In Praise of Roomettes.
People planning their first long-distance train journey often ask me if an Amtrak sleeping car is worth the extra cost. My response is always the same: Absolutely! A real bed and privacy beats trying to sleep sitting up with a crying toddler kicking the back of your seat all night.
Obviously, for those and other reasons, sleeping car accommodations cost more than coach seats. But often the difference isn’t as much as you might think, especially if two people are traveling together.
In a sleeping car roomette, for example, each passengers pays the basic rail fare, but there is only one additional cost for the roomette, regardless if it’s occupied by one or two people. Furthermore—and this is what can make the difference—dining car meals for both passengers are included in the one cost of the roomette.
Here’s an example: I arbitrarily picked a mid-September date to figure the cost for two adults traveling from Washington, DC, to Lamy, New Mexico. (That’s Amtrak’s stop for Santa Fe.)
Amtrak’s website says the cost for a roomette on those same days on the same two trains is $927 for two adults. That includes all their meals.
The coach fare for two adults is $548. But because coach passengers pay for their meals in the dining car, I added another $110 per person. That increased the total estimated cost to $768 for two people to travel in coach from Washington to Lamy.
Yes, travel in a sleeping car is still more expensive—the roomette will cost each traveler about $40 more each day—but it’s a three-day, two-night journey of 2,054 miles!
Let me put it another way: I couldn’t give up that precious privacy and the comfortable bed to save $40 a night. Could you?
How are the roomettes accomodations for a handout person ?
Depends on the handicap, I suppose. Without more information, it’s hard to advise.
nice……keep update
You’re absolutely right that the privacy and comfort in a roomette are worth a premium. The automatic access to first class lounges, particularly in busy terminals like Chicago and Washington, are an additional advantage you don’t mention here. Sleepers are also wonderful if you’re boarding at a night stop, where you can just immediately go to sleep after you find your room.
It’s not always as simple as you imply, though. Sleeper fares seem to vary much more than coach fares (probably because there’s a more limited pool available), and the roomette is not so attractive when the premium is several hundred dollars, as it often is on the California Zephyr or the Cardinal.
The food cost is also not so clear cut. Coach passengers are much more likely to eat in the lounge than in the diner. Indeed on some trains they aren’t even allowed to make dinner reservations. While the lounge food is overpriced, it’s significantly cheaper than the menu prices in the dining car. There’s also a much broader range of food available in the lounge. In fact, there’s a number of times I’ve wished I could use my “free” sleeper meal to get something from the lounge (like the cheese and cracker tray, which is one of my favorite food items on Amtrak) rather than having lunch in the dining car. There’s also a number of coach passengers who bring sandwiches or snacks on board, which saves a lot of money.
The example you price out is also for two passengers. After the death of my main traveling companion a couple years ago, I’ve mostly been traveling solo—and (as you mention) the sleeper supplement is much higher when you don’t divide it in half. I have found that some more affordable options that solo travelers can consider are business class on the eastern trains and the lower level seating in the West. Business class is almost always nearly empty at night, meaning that while you don’t have a bed to sleep in, there is at least reasonably good privacy and quiet. Food is not included, but free unlimited drinks are. The lower-level Superliner seats also tend to be much quieter than the upstairs coach seating. It should be noted, though, that the views of the mountains are definitely not as good downstairs.
So, yes, I agree with you that sleepers are worth it when the price is right. It’s just not always an easy decision as to how much they are worth.
I totally agree that the privacy and comfort offered by an Amtrak roomette are well worth the price. I would also include security and piece of mind in the equation. As a female, I find the mere idea of travelling alone in coach on a long-distance train inconceivable. I worry about enough things in my everyday world, and I don’t want my Amtrak Experience to include thoughts about stranger danger, the whereabouts of my possessions, or the cleanliness of the toilets. In a roomette, I can lock the door and feel safe whether I’m awake or asleep. In a roomette, I know exactly where my belongings are. In a roomette, I have access to four clean toilets and a shower. As I sit or lie safely ensconced in my cozy roomette, I don’t have to dwell on negative thoughts. Instead, I can relax and let my mind wander. I can read or listen to music or watch DVDs or just gaze out the window at the scenery as the train rolls by.
Without a doubt, riding in coach would be a lot cheaper. But, for me, being at peace and embracing the calm in a roomette are worth every single penny and are essential parts of my Amtrak Experience.
Well said … and I am chagrined that I failed to include any mention of safety/security as yet another reason to opt for a sleeper.