Amtrak Empire Builder Tips Live Q&A
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- We will go over everything you need to know to ride the Amtrak Empire Builder including the best time of year, best hotels to use, and best side of the train to sit on.
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Appreciate your Amtrak videos. We took our first overnight trip on the Empire Builder 3 weeks ago from Chicago to Vancouver, WA. We timed the trip for the longest days of the year. Even though we booked a roomette, most of our time was in the observation car. The highlights were passing through Glacier National Park in the early evening, then the following morning traveling along the Columbia River from Pasco, WA to Vancouver, WA. The train left Chicago on time and we arrived in Vancouver on time.
The La Quinta in Chicago was very nice. I arrived at 11pm as my Zephyr was 8 hours late and the staff was very friendly.
The Empire Builder is on my to-do list for 2024.
Took the Builder in October, lower coach rode backwards both ways...being disabled upper seating was not an option. Horrible motion sickness. Have never ridden backwards before.
I'm taking a trip in June going from Toledo Ohio to Portland Oregon
Great and important info.....thanks very much!😃😃
I miss Jimmy’s outside Chicago Union
There is a little coffee spot in Minot, Daily Buzz, right next to the station. As this is an extended stop, west bound in the AM, one has time to grab a cup or two. I like to treat the crew as well.
Is luggage storage available in the Chicago Metro Lounge?
So if you do the Empire Builder during the winter, what do you do in cold Portland or Seattle?
Both downtowns have plenty to do
Is it really possible to lock the room do from the outside, and is it authorized?
No
TIMMINS
You 2 are so young how are you able to not have a main job do you really make enough to make it on just youtube, im so jealous 😮
They have a finance channel also detailing how there able to do it.
Do you know why only certain Amtrak routes have Wi-Fi?
When the west bound train splits at Spokane, which is better viewing the Portland section or Seattle one? Same in reverse toward Spokane, which train is better?
I have seen some people getting specialty coffees in the Minot, ND stop (it's a café truck)
Are there any safety concerns for single elderly women traveling on the empire?
No
I so enjoy by our video’s. I think I’m ready to go on a trip Thank you.
Have tickets for Next May 👍
Traveling with a friend; we each got a roomette - on opposite sides
I can’t wait to start my travels in 2024.
Man, I’m sorry I missed this. 😢I’m taking my first trip ever on a train
Dang it, just missed it live lol
We will be doing another on this Sunday at noon eastern
I took the Empire Builder from La Crosse, WI to Vancouver, WA in 1997. I agree you want to be on the north side all the way to Spokane, WA. If you can be on the south side of the train from Spokane to Portland, that’s the side you want to be on when following the Columbia River. The view in the early morning hours is awesome. The Empire Builder goes past an island in the middle of the Columbia River that has a house on it. According to the conductor, the house once belonged to Tom Sellick. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it makes for a great story.
Aw man, can't believe I missed this live. I'm taking the Empire Builder next month for my birthday, I can't wait! I took the California Zephyr last year, I absolutely loved it!
How much time do I give myself to go from Johnstown PA to Seattle and back? Should I get a hotel overnight in Seattle or Chicago?
Heads up: it's pronounced "My-knot" :)
As in "Why not Minot?" and the answer "Freezin's the reason!"
Thank you for all the info. what is the process if the train you are on is arriving late and you have a connection train to catch? This may be covered and I just haven't gotten to that part of your vlog yet.
Sorry I missed the live. And I'm sorry about your illness Allie. My dad is also sick right now, and I'm his caretaker. I had a brief moment where I was able to slip out and go grab some cigarettes walking.... so when I returned your live was already over. But I'/we're m a huge fan! (we've been watching your long hauls together).I don't think you guys realize your videos are helping me so much plan this dream vacation where I can poke my dad with his cane and say... wake up... look. No, not really. I'll just tap his leg lol. But you guys are so wholesome and extremely awesome. I wasn't lying when I said I hope we/I run into ya'lll. Best wishes and safe travels!
Just took Empire Builder on 11 Nov from Chicago to Seattle. Nice route. I like that it left and ended at reasonable times.
The Empire Builder is Not always late
I took the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco in May. I'm taking the Empire Builder to Portland, Oregon next May. Your videos have been a huge help in planning my trips.
The reason why I mentioned the no backpack rule is because we were trying to follow your advise to carry our valuables with us at all times. I was pleasantly surprised that the dining car attendants made the effort to serve dinner early to those departing in Denver.
Hello guys. Glad to see you're doing well Allie. For hotels in Chicago, there are a couple hotels if you go out the back of the station, cross the river, soon as you pass the el.
Please do a room tour of the ADA compliant rooms and showers. Particularly, can I roll my chair into the shower stall?
No there are no Ada showers on Amtrak besides the Viewliner 2 Ada bedrooom, and random which car you get put in even the Amtrak employees do not know which car they get till they board the train that day.
Hi! I took a round trip on the Empire Builder to Seattle in April with my best friend in a roomette and we absolutely loved it. The scenery was stunning. I watched your channel before my trip and i felt like i was a pro during the trip. Thank you. Ali i wish you the best on your recovery.
I last took the Empire Builder about 10-12 years ago, at the height of the North Dakota oil rush. We were late leaving Chicago waiting for passengers on connecting trains. We got sidetracked a few times before Milwaukee and the crew died about an hour west of Milwaukee. We sidetracked an hour waiting for a replacement crew. That delay seemed to put us off schedule with respect to freight traffic and we got sidetracked frequently from there on west. When we got to Glasgow MT we stopped for 5 hours while the track owner repaired major rail damage about an hour west. Leaving Glasgow we were 10 hours behind schedule. We continued getting sidetracked the rest of the way. Somewhere a little west of Whitefish we stopped for an hour at some small town while the crew went into town to grocery shop since they had run out of food. Ultimately we were about 15 hours late into Seattle.
planning a january 2025 empire builder. Then the kid wants to do it in August 2025.
do you tip on a train? if so, who and how much? Thank you!
Depending on if your taking coach or getting a room. Which one are you wanting?
Are there any Amtrak deals for single travelers.
They just had a sale. The discounts (such as senior) only apply to the rail portion of your charge, not sleeper rooms. (Yeah, it's confusing.)
What is the brand of cheeseburgers they sell in the cafe? I love those things. Most people hate them but I love them.
Bacon cheese and regular cheese burger
We just took the Zephyr from Emeryville to Denver in a roommette. Our 1st long distance train journey. A couple of things happened. When I realized that Room 13 was downstairs, I called Amtrak to move upstairs. There was an upcharge, so I just stayed with our reservation. It turned out that we were alone on the lower level until Grand Junction. We had the lower level to ourselves for the 1st day of the trip! A family did move into the family room at Grand Junction, and we did hear them. It was not a problem, since we were getting off in Denver. The onboard staff was great! Also, coach was pretty full, the conductor did not allow people to take backpacks to the observation car. We did not have any issues on our journey, but I noticed other passengers had their problems solved. I am a flight attendant, and I observed that passengers with special requests were accommodated in ways we are not able to do on overseas flights. Thank you for for all your info. I'm happy, Allie, that your recovery is going well.