Great info. I've been riding U.S. trains since the 50's-long before apps, WiFi, Metropolitan Lounges, & Amtrak Guest Rewards although these things are incredibly useful today. For 1st time riders, please walk through cars with your legs apart in order to maintain better balance while your train is moving at higher speeds. Trains can rock & roll a lot.
One of my "stop" stories: Crossing the Heartland overnight between Chicago and Denver on the Zephyr, we had a "smoking stop" (about 20 minutes) at a station in Iowa at 2:00am. My son and I got off the train and walked around on the platform just so we could say we'd actually stepped foot in a state we'd probably never visit again!
Hi there! If I travel by myself on an Amtrak roomette, how can I ensure that when I am in the observatory car or in the dining car my stuff will be safe in the roomette? Is there a locking device for the roomette door? Do I have to bring my personal locking system? This is something that worries me a lot! My best wishes for you!!! I love your videos!
I think the observation car was a lot more useful pre Covid-19. I found it more enjoyable to be in my roomette as i could go maskless . Also on my trip on the California Zephyr in August the observation car was full during the time it would have been great to be there.
Roomettes are also more fun because you can drink your own alcoholic beverages. But it's nice to go to the observation deck to stretch your legs every few hours
So grateful for the heads up you gave awhile back about the Amtrak MasterCard.. just got my 50,000 bonus points! Will be doing the Starlight - Empire - Zephyr trilogy next spring/summer!
Thank you for mentioning to bring sanitizer wipes with you on the Amtrak. Our bathrooms were pretty bad and I was really glad that I had the wipes with me to clean things up and wipe down our seats and tables and things like that because they are not cleaned regularly. We enjoyed our first time on Amtrak overall. Beautiful scenery it was wonderful!
Once again, thanks for posting a very helpful and informative video! Especially the advice on time management (I was on the Sunset Limited when it was 11-12 hours late due to a train/truck collision...fortunately no missed connection for me personally), bringing snacks, and not carrying too much stuff on board with you (learned that well on my first Amtrak adventure). I'd add power strips, extension cords, either or both. If you have electronic devices to keep charged, and who doesn't, they're a must!
I always travel coach. And from the first time I boarded a train in 1973, I ALWAYS have me some fried chicken! Just in case I can't get into the dining car!! 😉😉
I've traveled Amtrak up & down the eastern seaboard from NY to FL & back, i LOVE! Amtrak, but I have stories of how late Amtrak has been! Amtrak does try to make up time & they have, but I've had some doozy of train trips on Amtrak.
Amen on not bringing too much in a sleeper car. On a recent trip on the Silver Star, we left our light jackets and my wife’s wireless headphones in the bedroom closet! Tomorrow will be four weeks since we traveled and I doubt we will get them back - despite filing a lost items report!
Hope the items turned up. Keep checking on the lost items - a bit different, but a train nonetheless - I left a leather jacket on the LIRR - filed a report and went to check the Lost & Found for about a month - nothing, so I figured - total loss, which sucked because it was a jacket my father had given me. On the very last day - lost item filings are only good for 90 days - I happened to check and lo and behold - the attendant walks out with 2 leather jackets and one of them was mine! AND the items I left in the pockets were still there - total surprise. Bottomline, keep checking - it just might turn up. Good luck!
Excellent video; I am planning in spring or summer of 2022 to use the Auto Train between Florida an VA and for the first time. Your videos have already been a help in thinking ahead to figure out what I need to do. I will join that rewards program and download their AP on my cell phone as you recommended. I am thinking of doing the sleeper. I think you did a video on this trip; but, I'm not sure. I have watched so many of your videos; I forgot whether you did it or not.
thank you for this informative video series. My wife and I are taking a cruise vacation out of New Orleans in May for our 25th Anniversary. We are taking the train for the first time instead of flying.
Our train was almost 12 hours late getting into Denver and we nearly missed our flight out. We thought having an overnight would be sufficient layover, but it was not. It was so stressful and made the trip unenjoyable. We also didn't get to see most of the Zephyr route because we were stuck in the same spot for over 4 hours. Such a shame. We were really looking forward to enjoying that route. Amtrak can be nice, but can also be so frustrating.
@@GroundedLifeTravel Thanks- They gave me a $60 voucher, which I negotiated up from $50. Such a bummer, as I am really pro-Amtrak. Some of it was because of freight trains, but we were also stuck near Truckee for over 4 hours because the switch was frozen. Unfortunate, but something they could anticipate and prevent as well. Then we were sitting in Grand Junction for over an hour for a crew swap because the crew was late. I felt that was super annoying as when trains run late, you can just track the exact location online to see how much time you have. I got the impression that they weren't even going to try to show up until the train pulled into the station. We are home now and still have 5 segments left on our rail pass. I might give it another go and check out the southeast crescent and city of New Orleans routes. Hopefully the recent infrastructure funding addresses a lot of these issues and Amtrak can improve moving forward. Love your videos btw. I planned our entire trip DC>Chicago>Flagstaff>LA>EMY>DEN watching your videos and they were so helpful!
#5 is a biggie. thanks to the points i'll be taking my son cross country for free. I knew about #9 as there was is a shuttle bus that runs between L.A Union station and LAX that got me to the airport in under 30 minutes for 10 bucks
Really useful video, flying to Chicago from the UK tomorrow and will be doing the Empire Builder to Seattle and this has answered a lot of nagging questions! Really looking forward to it!
Thanks for all of the information. My interest is the Coast Starlight ... have been on it business class / coach / roomette. Keep sharing, it is appreciated.
Thank for this video! What are your thought and experiences with moving around and leaving your bag at your seat and the risks of that? And if you take your bag, do people take your seat? I'm specifically interested in the Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Chicago.
If you’re going to work on your computer or watch a movie, please don’t take up space in the observation car. Let the people who want to see the scenery have those seats! Look at your computer in your sleeper or coach seat, please!
Love your videos and since relocating from England to Houston, Texas in 2017 doing an Amtrak trip is on my bucket list. Don’t laugh but one thing I am concerned about is hygiene,particularly restroom cleanliness. I am 6ft 2ins and large build so being cramped in a dirty toilet is my worst nightmare lol
Your guys videos are so helpful thank you so much. As my first time is going to be from reno to maryland. Looking forward to my trip! I figured id go coach all the way. As ive done on a greyhound bus before. Just seems like alot more freedom on the train.
Very helpful we are taking our 1st trip next Dec 2022 yeahhhh looking forward for lots of adventure on amtrack...wanna know more about rewards and point
Thank you for this information as I've never traveled by train before. I am thinking of doing a cross-country round trip, but you mentioned how trains are almost always late. So now I have a concern. What happens if the train I'm on is late and I miss my connecting next train? What is Amtrak's responsibility?? And what am I supposed to do while waiting, if not hours or even a day or two, for a new train?? thank you
Not really. Recommended to keep your door shut with curtains closed so it'll be difficult to tell. Or make it look unoccupied while away, if possible. And as someone else told me: "If someone can afford a sleeper, they probably aren't looking for a 'free laptop'." LOL! Plus, coach passengers really have no business venturing into sleeper cars.
Unfortunately we spent a long time in the observation car , had our food bags disposed or disappeared from our coach seats. I believe the crew thought we had disembarked.
I recently bought my round trip/roomette tickets for LA to NYC - I'm going to use it as a writing retreat with 3 nights in NYC at an airbnb. Anyway, I've been watching all your videos about Amtrak travel and I'm super excited. Except at least 3 times now I've watched videos (yours and someone else) where the train arrived 9 hours late. I'm taking the Southwest Chief and connecting to the Lake Shore Limited with about 6 or so hours in between. Now I'm wondering what happens if the first train is late - do I lose my roomette on the second train? Thankfully it's refundable but I guess I should look into it, haha.
If you miss the train they will work with you to get you on the next one, but like flights, you can't really predict what will happen or what options would be available. We usually stay overnight in Chicago at a hotel to avoid that scenario.
How do you sleep through the train whistle blowing all night long? We were in a roomette on the Capital Limited from DC to Chicago and back again, even though I had on noise canceling earphones with white noise it was still hard to sleep.
I've got a question; You've booked a "bedroom", you have carry on items, you aren't sleepy, you decide to go to the Observation deck. Are you carry on items secure in the bedroom, or do you need to keep them with you at all times? Thank you.
What is involved with the pre-trip COVID check? I haven't been able to get an answer from Amtrak about this yet. What information and/or documentation would travelers need to provide?
Thank you for the tips! I’m a little nervous because I am taking Amtrak LA to Chicago. I take the Surfliner from LA to Santa Barbara. The Surfliner arrives 6 minutes before the connecting bus that will take me to Emeryville departs. I’ve read online that layovers with Amtrak aren’t like layovers at the airport and that the thruway bus will not leave if the train hasn’t arrived yet. Is this true?
Amtrak just issued a modified Flex Dining menu on October 7th that brought back Railroad French Toast and from what I hearing, a satisfactory braised beef roast! 😊
Thank you for posting and making these videos. My husband and I at the beginning of September where on the Empire Builder, also road the Starlight to California and took the California Zephyr. We were very excited although we made our reservations ourselves it took forever in fact days before we finally got help thru Amtrak customer service (very bad customer service) they don’t return your call cause they are not allowed to even if you ask them. Our trip was nothing like your videos. We saw a lot of flat land, corn fields and I’m sad to say many tents with homeless people and garbage. The rattling of the cabins was awful, the hot water took forever and standing in the shower was uncomfortable. On the Starlight train the conductor was bowling the horn constantly so we got very little sleep since the ear plugs we got didn’t subdue the noise. Your videos show the beauty but it’s only for a few minutes and expect the train attendants to be short of staff, the same foods through your whole trip and the rattling of the cabins (we had a bedroom). Also the police will take you off the train if you don’t wear your mask and believe e three times the police came on the train and removed passengers (except if you have a bedroom, roommet) if your door is closed you can take off your mask. My husband had enough of the train ride that was to be our adventure and also a way of enjoying something good since we both had lost family in 2020 to the pandemic. We didn’t get to see the Grand Canyon which we really were looking forward too, instead we ended our trip and came home. I know this is very negative, but if someone would have warned us about the rattling in the rooms, and the thermostat might not work in your roomier the speaker so you can hear the conductor announcement , hot water takes forever to come out of the faucets, get good ear plugs, and you don’t eat when you want it’s when they say…. We’ll then I guess we would have driven.
Just got off the Empire Builder yesterday. It was on time! It ran 1.5 hours late through Montana and made it up. Great tips! Your videos helped us. We were way more prepared than our fellow passengers because of you both. Although, my wife and I are not fans of the penthouse, Rob. It is possible to sleep 2 people in the lower bunk of a Superliner Roomette if you sleep head to toe and are comfortable doing it. My wife and I did that because neither of us enjoyed the penthouse. We brought snacks, but found that we were always so full from the meals and didn't eat as many snacks as we thought. Portland's metro lounge just got new furniture and they board directly from the lounge. Thanks again for all the tips!
Do they have all the wreckage cleared from the train derailment accident in September? I still haven’t heard any further information as to what caused the derailment.
@@maureenkelly-thompson7101 The NTSB is still investigating. The cars were still there but moved off the tracks to allow for traffic to go through. I was surprised to still see the cars, but I saw the NTSB press conference last week and they said they would have a preliminary report in 30 days from that day. I heard a conductor say that she's worked at Amtrak for 23 years and it was the 1st derailment she's heard of, so train travel is still very safe.
That only means you have to carry the baggage yourself on the train and keep it with you the whole time or at least the valuables and the other you could put it on racks in the coach car.
Mid Sep I went from Cle to Chi and Chi to LAX on #3 & #4, returning I will always try to book on #30 back to Cle with #48 as a backup, so far haven't had to use plan "B" but best to be prepared. Should you be around 3 hours or more late you'll miss #30. Realize this doesn't always work in some cases but better to plan ahead. Love your trips! Been going back and forth since '13.
hey guys ? so this will be my first time taking Amtrak I’m in New York going to Orlando should I get a roomette and or couch seat and what is the difference with the seats definitely would like a comfy seat I drive for a living definitely would like to book right seats
I am planning a trip next summer to Washington State from Minnesota i have 5,000 points will this will help Me buy my ticket for sleeper car? Portland Oregon did not have a lounge
You'd have to check the app, it says the points in there for your specific dates, but you'll probably need a little more than 5,000 based on our previous experience
If u cross over to Canada. Or. Somehow Mexico. U have to carry a passport 🛂! Simple to carry. ☺️👌 If an authority person request it & u don't have it?! Big trouble!😐
You probably won't be able to see out at night. There is too much glare from the lights in the car. It's low light but not no light. Nice place to see the sunrise, though.
Rooms do not lock from the outside. Don't leave anything too valuable in the room when you're not there. There is NO WiFi on any of the long distance routes, and barely any cellular service. These routes literally run through the middle of nowhere. And even in California and along the east coast, the WiFi is nowhere near the quality you get at home.
Quick question. I live in Birmingham Alabama and have been on a planes,but never trains and me and my wife were thinking about taking a train to New Orleans for the weekend and the Amtrak app says it's a 9 hour trip, so would we be better off going Coach or getting a Roomette?
Check the schedule for the trip you're planning. Then see if you will be on board for at least one meal (pretty sure you will), and then decide if your budget will suffer more if you buy small items from the café or you take what's included with the purchase of, say, a roomette (a sleeping room for 2 ppl). Watch their other videos where they review Amtrak's roomettes to help you decide. Happy travels!
Might also want to take into account that you can stretch out in a sleeping room and take a nice long nap. Something you can't do if you're driving, and not as easy if you're going coach, despite the reclining seats.
Do you have any tips for riding the Amtrak Wolverine. I haven’t ride that train for over 20 years. Second what time do you recommend to arrive at the station. In will be leaving form the Pontiac Michigan Amtrak station. Sine the waiting room will be close at the the time of departure when the train leaves.
Have you tried checking that trip on the Amtrak website? I don't know if it still exists. I've not seen it listed. Lots has changed since 2011, and even more since the pandemic began. I made my last train ride on the Zephyr in 2006, and many things have changed since. Good luck in your travels!
@@iluminameluna Amtrak wolverine still runs. I have family in Michigan. Plus I have seen videos because they are now using Siemens charger engines and soon upgrading to Siemens venture coaches.
Great info. I've been riding U.S. trains since the 50's-long before apps, WiFi, Metropolitan Lounges, & Amtrak Guest Rewards although these things are incredibly useful today. For 1st time riders, please walk through cars with your legs apart in order to maintain better balance while your train is moving at higher speeds. Trains can rock & roll a lot.
"Sea legs"
One of my "stop" stories: Crossing the Heartland overnight between Chicago and Denver on the Zephyr, we had a "smoking stop" (about 20 minutes) at a station in Iowa at 2:00am. My son and I got off the train and walked around on the platform just so we could say we'd actually stepped foot in a state we'd probably never visit again!
Great story, thanks for sharing it!
Leaving from St Paul to Seattle Oct 18 . Exciting!
Hi there! If I travel by myself on an Amtrak roomette, how can I ensure that when I am in the observatory car or in the dining car my stuff will be safe in the roomette? Is there a locking device for the roomette door? Do I have to bring my personal locking system? This is something that worries me a lot!
My best wishes for you!!! I love your videos!
I think the observation car was a lot more useful pre Covid-19. I found it more enjoyable to be in my roomette as i could go maskless . Also on my trip on the California Zephyr in August the observation car was full during the time it would have been great to be there.
Roomettes are also more fun because you can drink your own alcoholic beverages. But it's nice to go to the observation deck to stretch your legs every few hours
Good video even for reminders for experienced Amtrak passengers 👏🏻 Thanks!
I have yet to take a recreational train trip. Thanks for all of your informative videos. It’s definitely on my “must do” list. ❤️
So grateful for the heads up you gave awhile back about the Amtrak MasterCard.. just got my 50,000 bonus points! Will be doing the Starlight - Empire - Zephyr trilogy next spring/summer!
Thank you for mentioning to bring sanitizer wipes with you on the Amtrak. Our bathrooms were pretty bad and I was really glad that I had the wipes with me to clean things up and wipe down our seats and tables and things like that because they are not cleaned regularly. We enjoyed our first time on Amtrak overall. Beautiful scenery it was wonderful!
Once again, thanks for posting a very helpful and informative video! Especially the advice on time management (I was on the Sunset Limited when it was 11-12 hours late due to a train/truck collision...fortunately no missed connection for me personally), bringing snacks, and not carrying too much stuff on board with you (learned that well on my first Amtrak adventure). I'd add power strips, extension cords, either or both. If you have electronic devices to keep charged, and who doesn't, they're a must!
Thank you for posting this, I appreciate it!👍
Our pleasure!
I always travel coach. And from the first time I boarded a train in 1973, I ALWAYS have me some fried chicken! Just in case I can't get into the dining car!! 😉😉
If you're taking a cruise, unless you live within a couple hours of the cruise port, get there a day early.
My hubby's gonna love that I'm getting well informed for this trip he's planning
Wonderful!
This information was so helpful we are planning a trains trip for the first time on the
California Zephyr to Reno NV. in March 2022
Very helpful info for new Amtrak riders! Thanks for a another great video!
Going to take our first train trip in December. I am learning a lot from you guys!!!!
Soo excited, I’m taking the Ca zephyr in 2 weeks, going solo I’min a roomette 😁😎
How was it?
Also, some Amtrak stations have a car rental office right inside the station. Orlando, FL is one example that has a Hertz outlet inside.
if you are checking a bag, make sure you have what you need in bag you keep with you
I've traveled Amtrak up & down the eastern seaboard from NY to FL & back, i LOVE! Amtrak, but I have stories of how late Amtrak has been! Amtrak does try to make up time & they have, but I've had some doozy of train trips on Amtrak.
Amen on not bringing too much in a sleeper car. On a recent trip on the Silver Star, we left our light jackets and my wife’s wireless headphones in the bedroom closet! Tomorrow will be four weeks since we traveled and I doubt we will get them back - despite filing a lost items report!
Hope the items turned up.
Keep checking on the lost items - a bit different, but a train nonetheless - I left a leather jacket on the LIRR - filed a report and went to check the Lost & Found for about a month - nothing, so I figured - total loss, which sucked because it was a jacket my father had given me. On the very last day - lost item filings are only good for 90 days - I happened to check and lo and behold - the attendant walks out with 2 leather jackets and one of them was mine!
AND the items I left in the pockets were still there - total surprise.
Bottomline, keep checking - it just might turn up.
Good luck!
I'm taking the California Zephyr next week, this is perfect!
Glad I clicked this
Thanks!
Man, I wish I had watched this before I took coach from NJ to FL
Excellent video; I am planning in spring or summer of 2022 to use the Auto Train between Florida an VA and for the first time. Your videos have already been a help in thinking ahead to figure out what I need to do. I will join that rewards program and download their AP on my cell phone as you recommended. I am thinking of doing the sleeper. I think you did a video on this trip; but, I'm not sure. I have watched so many of your videos; I forgot whether you did it or not.
thank you for this informative video series. My wife and I are taking a cruise vacation out of New Orleans in May for our 25th Anniversary. We are taking the train for the first time instead of flying.
Have fun!
Your videos are always so helpful!
Your sites are fantastic. I did travel many years ago but planning ahead for a trip next spring and so appreciate all your helpful advice.
Our train was almost 12 hours late getting into Denver and we nearly missed our flight out. We thought having an overnight would be sufficient layover, but it was not. It was so stressful and made the trip unenjoyable. We also didn't get to see most of the Zephyr route because we were stuck in the same spot for over 4 hours. Such a shame. We were really looking forward to enjoying that route. Amtrak can be nice, but can also be so frustrating.
You should call in for compensation, they will likely give you something substantial.
@@GroundedLifeTravel Thanks- They gave me a $60 voucher, which I negotiated up from $50. Such a bummer, as I am really pro-Amtrak.
Some of it was because of freight trains, but we were also stuck near Truckee for over 4 hours because the switch was frozen. Unfortunate, but something they could anticipate and prevent as well. Then we were sitting in Grand Junction for over an hour for a crew swap because the crew was late. I felt that was super annoying as when trains run late, you can just track the exact location online to see how much time you have. I got the impression that they weren't even going to try to show up until the train pulled into the station.
We are home now and still have 5 segments left on our rail pass. I might give it another go and check out the southeast crescent and city of New Orleans routes. Hopefully the recent infrastructure funding addresses a lot of these issues and Amtrak can improve moving forward.
Love your videos btw. I planned our entire trip DC>Chicago>Flagstaff>LA>EMY>DEN watching your videos and they were so helpful!
#5 is a biggie. thanks to the points i'll be taking my son cross country for free. I knew about #9 as there was is a shuttle bus that runs between L.A Union station and LAX that got me to the airport in under 30 minutes for 10 bucks
Really useful video, flying to Chicago from the UK tomorrow and will be doing the Empire Builder to Seattle and this has answered a lot of nagging questions! Really looking forward to it!
Awesome! Have a great trip!
Thanks for all of the information. My interest is the Coast Starlight ... have been on it business class / coach / roomette. Keep sharing, it is appreciated.
Thank you!
I just signed up for the rewards program today!🥰😍
Really great advice, thank you.
Awesome!
Thanks for sharing the information for the first time rider. Greatly appreciate! I am thinking to try the train ride with my siblings in the future.
Have fun!
Thank for this video! What are your thought and experiences with moving around and leaving your bag at your seat and the risks of that? And if you take your bag, do people take your seat? I'm specifically interested in the Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Chicago.
Great info just found your channel. Be fun to try with our 3 teens. Never thought of this way of travel.
I think they would like it!
If you’re going to work on your computer or watch a movie, please don’t take up space in the observation car. Let the people who want to see the scenery have those seats! Look at your computer in your sleeper or coach seat, please!
Yes !! Good to share. Agree. ♥️🙂👌
I don't think it's an issue if it's not busy.
Absolutely... if it's crowded.
But if there are only a few folks wandering in and out, who's harmed?
I agree in principle. However my last trip I slept in the sightseer car due to how cold it was back the coach cars.
Love your videos and since relocating from England to Houston, Texas in 2017 doing an Amtrak trip is on my bucket list. Don’t laugh but one thing I am concerned about is hygiene,particularly restroom cleanliness. I am 6ft 2ins and large build so being cramped in a dirty toilet is my worst nightmare lol
Great video for us beginners. Trip city of new Orleans & Empire Builder next oct. These tips will help a lot.
For South Station in Boston you can get a free bus ride to the airport from South Station.
Your guys videos are so helpful thank you so much. As my first time is going to be from reno to maryland. Looking forward to my trip! I figured id go coach all the way. As ive done on a greyhound bus before. Just seems like alot more freedom on the train.
Have a great trip!
Very helpful we are taking our 1st trip next Dec 2022 yeahhhh looking forward for lots of adventure on amtrack...wanna know more about rewards and point
Thanks! We have a blog all about it on our website if you want more info on it
Oh they know about the observation car. When I was on the Sunset this summer they were sleeping in it!
Sad,. People. Doing that. Too bad can't b addressed...😐💩
Thank you for. the info
Thanks for that last tip. I haven't been on Amtrak since 2013, and I happen to have special needs.
You two r rockin' info always !♥️🙂👌. Something i practice,. Is tipping .... pls. 🥺 for dining car & room steward . Bring small cash..bills.
So if you had points to use for a metropolitan lounge and on want to do 2 I'm going thru chicago,LA and Portland which 2 would u do?
Thank you for this information as I've never traveled by train before. I am thinking of doing a cross-country round trip, but you mentioned how trains are almost always late. So now I have a concern. What happens if the train I'm on is late and I miss my connecting next train? What is Amtrak's responsibility?? And what am I supposed to do while waiting, if not hours or even a day or two, for a new train?? thank you
Great video. Can you lock the sleeper compartment when you leave to eat?
Not really. Recommended to keep your door shut with curtains closed so it'll be difficult to tell. Or make it look unoccupied while away, if possible.
And as someone else told me: "If someone can afford a sleeper, they probably aren't looking for a 'free laptop'." LOL! Plus, coach passengers really have no business venturing into sleeper cars.
Thanks for the great videos! I love the train. 😊👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
Great information
thanks!
you are welcome
Unfortunately we spent a long time in the observation car , had our food bags disposed or disappeared from our coach seats. I believe the crew thought we had disembarked.
I recently bought my round trip/roomette tickets for LA to NYC - I'm going to use it as a writing retreat with 3 nights in NYC at an airbnb. Anyway, I've been watching all your videos about Amtrak travel and I'm super excited. Except at least 3 times now I've watched videos (yours and someone else) where the train arrived 9 hours late. I'm taking the Southwest Chief and connecting to the Lake Shore Limited with about 6 or so hours in between. Now I'm wondering what happens if the first train is late - do I lose my roomette on the second train? Thankfully it's refundable but I guess I should look into it, haha.
If you miss the train they will work with you to get you on the next one, but like flights, you can't really predict what will happen or what options would be available. We usually stay overnight in Chicago at a hotel to avoid that scenario.
Thank you for sharing.
Great videos Thank Y’all
Very informative
How do you sleep through the train whistle blowing all night long? We were in a roomette on the Capital Limited from DC to Chicago and back again, even though I had on noise canceling earphones with white noise it was still hard to sleep.
Allie uses the Bose Sleepbuds II and she doesn't hear it, but I just try to sleep through it!
Great info! Much appreciated! Also: You two make a cute couple!
Thank you so much.
I love riding the train but I don't get to ride it as often as I would like. I do wish Amtrak would make the rewards points so they don't expire.
There are several ways to keep your points from expiring.
I'm a train and I approve this video!!
Have you ever did the Auto Train from Lorton Virginia to Stanford Florida do y'all have a video on that
am wondering same thing and would appreciate tips for doing that trip
I've got a question; You've booked a "bedroom", you have carry on items, you aren't sleepy, you decide to go to the Observation deck. Are you carry on items secure in the bedroom, or do you need to keep them with you at all times?
Thank you.
They are pretty secure, but you can't lock the door. You'd need to take anything extremely valuable with you if you were worried about it
What is involved with the pre-trip COVID check? I haven't been able to get an answer from Amtrak about this yet. What information and/or documentation would travelers need to provide?
I don’t remember needing documentation. It’s a short acknowledgment of their Covid policies and verification that you have no Covid symptoms.
@@lindajahn1794 Great! Thanks!
Good information thanks
Welcome
Thank you for the tips! I’m a little nervous because I am taking Amtrak LA to Chicago. I take the Surfliner from LA to Santa Barbara. The Surfliner arrives 6 minutes before the connecting bus that will take me to Emeryville departs. I’ve read online that layovers with Amtrak aren’t like layovers at the airport and that the thruway bus will not leave if the train hasn’t arrived yet. Is this true?
You should be fine with the Thruway bus, they are known to wait if the train is late.
Do you know if Amtrak is planning on bringing back traditional dining, for Eastern Long Distance trains?
Amtrak just issued a modified Flex Dining menu on October 7th that brought back Railroad French Toast and from what I hearing, a satisfactory braised beef roast! 😊
Thank you for posting and making these videos. My husband and I at the beginning of September where on the Empire Builder, also road the Starlight to California and took the California Zephyr. We were very excited although we made our reservations ourselves it took forever in fact days before we finally got help thru Amtrak customer service (very bad customer service) they don’t return your call cause they are not allowed to even if you ask them. Our trip was nothing like your videos. We saw a lot of flat land, corn fields and I’m sad to say many tents with homeless people and garbage. The rattling of the cabins was awful, the hot water took forever and standing in the shower was uncomfortable. On the Starlight train the conductor was bowling the horn constantly so we got very little sleep since the ear plugs we got didn’t subdue the noise. Your videos show the beauty but it’s only for a few minutes and expect the train attendants to be short of staff, the same foods through your whole trip and the rattling of the cabins (we had a bedroom). Also the police will take you off the train if you don’t wear your mask and believe e three times the police came on the train and removed passengers (except if you have a bedroom, roommet) if your door is closed you can take off your mask. My husband had enough of the train ride that was to be our adventure and also a way of enjoying something good since we both had lost family in 2020 to the pandemic. We didn’t get to see the Grand Canyon which we really were looking forward too, instead we ended our trip and came home.
I know this is very negative, but if someone would have warned us about the rattling in the rooms, and the thermostat might not work in your roomier the speaker so you can hear the conductor announcement , hot water takes forever to come out of the faucets, get good ear plugs, and you don’t eat when you want it’s when they say…. We’ll then I guess we would have driven.
Just got off the Empire Builder yesterday. It was on time! It ran 1.5 hours late through Montana and made it up. Great tips! Your videos helped us. We were way more prepared than our fellow passengers because of you both. Although, my wife and I are not fans of the penthouse, Rob. It is possible to sleep 2 people in the lower bunk of a Superliner Roomette if you sleep head to toe and are comfortable doing it. My wife and I did that because neither of us enjoyed the penthouse. We brought snacks, but found that we were always so full from the meals and didn't eat as many snacks as we thought. Portland's metro lounge just got new furniture and they board directly from the lounge. Thanks again for all the tips!
Do they have all the wreckage cleared from the train derailment accident in September? I still haven’t heard any further information as to what caused the derailment.
@@maureenkelly-thompson7101 The NTSB is still investigating. The cars were still there but moved off the tracks to allow for traffic to go through. I was surprised to still see the cars, but I saw the NTSB press conference last week and they said they would have a preliminary report in 30 days from that day. I heard a conductor say that she's worked at Amtrak for 23 years and it was the 1st derailment she's heard of, so train travel is still very safe.
In the Caffee car do you pay cash or credit card? Are there speakers in a roomette so you can hear the announcements?
Ambos são exemplares profissionais
Hello! We wil be traveling from New York to Orlando Fl. In Jan.2022 in the Silver Star does ie have a view linner on it?
Thank You I love your videos.
would like info abt that Silver line as well
Asking the same question! Any update?
It sounds like the difference with train travel, and bus , is if they are running late on the bus they done care about you and your comfort
Very nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
Check the fine print, I just booked a train trip to Chicago and there is a notation "no checked baggage."
That only means you have to carry the baggage yourself on the train and keep it with you the whole time or at least the valuables and the other you could put it on racks in the coach car.
Do you have some
Basic equipment and recommendations for a teenager wanting to try travel photography/videos?
I think that they cover that on an earlier video they did.
Maybe try local events,. Museums,. Etc..plenty fun interesting areas,. Airport photos !!♥️🙂👌
Yeah don't go alone.
Which level is better? Upper or lower? Trying to figure out which one to book... 😅
Mid Sep I went from Cle to Chi and Chi to LAX on #3 & #4, returning I will always try to book on #30 back to Cle with #48 as a backup, so far haven't had to use plan "B" but best to be prepared. Should you be around 3 hours or more late you'll miss #30. Realize this doesn't always work in some cases but better to plan ahead. Love your trips! Been going back and forth since '13.
Are there car rentals at the train stations would like to do a cross country trip in the future?
Most do not have them, other than the big cities.
@@GroundedLifeTravel thank you guys just starting watching your vlogs very helpful might be doing some train travel this year
hey guys ? so this will be my first time taking Amtrak I’m in New York going to Orlando should I get a roomette and or couch seat and what is the difference with the seats definitely would like a comfy seat I drive for a living definitely would like to book right seats
the roomette would let you sleep laying down, where as the coach seat only reclines and isn't private
thanks a lot I booked the roomette already set for my trip to Orlando in 2 weeks
Amtrak is only giving me a 2 hour connection in Chicago. Do they ever hold the connection for the passengers that have to catch the next train?
Thank you
I am planning a trip next summer to Washington State from Minnesota i have 5,000 points will this will help
Me buy my ticket for sleeper car? Portland Oregon did not have a lounge
You'd have to check the app, it says the points in there for your specific dates, but you'll probably need a little more than 5,000 based on our previous experience
@@GroundedLifeTravel Yes i understand that how do i get more points?
@@GroundedLifeTravel How do i get more points then?
@@margieholmack7074 you can buy more points then once you have enough brought points call Amtrak and schedule it.
Free snacks? Imma be lookin for yall next time I ride! Lol
Im planning to travel from Oxnard California to state Island New York do you have any ideas how much it costs me for round trip
Thanks 🙏
If you’re in coach pack a blanket. Dress warm. The doors keep opening and closing so it cools down quickly
great tips!
Thank you for videos, do you need a passport to ride on a Amtrak train beside your train ticket purchased?
not sure if things have changed, but it used to be only if going into Canada.
You just need an id unless you're crossing country borders.
As a matter of fact, they have never even checked my ID.
If u cross over to Canada. Or. Somehow Mexico. U have to carry a passport 🛂! Simple to carry. ☺️👌 If an authority person request it & u don't have it?! Big trouble!😐
Amtrak doesn't check ID
@@jeffdur1330 I think if you go to Canada by train you do go through customs
I am taking my first ever trip. Is there a number for disabled folks to call or whatnot?
I don't think there is a different number, not that we know of
Can a foreigner subscribe or be a participant in the Amtrak Guest Rewards program?
Is the observation car open 24 hours a day?
Do rewards automatically get recorded to account?
Does the observation car close? Or can you sit up there over night.
It's open 24 hours
@@GroundedLifeTravel Thanks
You probably won't be able to see out at night. There is too much glare from the lights in the car. It's low light but not no light. Nice place to see the sunrise, though.
When you're in the sleeper car in your room does the door lock? What about Wi-Fi reception is that good?
Rooms do not lock from the outside. Don't leave anything too valuable in the room when you're not there. There is NO WiFi on any of the long distance routes, and barely any cellular service. These routes literally run through the middle of nowhere. And even in California and along the east coast, the WiFi is nowhere near the quality you get at home.
Quick question. I live in Birmingham Alabama and have been on a planes,but never trains and me and my wife were thinking about taking a train to New Orleans for the weekend and the Amtrak app says it's a 9 hour trip, so would we be better off going Coach or getting a Roomette?
Check the schedule for the trip you're planning. Then see if you will be on board for at least one meal (pretty sure you will), and then decide if your budget will suffer more if you buy small items from the café or you take what's included with the purchase of, say, a roomette (a sleeping room for 2 ppl). Watch their other videos where they review Amtrak's roomettes to help you decide.
Happy travels!
Might also want to take into account that you can stretch out in a sleeping room and take a nice long nap. Something you can't do if you're driving, and not as easy if you're going coach, despite the reclining seats.
Do you know the real time travel between lax airport and the union station?
It depends on the time of day. I would say 45 minutes maybe an hour during the day time and 25 minutes at night no traffic.
Do you have any tips for riding the Amtrak Wolverine. I haven’t ride that train for over 20 years. Second what time do you recommend to arrive at the station. In will be leaving form the Pontiac Michigan Amtrak station. Sine the waiting room will be close at the the time of departure when the train leaves.
Have you tried checking that trip on the Amtrak website? I don't know if it still exists. I've not seen it listed. Lots has changed since 2011, and even more since the pandemic began.
I made my last train ride on the Zephyr in 2006, and many things have changed since.
Good luck in your travels!
@@iluminameluna Amtrak wolverine still runs. I have family in Michigan. Plus I have seen videos because they are now using Siemens charger engines and soon upgrading to Siemens venture coaches.
Good Morning Tung Duong