Paying for a Amtrak Sleeper on a Daytime Ride?
Conventional wisdom says you should not pay the extra charge for space in an Amtrak sleeping car unless you’re going to be traveling overnight.
Well, sure … but, as with all general rules, there are exceptions.
For instance, back in November, I booked Amtrak’s train #11, the Coast Starlight for travel last week from Davis, California, to Los Angeles. The basic rail fare, which buys a seat in coach, was $84; the supplement for upgrading into a roomette (above) was $92. So why would I pay extra for the roomette when I wasn’t going to be traveling overnight and in need of a bed to sleep in?
Well, first, it’s 6:50 a.m. when the Coast Starlight arrives at Davis and it doesn’t get to Los Angeles Union Station until 9:00 p.m. That means I’ll be having three meals in the dining car … meals that would cost me about $60 if I had to pay for them. (And, no, that does not include a $15 bottle of merlot to accompany my flatiron steak at dinner.)
But, of course, if I’m traveling in a sleeper, all my dining car meals are included in my fare … so now the actual extra cost for the roomette is reduced to $32. So what am I getting for those extra dollars?
First, I have the privacy of my roomette. No fussing kids in the seat behind me, no 300 pound biker who hasn’t bathed for four days sitting next to me.
Second, at about 3:00 in the afternoon — see above — there will be a wine and cheese tasting which is only for those passengers traveling in one of the sleeping cars.
And third, that happy event takes place in the Pacific Parlour Car, an undeniably luxurious feature found only on the Coast Starlight and which is available only to sleeping car passengers. These wonderful rail cars have plush swivel chairs, comfortable booths where you have the option of taking your (free) meals. And there is an attendant to serve those meals and to look after any other needs … such as, for instance, preparing an excellent Bloody Mary for me shortly after I boarded and which I happily sipped until deciding I was ready to order breakfast.
Now … tell me all that wasn’t worth the extra 32 bucks!
I’m currently ready your book (All Aboard) as a precursor to our taking our first Amtrak vacation. In that book you state a preference to the roomettes over coach seats. Is your perspective as a single traveler? I’m rather tall and the knee to knee seating for my wife and I in a roomette strikes me as uncomfortable. Thank you.
No, my perspective is comfort on every sense of the word. When you ttravel in coach, there are as many as 70 other people in the same rail car with you. It can be crowded, noisy, uncomfortable (if you end up with a seat mate who is talkative or smells bad or snores or you name it. You didn’t say where you were going or how many nights you would be aboard, but assuming an overnight ride, I would urge you to ride in a sleeper.
Of course I have no idea as to your financial limitations, but consider one of the bedrooms if you’re afraid the roomette will cramp you. Or–this is our preference when my wife and I travel together–consider two roomettes. I book direct with Amtrak and specify that we get roomettes across the hall from each other. Benefits: privacy when one of us wants it; neither of us has to crawl up into the upper berth; and when traveling through scenic areas, we can see out of both sides of the train.
The roomettes look very small–and, of course, they are–but they’re well designed and you will soon figure out how best to use them. Besides, you can always head for the observation/lounge car.
But . . . don’t ride in coach. Besides, in the roomette, you’ll each pay a basic rail fare, but there’s only one charge for the roomette or bedroom … and for that one charge, dining car meals are included for the two of you.
Thank you for your post. I was wondering if I should book a roomette Davis/Los Angeles. Now I know! ^^