วีดีโอ

Is that The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning I see? That was such a good read and inspired me to really think about my belongings and what is important. Did that also inspire this reorganization? Congrats on getting so much work done, I bet it's refreshing!

This took a bit of effort just to get the room functional again 🙂. In the future I plan to declutter a lot more and start pairing things down so I have more time to enjoy the space and spend less time maintaining and cleaning. For now, it's at a good place. Progress! What projects are you tackling this Fall?

I love solo traveling and by train, and last year was my first trip to Albuquerque in a roomette on the Southwest Chief. At first, I was taken aback by how small the room was, but I grew to enjoy its coziness. It beats riding in coach. You're on point with so many things, especially walking. I don't know how often I bumped into the wall trying to balance myself. Sleeping was a little difficult, but I did sleep, which I could never do on a plane. Tomorrow, I'll be on the Empire Builder for the first time to Portland and look forward to it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Happy Travels!

I’m sorry, but Amtrak lost a new customer with the implementation of this stupidity. I live in phoenix and the Texas Eagle is my only choice other wise I would have to drive to flagstaff or Tucson to catch the Southwest Chief I think it is .to go to Chicago and then continue east ,sorry but that is so inconvenient. I would rather fly. Sorry Amtrak but your the loser on this one.

so after the connection of Texas Eagle did Amtrak buses the rest of the riders up to Chicago....i consider myself a yearly RailPass rider from east to west coast. (Flordia to California)...i've taken Empire Builder and CA Zephyr....Texas Eagle is next

Correction. The title of the Amtrak train from LA to SA to La and back is called the Sunset Limited, not the Texas Eagle. The train from SA to Chicago and back is the Texas Eagle.

Very smart picks!

🎉 gute Idee , das macht Freude 😊

thank you for your video, very helpful tips,i plan to travel on trains traveling across America in the next few years

fab helpful film as ever

I use a Tessan adapter when I travel!!! They are well made and fast charging. Please do a food video. What do you bring to eat when you travel? Does the mode of travel affect what you bring? What are your favorite prepared foods? Snacks? I shop at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. Any recommendations? Also, what are the best drinks to hydrate and what are your favorite water bottles? Thank you!

Flashlight on phone doesn’t seem so strong after u use this flashlight

Thanks for the vid. I have driven across the country twice and both times it seemed way too fast. Also the highway routes felt lifeless and boring. The past few years I've been thinking of biking across but for some reason but something has been telling me to do this 1st. Question. I'm wondering how many segments it would take on the Empire. I'm in NY so getting to Chicago would be the first segment. I believe there is a split in Wenatchee WA that takes you either to Portland or Seattle. So i guess my question is in total.....is it considered 2 or 3 segments?

this was SO helpful. thank you!!

Hi Alex. Your videos are inspiring. As a retiree, I have begun to do a lot of solo travel. Recently, I completed a 2-week, 5k mile solo trip on Amtrak. I can't remember when I've enjoyed myself more. Hope to see you out there on the rails!!

The thought of taking advantage of points is definitely worth it. Just use the programs that fit with your typical travels. Have too many credit cards may lower your credit score. With the program I use I get special deals . One being several free lounge access coupons.

The video looks nice and bright! Solo traveling is a gift to self. Your channel will help more people take the leap.

Wooooooow what a lovely video, really enjoyed it, but unfortunately i have never been in a plane😢 because i do not afford, can someone be kind enough to pay 1 trip for me☹️

Do you travel solo? What questions do you get asked? I'd love to know what questions you receive and how you answer them... drop them below!

I agree with @ervinslens... nice job Alex and your soup looks amazing! Happy hiking

Nice summary, Alex. I too stayed on the QM a few years ago, I have to say, I learned more from your review than my own trip. Highly recommend someone planning a trip to view Alex's review before. Super insightful!!!

New subscriber here. This is your sweet spot!!! You did a fantastic job of showing the products and how to use them. This would be a fantastic series. “Tech Me Out” does a Monthly Fav’s series. Do your own. Travel, personal safety, prepping and adventure. Put your spin on it and keep them coming back to see what you feature next.

Oh my gosh I watched several different videos about the roomettes on the Empire Builder looking for the info that you provided about tipping the room attendants. I am going this coming October, and I booked a roomette, and I would like to know what is an appropriate tip amount and when should I tip? I loved the information you have in this video. Thank you.

Love your blog! The 'reinvented' food service has dissipated to a skeleton fraction of what it once was... on 'full service dining.' No longer can one get lunch selections at dinner. No longer does the luncheon hamburger include the delicious coleslaw and those thoughtful trimmings. All gone... Amtrak wants to get back to more basic. The full service dinner service now includes only two dessert entrees and only 2 dessert options. EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO FRACTIONALIZE! Amtrak is pulling back to the flex dining and pretty soon the food service will be even less than that. Amtrak focuses on cutbacks... especially for the expensive sleeper accommodations and included food. The future of passenger service continues to dissipate. To say the least, Amtrak is bleeding due to constant and continual cutbacks in funding. the government it seems doesn't want to promote Amtrak and passenger rail travel. WHAT A SHAME THIS IS!!!

This is amazing Alex! Really appreciate you sharing our great product and your channel's content is very impressive! We'd love to discuss product evaluation and share our new products with you. Are you interested in reaching out to us? Thanks!

Love the idea of a brightly colored storage bag - the black interiors are difficult to use !

I have that Anker power bank. That is the largest size allowed to take on a plane (26.8K mah [milli amp hours]). They do smaller and lighter power banks, that have less power to recharge devices. But they are meant to mostly get you through the day, topping up the battery as it were, rather than charging a phone fully from dead to 100%. Lighter might be better for carrying all day in your bag, but necessary, so you don't run out of power while checking maps, transit schedules, etc

You don't usually see that Garmin recommended for travel, usually you see that for back country backpackers, in case you need medical help out in the wilderness. Be aware that you really need the insurance that the subscription apparently comes with - one hiker I follow on TH-cam needed to get helicoptered out from a remote area for medical reasons, and she got a $50K US bill for the flight service ....

I have compiled a list of travel essentials that I bring with me almost every time. These are all available on Amazon and most importantly, tested by me to help you stay safe, comfortable and organized on the road. What is your favorite travel essential? Drop a comment!

Thanks for your video on solo travel. I'm getting ready to leave on my first solo long distance Amtrak trip. I lived in Europe and travelled extensively by train, but this will be my first long-distance trip US. Your video was very helpful.

I am a rail advocate who lives along the Texas Eagle line. I took it last year and let me say. It is Amtrak’s most gutted, most neglected route in the west! There’s no dining car, just a cafe serving reheated meals for sleeper passengers, no Sightseer Lounge car. Just 2 coaches and 1 sleeper. 4 rooms in the lone sleeper are occupied by crew members further depleting the already limited capacity onboard!

I visited The Queen Mary many years ago on holiday from the UK. The history of the ship just sinks into you, in your mind you can see the wonderful days when it was cruising the seas. Well worth the visit. Thanks for showing it to me again

Are you planning a trip on a ship this summer? Perhaps one that is not permanently docked in land? 😃 Drop a comment below and let me know. I have my next getaway booked so I'd love to compare notes. What destination or mode of transportation would you recommend?

Thank you so much for this fantastic, and very professionally done review! I found it helpful and I don't know how you accomplished it, but the aerial (drone?) shots of the ship were phenomenal! Also, I have stayed on and have seen the Queen Mary before a few years before the Covid pandemic started -- and I, (like you) don't hold a lot of personal belief in all the haunted ghost stories. When I toured the Isolation Ward however, it DID feel a bit creepy and that it would be the most likely place for any sort of "spirit" energy or anything "paranormal" to occur. Thank you for the tour of your room and for stating what type of room it was. I want to book a room for my Birthday in 16 days and that was really helpful to decide which type of room to book. Again, thank you for a great review and I will subscribe and "like" your channel and wish you all the best!

correction its not amtrak doing track work on the line its actually being done by the union pacific railroad who owns the track that amtrak uses for the texas eagle route

Hi from Geelong Australia I am about to book a trip for next year in June I am still deciding should I do the Texas eagle to Chicago or the empire builder to Chicago but there is another one that I don't know the name of it, it goes through the south route 66 places like that but my main train is going to be the California zephyr so my trip is going to be from LA to Chicago then Chicago to San Francisco And it's going to be my first train ride of a big scale what do you reckon 🇭🇲👍🇭🇲👍🇭🇲 I enjoyed watching your video as well Good tips

As for sleeping in a roomette...I don't sleep that great even at home in my own bed. But I find the roomette bed on the train strangely soothing as it gently rocks me all night with the movements of the train. Roomette beds lie parallel to the tracks, and bedroom beds lie perpendicular to the tracks, and this dynamic may affect how you sleep. On the subject of sleeping in a roomette, though, I agree with you that in a 2-person roomette, sleeping on the top bunk feels a bit claustrophobic, as the head room is quite limited. Also, the floor space in the roomette when the beds are down is extremely limited, so probably only one person can change clothes at a time. For that reason, it's always best to keep any large luggage items in the luggage rack elsewhere in the same car, and NOT in the roomette itself. You can always access your larger bag during the journey, but don't plan to keep it in your roomette with you.

Thanks for the video. I disagree about the showers. I virtually always take a morning shower on Amtrak overnight trains, and I have had no major problem doing so. Water is hot, towels are right there, soap is provided. At the end, you'll fee refreshed (and clean!). Another nice feature is that, apparently, most passengers do NOT take a shower, which means the shower is nearly always available when you want it. And it is in the same car as your roomette or bedroom. Do yourself and your neigbhbors on the train a favor, and shower!

I've been watching a lot of these videos because I am thinking of taking an Amtrak trip. Your video was very helpful!

I loved all the essential packs you showed. I wish I had seen the video before traveling to Cartagena. But hey, I'll write down all the tips for my next trip. 😍😍😍

i have taken the empire builder many times over the years and have enjoyed each trip. i must warn people sleepers have gotten very very expensive over the years but i would still rather take the train than fly.

You have a wonderful attitude! Thanks for all this info.

We just took the Texas Eagle up to Chicago last Thanksgiving. Pricier than an airline flight, but meals were included with our ticket (bedroom cabin), we had our own bathroom, and we could sleep flat with a baby. Totally worth it.

Wow! That’s too bad they cancelled the last half of your trip. I guess at least they put you on a bus.

Packing cubes are great . I also have a small first aid kit that I keep in my backpack. Comes in handy as you are walking around and need something. The slightest little problem can drive you cray. My list is - eye drops - floss - band aides - alcohol wipes - cleaner for glasses - tweezers - nail clippers - small amounts of med - small knife. I has helped me when traveling. I you wear glasses, bring an old pair as a backup. I would be in trouble if I lost or broke my glasses.

I love, love love that Eddie Baurer tote bag... the side pockets and drawstring top are new from when I got one year's ago... I also have the same Thule backpack, but mine is a pretty green and I added some ribbon for outside attachment points. My suitcase is an Osprey Fairview, because I found I absolutely dislike dealing with pulling and wheels. As long as I am healthy enough to carry my suitcase or wear it as a backpack, the luggage with wheels is staying at home. You have a great system Thank you for sharing it. ❤😊

Great video! Thanks! I’m still working on traveling lighter. I just finished 6 weeks in Europe. I like bamboo underwear because I wash it out at night and it’s dry in the morning. That way I only need about 3 pairs. Same with compression socks for when I travel all day with my legs down. What’s your favorite Amtrak route?

Do you have any packing tips for traveling on Amtrak (or any other) trains? Have you ever used the tiny closets on a train?

I’m cruising the QM2 next week solo. It will be interesting to compare! Prime TV has a wonderful documentary on the QM1. I like your solo rating system.

So much history, I love it. Thank you for sharing so many interesting facts. 😍