Booking the Right Roomette
On and off over the past week or so, I’ve spent a lot of time on what was probably a Fool’s Errand.
Because I’ve written on the subject several times, many of you know I am not a fan of the big bedrooms in the Superliner sleepers. And so, for more times than I care to remember, I’ve been testing my theory that we might be able to save a little money by buying two roomettes instead of one big bedroom.
The problem, of course, is that the cost of any of these accommodations changes from day to day depending on how fast space is being bought up by the public on each of the several long-distance trains.
Bearing all that in mind, here’s what I learned, comparing the cost of two roomettes to the cost of one big bedroom on the long-distance Amtrak trains:
You may pay a little more for two roomettes on trains using Superliner equipment and possibly somewhat less on trains using Viewliner equipment.
If you choose to go for two roomettes and there is still a good choice, remember to select roomettes that are directly across the corridor from each other. Choose consecutive numbered rooms with the odd number first to ensure you will be directly across the aisle from your travel companion.
(Note that roomette number 1 in a Superliner sleeping car is usually occupied by the car attendant. In a Viewliner sleeper, the attendant always occupies roomette number 12.)
When in doubt, get help from an Amtrak reservations agent. Just call 1-800-USA-RAIL. You will find them to be friendly, knowledgeable, and very willing to help.
