird health complications and teach you fun new vocabulary such as "uveitis" that you never wanted to learn or experience.
It was months of scary and a lot of pain and several months of being blind, and I now have to take 2 expensive medications I didn't before, and I don't wanna go through that again.. But I don't wanna stay at home forever, either, so I've had to find ways to mitigate the risk.
On two legs of my last 2 trps, someone was coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper. For protection, I wedged the sliding door hard against its frame with hand towels, used a small portable air purifier, and masked when not eating. I'm sure the attendant thought I was crazy.
I didn't have to worry about all that with sleeper A. Same thing with the handicapped room at the end of the Viewliner I where I got put after the bathrooms on my Cardinal car broke down. No room is hermetically sealed, of course, but at least you're not breathing in what your neighbor's breathing out all night.
We have traveled Amtrak many times and we always get a family bedroom for the two of us. We have NEVER had sound issues from the wheels or the neighbors. We don’t use the upper bunks so we have the attendant make up both lower beds and we sleep feet to feet. We love having two windows and the view is not much different than the windows 3 feet higher.
Thank you. I wondered about that
I agree regarding the windows, wheel noise and neighbors. We thought about using the two lowers, as my wife is right at 5 feet tall and she felt it was too tight for her (the upper and lower "kid-sized" side bunks are only 5 feet long.) As a result, she got the lower adult bed and I got upper adult bunk. One note: I'm glad I had slip-on shoes available -- climbing the ladder to the upper with bare feet was painful!
Allie and Rob regarding your management suggestions for Amtrak--More salient than any other comment is the need to have more than one observation car on long distance scenic routes. Twice on the CA Zephyr we were only allowed 45 minutes and this was especially tedious when we were traveling through the rockies and the Sierra-Nevada range. One of the problems is not equipment because you can always find at least four ob lounges in the yards, but personned. On the CA Zephy, Southwest Chief and Coast Starlight, as well as the Capitol Limited, the opportunity is lost to take in the beautiful scenery because there is one attendant for each such car, and when you hear that the lounge is closed, that one person is taking a break and for longer periods and unpaid break. As you both stated, those of us who love train travel would be happy to have a slight price increasein order to have at least two Obs cars with attendants. The dirty windows is inexcusable, especially for the two long-distrance trains that spend a fair amount of time in the sun. Only once, in 2016, did they cllean the windows on the Westbound Zephyr at Denver. Once when boarding in Chicago to travel home to Sacramento we were informed that our sleeper would have a slight left-leaning lilt. It did and we bounced around on what appeared to be only three air cushioned trucks. Thanks for your recommendations. Hope they are listening.
just a postscript, The Coast STarlight did have a second observation car until about 2015. A former ATSF lounge was used as a family car along with the Pullman-Standard built obs car. When these cars were disconitinued due to age, AMTRAK chose not to continue with the second OBS for a family car. And yes--ALL PASSENGERS should be able to buy meals in the dining car. These censorious regulations make one feel as if traveling on American, Southwest, United or Delta Airlines.
Seemed like you mainly described optimal roomette choices on the Superliners. What about optimal bedrooms? I believe they’re all upstairs anyway, but are some bedroom placements better than others? And how do the numbers run for the bedrooms? Thanks!
I really like the family room--being able to see out of both sides, and enough room to have your luggage in with you.
Thanks for this info! We booked a bedroom on the Coast Starlight, and thanks to this video we knew we wanted to avoid getting one of the connecting rooms -- success! Excited for my first train trip!
I think I got lucky. I just had room 13 a few weeks ago on the lower level next to the family room and it was enjoyable. I love the convenience of the lower level. The only thing was finding the dining car was confusing from there lol. I enjoy your videos by the way.
Thanks for the tip on roomette #2. I'm taking the Empire Builder next year and was assigned #2. I was going to request a change, but now I'll keep it.
We like that room
I was in roomette 2 last year for our cruise to Alaska, it's a great spot!
Interesting comments on the family bedroom. My late wife and I rented the family bedroom on the Empire Builder twice in the early 2000's, and loved it! Roomy and very comfortable, no issues with adjacent room noise or wheel/ rail noise.
Now the roomettes, on the other hand, are just double-deck coffins. My head touched the wall on one end and my feet were flat against the opposite wall, with less than 18 inches from my nose to the bottom of the upper bunk.
by golly am i happy with my assigned rooms after watching this vid😆 cant wait for my vacation dates to come.
Have a great trip!
We had the very last bedroom at the end of the Empire Builder. It was a looooong hike to the dining car, but we didn't mind. And if we'd known, we'd have brought lawn chairs to sit and watch through the window at the end of the car! lol
Yes, sometimes we like the longer walk, especially if a few stops get shortened!
The Superliner "transition" cars were designed primarily to be a crew car for the staff, especially when the trains provided more on-board services. They have only roomettes -- no bedrooms. The ends of the cars have two different doors -- a lower-level door on one end to allow the crew direct passage to the single-level baggage car, and a an upper-level door on the other end for passage to the rest of the cars. As crew sizes have been reduced, Amtrak has started booking the unused rooms in these cars for paying passengers. Since they only sell a portion of the roomettes, the attendant in the next adjacent sleeping car is usually tasked with taking care of passengers in both.
It's really not a bad ride. Nice and quiet, and if it is on the tail end of the train, you can park yourself downstairs and watch the tracks come together in the distance.
Good info. I am taking the autotrain in May 2024 and looked up my car/bedroom. Looks to be on the second floor. I am getting a better understanding of how the trains are laid out.
I selected a bedroom as I need room to myself and my own bathroom :)
All of the bedrooms are on the upper floor, so yes you'll be up top.
@@GroundedLifeTravel Thanks. I look to be next to the stairs so easy on/off. I can be a heavy sleeper if needed. Years of on-call have taught me how to id then fall asleep.
@@GroundedLifeTraveldo you think it’s worth the price difference to have your own bathroom? I was thinking about doing a big loop. Rather ambitious since I’ve never been on a train for longer that 10 hours. I’m thinking about starting in LA to Seattle. The Seattle to Chicago. And then either Chicago back to LA or Chicago to New Orleans to LA. What are your thoughts. Any reply is helpful. Thanks!
Thanks.I've never been on an Amtrak. I'm going from St. Paul (Coach) Empire Builder, to New Orleans on The City of New Orleans. I have rm #3 Roomette. I am going to see The Eagles in concert. I take a Delta flight back to MSP. It's a four day weekend.
Have a great trip!
In the last two weeks, we took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. Then took the Coast Starlight south to Sacramento and then the California Zypher back to Chicago. The things I found interesting about the trains: 1. Amtrak Trains are filthy. All three of our roomettes had trash, wadded-up tissues, and candy wrappers under the seats. We used Clorox wipes to wipe down the Roomette, and they were black by the time we were done. The observation cars could have been much cleaner. Candy ground into the carpet. Seats were sticky. 2. Trains have very poor air circulation! We thought we missed something when we noticed several people had small personal fans. #1 complaint from several people that it was hot. Roomettes do not cool down if you close the doors. So to have some measure of airflow from the hall requires you to keep your room door open. Several people were complaining about the heat. 3. A Roomette is too small for two adults. The pull-down bed has a 1" mattress. This might work for a child. 4. A lot of the country we thought we would see, we went through at night due to train delays. 5. The menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner was the same all 5 days we were on the trains. N
Overall, it was a different experience for us but I don't think we will be booking Amtrak anytime soon.
we have been disappointed with the cleanliness of Amtrak on the Empire Builder route as well. I wrote them & they gave us a discount - but frankly, America just wants cleaner accommodations on the train. There's PLENTY of employees on-board to get it done as well.
The Transition Sleepers were used on the Eagle for awhile, back then the Eagle was a nice train. (Now it is treated like a rented mule, no Sightseer lounge, FLEX garbage instead of dining... ). The end with the stairs down to the end door was used for crew sleepers. It's really not a big difference, other than since it is at the end of the train, the foot traffic is almost nonexistent, and the toilets get much less use. Haven't seen one in awhile, though.
they run them regularly on the city of new orleans
@@dasoffendor Hmm... Next on my Bucket List.
@@The_DuMont_Network it's a great trip very scenic, I highly recommend it
Great advice, folks. I have several train segments booked for the future - 2023 up to NYC from Atlanta. Both going and coming back I’ll be in Room 2. Then in 2024 I have 14 different segments, with 8 in Room 2, 3 in Room 3, 1 in Room 4, and 2 coach trips. I’m so glad to hear I’m in a good location. Especially about being on the lower level roomettes and avoiding them if possible.
Have a great time.., i would love to see the stairs
Trust me, the lower level is wonderful. The very first time I took Amtrak, in 2015, I was assigned rooms on the lower level. I was dismayed, at first, and very quickly into the trip realized how good it was. Almost no one walking by me. If I wanted an upper view it was easy to go to the observation car. The lower roomettes are fabulous.
Very helpful. I just checked my tickets and I seem to have all good room numbers. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
I've been in roomette a few times, and seem to have been lucky. I'll definitely use your tip what to avoid next time. There might be a time I won't be very lucky.
I guess I've been lucky on my trips. I've only been on Superliners (Chicago to the Pacific) and when I have been in roomettes 13 & 14 on the lower level, there's either never been anyone in the family bedroom or they were only there for a small portion of the total journey, or they were quiet. The one time I was in an upper-level roomette was fine, but the screeching of metal against metal from the end-of-car doorway, not to mention people going through it at all hours, was bothersome.
I don't know about ALL of Amtrak's transition cars, but in early years they were holdovers from the old AT&SF hi-level cars, so not quite the same as Amtrak's Superliners. I accidentally wandered into one once (my very first trip) overshooting my car on my way back from lunch--I thought they were only for the crew, so interesting to hear you can sometimes be booked in one.
This video saved me a phone call. My Roomette for the Coast Starlight was changed to Room 23. I know Superliner Sleeper Roomettes went to 14, so Roomette 23 confused me. Thanks for the explanation.
Thanks for the information. I live in Ireland and have enjoyed your videos for some time now. They inspired me to try Amtrak for a holiday trip last year. I really enjoyed it. So I booked again for this coming October. However, even when you think you have rooms that you like, nothing is certain. I booked several months ago and was given Room 2 on the Chicago-LA and the LA-Portland legs of a big trip. Unfortunately, last week they changed these to 6 and 12 respectively. They didn’t even ask for my views.
A thought on where to sit on coach after many tips. For a while I was sitting on the most forward seats. One side is for accessible needs. One can sit there, but if someone boards and needs your seats, you obviously have to move and that's fine with me. The two one the other side are for anyone. At first I liked the massive legroom. The lack of a tray in front of me was worth the trade off of not having a tray.. The problem for me that I learned was everyone in the coach passes by to use the restrooms. Many people leave the door open after they leave which creates noise when it bounces around and bathroom smells creep out. At the end of the day the regular coach seats with the fold down tables still have lots of legroom. Also, the center of the coach gives a better ride as compared to being near the wheels. More noise, especially if one of the wheels has a flat spot on it.
Thanks!
Sitting in coach cross country was soooo not fun
2 nights in a chair 😳
According to Trains Magazine April of 22, "Amtrak is currently operating 15 of 25 Viewliner II cars and 16 of 50 Viewliner I sleepers." I was also told by staff on the Cardinal that it's now mostly viewliner 2's. But of course one just can't be sure as there can be last minute substitutions. RE: another room to avoid on the Superliner is roomette 2 as it is adjacent to the upstairs bathroom, coffee station, and attendant's room.
Love your channel . . . but we mostly had GOOD experiences with the two day/evenings we used the Family Bedroom #15, out of the 7 o'nites we did during June'22.
Less expensive than the full Bedroom . .. Way more roomy to turn around and store luggage than the Roomette.
Biggest plus was being able to watch the scenery from BOTH sides of the train;
Being on the 1st level meant we could (depending on the stop) clean the outside windows, also proximate luggage rack storage and the bathroom/showers were at the other end of the same level.
It's NOT over the wheels, but yeah the two lower-level FBedrooms are "toward" the wheels. We didn't find it particularly noisy.
Lower berth in FBedroom is wide enough for two . . . just saying.
Yes, the FBedroom #15 (vs. the FBedroom reserved for Disabled, which is on the opposite side past the bathroom/showers) is right next to Roomettes 13 & 14, although the closet space is between the FBedroom and Roomette 13 . . so some sound buffering there.
But if we all had our doors open, we were basically in the same space, so your point is valid.
Thanks for the info. I used it to call Amtrak and switch to a different roomette. I didn’t get your top pick, but I’m not in #14 anymore. I watched your other video about seats in coach as well. I couldn’t get a sleeper for the longest portion of my return trip (Chicago to Los Angeles) so will be in coach, so will use your tips there too, to try to get at least some sleep.
I've made 4 amtrak trips. The last leg of the last one, i upgraded to a roomette on the zephyr.
It was plenty comfortable, and I'm not a little guy.
Though I was still tired when i got home at 5am, it was a lot easier on the body than a coach seat.
We were in room 14 and it was really as you described. We could hear the people in the family room for sure. The worst part of it was we saw the attendant once. My husband saw her upstairs and asked if she could come down and take our breakfast order. She never showed up and we never saw her again. No breakfast for us. We went to the dining car for the rest of our meals. At least the scenery was great!
I have had a family room a few times and always enjoyed it. I never had any problem with sounds from other rooms.
Hi Guys...yes, this one is so helpful. I'm going in my first long distance train trip on October 14. Your explanation of the room numbers and what level of a Superliner your Roomette is on sure took care of my concerns.
Our room numbers are 8,3,5 and 2.
I feel like we won the roomette lottery!
Thank You both, you are enormously helpful!
Matt Josephson
near Nashville, TN
Awesome! Have a great trip!
Good advice. However, nothing was said about the bedroom. Although in my opinion, when it comes to the bedroom, the price is high but extra convenient.
Since booking my upcoming trip to New Mexico, I've religiously watched your channel. I just got my tickets which I booked through Amtrak Vacations, and thanks to your suggestions in this video, I have requested a different roomette. I'm in numbers dun...dun...DUN! 13 AND 22! I don't think I'll mind the transition car, but being next to the bedroom, I can't. Hopefully, they'll accommodate my request. Again, thanks for your excellent and informative videos!
That transition car will guarantee you a nice bathroom nearby, so that's good!
I've always adored the lower level roomettes. especially though Colorado, you get to see so much wildlife and the scenery is awesome. Lower level is also better for people who get motion sickness from the swaying. Also Once they put me into the Handicap sleeper car and it was horrible, the smell of the breaks was overpowering and nauseating and it went on for two days ugh! worst trip I have taken.
Always a wealth of travel information. Thank you
Yea! I got roomette #2 to and from for my upcoming trip… Thank You and Happy Travels…
I was by myself on Capitol Limited in the family bedroom. So great for space. Windows don't mean much since most of trip is at night. But you are correct, very hard sleeping due to wheel noise. Definitely would take ear plugs next time.
I had room 12 on the Sunset Limited and liked it, because since the aisle was a dead end there was less passing foot traffic, and I never had to wait for a toilet or the shower. I didn't find the view to be that much poorer. As for the Viewliners I've never had a complaint about the Viewliner I, and I rather like the idea of having the toilet right in the room. I onlu wish the Crescent would return to "traditional dining".
Amen, brother, We have to use the Eagle for the first segment of any trip, it also is treated like a rented mule. FLEX garbage, no Sightseer Lounge... It is so sad too see such a venerable train as the Crescent treated in this manner.
Very relevant and informative video. I am going to take my girlfriend back to Chicago where she's from on a train and this glimpse into the intricacies of Amtrak are great. I want to get the best experience for her that I can (cost irrelevant) and this gave me all the info I needed; you are awesome!
This is definitely the most informative channel for newbies ive never been on a ship cruise or train ... im thinking about taking a trip from houston texas to the west coast maybe up the coast then across the states at the top or the middle route then back down to houston texas
I had Roomette No. 13 on the auto train and I liked it. I prefer the lower level, it's less busy and the bathrooms are nearby. The family bedroom next to me was occupied by an elderly couple who were very quiet, so I don't remember it being particularly noisy.
Great info for future trips! Cheers!
The HVAC intake vent always sucked in odors from the braking system, so every time the train slowed or stopped, my lower level roomette stunk for a few minutes. This was annoying at night when I was in the room for many hours.
Aside from that, and the noise from the wheels on the tracks, I liked the lower roomette because there was virtually no foot traffic.
What about bedrooms A - E?
How come you did not give any suggestions about those rooms? Please consider this in your next video?
The chance they may have not gone on them or experienced those.
Thank you so much for this. I am very sick and medical tourism is killing me. Flying is literal torture. I am taking the train for my actual surgery and back and I am really worried about it. This helped me know what to look for.
So, when you talk about the coach air being torture it is the size of the seats? Cause one thing to be aware of, in the trains I have been in, the bumpiness was akin to light to moderate turbulence on an aircraft except it is almost always going on. It is not smooth. The seats are IMO WAY better than coach air though. and of course you can get up and walk though, you will need to stabilize yourself when you do because of the rocking.
@Gouranga56 the size of the seat is an issue, but uprightness itself is the main problem. I would be uncomfortable sitting up in an arm chair at home for more than 30 min. So a ride in coach for 18 hours is not possible for me. The bedroom, where there is a bench to lie on the whole time is the way we are going.
Im worried about the "turbulance" a car ride on a bumpy road can be miserable for me. I'm hoping that if I am laying down, the bumps wont bother me so much.
I took Zephyr from Galesburg to Denver. Got a great deal on room A with Bid Up. I was so excited.
The movement of the train was similar to the second or two when a plane lands. You sway back and forth and it’s bumpy ALL night long!
I felt terrible all day after the trip. Thankfully I had a hotel to go to immediately because if I had to wait from 8am until check in.
We looooove the family bedroom! There is plenty of room for luggage and having windows on both sides make it our preferred room.
We have had roomettes and sleeper, or the one with the couch that makes into a bed, shower and toilet...those were fine but the worse one was the handicap room.Right behind the engine or baggage car..every bump or anything that was thrown up against the bottom of the train was felt. It was noisy and the ride was rough...never again..
I would like to add that bedroom A on superliners in a non-connecting room so you don't get all the rattling noise from the connector door. I think its quieter too. The down side is that due to it being at the end of the car, the hallway protudes into the room and cuts out considerable space. The bathroom opens toward the cabin door, not towards the window. There's zero space between the sink and lower bed at nightime so getting to the bathroom can be a problem. I still prefer this room because it is quieter.
Thanks for sharing that!
Gotta have bedroom A. You can hear everything in the other bedrooms. Very annoying.
Have you all ever used a travel mats either foam or air filled to provide additional padding for the thin mattresses. I’m considering getting one since I travel round trip twice a year in a roomette from L.A. to Texas and back. I’m always kind of sore after sleeping. Great videos, keep up the great work.
I loved the family bedroom when traveling with my kids. As for view and such, we tended to spend a lot of time hanging out in the lounge car, playing games, watching the world roll by and enjoying the freebies.
What freebies are there? Thx
@@YeshuaKingMessiah in those days on the AutoTrain free coffee,tea,hot cocoa, soda and snack packs of chips and such, IIRC.
Hi . I went to California from N.Y. I loved it and would definitely go again. I watched all of your videos before I left . BTW do you have a twin sister ? I received a newsletter from my union in N.Y. And there was a woman in the newsletter that looks exactly like you…exactly . I think your channel is great . I was able to relax and enjoy myself on the train . Thank you ❤
I find the family bedroom to be the absolute best room simply because it has windows on both sides. You never have anyone walking in front of your room through the aisle.
I think I'll book that family room and we are only 2 people but we like comfort.
Im so glad i stumbled onto your channel!! Its always been my dream to ride the California zephyr from the east coast to California but now i have health issues using a walker and wheelchair so i think i will look for one on the lower level thanks for the info!!😊😊😊
A few years ago, a friend & I took Amtrak from L.A. to Flagstaff and we had seats in the middle near the stairs (for a smoother ride) and late in the night when we wanted to get some rest, the couple across from us wouldn't stop talking AND had their bright overhead light ON! So, we moved to the rear of that car where it was empty but then we were over the wheels where the car sways much more back & forth PLUS each time the slider door opened or closed as someone passed through the hallway, the sounds of the rails, etc. was pronounced! TRAINS.
Thanks for the tips. Now I know to aim for room 2-8.
Lower level rooms also feel less sway when you move. Trains tend to rock as they roll, and that sway is more noticeable in the upper level. Track noise is also more noticeable in the lower level, but as a train lover, that was music to my ears.
Leg 1 Walnut Ridge to Chicago (Bedroom)Texas Eagle
Leg 2 Chicago to Pittsburgh (Roomette) Capital Limited
Leg 3 Pittsburgh to Harrisburg (Business Class) Pennsylvanian
i was on a 3 leg trip from Walnut Ridge AR through Chicago to Pittsburgh and eventually got off at Harrisburg... my first leg was the family room and i dont know if it was superliner 1 or 2 BUT i was right behind the locomotive that trip... every crossing that was not "no horn zone" i got to hear approach and through put horns haha. to me it wasnt nearly as annoying as it might be for most i mean i just saw it as part of the ambiance of traveling by rail... i do NOT have the kind of history traveling with Amtrak as the two in the video but i have tried coach roomette and family room... coach (for me) was just a non starter... it reminded me of the days when i had to travel by greyhound... lol a ton of people crammed into an open car... yeah no thanks... i spent ALOT of my trip walking the train or hoping there was a car that had the bubble window looking out over the top of the train haha
The roomette is really best for my personal travel type... its not totally private for exactly all the reasons you guys point out in the video but its private enough for me... so 9 times out of 10 when i book it is a roomette for me
the bedroom i got the one trip was more or less just to try it out... what i LOVED about the bedroom is you fold out a bed and you have the option of looking out either side of the train so that was a plus in my book. the roomette you are limited to one side while you are in it...
That last leg of my trip aboard the Pennsylvanian passes through the famous Altoona horse shoe turn :). it really is something to see and experience ❤️ actually there is a small rail museum/park where folks can stand and watch trains make the loop going east or west :). i still havent driven up that way to see it from the ground but have seen it several times riding the rails back and forth between harrisburg/pittsburgh! ❤️
anyway i wanted to say thank you for the "room education" and it will definitely affect future bookings for me. Take care
Great information, you constantly give me more ideas and helpful hints for our anniversary train vacation coming up in Spring 2025. I just read a post that I can book it 11 months in advance, is that what you'd do?
Thanks, yes we would book as soon as possible
@@GroundedLifeTravel thank you ❤️🚅🚉❤️
Went by train from L.A. to Boston and back last year, and had a roomette on both LAChicago legs, #21 going east, #13 going back. Didn't have any problems with either room, luckily. I think both had the same type of bathroom (with shower connected). One issue I did have was an apparent allergic reaction to the hand soap Amtrak had in the bathrooms.
Was a novel experience, but I opted for flying when I went out there again this year.
I ride Amtrak at least twice a month from Tennessee to different States do to hubby's job. I'm usually lucky i really prefer the roomettes because its only me at times i also like the two big windows, ive never had any problem with noise. If hubby's riding we get the single room with the bed & two chairs along with a bathroom and shower.
The best rooms on amtrak in my opinion would say are the roomettes on the viewliner ii because they are much cleaner and have more room. The viewliner roomettes are more quieter than superliners since viewliners are single level cars, they try to make them less noiser and make everyone comfortable, that is the advantage for passangers who come from New York City or any other city with viewliners.
Yes, the Viewliner ll are awesome, we always hope to get them
@@GroundedLifeTravel I live in New Jersey and I see several Amtrak viewliner trains passing by in my town Harrison which is the suburb of Newark. They consist of Siemens acs-64 electric locomotives which are between New York City and Washington DC, and the GE Genesis p42 diesel locomotives from Washington DC to either Chicago, New Orleans, or Miami. The trains also consist of amfleet ii, and either viewliner i or viewliner ii sleeping cars, viewliner ii dining cars, and viewliner ii baggage or dorm cars.
A good educational lesson for everybody!
Thanks!
Question about Roomettes 9 & 10. Do you hear more of the doors opening and closing in those roomettes?
I was on the California Zephyr in May. I made my reservation on Nov 22. I was supposed to be in car 532 room E but got room H. I didn't know about the change until I stepped onto the train. The cars that I passed through all had letters, not numbers. You left out room H which is the dirtiest room on the train because of its location. The trip was interrupted by a washout so they bussed us five hours from Denver to Grand Junction. They did give me a total refund for the Zephyr trip after a couple of emails. The next trip will be on The Canadian.
The letters are bedrooms, the numbers are roomettes
Thank you for the clarification.
In a Superliner sleeper, I usually try for roomettes 9 or 10, which are across from each other at the end of the car furthest from the bathroom and attendant's room. I always find them to be very quiet (only sharing one wall with another roomette instead of two walls), and nowhere near the noise in the center of the car where the bathroom, coffee/water station, stairs, etc; are located. And really, it is just a few steps down the aisle from the bathroom when I want to use it, and if it is occupied, there are three more just downstairs.
I agree that the worst roomettes are the two that share walls with the Family Bedroom, which is the worst Superliner room altogether. I have never stayed in the Accessible/Handicapped bedroom, and have not tried to because I don't want to tie it up f a person who needs it is trying to book a room.....having said that, I rarely see anyone using that Accessible bedroom, except that it is often used by the attendant for storage or as his/her office when not busy helping a passenger.
The Transition Sleeper car can't be all that rare, but it might be rare for regular passengers to be assigned a room in it. This car is put on every train that has a baggage car AND Superliner passenger car, because its special design has the high level connecting door (to match the Superliner cars) at one end, and a low level connecting door (to match a Viewliner cars or baggage car), and the crew needs this to pass between all non-locomotive cars on the train. It may be that mostly only the conductor uses this special car to pass through. Certainly the Transition Sleeper car is used by the crew (conductor, cafe car attendant, dining car staff, and sometimes the train police) as their own sleeping and office accommodations. I have never seen a train west of Chicago that did NOT have a Transition Sleeper car. Depending on how many train staff are expected to be on the train consist, some of their roomettes might be unused, and then AMTRAK makes those available to regular sleeper passengers. I have heard that they are the quietest sleeping accommodations on the train, because most of the time, hardly anyone is in them except for at night, and then those crew are sleeping. And yes, I have heard that the restroom/bathroom/shower situation in the Transition Sleeper can be different, and sometimes less than optimal, because there is no attendant assigned to look after those facilities. And, the lower level is supposed to be off limits to passengers; that is the crew's private area and office area.
Room 2 is great because the coffee is right there. 🙆🏻♀️ But I like to stay downstairs because there isn’t a lot of foot traffic plus it’s easy to step on and off easily although I don’t mind the transition car either.
We had a roomette on the Texas eagle last month on the lower level. It was hard to rally asleep, especially going over the road crossing.
Great job, as usual! We’re on the Silver Meteor, WAS to ORL, car 9710, room 1 in January, 2024. Any concerns with having room 1?
Not at all, it's a Viewliner so less differences than the superliners
Bedrooms on the Superliner have some negative aspects. Bedroom "A" is very cramped, had one several years back in swore I'd never ride in one again. The downside is the john/shower door does not open fully and generally the room is cramped when compared with B through E. Bedroom E is over the entrance door on the lower level and depending which way the car is faced can be opened at all hours of the night if the platform happens to be on that side, most are on the right on the Southwest Chief that I take. Doors are normally slammed shut because of the waterproof gasket. This coming spring I'll be in 11 on the Southwest Chief. Although I have a bum hip the stairs are not a problem as there are handrails on both sides, I just take it slow and declare it 'one way', mine! Really like Amtrak and it is a great way to travel, sure beats flying...
So true with that Superliner room Pic. Many times I had had to call amtrak to get my room changed after I made my reservation and find they put me in 11 or 12. Can't ride thatvlower level where the bathrooms and showers are
We prefer upper level too
This month I took my first train ride in Coach. What a disaster! Could not find a decent bathroom and I did your advice and searched the entire train (not the sleeper cars as they don't allow that Lol).... If I take a train again I will splurge the extra cost to a sleeper roommette!!
I just didn’t shower the 3 days I spent cross country in coach.
Try a bus cross country instead. You’ll love the train! Lol
@@YeshuaKingMessiah I go crazy when I don't get a shower every morning, I don't know how most people go as long as they do! But I did manage!
Thanks for those great pointers. Going to take my first trip in a couple of months.
Woohoo! I'm booked in Roomette No. 2 on the Zephyr next February!
Hi, I noticed you didn't mention the roomettes on the Cardinal from Charlottesville VA to Chicago. My husband and I traveled that route several years ago and were dismayed when we saw the toilet was in the roomette! Unfortunately, the years (and children) had "broadened my horizons" and I found the toilet too small to comfortably use. I had hoped that these cars had been retired, but am worried that the trip I am taking in a couple of weeks will present the same problem. I want to take that route for the scenery through the New River Gorge, so I guess I'll just put up with it if the roomettes are still the same.