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That's the only route we've been on where the staff went around and gave people time slots to rotate in and out of the observation car. Have you seen them do that?

@inthegreatwide they didn't do that but they made several announcements that you had to share. " The tables are for 4 people, not 1 not 2 not 3. " As well as Please share and make friends.

Nice! Where will you be cruising?

@ it’s a lot of locations but I think it was Costa Rica Panama Aruba and I forgot the rest

@@ZidaneOmatseye161 Nice! Costa Rica and Aruba have been getting higher on my list. We haven't been to Panama yet either, but I have to admit I know close to nothing about it 😬 12 days is a pretty long cruise though! I'm looking forward to getting back to the Caribbean and I'd love to hear your favorite places you go 😎

@@inthegreatwide I haven’t been either actually

I hope you have a lovely time with your nephew! Are you taking it all the way to Seattle?

We haven't been on the Crescent yet, but I am all for a bar on a train 💯 I'm glad to hear you had a good experience 🙂

This makes me so happy to hear, thank you! You are going to have SO much fun! Where else are you going on your cruise?!

Hi there 👋🏻 Sorry for the slower-than-usual response; we've been on a cruise for the last 4 days. I haven't recently received an email about a flash sale for the USA Rail Pass and their website is showing it at the normal price of $499 now, so I hope you were able to buy it on the sale you saw! To answer your question though, yes, that is exactly the kind of travel that the USA Rail Pass is made for. There are a lot of limitations though and I know it can be confusing, so we made a guide breaking all of it down that you can watch here: ua-cam.com/video/Ge6y5kvAfbw/v-deo.html Let me know how it works out for you! 🚂🧡

We've never had anyone check the size or weight of our carry-on bags, so you shouldn't have a problem taking it on the train beyond your own physical ability of picking it up. However, the Silver Meteor and the Floridian both travel that route, and both allow checked luggage, so you can just check your suitcase anyway. Checked luggage needs to be less than 50lbs though. I hope that helps! I'm very interested to know what cruise line you're taking that's only allowing you 1 bag, if you don't mind sharing. I've never heard of something like that before.

That depends on your dates and how much luggage you have, plus Amtrak travel is WAY comfier than on a plane 😉 But a lot of people enjoy taking the train for the scenic views that you can't get on flights 🚂

We certainly aren't afraid to offer constructive criticism to Amtrak (or any other company), because that's the only way that they can hope to improve, and other people deserve to know what to realistically expect when they're spending their money 💯 I agree that Amtrak could do better with cleaning the windows, because those views are the whole point of taking the train. The windows are generally fine and I understand that they're going to get dirty throughout the journey, but there has certainly been a few times when we've wished they would get cleaned but there's nothing anyone on the train can do about it. Amtrak could schedule a window cleaning at one of the fresh air stops on the really long routes to enhance the guest experience. I actually think it would be really nice all around, because you could get an extra long fresh air break (which you really need on the train) and then you'd come back to clean windows!

@inthegreatwide Thank you, and I agree. I was not suggesting that you were afraid to offer criticism. I was actually surprised that y'all even mentioned the dirty window issue! I'm in several Amtrak fb groups, and whenever anyone dares to bring up an opportunity for Amtrak to improve, they are attacked. I've seen some really rude remarks. The general consensus is to accept any gaps in service or don't ride Amtrak. You can't really care about the success of Amtrak if you reject constructive criticism.

@@greeneggslamb9336 Yes Amtrak riders are a very loyal group 😆 We've gotten our share of backlash when we've said we don't like a specific route or something like that, but life isn't all sunshine & rainbows! Sometimes things just don't live up to your expectations - or worse, the company's own marketing - & people deserve to know the truth before they spend their hard-earned $$$ on anything. It's important to be reasonable, but it's also reasonable to expect a good experience!

There are a few factors to whether or not BidUp is available for your trip, but assuming you're using the USA Rail Pass, then no, it's never been offered to us in that scenario. Let us know what other Amtrak questions you have; we're happy to help 🙂

Thanks! I am planing my trip using USA rail pass and probably my main issue is how to balance resting well and travelling overnight and long distances. My question now would be how long was your longest trip over night and realistically how well or bad can you sleep in coach seats? 😅 Just your opinion on that could be very helpful 🙏

​@@MrLuisiyow That's definitely a concern for a lot of people on Amtrak. The longest time we've spent on a train was around 46 hours on the Empire Builder, which we made a video about here: ua-cam.com/video/Y74-cn86Yp4/v-deo.html We've taken all the other east-west cross-country routes too though & had a better time. We have tons of videos on our Amtrak playlist, if you haven't seen them already. Here's a link: ua-cam.com/play/PLRIKGdqms2y2JkAoYN-aymF1vsmMekOUO.html It's on our list to make a video about sleeping tips for Amtrak coach, because it can be tough at times but there are lots of things you can do to make it better. Since we haven't gotten to make that video just yet, here's a few of our top tips to get you started: 1 - Take an eye mask, neck pillow, and earplugs (or headphones you can sleep with) 2 - Take a blanket or coat because coach seats can get pretty cold at night 3 - If you get to choose your seat, pick one that is not near the front or back of the train car, and pick one that isn't right across from the stairwell on double-decker trains. That will keep you further away from safety lights, noisy doors, & high foot traffic areas. 4 - Take toiletries onboard so you can brush your teeth, wash your face, etc. Whatever you would usually do for a bedtime ritual while traveling. We also take a change of clothes and baby wipes to freshen up with in the morning. I hope that helps! You're not going to get the best sleep of your life on an Amtrak train, but those basic things will make it a hell of a lot better. Let us know if you have more questions 🙂🚂

Yep! We have done that several times on several routes.

I wouldn't say that tips are expected on Amtrak, necessarily, but we've always ridden in coach, so our experiences in that regard are limited to the cafe car. I'm not sure if private room attendants expect to be tipped. It is a service industry standard in the USA to tip a server or bartender at a restaurant and the room cleaning staff at a hotel, so I could understand if private room attendants expect tips on Amtrak, as they bring you meals and whatnot. Has that been your experience on Amtrak?

@inthegreatwide Thanks for your response. Everything I'm reading and watching definitely encourages tipping, especially for sleeper car passengers. My first trip is planned for next month.

@@greeneggslamb9336 Oh, your first Amtrak trip! That's exciting! I would love to hear more about where you're going and what route you're taking if you'd like to share 🙂 I'm always interested to hear about the trips people plan on Amtrak and why they chose to take the train instead of flying or driving 🚂

So glad you found it helpful! Please let us know if you have any questions because someone else is always wondering the same thing but sometimes no one will ask the question! We're happy to help however we can 🙂

Hello 👋🏻 This is a good point that I don't think we've talked about on our channel yet. You're right though, the AC really blasts on Amtrak trains and having a blanket or coat at night in coach is a must, no matter the season. In our travels on Amtrak during autumn, we have been comfortable on the trains during the day, but maybe a little chilly if you're like me and are cold all the time. It's good to pack layers like a tshirt, sweater, and jacket so you can adjust as necessary to be comfortable. We've yet to ride an Amtrak train in below-freezing weather, so if anyone else reads this and has some insight about that, please share!

@@inthegreatwide Thanks for the reply. I can pretty much assume to pack a blanket year round on Amtrak. When I traveled in the 80's they did not have the ac outlets along side the wall like they do now. So go to Walmart and get a throw blanket that is heated and just plug it in and drift off. The ones Walmat has is very small but heats very well.

@@MissJuneBennett Oooo a heated blanket is a good idea! We try to pack as light as possible so we've always just used our coats as blankets on Amtrak, but a heated blanket would be so nice if you have space to pack one 😊

Hi there John 👋🏻 The thruway bus connection that Amtrak offers to connect Emeryville and San Francisco is still included on the USA Rail Pass as of now, if you want to use your rail pass legs that way. I personally don't think it's a good use of the legs, but if you have the legs to spare and the USA Rail Pass is still more cost effective for your trip than buying the tickets individually, then go for it.

Interesting! I can't say I've ever had liverwurst, but I'd be down to try it 🙃 I still think it's weird that raw onions was so important to the bar that it was part of their motto once upon a time 😆 But thanks for the insight!

Hello 👋🏻 Yes we still answer every question that comes in on all of our videos 🙂 It sounds like you have a lot of questions about Amtrak's USA Rail Pass, which we did a whole guide for here: ua-cam.com/video/Ge6y5kvAfbw/v-deo.html In that video, we talk about what Amtrak counts as a "leg", how many you get with the USA Rail Pass, and the pass' restrictions. You CAN do San Antonio to Pomona in one leg, but Pomona to Portland would be a minimum of 2. Take a look at that video I linked above and if there's still some confusion, please let us know and I'd be happy to help! We also have a playlist for all of our Amtrak videos here on UA-cam that includes more short Q&A videos like this one, along with route reviews, a food & drink guide, and some of the views you can see along the way, so you can probably find answers to a lot of your other questions in there 🚂 Here's a link to that playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLRIKGdqms2y2JkAoYN-aymF1vsmMekOUO.html

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The Erie Canal just looks like a creek and you can’t see both side of the route, so odds are you’re seeing the wrong side especially from roomettes.

@@RobinWilson-p9k This is something that people often don't think about when it comes to roomettes, so it's a really good point! Especially on routes like this one that don't have an observation car, which I still think is weird for this route. Have you taken other Amtrak routes around this region? What would you recommend?

I've heard that the Canadian trains are amazing but expensive, so I can only imagine what a 90-hour train ride must have cost you 😬 I bet it will be a spectacular journey though! According to Indeed, Amtrak attendants on the trains are paid an average of $21.45/hour, and while that is more than what servers in restaurants are paid per hour, it is actually less than what servers in restaurants make per hour after tips. Obviously I can't speak to the accuracy of Indeed's information or to how Amtrak pays their employees who are on trains for 30+ hours at a time (as in with overtime, meals, and that kind of stuff), so take from that what you will. I would love to hear more about this long route you're taking through Canada if you're open to sharing 🙂 We haven't done Canadian rails yet but it's definitely on our list!

There are a few reasons why the trains can take longer than driving: - They make many stops along the way - The rails aren't designed for high-speed travel - Amtrak doesn't own the rails and therefore cannot upgrade them. This also means that the freight trains get priority use, so sometimes Amtrak trains have to stop and wait for them to pass. - It's meant to be a scenic train ride. Most people are taking the train because they want to see more of the countryside instead of flying. I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to with the mention of NYC to DC being less than 2 hours. Are you talking about flying? That train route takes 3-4 hours, which means it can sometimes be faster than driving.

SF and LA are 600 miles apart. DC is much closer to Ny

@@TohaBgood2 Yes that's definitely another part of it. Cities in the Northeast are all way closer together

It sure was hot that day (but not miserable). I always love the puffy white clouds 🙂

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Not sure what all this is supposed to mean but thanks for watching & commenting 😆🙃

Hi there 👋🏻 It depends on how big your bag is and which train route you're on. If you're referring to a rolling carry-on size suitcase, then it will be able to fit on the overhead shelf on a lot of the trains, but maybe not all of them (for example, I imagine having trouble on the Northeast Regional, a very popular commuter-style train). There are luggage racks near the doors where you can put suitcases that don't fit on that overhead shelf, but most of the time those items will be out of your line of sight, so we highly recommend a TSA-approved lock in that case. When we have a large suitcase that has to be carried onto the train with us, we try to look for seats at the back of the coach train car because there's usually a little space behind the seats where a large suitcase can go. I hope that helps! Please feel free to ask any other questions that come up 🙂

Hello 👋🏻 You'll be taking Amtrak's newest train route: the Floridian! Yes, you'll have the option to check your bags for this ride, which is scheduled to take just under 5 hours. However, I'm not sure when you're going, but Tampa has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Milton, which has also affected some Amtrak services in the area. I hope your trip is still at least a couple months out so you don't have to deal with all of that ❤‍🩹

@@inthegreatwide awww…… Oh no，im coming in February 2025~ Only few months to go… hopefully it fixed…

@@Fatih_Spa_Wellness I sure hope things will be back to normal there by then, but if I were you, I would start researching into what's going on right now and how long recovery of the area is predicted to take so that you can change your plans if you need to. Hopefully it won't come to that, but it's better for you to look into and know what to expect than to just show up and possibly be disappointed.

Hi, we're not looking for SEO advice. Thanks.

What is SEO?

@@greeneggslamb9336 I think you meant SEO, to which the simple answer is that it's how search results get ranked by platforms like Google when specific words or phrases are typed in.

@inthegreatwide It's what I meant. Corrected. Thank you!

Thanks for watching and leaving us a comment! Happy travels!

Hello 👋🏻 I'm not sure what you're talking about here. Is it something to do with the video?

Maybe this is weird to say, but I wish there was an easy way to learn more about the people in cemeteries. I am always humbled in cemeteries, thinking about the full lives that each person must have lived, full of hopes, dreams, fear, doubt, love... Obviously with this cemetery, the records are probably pretty scarce because of the time period, but still.

Hi there 👋🏻 We actually discuss the answer to your question in one of our recent Q&A videos! Here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/Gvl_KySfY0k/v-deo.html If you're still looking for some other clarification, please feel free to reach out to us and we'll help however we can 🙂

Hi there. This comment feels a little aggressive, so I'm going to kindly ask you to take it down a notch 🙂 We've had several people comment letting us know that they've had good experiences with Amtrak showers, so I'm glad that that is the case in (seemingly) most cases. We do not pretend to know everything, but we WILL continue to share the knowledge we acquire as we see fit. We've also received the feedback about the sound effects several times, and have already taken that into account for our newer videos 😉 I hope you have a good day.

@@inthegreatwide Um, my comment was not aggressive. You can't promote rumors that you have no personal knowledge of, because if it turns out to be wrong, then you are passing on misinformation. So if you decide to continue to do that, you will have to be called out on it. Thank you for making adjustments on the sound effects.

@@mikeymutual5489 ​ Hello again, your new comment feels even more aggressive than your "NO" in all caps in your first comment and calling the sound effects we used to use "nonsense", which was unnecessary. This is a friendly community and I am a friendly person, so please act accordingly. I specifically say in the video that the showers only having cold water is what we've heard from other travelers; I do not say "the showers only have cold water." So we are, in fact, sharing our own experience, because we say that that's what we have heard. There is a big difference between that and conveying rumors and/or misinformation. In addition, anyone who makes a comment on our channel about it now will get the same response I already gave you: that we have heard from many people since posting this that they've had good experiences with the Amtrak showers, so the people we heard had only cold water must have been dealing with a malfunction of some sort. The video cannot be changed once it's posted, but I'm happy to converse with anyone in the comments who expresses concern about it and clear things up according to our knowledge as of now, all of which (in this case) is still based on what we have heard from other travelers. We encourage everyone to participate in the comments on our videos so we can pool knowledge from travelers all over the world and correct or update our information, because once again, I do not claim to know everything or be perfect. I do, however, insist on kindness 🙂

@@inthegreatwide OK, then, snowflake...

If that's your thing, then maybe it would help make the trip more interesting!

Yes but all the rules we talk about in this video still apply

OOF I cannot imagine being in a submarine for literally 1 hour, much less 87 days! 😨 Thank you for your service. I'm glad you got to enjoy the awesome views from the train on your way home! Thanks for watching our video & joining us in the comments 🧡

Hi there! Excellent question; we've already been thinking about making a video dedicated to talking about this. We packed 10 days worth of clothes for a 27 day trip and made plans to do laundry at a few places we were staying along the way (friend's houses and hostels). We essentially packed 2-3 pairs of pants each and shirts that could be layered, so 10 "under" shirts (tshirts & tank tops) and then a few sweaters to wear over them when necessary. Since we had the under shirts, our sweaters could be worn a couple times before needing to be washed. That saved us a lot of packing space since we didn't have to take a sweater for every day. Then we each took 1 coat/jacket (coat for me because I'm always cold, jacket for Adam because he's always warm), 1 pair of sneakers (which were waterproof and we wore them every day), and 1 pair of sandals (because hostel showers). As for the suitcase vs backpack debate, I think that's a matter of personal preference, depending on how much stuff you need to take. We carry backpacks for our gear (laptops, cameras, etc), so all of our clothes have to go into suitcases. I also suffered a back injury last year, so now I'm on team suitcase as much as possible, but I know there are a lot of people out there who prefer the ease of traveling with just a backpack and not having a rolling suitcase. I think it just depends on your specific situation (how much stuff you need, where you're going, how long your trip is, how much you're moving from place to place, etc) and your personal preference. It's easy to travel with suitcases on Amtrak if that's your preference. I hope that helps! Please feel free to send us any other questions that come up 🙂

@@inthegreatwide thank you! My wife and I are headed to Boston from LA and doing stops along the way. Your videos have been super helpful as we prepare!

@@maxboyle1920 That will be quite a trip! We did that too, taking the Coast Starlight from LA to Emeryville, then the California Zephyr to Denver and then on to Chicago, then the Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh, then the Pennsylvanian to New York, and then the Northeast Regional to DC and then back up to Boston. Afterwards, we made our way all the back to LA too on different routes! We saw SO much of the country and it can be so cool as long as you know what you're getting yourselves into with the looooong train rides. Please feel free to send us any questions that come up as you continue to plan your trip; we're happy to help however we can 🙂

It's such a unique place! We're working on planning more national park trips for next year. What are your favorite parks?

Yay! Glacier National Park is high on my list - it looks SO incredible! I bet you're going to have a splendid time 🥳 If you don't mind sharing, where will you be taking the train from?

This is an EXCELLENT question! I totally understand wanting the convenience of booking everything in one go, but the thing that your relative (and everyone, really) needs to understand is that you will pay more for that convenience. If you're fine with that and can afford it, then yay! But that's not how we, personally, like to travel, because we like to customize our itinerary and have more control over it. With that being said, we have not personally used the Amtrak Vacation packages, but we did help Adam's parents book one to go to the Grand Canyon. They ended up being extremely unimpressed and said that if they were to go to the Grand Canyon again, they would do it on their own. They said the train ride wasn't scenic and they were bored half the time over the 2 night trip. They said they would NOT book with Amtrak Vacations again because the experience just wasn't up to par with the price, especially when compared to the money they could have saved by booking stuff on their own. I really hope that helps you make your decision! If you'd like to share more info about where you're trying to go, maybe we'll have more advice, but no pressure 🙂

@@inthegreatwide Thank you, this helps! My relative was actually looking into Grand Canyon as well, though I'm not sure which specific one. We may even pick something else entirely too, but for now that is all I know. All that information is definitely helpful, though I think my relative might still want to go for it. I think I will definitely mention paying extra for that convenience, since that will be very helpful to determine if we go that route. Also, very great points from Adam's parents. I know everyone's experience will be different, but this was very helpful!

@@dimanimatedtakes So glad we could help! For what it's worth, you could take the Southwest Chief Amtrak route to Flagstaff, AZ, and then rent a car from there to go to the Grand Canyon on your own, or I'm sure you could find a tour group that would take you from there on a bus or something. That way, you could get a similar train experience without shelling out a couple thousand dollars. It sounds like you're already looking into that, but I thought I should mention it just in case 🙂 I'd be very interested to hear what you end up deciding on too. I hope you have a wonderful time!

Thanks for watching!

Hi there, without specific examples, there is no way for us to improve from this feedback. We're certainly open to constructive criticism, so if you have it, please feel free to share 🙂

Nope 😉 We get this kind of question a lot so we did this other Q&A video about it: ua-cam.com/video/gf0PhFDe968/v-deo.html

Hello Steph! 👋🏻 This is a VERY popular question so we are looking into making a whole video about it, because the answer is a bit complicated. It depends on which specific train route you're taking, because there are several "routes" that run along that section of rail (they just start and end in different places further north/south). The most popular route is the Northeast Regional, which does not offer checked luggage, but yes, you can take your large luggage onboard with you in that case. Some of the other routes offer checked luggage but don't run as often as the Northeast Regional, so it all kind of depends on your schedule. That ride is only 4 hours though on the Northeast Regional, so keeping your luggage with you won't be a big deal. You can look for seats at the back of the train car (in coach), where there will likely be space behind your seats where you can store a large suitcase. Otherwise, there should be some shelves near the train car doors for luggage. I hope that helps! Please feel free to send us any other questions that come up 🙂

I would say it's room temp. It's definitely not chilled.

Hi there 👋🏻 This is a good question that is debated among train travelers, because some people say they've been on an Amtrak train that was oversold and had to stand or sit on the floor, and I personally have been on one of those trains maybe 10 years ago when going from Los Angeles to Orange County during rush hour (a very, very, VERY popular commute). That really only happened when passengers who have monthly or multi-ride passes show up without booking a ticket on that specific train (which is really only a thing for people who are using the trains to regularly commute), and I'm honestly not sure if it's still a problem, as Adam and I haven't seen that happen in recent years. You can find online forums where people talk about margins of over- or under-selling tickets on trains (just like airlines and hotels do) for different reasons, such as keeping something available to book for people of high status within their rewards program or keeping seats open for employees, etc. Unfortunately, Amtrak does not give a specific answer on this question. With that being said, your trip is going to be 9 hours. There is no way that THAT many people would be on your train the whole time. The best way to ensure you get the seats you want is to get to the station early and board as soon as the train arrives. Don't go running onto the train 5 minutes before it departs (which is what happened to me 10 years ago when I ended up standing on the train for 45 minutes during rush hour). I hope that helps!

Hello! Yes, luggage restrictions/guidelines are the same for all passengers, regardless of seating class.

We have several friends in Pennsylvania so I expect we will ride that route again. We were actually just on it this summer. Thank you for the recommendation! That's somewhere we probably never would have looked into without a suggestion.

@@inthegreatwide They have a little museum at the station that's operated by the Tyrone Historical Society. It has limited hours so you'd have to check that before you go.

@@bethdabruzzo7112 We love a museum. We'll have to look into Tyrone the next time we're planning a trip to Pennsylvania 🙂

First, I just want to say we LOVE Pittsburgh! We've visited twice and it's definitely somewhere that has surprised us with how much we enjoy it 🙂 When it comes to regional Amtrak trips, I suggest you take a look at what the tickets would cost if you were to just buy them individually and compare that to the cost of the USA Rail Pass. You might find that it costs less to buy the tickets individually if it's just a bunch of short trips 😉

@@inthegreatwide Thank you so much for the advice!! I'll definitely make the comparison!

@@bethdabruzzo7112 I'd be interested to hear what the result is! Using the trains to get around in the Northeast is a popular vacation option that I would love for us to do in autumn. Maybe next year!

Yay! These kinds of comments really make my day, so thank you. We have lots more videos about Amtrak if you're interested, and you can feel free to send us any questions you have as you're planning your trip. We're happy to help! Here's our playlist of Amtrak videos if you want to see more: ua-cam.com/play/PLRIKGdqms2y2JkAoYN-aymF1vsmMekOUO.html

@@inthegreatwide Oh, thank you. I've seen more than half of them. ❤️🛤❤️ So great, very applicable, and your insights and tips have made every Amtrak journey relaxing because I followed your homework. 🚉💆🏽‍♀️ What I haven't done yet -- and shame on me -- is read your blog. That changes as of this evening.👍🏼 Keep on inspiring us rail enthusiasts and long-haul riders with your well-researched and entertaining videos! I've already ordered a multipack of granola bars and a hot/cold tote to save a little dough and to stay healthy while on board. (Those stromboli from the café car menu, tho' ... 😋😛😜🤪) Thanks so much! 🤗

@@gabrielapaulinho1luv This is genuinely the nicest comment we've ever received 😭 Thank you so much. You've made my day! (also, I guess we'll have to try the stromboli at your recommendation - we haven't had it yet!)