A electric shaver or hair dryer, useful in a bathroom. In the early 1990s long before any of us had portable computers, laptops, tablets, or smart phones. No USB port is provided either. That Viewliner sleeper is more than twenty years old. At least Amtrak provided a electrical outlet. Why not use the laptops battery and not stretch the cord across your body? You can always use the toilet lid as a table to recharge the laptop. This isn't rocket science.
I absolutely love this little sleeper car. I’ve gotten lots of writing, thinking, meditating done in there. They bring ur meals if u don’t want to go to the dining car. The bed that pulls down is very comfortable. My favorite way to ride Amtrak. Tip! Make sure the curtain is sealed before u go to the bathroom 🥴
In 1994, I traveled with my family across almost twenty United States over a three week period. Most of that was by Amtrak in the sleeper cars, although I think the last leg back home [to Seattle] was by coach. I was not even twelve, and I really enjoyed it! Last year (2017), my parents took a more limited trip across the country, and both to and from were by Amtrak. They said that for them the novelty of riding a train [again] wore off after the ride out, and that the next trip they are planning for later this year (2018) will be by train but only one-way and then a commercial flight in the other direction. Truthfully, I would not mind traveling again by train cross-country, although as an adult now I may get bored of it. But the way I see it, train travel is far safer than air travel _even if_ delays are common and to be expected. (To be fair, they do the best they can but Amtrak must always yield to regular freight trains, and so there are bound to be delays no matter what!) Also, you have a lot more room to actually stretch and walk about (even if you travel by coach you are NOT confined to just that one car!), your luggage is less likely to get lost in complicated and elaborate building-sized automated baggage-sorting machines, and you have a bit more time to appreciate the scenery as opposed to zipping past it at almost 200mph at 30,000ft! (Yes, air travel has its own appeal, but train travel is a disappearing luxury specifically because taking more time to get there is part of the novelty.)
lemme put it to you this way: Plane VS Anything: Plane loses Train VS Anything: Train wins The only safety concern with trains you have to worry about is mostly negligence or natural disasters- the engineer(s) going too fast through a curve, not reading the railroad's signals properly, or a landslide. Beyond that, meh. Bring a book if you're easily bored... or a laptop. (I don't know how Amtrak deals with internet connections, so I don't know how different it is from mid-air internet connections.) YES, you WILL have to pay more for a train, and YES, it DOES take longer. But, again, the longer journey has its own advantages that the 'short' hop on a plane doesn't!
If anything a plane has more chance of delays. Train vs. Wind? Train wins Plane vs. Wind? Wind wins and the airport gets shit down due to cross wind Airport security lines? Not on a train Massive power failure shutting down not only one airport, but the airports that connect to it? Not with trains.
Not after Covid. My Lakeshore Limited trip in December had all kinds of food service and staff issues - like none on the trip out and very limited (meager snacks) on the way back. They even had trouble providing coffee, and nobody brought anything to my room.
@@PaulMcCannWebBuilder Problems are the norm now days. I can´t even get my mail (monthly bills) on time or even at all. Also Walmart can´t even fill and send a simple vitamin order of 4 in stock items to my home as ordered thru Anthem. Promised delivery is this day or that day but never shows, then they want to refund my money for the items when NO money ever exchanged hands. On and on. So problems are our norm. I think at least it seems by your comment an attempt was made on some items unlike Walmart or the USPS (problem is not local for USPS)
Wife and I traveled overnight from Wash. D.C. to Chicago in a roomette. The facing seating was not a problem and we had no inboard toilet. Clean toilet was two doors down. Shower and dressing room one floor below ( new soap and clean/pressed towels included. ) Take your own "private" beverage, if you wish, to consume in your room. Privacy and comfort is the key. Service friendly.
The night light can be turned off. Using the thermostat in conjunction with the fans and the vents under the lower windows is an efficient way to control the roomette's temperature. The toilet seat (not the toilet cover) is at an angle to make certain no excrement or even body parts touch the seat cushions. If two passengers (they must know each other; unlike a ship cruise, Amtrak does not arbitrarily assign passengers to roomettes or bedrooms) use the roomette then one steps out when the other is on the toilet (unless of course they do not mind using the facility in front of each other). The electric socket was placed near the sink mirror for electric shavers & hair dryers. Personal computers were not in use when the roomette was designed or manufactured. Yes, sleeper rooms (roomette, bedroom, suite) are expensive but your meals are included and if you have accumulated sufficient points on an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card then the charges are not noticeable to your bank balance! On a long distance trip a sleeper is absolutely necessary. I just returned from a Rochester, New York to Miami, Florida round trip in the sleeper with my lady friend. It is the only way to travel.
This is the best narrated, most comprehensive tour of a roomette imaginable. How didyou manage to keep the camera so steady while actively shooting up, down, sidewaysAND climbing steps etc? This should be a promotional film for the RR company. Bravo!
We wanted to take a 17-hour trip, because we've never done anything like this before, but I'd be sharing a room with my daughter... She's 20, and we've never seen each other pee since she was a toddler, and I'd like to keep it that way, haha. I also hae a relatively mild case of contamination OCD... Thanks for this tour! It's more helpful than you'll ever know!
I've shared this same Roomette with my 20-something son, and while it is close quarters, there are places one person can go while the other person "goes." You can go to the lounge car or observation car to get some space. It was never an issue. Plus there are other restrooms you can use instead of the one in the roomette if you prefer - like if you have to go in the middle of the night and don't want to disturb your roommate.
Great video! I've traveled in the Viewliner Roomette long distance several times and it's such a relaxing and pleasant way to travel, especially when comparing it to flying. I've always shared it with one of my parents and there's actually still plenty of room. We can even just about fit both of us on the bottom bunk to watch a movie or show. Not ideal for that, but you can do it. When you book ahead, getting a sleeper can often be comparable in price to flying economy. Plus, food's included and is always tasty!
@@_BrianFitz All bikes can be brought on as checked (in this case BOXED) baggage. Some trains have “wheel your bike right in and put it into our bike car (with racks)”. In fact, evidence indicates that space for the latter tends to sell out.
They already had portable PCs & laptops. However, these were were still relatively rare. The typical person who would use them would usually be a corporate-type or richer person who would usually fly.
My 104 year grandmother and I had one of these from Los Angeles California to El Paso, Texas a 15 hour trip.. She did great and liked it.. I did too. They are pricey.. but it was great using my lap top.. but I think if I was alone it would fantastic. But she did a great job handling the stairs and the whole trip. She can still move around for her . Our Roomette had a separate bathroom/shower all in one.
That is awesome. Just sleep with your head on the opposite side of the toilet. I am taking some wipes with me to freshen the place up when I get there. Not too expensive, either.
Wow. Thanks. I will be forced to ride on a train as my wife is extremely frightened of flying. We usually take the bus for longer trips and I never once considered to take a train. Looks much better than I hoped. I just wish my wife could overcome her fear of flying, which is far more safe than a car ride, which she does on a daily basis. Thanks again....great tour!
Thanks for sharing. I saw these rooms from the outside and always wondered how they looked inside. If I go by myself, I'm definitely taking a roomette.
Pricing for sleeper rooms may give you sticker shock. Roomettes are the smallest. Always remember full meal service is included in the sleeper pricing. Privacy and lie flat beds are the real perks of a sleeper room
I have not traveled by train since I was 11 years old. I'm now 60. I want to do it now, but in style. This video was great. Very informative. Thank you!
That is a fairly different cabin than I have ever had on the Empite Builder and Coast Starlight, which use Superliner cars. Never had a toilet / sink in my cabin. Bathroom was down the hall. Also the top bunk slides down instead of folding down on a hinge.
Yeah, I have a note buried in the description about that. Amtrak has 2 types of sleeper coaches: The double decker Superliner (what you rode in), and the single-level Viewliner. This is a Viewliner. They're less common and only used on routes in and out of Penn Station in New York City (since the Superliners are too tall to fit).
Battle Of Trenton, I have multiple experiences with Roomettes in both the Superliner and Viewliner sleeper cars. I have decided that I prefer the Superlinersleeper, at least when traveling by myself. The Superliner seats are wider and more comfortable. The Viewliner Roomettes lose a lot of space due to having the toilet and sink in such a small room. And then there is the 'grossness' factor.... you just gotta realize that the toilet is there in a tiny carpeted room with a passenger seat right next to it, practically touching the side of it, and you bed down right there as well, and you can bet that thousands of guys have stood in that room before you, trying to pee standing up on a swaying train, and you know Amtrak does not shampoo the upholstery and carpet after every trip. Let your mind ponder on that image and it's implications for a while. And all that just so the room passenger does not need to walk a few feet down the aisle a couple times a day to use the proper restroom. It is my understanding that Amtrak has come to the same conclusion, and is eliminating the toilet and sink from Viewliner Roomettes as they renovate these older cars.
You did an excellent job. You covered the entire roomette and all of the features and every detail, plus your video lets the viewer understand the size and layout of the roomette. Thanks for taking the time do this, and to do such a good job.
its worth it if its a long trip. Consider the cost of a hotel you aren't paying for plus the free meals and privacy. Riding coach on a train is pretty awful compared to the private room
ReviewsTechNow So, on July 31, i went on a Amtrak Coastliner i think its called, on business class, it was okay, although we did get pillows and wifi and seats that have resters
Actually, having the toilet in the room is very useful. A couple of years ago, I took the Silver Meteor down to Deerfield Beach with my then 5 year old. There were times when he was sleeping in the middle of the night when he wouldn't have made it to the commode in the middle of the hallway; he made it to the toilet in the room. While I would be hesitant about the toilet next to the bed in many situations, it can be very useful, especially if you are closely related to the person with you, ie., your own small child. The toilet bowl cover is really good at keeping the smells from escaping. In a worst case scenario, you can always bring a small can of Lysol and hang out in the Café Car for a couple of minutes. Also, as a sleeping car passenger, since Amtrak gives out complimentary orange juice and coffee, if you bring you own vodka, you can make your own screwdrivers!!! Sleeping car passengers can bring their own alcohol on board so long as it is only consumed within the compartment. The trip is very relaxing. I would suggest bringing a power strip with you as there are only two outlets in the compartment. Sleeping car passengers can use the Acela Lounge at Washington DC's Union Station and can leave their carry-ons there while waling around the station. Coach passengers have to pay for luggage storage at Union Station. You are also taken to the train directly from the lounge, thereby avoiding the hordes boarding from the gate. Much less stressful than flying and if you buy your tickets early enough, the price is very competitive (cheaper) than plane tickets at Christmas. I paid a little over $800 rt. for the roomette two years ago. It's closer to $900 now. That assumes you purchase your tickets way in advance. That said, in my case the other passenger in the roomette is a child and pays 1/2 price for the seat fare. I also had the AAA/CAA discount. The roomette charge is the same whether one passenger travels or two. While the 22 hour journey to South Florida may seem long, remember that when you board the train in DC, you are immediately given dinner and then can go to sleep. Once you wake up, take a shower and eat breakfast, more than half the trip has already elapsed. Baggage claim takes about three minutes at the disembarking station which is much closer to my ultimate destination than the airport.
You're a good writer. I read everything. Felt like I was there with you. Thanx for the memories. Taking my first 24 hr ride soon in a roomette. So excited.
You brought back memories with your video. I have used those roomettes. I was by myself on business trips. I love the roomette, but I could never fall asleep in any room on any train. Train moves too much for me to fall or stay asleep. I loved the privacy and space one gets in these roomettes.
There are more than one public restrooms on the train. Pee in your roomette, shit elsewhere... Or if even that bothers you, do all of your business elsewhere...
I am SO glad I came across this video, I ALWAYS wondered how the inside of those cars looked. I want to ride Amtrak in future for fun and I did not know that I can get my own private room. I DON'T MIND having a toilet in the room because I am diabetic, I have to urinate very often.. Several times a day because my kidneys put in some overdrive! And I can't just make it down a hall and wait in line like normal people. So having my own toilet will be excellent! I really enjoyed this video! Thanks for sharing and the tour! 😉😘
My BF and I are still laughing about the "super awkward" toilet.. but it looks like a lot of people appreciate it, so yay Amtrak. Anyway I look forward to taking a roomette later this year!
Warning. The newest Viewliner cars have roomettes without the toilets in the roomettes. Why the change? Unknown. Perhaps it was a maintenance headache. People/riders either really liked them or hated them. Far swings in tastes.
Pretty dam cool. As a former U.S. Navy type who years back spent a total accumulated time of almost 2 years at sea living on an aircraft carrier while deployed with my fighter squadron that is pure personal space utter luxury. Very tempted to do the 98 Metroliner from Miami to NYP. Great video thanks. Hey if you had on a blue NASA flight suit could make people think you were on the International Space Station. Ha.
Good job on the vid. I could understand every word and there was no distracting music with it. I priced a roomette for the Coast Starlight but wasn't willing to pay 3X the coach fare to get one. I should have taken a pillow tho. The coach seats are nice and roomy but don't make good beds.
I grew up traveling on trains. I had a roomette when I got to an age to be trusted. There was only one bed back then, like a Murphy bed that almost covered the entire room. The seat was a bench that spanned the wall opposite the toilet. It was heaven to a ten year old. Parents were around the corner. I watched out the window all night.
Love the experience of taking the train.....its not for all the RUSH Rush folks who have to be there quickly all the time, its for people who want to enjoy the travel! Those who want to see the country, nit sit on top of or be sat on by others in planes. Its immensely relaxing.
Thanks for the in-depth review! If you decide to ride a room again, try turning off all lights, fans, and devices as they generate a lot of heat in a small space. Also lower bunk probably cooler since heat rises.
When you look at Amtrak's sleeper fares as one or two nights at a hotel along with a airline fare, the price is not so out of line with the food included in the diner. Even driving and camping out at camp grounds for one or two nights along with the additional costs of buying gasoline and buying fast food is comparable... Of course if you only look at the costs of a airline flight and not the additional hotel and food expenses, Amtrak fares are expensive...
We have an Amtrak Credit card that we payoff every month. We get free trips based on points every year. This year we went to NYC from LA in a double room with 2 bathrooms, Very comfortable. It was like a hotel on wheels. Free food too. They charge points based on number of zones. Most of the western USA is in one zone. We traveled all the way up the coast and back for very cheap.
Mom an I went from Alb. to Portland OR. and back in the late 90s cost was about the same as us driving. time was about the same except I wasn't driving 12 plus hours a day the meals weren't drive through and I did have to worry about someone breaking into the car at night it was safely at a friends house
Good thing there is a warning light to tell me the sink is down or else, how could I realise it is down? Now, if someone is in the upper bed, he is screwed. He might not realise the person in the lower bunk as forgot to raise the sink and out he's foot on it. That light should be on the top bunk, don't you think?
I used to take the Lake Shore Limited back in the 80's . Back then they still had the Art Deco Pullman cars.Very sweet ride. They should have saved them.
Thank you for this. I got a roomette on my last trip from Newark to Orlando. I wish I watched this video before I went. I discovered most of the features on my own but not all of them.
For anyone complaining about price for a roomette or a full sleeping room - a lot of people love riding trains just to ride the train. "The point of a journey is not to arrive." You are paying for the experience of the journey and for many of us the train ride in and of itself is why we are on the train, not as an alternate to flying or driving (although that certainly is a factor for many people). Just like someone driving Route 66. If your point is to get to LA from Chicago as fast as you can then fine. But the point of a Route 66 is to stop many times along the way and enjoy the journey itself. You want lower fares? Book early, remember that it includes meals and is your hotel room as well. When you add all that up, it's not bad.
3231952224 But you just can't hold your bowels either. If they gotta go....They gotta go. Heck! They need relief too. That's what the toilet is there for. Don't be afraid to use it! If you ate something that gave you the high pressure explosive runny diarrhea...THEN WHAT?? Just saying! Carry on. 😉
They have toilets and showers down the hall too. No windows in those and won't funktify your sleeping area. I think that is what all numbers might have been thinking but didn't say. Cuz they are all numbers ... I dunno.
I watched a ton of Amtrak videos and by far this one is the best. I was actually able to see the actual space between the seats and door. Unfortunately, traveling with my husband this would not work for us. Maybe a bedroom or back to coach. Thanks so much for a very accurate picture of the space. Also, I wonder why you cannot lock your door outside. I guess it means you must stay inside or take all of your valuables with you when moving about on the train. Thanks again.
Watching this it would be hard to decide which roomette I prefer. The Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA has a similar setup with no toilet and no upper window, but the seats are a bit wider and have more power outlets. Either way, I would recommend traveling this way to anyone who isn't in a rush to get where they are going. You'll enjoy scenery you'd NEVER see any other way. Watching this really makes me want to take a long train ride somewhere :)
Wrong. New EPA regulations in the 1980's required all railroad to install retention toilets in their passenger cars, locomotives, and cabooses. The toilets do not dump on the track.
in the UK we still have lots of trains with toilets that discharge straight to track, I work on signalling equipment and have to experience that waste every day, it is particularly unpleasant in the station area
I suppose some passengers still ignore the sign, "Do not flush toilet while the train is in station"? Sometimes US environmental regulations are among the first in the world, sometimes the last. Sadly, our current president does not believe that climate change even exists!
Close the curtain so no one would know whether you are in or out... Furthermore, don't bring anything on the trip you won't miss and can't replace easily anywhere... The most expensive thing I bring on a trip besides my clothes is a toothbrush...
That toilet is weird. It feels wrong having the toilet in the bedroom- are there other toilets in the carriage? On UK sleeper trains passengers can be put in a cabin with a random other customer of the same gender (unless they book both berths or pay a supplement for solo occupation/first class)- that would make the toilet even more awkward. No in cabin toilets or showers anywhere on the train though (will change when the new carriages for the Scottish services are complete). How long was your journey- the UK sleepers are short (the longest departs at 20:30 and arrives at 10:00 the next day). The carriages are not used for other services.
+Mark H Trip was about 18 hours. And yeah, the in-room toilet was a bit strange. There's no other bathrooms in the sleeper cars, but you could run down to the cafe car and use that one (or any of the other coaches).
some of the cross country routes have cabins with a seperate bathroom and shower. But even the ones like this video will have showers you can use. They just aren't in your room. The train I was on had showers down the hall from my room
Mark H, In the US, if you book a roomette it is yours unless you are traveling with someone. For a single traveler, it is fine. For two or three traveling together, then the bedrooms are more suitable. In the case of my travels, I'm in the roomette for nearly 24 hours. And sometimes longer if the train is delayed. If available, I even book one for the DC to Charleston WV part which is another 10+ hours of travel on top of the first 24. If not available on that segment, then Business Class. Returning it is Business Class from Charleston, WV to Charlottesville, VA then Amtrak bus to Richmond, VA, then roomette down to Miami. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and if late, another breakfast on Miami to DC on the Meteor and included in your roomette cost.
Also: Food was excellent. I was travelling from S. C. to upstate NY. Had a northern crew going up...service was OK and a Southern crew going South... Service was better than anything I've ever experienced. It shamed my little Yankee heart!
SINternet Entertainment Probably because it’s too expensive compared to the time it takes to get to your destination. Rail travel in the US could have been *the* way to travel but the pricing:speed ratio is too high.
The socket is near the sink because when the carriage was built the electrical item you would use most was the electric shaver and not your pc.
In other words it needs updating
they still would've had luggable PCs when the train was built such as the Commodore 64SX or Osborne 1 or Compaq Portable II
@@wclifton968gameplaystutorials have to upvote Commodore comments👍
@@christinacope562 lol
A electric shaver or hair dryer, useful in a bathroom. In the early 1990s long before any of us had portable computers, laptops, tablets, or smart phones. No USB port is provided either. That Viewliner sleeper is more than twenty years old. At least Amtrak provided a electrical outlet. Why not use the laptops battery and not stretch the cord across your body? You can always use the toilet lid as a table to recharge the laptop. This isn't rocket science.
I absolutely love this little sleeper car. I’ve gotten lots of writing, thinking, meditating done in there. They bring ur meals if u don’t want to go to the dining car. The bed that pulls down is very comfortable. My favorite way to ride Amtrak.
Tip! Make sure the curtain is sealed before u go to the bathroom 🥴
The curtain is optional.
I somehow find this way of travelling across the US on my own strangely appealing.
I had a room like this with my partner and out 6 month old from Chicago to Reno, it was fine and a nice way to see the country
In 1994, I traveled with my family across almost twenty United States over a three week period. Most of that was by Amtrak in the sleeper cars, although I think the last leg back home [to Seattle] was by coach. I was not even twelve, and I really enjoyed it!
Last year (2017), my parents took a more limited trip across the country, and both to and from were by Amtrak. They said that for them the novelty of riding a train [again] wore off after the ride out, and that the next trip they are planning for later this year (2018) will be by train but only one-way and then a commercial flight in the other direction.
Truthfully, I would not mind traveling again by train cross-country, although as an adult now I may get bored of it. But the way I see it, train travel is far safer than air travel _even if_ delays are common and to be expected. (To be fair, they do the best they can but Amtrak must always yield to regular freight trains, and so there are bound to be delays no matter what!)
Also, you have a lot more room to actually stretch and walk about (even if you travel by coach you are NOT confined to just that one car!), your luggage is less likely to get lost in complicated and elaborate building-sized automated baggage-sorting machines, and you have a bit more time to appreciate the scenery as opposed to zipping past it at almost 200mph at 30,000ft! (Yes, air travel has its own appeal, but train travel is a disappearing luxury specifically because taking more time to get there is part of the novelty.)
lemme put it to you this way:
Plane VS Anything: Plane loses
Train VS Anything: Train wins
The only safety concern with trains you have to worry about is mostly negligence or natural disasters- the engineer(s) going too fast through a curve, not reading the railroad's signals properly, or a landslide. Beyond that, meh. Bring a book if you're easily bored... or a laptop. (I don't know how Amtrak deals with internet connections, so I don't know how different it is from mid-air internet connections.)
YES, you WILL have to pay more for a train, and YES, it DOES take longer. But, again, the longer journey has its own advantages that the 'short' hop on a plane doesn't!
If anything a plane has more chance of delays.
Train vs. Wind? Train wins
Plane vs. Wind? Wind wins and the airport gets shit down due to cross wind
Airport security lines? Not on a train
Massive power failure shutting down not only one airport, but the airports that connect to it? Not with trains.
Most Amtrak trains have wifi, though it's by no means 100% reliable.
Very impressed with the engineering. It feels like a Transformers toy for adults.
You forgot to mention that your meals are included and coffee and newspapar, all brought to your room.
Now I really want to go on one of these. 😅😅
Now to find an Amtrak that goes to Penn Station from the Midwest. 😅😅
Don’t forget juice a wake up call!
Not after Covid. My Lakeshore Limited trip in December had all kinds of food service and staff issues - like none on the trip out and very limited (meager snacks) on the way back. They even had trouble providing coffee, and nobody brought anything to my room.
@@PaulMcCannWebBuilder Things will be going back to normal as more & more Americans get vaccinated.
@@PaulMcCannWebBuilder Problems are the norm now days. I can´t even get my mail (monthly bills) on time or even at all. Also Walmart can´t even fill and send a simple vitamin order of 4 in stock items to my home as ordered thru Anthem. Promised delivery is this day or that day but never shows, then they want to refund my money for the items when NO money ever exchanged hands. On and on. So problems are our norm. I think at least it seems by your comment an attempt was made on some items unlike Walmart or the USPS (problem is not local for USPS)
Wife and I traveled overnight from Wash. D.C. to Chicago in a roomette. The facing seating was not a problem and we had no inboard toilet. Clean toilet was two doors down. Shower and dressing room one floor below ( new soap and clean/pressed towels included. ) Take your own "private" beverage, if you wish, to consume in your room. Privacy and comfort is the key. Service friendly.
That would be a double-deck (Superliner) car-those roomettes have no toilet or sink, no top window, and no over-aisle shelf.
Did you guys bang in there?
Lmaooo Eric
how many floors are their on a train
@@yogavnture1 Two on ours.
Rarely thought of traveling by train but now it's definitely on my bucket list !
The night light can be turned off. Using the thermostat in conjunction with the fans and the vents under the lower windows is an efficient way to control the roomette's temperature.
The toilet seat (not the toilet cover) is at an angle to make certain no excrement or even body parts touch the seat cushions. If two passengers (they must know each other; unlike a ship cruise, Amtrak does not arbitrarily assign passengers to roomettes or bedrooms) use the roomette then one steps out when the other is on the toilet (unless of course they do not mind using the facility in front of each other).
The electric socket was placed near the sink mirror for electric shavers & hair dryers. Personal computers were not in use when the roomette was designed or manufactured.
Yes, sleeper rooms (roomette, bedroom, suite) are expensive but your meals are included and if you have accumulated sufficient points on an Amtrak Guest Rewards credit card then the charges are not noticeable to your bank balance! On a long distance trip a sleeper is absolutely necessary. I just returned from a Rochester, New York to Miami, Florida round trip in the sleeper with my lady friend. It is the only way to travel.
This is the best narrated, most comprehensive tour of a roomette imaginable. How didyou manage to keep the camera so steady while actively shooting up, down, sidewaysAND climbing steps etc? This should be a promotional film for the RR company. Bravo!
We wanted to take a 17-hour trip, because we've never done anything like this before, but I'd be sharing a room with my daughter... She's 20, and we've never seen each other pee since she was a toddler, and I'd like to keep it that way, haha. I also hae a relatively mild case of contamination OCD... Thanks for this tour! It's more helpful than you'll ever know!
I've shared this same Roomette with my 20-something son, and while it is close quarters, there are places one person can go while the other person "goes." You can go to the lounge car or observation car to get some space. It was never an issue. Plus there are other restrooms you can use instead of the one in the roomette if you prefer - like if you have to go in the middle of the night and don't want to disturb your roommate.
Answer below. One goes to the observation car or whatever when the other needs privacy. OR. Just let it rip; lol! 😎
Oh my gosh, when the train horn sounded...I've loved that sound since I was a kid. Makes me want to jump on a train right now and just go...anywhere.
Midnight train to Georgia? City of New Orleans? Orange Blossom Special?
Go for it, Pen! It’s a fun way to travel.
I love the sound of the train horn
I love when a train whistle or horn sounds!!
Great video! I've traveled in the Viewliner Roomette long distance several times and it's such a relaxing and pleasant way to travel, especially when comparing it to flying. I've always shared it with one of my parents and there's actually still plenty of room. We can even just about fit both of us on the bottom bunk to watch a movie or show. Not ideal for that, but you can do it. When you book ahead, getting a sleeper can often be comparable in price to flying economy. Plus, food's included and is always tasty!
I just rode on the AutoTrain from Orlando to Washington DC and stayed in one of these Roomette. It was wonderful.
How much did you pay and how many hours?
I love traveling on Amtrak!!!!!! I always ride in the private sleepers
Would There be enough room to bring a bicycle? Or is there somewhere else on the train to store a bicycle?
Brian Fitz if the Amtrak train has a baggage car there is room for bicycles!
@@Syr_aviation Hey, Thanks Mason!
@@_BrianFitz All bikes can be brought on as checked (in this case BOXED) baggage. Some trains have “wheel your bike right in and put it into our bike car (with racks)”. In fact, evidence indicates that space for the latter tends to sell out.
@@_BrianFitz Check it in the baggage car.
The outlet next to the mirror and sink was for blow dryers, electric razors and such. As you said, probably built before the computer age.
Not blow dryers-last one I used was marked "MAX 7 AMPS".
They already had portable PCs & laptops. However, these were were still relatively rare. The typical person who would use them would usually be a corporate-type or richer person who would usually fly.
I left my pc on overnight and came back to this...
Never knew my cat was into viewliner reviews
Lovasz Whats wrong with this video then?
I think Lovasz was concerned because the cat is obviously planning a trip without him knowing it.
Check your search history for "Kitty Porn"
Sips, is that you?
that's a sweet little room I have never tried long distance train travel but I think that would be something I would like to try
The idea of poopin' in the room is something I just have a hard time liking, but I guess it is convenient.
Beats being groped by TSA agents and squeezed into tiny seats for hours with little leg room.
Yeah and opting out of heavy toxic radiation!
Depends on where you are traveling. I would rather suffer through a 3 hour plane ride than an all day train ride.
@@manilowmaniak trains are cozier though
Airline bailout should have included better seating. I hate flying. Seriously always end up touching the person next to you.
The view from the sky is beautiful though 😍
My 104 year grandmother and I had one of these from Los Angeles California to El Paso, Texas a 15 hour trip.. She did great and liked it.. I did too. They are pricey.. but it was great using my lap top.. but I think if I was alone it would fantastic. But she did a great job handling the stairs and the whole trip. She can still move around for her . Our Roomette had a separate bathroom/shower all in one.
Cooooooool 🚄🚄🚄🌃⭐👵👵
That is awesome. Just sleep with your head on the opposite side of the toilet. I am taking some wipes with me to freshen the place up when I get there. Not too expensive, either.
Way cool. Wish they had these on the other coast. Can't beat having the in-room toilet!!!
Wow. Thanks. I will be forced to ride on a train as my wife is extremely frightened of flying. We usually take the bus for longer trips and I never once considered to take a train. Looks much better than I hoped. I just wish my wife could overcome her fear of flying, which is far more safe than a car ride, which she does on a daily basis. Thanks again....great tour!
This is the best video on Amtrak roomettes that I've seen, and I've seen quite a few.
Thanks for sharing. I saw these rooms from the outside and always wondered how they looked inside. If I go by myself, I'm definitely taking a roomette.
Lots of fun, I'd highly recommend it if you have the time. Just for the experience.
Pricing for sleeper rooms may give you sticker shock. Roomettes are the smallest. Always remember full meal service is included in the sleeper pricing. Privacy and lie flat beds are the real perks of a sleeper room
Great for a trip, includes meals, etc. Love it!!
Rick Richardson i
larger than the average Japanese apartment
beat me to it
LRCM make a good tiny house
I was just thinking that if I could buy the decommissioned ones I could make a little hotel out of train cars. They would need a shower though.
Aren't there showers in the lower level?
LRCM Nope it's not larger than even the smallest.
This is the best designed living space and residence room that has ever existed in history!!!
I have not traveled by train since I was 11 years old. I'm now 60. I want to do it now, but in style. This video was great. Very informative. Thank you!
Very well designed. Can’t wait to take a trip!
That is a fairly different cabin than I have ever had on the Empite Builder and Coast Starlight, which use Superliner cars. Never had a toilet / sink in my cabin. Bathroom was down the hall. Also the top bunk slides down instead of folding down on a hinge.
Yeah, I have a note buried in the description about that. Amtrak has 2 types of sleeper coaches: The double decker Superliner (what you rode in), and the single-level Viewliner. This is a Viewliner. They're less common and only used on routes in and out of Penn Station in New York City (since the Superliners are too tall to fit).
The Elevator Channel I have ridden, and slept, in the Superliners, but their roomettes are not nearly as nice.
sjpavur ... I agree with you. Those viewliners are newer cars than the superliners that really need some upgrading on the roomettes.
Battle Of Trenton, I have multiple experiences with Roomettes in both the Superliner and Viewliner sleeper cars. I have decided that I prefer the Superlinersleeper, at least when traveling by myself. The Superliner seats are wider and more comfortable. The Viewliner Roomettes lose a lot of space due to having the toilet and sink in such a small room. And then there is the 'grossness' factor.... you just gotta realize that the toilet is there in a tiny carpeted room with a passenger seat right next to it, practically touching the side of it, and you bed down right there as well, and you can bet that thousands of guys have stood in that room before you, trying to pee standing up on a swaying train, and you know Amtrak does not shampoo the upholstery and carpet after every trip. Let your mind ponder on that image and it's implications for a while. And all that just so the room passenger does not need to walk a few feet down the aisle a couple times a day to use the proper restroom.
It is my understanding that Amtrak has come to the same conclusion, and is eliminating the toilet and sink from Viewliner Roomettes as they renovate these older cars.
I bet you've just destroyed the experience for a lot of people pointing that out :-)
Very intresting, very cool that you have your own toilet.
You did an excellent job. You covered the entire roomette and all of the features and every detail, plus your video lets the viewer understand the size and layout of the roomette. Thanks for taking the time do this, and to do such a good job.
This was the most comprehensive tour I’ve seen! Thank you!
I looked online, a roomette is EXPENSIVE!!!
how much
for one person one way, would run about 400-600.
howardkevinm
Makes sense.
its worth it if its a long trip. Consider the cost of a hotel you aren't paying for plus the free meals and privacy. Riding coach on a train is pretty awful compared to the private room
ReviewsTechNow So, on July 31, i went on a Amtrak Coastliner i think its called, on business class, it was okay, although we did get pillows and wifi and seats that have resters
Actually, having the toilet in the room is very useful. A couple of years ago, I took the Silver Meteor down to Deerfield Beach with my then 5 year old. There were times when he was sleeping in the middle of the night when he wouldn't have made it to the commode in the middle of the hallway; he made it to the toilet in the room. While I would be hesitant about the toilet next to the bed in many situations, it can be very useful, especially if you are closely related to the person with you, ie., your own small child. The toilet bowl cover is really good at keeping the smells from escaping. In a worst case scenario, you can always bring a small can of Lysol and hang out in the Café Car for a couple of minutes. Also, as a sleeping car passenger, since Amtrak gives out complimentary orange juice and coffee, if you bring you own vodka, you can make your own screwdrivers!!! Sleeping car passengers can bring their own alcohol on board so long as it is only consumed within the compartment. The trip is very relaxing. I would suggest bringing a power strip with you as there are only two outlets in the compartment. Sleeping car passengers can use the Acela Lounge at Washington DC's Union Station and can leave their carry-ons there while waling around the station. Coach passengers have to pay for luggage storage at Union Station. You are also taken to the train directly from the lounge, thereby avoiding the hordes boarding from the gate. Much less stressful than flying and if you buy your tickets early enough, the price is very competitive (cheaper) than plane tickets at Christmas. I paid a little over $800 rt. for the roomette two years ago. It's closer to $900 now. That assumes you purchase your tickets way in advance. That said, in my case the other passenger in the roomette is a child and pays 1/2 price for the seat fare. I also had the AAA/CAA discount. The roomette charge is the same whether one passenger travels or two. While the 22 hour journey to South Florida may seem long, remember that when you board the train in DC, you are immediately given dinner and then can go to sleep. Once you wake up, take a shower and eat breakfast, more than half the trip has already elapsed. Baggage claim takes about three minutes at the disembarking station which is much closer to my ultimate destination than the airport.
@LL-en4xb Good to know. Things and times change. Memories just fade.
You're a good writer. I read everything. Felt like I was there with you. Thanx for the memories. Taking my first 24 hr ride soon in a roomette. So excited.
I like having the toilet in the room! Thanks for the review!
A classic example of a pre-COVID world comment.
@@WoahItsDustin Personal toilet is safer in covid-world.
You brought back memories with your video. I have used those roomettes. I was by myself on business trips. I love the roomette, but I could never fall asleep in any room on any train. Train moves too much for me to fall or stay asleep. I loved the privacy and space one gets in these roomettes.
I took a trip on Amtrak this holiday season, Dec 2018, and LOVED the journey! Great video. Great way to travel!
you answered why the electric socket was on the other side when you moved the bunk
Dude I'd have to pay for 2 rooms. One to drop a deuce in the other to take refuge in after said deuce.
Crack me up.
JBird117 😂 Lol!
or you can use poopouri before you drop your kids off at the pool
There are more than one public restrooms on the train. Pee in your roomette, shit elsewhere... Or if even that bothers you, do all of your business elsewhere...
@King Jizz860 lmao XD
I am SO glad I came across this video, I ALWAYS wondered how the inside of those cars looked. I want to ride Amtrak in future for fun and I did not know that I can get my own private room. I DON'T MIND having a toilet in the room because I am diabetic, I have to urinate very often.. Several times a day because my kidneys put in some overdrive! And I can't just make it down a hall and wait in line like normal people. So having my own toilet will be excellent! I really enjoyed this video! Thanks for sharing and the tour! 😉😘
The train has many bathrooms. Ive never had to wait in line
I know how you feel,I have the same health issue. That being said, this is the way to travel.
If someone needs to urinate 3 times a night on average what does that signify?
@@John572d4 OVERACTIVE BLADDER
Fantastic tour. I’m sitting in mine currently and despite the slight grossness of having a toilet right next to me, your video was spot on. Thanks!!
My BF and I are still laughing about the "super awkward" toilet.. but it looks like a lot of people appreciate it, so yay Amtrak. Anyway I look forward to taking a roomette later this year!
Warning. The newest Viewliner cars have roomettes without the toilets in the roomettes. Why the change? Unknown. Perhaps it was a maintenance headache. People/riders either really liked them or hated them. Far swings in tastes.
Yeah I was slightly disappointed, but not really. I could definitely see how it could be a potential drawback. My roomette experience was fantastic!
all this needs is a mini fridge
The toilet doubles as fridge. Amazing!
@@Bw899804 or at least an ice bucket! Bring a blender and make margaritas, that bowl would hold a pitcher and a half easily. 😜😂
@@LazyIRanch please excuse me while I barf 😆
They could have omitted the toilet & installed a mini fridge in its place instead...
If only amtrack has some more money. If only America had better transportation for trains.
I’m considering taking a train this year from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. This video has me ready to book my ticket. Thanks for sharing.
Pretty dam cool. As a former U.S. Navy type who years back spent a total accumulated time of almost 2 years at sea living on an aircraft carrier while deployed with my fighter squadron that is pure personal space utter luxury. Very tempted to do the 98 Metroliner from Miami to NYP. Great video thanks. Hey if you had on a blue NASA flight suit could make people think you were on the International Space Station. Ha.
Did Metroliners ever run that far? Northeast Corridor trains end in Virginia. To go all the way to FL you'd need Silver Service trains.
Good job on the vid. I could understand every word and there was no distracting music with it.
I priced a roomette for the Coast Starlight but wasn't willing to pay 3X the coach fare to get one. I should have taken a pillow tho. The coach seats are nice and roomy but don't make good beds.
That's super nice! The only thing I don't like is the toilet in such a small space.
I noticed the windows pop open; another option right there. Hang it out and let it fly.
@@rooftopvoter3015 Windows do not open and staff frowns upon anyone hanging out off the train anywhere on the train.
Naturally, i would redesign the room adding in a few more power outlets, and maybe adding a mini fridge so you can have a drink or food in the cabin.
Thanks for the tour. I'm getting on one this afternoon to travel for TG. Can't wait.
I grew up traveling on trains. I had a roomette when I got to an age to be trusted. There was only one bed back then, like a Murphy bed that almost covered the entire room. The seat was a bench that spanned the wall opposite the toilet. It was heaven to a ten year old. Parents were around the corner. I watched out the window all night.
20,000 mile signup bonus, cancel before a year, no annual fee, keep miles. Enough for roomette!
Yes, I like it! One small thing...my son is on this tonight, and his roomette was a little "old". Please keep them updated and clean!
Great video wow. I never knew how cozy a long travel train can be
I loved this video, you did a great job
I love Amtrak sleepers. Was a child of the Santa Fe Texas Chief.😊
Oh my GOD!
I could live in one of these forever!
If I'm ever rich, I'm gonna circle the US and alaska in one!
Definitely don’t need to be rich to do it, this comment is two years old I hope you’re getting to it
If you’re rich, just buy an old Pullman rail car and hook it up to Amtrak. Much more comfortable.
Thanks for the review..i just booked a trip from ny fo fl..only 26 hours..beats driving down for a day then staying in a hotel then driving again
Love the experience of taking the train.....its not for all the RUSH Rush folks who have to be there quickly all the time, its for people who want to enjoy the travel! Those who want to see the country, nit sit on top of or be sat on by others in planes. Its immensely relaxing.
Thanks for the in-depth review!
If you decide to ride a room again, try
turning off all lights, fans, and devices as they generate
a lot of heat in a small space. Also lower bunk probably
cooler since heat rises.
If only it wern't so expensive.
When you look at Amtrak's sleeper fares as one or two nights at a hotel along with a airline fare, the price is not so out of line with the food included in the diner. Even driving and camping out at camp grounds for one or two nights along with the additional costs of buying gasoline and buying fast food is comparable... Of course if you only look at the costs of a airline flight and not the additional hotel and food expenses, Amtrak fares are expensive...
Ron Clark it's insane compared to european fares
We have an Amtrak Credit card that we payoff every month. We get free trips based on points every year. This year we went to NYC from LA in a double room with 2 bathrooms, Very comfortable. It was like a hotel on wheels. Free food too. They charge points based on number of zones. Most of the western USA is in one zone. We traveled all the way up the coast and back for very cheap.
Travel during the week and book way in advance to get the best rate. Also, there’s an Amtrak travel rewards credit card.
Mom an I went from Alb. to Portland OR. and back in the late 90s cost was about the same as us driving. time was about the same except I wasn't driving 12 plus hours a day the meals weren't drive through and I did have to worry about someone breaking into the car at night it was safely at a friends house
Absolutely without a doubt the best review online bar none.
That is a really neat little place, by yourself! Thanks for the tour.
lots o compliments to you too sir. Not only are you a savey traveler, your voice is awesome.
the sound in the background is extra relaxing
Good thing there is a warning light to tell me the sink is down or else, how could I realise it is down?
Now, if someone is in the upper bed, he is screwed. He might not realise the person in the lower bunk as forgot to raise the sink and out he's foot on it. That light should be on the top bunk, don't you think?
Imagine waking up in a dark room at 3am to use the toilet...I can easily see not realizing you left the sink down.
I used to take the Lake Shore Limited back in the 80's . Back then they still had the Art Deco Pullman cars.Very sweet ride. They should have saved them.
Yumpin Yiminy- The first time I traveled the Lakeshore Limited to New York City, in 1975, the bar stayed open all night. Ah, those were the days!
VERY cleverly designed. 70 years too late but a neat thing.
Thank you for this. I got a roomette on my last trip from Newark to Orlando. I wish I watched this video before I went. I discovered most of the features on my own but not all of them.
Thanks for sharing your Amtrak experience. I didn't know about this little roomette. My daughter and I love Amtrak travel.
For anyone complaining about price for a roomette or a full sleeping room - a lot of people love riding trains just to ride the train. "The point of a journey is not to arrive." You are paying for the experience of the journey and for many of us the train ride in and of itself is why we are on the train, not as an alternate to flying or driving (although that certainly is a factor for many people). Just like someone driving Route 66. If your point is to get to LA from Chicago as fast as you can then fine. But the point of a Route 66 is to stop many times along the way and enjoy the journey itself. You want lower fares? Book early, remember that it includes meals and is your hotel room as well. When you add all that up, it's not bad.
I would travel by myself if I went in a roomette. I'd just feel awkward with someone else in the room with me.
Are there two twin beds in there?
@@John572d4 Yes but more like bunk beds one over the other.
Its convenient to pee in the toilet there, but I wouldn't do number 2 in it.
3231952224 But you just can't hold your bowels either. If they gotta go....They gotta go. Heck! They need relief too. That's what the toilet is there for. Don't be afraid to use it! If you ate something that gave you the high pressure explosive runny diarrhea...THEN WHAT?? Just saying! Carry on. 😉
They have toilets and showers down the hall too. No windows in those and won't funktify your sleeping area. I think that is what all numbers might have been thinking but didn't say. Cuz they are all numbers ... I dunno.
this comment needs more likes
What? You mean you wouldnt want to stink up the roomette for your roommate?
emall low lmao
I didn't know they had those, looks very comfortable for one person. Thanks for sharing.
I might give that roomette a try.
I would love to use elements of this design for a stealth home on wheels.
Very neat. Thanks for the thorough video! I feel like even if I poked around myself, I wouldn't have discovered everything you showed in the video.
There are so many roomettes on here. I wish some folks would do reviews on the bedrooms.
If you are sharing with someone and one of you needs to use the restroom, just ask the other to step out.
Katy Bauer unless you're into that kind of thing
There is also a public toilet down the hall which I always use when sharing. Note pack a travel robe and slippers!
No need to ask. I'm out.
I watched a ton of Amtrak videos and by far this one is the best. I was actually able to see the actual space between the seats and door. Unfortunately, traveling with my husband this would not work for us. Maybe a bedroom or back to coach. Thanks so much for a very accurate picture of the space. Also, I wonder why you cannot lock your door outside. I guess it means you must stay inside or take all of your valuables with you when moving about on the train. Thanks again.
Thank you! Best tour I’ve ever seen of an Amtrak sleeper car!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Wow, that's bigger than my apartment! How much a month?
JayeBird Lol Lol where do u live in Mahatten?
I took the southwest chief and wish I took this room instead of coach.
ive been looking at a few of these videos for this type of cabin and like yours best by far, Thanks for all the attention to detail
Watching this it would be hard to decide which roomette I prefer. The Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA has a similar setup with no toilet and no upper window, but the seats are a bit wider and have more power outlets. Either way, I would recommend traveling this way to anyone who isn't in a rush to get where they are going. You'll enjoy scenery you'd NEVER see any other way. Watching this really makes me want to take a long train ride somewhere :)
That is so cool, a toilet in your room, so when you flush it just dumps it on the tracks below no harm no foul. Cool
Wrong. New EPA regulations in the 1980's required all railroad to install retention toilets in their passenger cars, locomotives, and cabooses. The toilets do not dump on the track.
in the UK we still have lots of trains with toilets that discharge straight to track, I work on signalling equipment and have to experience that waste every day, it is particularly unpleasant in the station area
I suppose some passengers still ignore the sign, "Do not flush toilet while the train is in station"? Sometimes US environmental regulations are among the first in the world, sometimes the last. Sadly, our current president does not believe that climate change even exists!
Radioman909 yep and when you flush a toilet on an airplane it just falls to the ground. Idiot!
When you flush on an airplane it does not fall to the ground. If it does, the toilet is broken
I was annoyed that door couldn't be locked when you went out to the dining car (to protect personal belongings) . . .
Close the curtain so no one would know whether you are in or out... Furthermore, don't bring anything on the trip you won't miss and can't replace easily anywhere... The most expensive thing I bring on a trip besides my clothes is a toothbrush...
When traveling during the pandemic, this would be the safest way to travel. Perfect for social distancing.
You've got a sliding door. That's where you get in and out. I learned something today.
That toilet is weird. It feels wrong having the toilet in the bedroom- are there other toilets in the carriage?
On UK sleeper trains passengers can be put in a cabin with a random other customer of the same gender (unless they book both berths or pay a supplement for solo occupation/first class)- that would make the toilet even more awkward. No in cabin toilets or showers anywhere on the train though (will change when the new carriages for the Scottish services are complete).
How long was your journey- the UK sleepers are short (the longest departs at 20:30 and arrives at 10:00 the next day). The carriages are not used for other services.
+Mark H Trip was about 18 hours. And yeah, the in-room toilet was a bit strange. There's no other bathrooms in the sleeper cars, but you could run down to the cafe car and use that one (or any of the other coaches).
I was going to post the same thing... was NOT expecting a toilet in there, lol.
some of the cross country routes have cabins with a seperate bathroom and shower. But even the ones like this video will have showers you can use. They just aren't in your room. The train I was on had showers down the hall from my room
Mark H 2.
Mark H, In the US, if you book a roomette it is yours unless you are traveling with someone. For a single traveler, it is fine. For two or three traveling together, then the bedrooms are more suitable. In the case of my travels, I'm in the roomette for nearly 24 hours. And sometimes longer if the train is delayed. If available, I even book one for the DC to Charleston WV part which is another 10+ hours of travel on top of the first 24. If not available on that segment, then Business Class. Returning it is Business Class from Charleston, WV to Charlottesville, VA then Amtrak bus to Richmond, VA, then roomette down to Miami. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and if late, another breakfast on Miami to DC on the Meteor and included in your roomette cost.
Very thorough and detailed! Thank you for making sure we could see how everything works. Very much appreciated. Thanks so much for sharing.
Talk about efficient! That is cozy!
Also: Food was excellent. I was travelling from S. C. to upstate NY. Had a northern crew going up...service was OK and a Southern crew going South... Service was better than anything I've ever experienced. It shamed my little Yankee heart!
Great tour, and the way that you can maneuver around is great for two people at least. I want to take a trip on it now.
The only thing missing is Eva Marie Saint
~Roger O Thornhill
ShakespeareCafe or Jamie Lee Curtis in a Swedish hiking outfit
That is cool. I hope one day I get to ride on one. We had them where I’m at for a short time they didn’t keep them because nobody was riding them.
SINternet Entertainment Probably because it’s too expensive compared to the time it takes to get to your destination. Rail travel in the US could have been *the* way to travel but the pricing:speed ratio is too high.
@@DocBrown11555 I totally agree. We had Amtrak near us for a very short time but it was so expensive nobody even used it.
I luv Amtrack roomettes. I slept quite comfortably.
I think they took the toilets out of the Roomettes now, at least some of them. Thank God.