Tips for Cross Country Train Travel
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ย. 2016
- Joe and Julie answer your most Frequently Asked Questions about what it's like and how to prepare for traveling from the East Coast (New York) to the west coast (California) via the train. We are doing it again on January 1st 2024, so expect a part 2 & part 3 some time in February!
I LOVE that smooth jazz that is playing in the background!
I’ve got no idea why this was suggested by TH-cam but I really enjoyed it regardless.
Thanks for sharing
Great video!
I just rode the Coast Starlight from Oakland to Los Angeles yesterday. The trip was about 12hrs so I opted for Business Class. It was worth it. I had both sides of the row to myself, tons of leg room. The attendants were really friendly and helpful. Also, having dinner with strangers was really cool. I was riding solo and am usually really shy, but since everyone was so chill, the conversation flowed naturally.
To anyone reading this who wants to cross country by train but is nervous about eating with strangers: I did Dc-Seattle and back a few years ago, and was nervous about that eating arrangement, plus I'm anxious AF! Every diner party doing it has just as little idea of what's going on as the next. If you're feeling quiet, people are always respectful. They also are open about how awkward the situation is, helps to get everyone laughing and lighten things up. Anyone who's already had a few shared meals on their train trip will have gotten the hang of how to handle each encounter, and you learn a number of good questions to use when nothing else works. If you don't have any ideas, just search Google for suggested conversation questions for strangers. In the end, I had something like 24 meals with strangers on amtrak that week, and they've grown into among my fondest memories. You'd never meet these people otherwise!
I thought about that since I will be going alone. I think I will probably buy something from their cafe car and take to my room. I don't mind having conversation but in that setting I would feel too close and won't be able to enjoy my food.
The worst fear of those people who have wholeheartedly embraced the digital communications age...direct interaction with their fellow humans...OH MY GAWD, WHAT DO I DO???
Aaron omgosh, when I traveled from Portland to SF, I did eat with strangers and I was awkward af.
I agree. I can be shy but it is relaxed and I did meet some sweet interesting people.
@@JohnHill-qo3hb 😂😂😂 right?
I find myself wary of drinking from any of the faucets on the train due to the unknowns of how often they're purged & sanitized. Bottled water and other beverages seem like cheap insurance. You meet a wide variety of folks on the train; it's part of the adventure.
There are extremely good water filtration bottles available online too.
I totally agree....used to work for an airline...NEVER ever drink their water!!
My husband and I are planning several long distance Amtrak trips in the near future and because we've never Amtraked before there are questions. We've learned the basics from Amtrak's website, we're 2 guys 6'4 and 6'5 so sleeping will be a challenge even in the bedroom car, the food looks 5 star, etc but your video offered some tips we'd not thought about or seen on other videos. VERY WELL DONE, you're a charming couple!
We'd like to return a few tips for anyone watching this - DO NOT book a trip via the AMTRAK website for long distance travel, call customer service. We spoke with an agent that booked our upcoming Texas Eagle Chicago to Cali trip with a bedroom, got us a hotel for two nights and back on the return train. She also offered un-posted discounts, arranged for a train featuring a Park Ranger lecture, suggested any tip for the car attendant be made in person when leaving at your destination and put us on hold while she found out the ceiling heights of the cars.
Sounds like you're going to have a great trip, but you are incorrect in saying that booking by phone got you anything special compared to the website.
- All cross country trains have National Parks service staff onboard, explaining the route and scenery, no matter what train
- All sleepers can be booked online.
- All available discounts are listed on the Amtrak site
- The dimensions of all cars and rooms are shown on the website.
- The Amtrak Vacations site will let you book hotels digitally as well, and are cheaper than by phone.
46619tab; I appreciate your tip about calling customer service. I've played around on the web site trying to find fares for trips and found myself pretend booking a trip before giving up. Also, we're a senior and a disabled person who has a service dog. I would think the customer service person would be better at handling those kind of questions than the website. Again, thanks! Also, this is seven months after your posting; how did your trip(s) go?
Wow. Had no idea. That's great
I've travel on Amtrak train (even former private RR Company before Amtrak merged) for 50 years. So, I go once (sometime twice) a year across the country as I love it and no matter if on time or delays.
how about now, with covid?
@@jayden3331 Not now with covid to my ages.
@@kennethmccann6402 ah got it, hope covid ends so people could travel again lol
@@jayden3331 Of course I can't wait to hop on Amtrak again. Thanks.
I do find rooms midcar vs over the wheels are more comfortable with less rail vibration; allows for better nights sleep and less noise. Also don't forget to tip your car attendant! I tipped a little more per day when I ate in my room r/t ambulatory issues after hip surgery.c
Love the Empire Builder!!
I ordered a Domino's Pizza while riding the Empire Builder for delivery to the train about 45 minutes before arriving at Havre, Montana. Oh, the looks I got when I got back on board.
nice tip
Great idea!
Great tip
I love the train, but take your own food, and never be inn a hurry. Scenery is awesome, and I love to listen to audible books and crochet!
Qypsy Q Traveler aka Pamela Prizant-Brooks And get rid of your microwavable pizzas oh is awful
Coach or business are fine on short trips...8 hrs or less....but anything over night...get a room, you will be thankful for it.
I loved your suggestions regarding the train. I thought you showed everything about the train layout that concerned me. I totally appreciated your suggestions which would never have occurred to me to be helpful.
My wife likes water and ice. Our cabin attendant brought us as many bottles of water as we wanted and a bucket of ice. Just remember, you are on a train, the same attendant and the same waitress or waiter will be serving you every day. There are just a few people working on the train. So if you don't tip, you will not get a second bottle of water. If you want to carry everything yourself and hear that they ran out of towels or bottled water, then don't tip. On my first train trip I tipped like I would at a normal restaurant. On the third day I heard the waitress tell the couple by me that they were out of bottled water. I thought that was too bad as I wanted water, but the waitress then came and gave me two bottles of water without my asking. Treat the staff well and they will treat you well.
Yes, that IS the American system (unfortunately): 1) those with cash to spare can buy preferential treatment (even to the detriment of less wealthy fellow passengers, it seems); and 2) service staff are evidently so poorly paid that they have to rely on gratuities. This would never happen in non-tipping cultures (such as Japan, for instance) where service staff are not only paid a living wage that doesn't require effective begging but they take pride and find a real dignity in providing a high standard of service to ALL. I've travelled in both the United States (where "post-service" tips are all but mandatory) and Russia (where it's "pre-service" bribes that get you that extra bottle of water or whatever -- and I'm not sure which system I dislike more. :(
Thats fucked up. Horrible customer service.
Supah, if they pay as poorly as cruise ships pay their wait staff; it's understandable why tips work. And, it's the American way.
That's Awesome
@@Ynysmydwr
It is what it is, ie., "When in Rome".
Amtrak employees are well paid, that has nothing to do with the manner in which tipping is utilized.
Most importantly, as a customer being polite as well as a pleasant attitude go a long way.
Love train travel.
Wife and I have traveled by sleeper train many times. However the last trip my wife had an embarrassing incident. We were traveling from Florida to New York on the silver service. I was looking out the window while the wife was taking a sponge bath completely naked. Then out of no where a double decker commuter train heading to Washington full of commuters came along side of us. I believe at least 40 people got a good look at her naked body before we realized it. I tried to throw a blanket for cover but it was too late. Never would I ever imagine that this could have happened. She always figured it would be safe to not having to close the curtains on a moving train. Lesson learned.
I couldn't stop laughing after reading this.
She had since told me it was the most embarrassing moment she has ever experienced. I honestly thought it was sort of exciting. She has nothing to be ashamed of. I took a pic of one the commuter cars when it sat in union station .
😂😂😂😂
I LOVE Amtrak! My last trip was seattle to fla, 4,000 miles, 4 days. To point at one city from the other, point 45 deg into the ground.
I went Cross Country in 1998. I loved it. Three of us in a S.UV .I loved it and had the best time of my life.
Nice video! I did the Lakeshore to Chicago from NYC and then Empire Builder out West about 4 years ago. It was wonderful.
Probably the best, most practicable advice I've seen on youtube for the subject at hand, thanks!
Am I the only one who LOVES the way she looks at him at the beginning of this video?
She looked woofed
I'm getting ready to take a train trip. I loved your video. It was informative and loaded with realistic and helpful suggestions. The two of you work so well together. It was fun to watch...thank you!!!!
I love you guys! So calm and LOTS of useful information--a lot of it applies to car and air travel too. You don't waste time either...onew suggestion after another. Well done.
Julie is just adorable.
Noticed an error. You do not get to get off at each stop. On the Zeph I believe there are two stops of a half hour each. Omaha, NE is around 20 min. Denver, CO is for just over a half hour, and Salt Lake City if for thirty minutes in the middle of the night. Reno usually is also a twenty minute or so stop. The rest of the stops are generally only for those getting off or on the train and not a getting off and taking a walk. If you are a smoker you can go for many hours without a smoke break. Sometimes you will get a five or ten minute stop and the conductor will let you get off to take a smoke. Do not go more that twenty feet away from the train because when it is ready to leave you have only a minute to get back on an they will leave you behind. I have seen it happen.
They make you get off the train now? Man!
@@christianfreedom-seeker934 No, you don't Have to get off the train. You can if you want if the stop is one of the few that lasts 15 minutes or more. Most stops are about 5 minutes.
Jon and Julie thanks for all your wonderful helpful hints on train traveling. I am all excited now to try train traveling.
Lynne is awesome! She was my attendant too!
I've been planning my cross country trip for two years (saving for all bedroom cars). I learned some great tips here. I will definitely carry the hanger/hooks as well as safety pins and extension cord. Thanks for the great video!
~ Lysol, my best friend when travelling! 😀👍🏻🇨🇦
Great tips about the safety pins and removeable hooks. Thank you.
You two did a wonderful job on the video. Thanks for sharing. We are leaving in a couple of weeks to start our mini cross country trip.
Thanks for the tour and trip hints. We are planning a trip and your video was a big help.
Very well done. Best video I’ve seen regarding train trips. Thank you !!
You should consider a snow train trip on Canada's Via Rail between Vancouver and Toronto. Wife and I did that in Feb. 2018, spending 3 nights in Jasper. We had a cabin, but spent about 80% of our daytime in the observation car which was not busy with people. Staff was friendlier, and food better than on Amtrak. I got scolded for having a handheld Ham radio to talk to my Ham friends back home. They thought I was listening to rail communications.
@ I thought it odd too. Nothing anybody could do about it since I am a licensed Ham. Even with all the metal interference around me, I later hit a close repeater that had IRLP to access node 4069 to talk back to NC. FUN!
@ Find a local Ham club near you. Visit Ham fests, which have local sales of Ham radios, etc there (ask about Field Day). Study for your license. I studied for my licenses (3 stages) from "hamtestonline". There is a charge but if you can memorize the answers, you do not have to fully understand the question. Start with a cheap 2 meter handheld like Baofeng (ok), Wouxun (better). I own both. Loads of repeaters everywhere. Lots of TH-cam vids on how to bypass the hard to understand archaic paper instructions on setting the radio "freqs", "Tone", "Offset", etc. Oh, and IRLP stands for Internet, Radio, Language, Project. Ham Repeaters hooked up to each other via the internet.
Excellent tips for potential first-timers, thank you.
Great tips. Tanks so much!! Love the snack bag fashioned out of the LL Bean toiletries bag!!!
Thank you Joe & Julie! Very informative & helpful. Definitely on my bucket list!
I find the roomettes easier to sleep in than the rooms. I think the bed running lengthwise isolate the movement just a bit more than the ones across the train.
Thank you, you are such a helpful couple! It would be great to have company like yours on train!
I dios my first one last year. My next crosses country is in March and this time I have a sleeper! I will also be doing some vlogging. Sooooooo RE-excited from seeing this video! So many people would love this!
I did cross country 3 times. Here is my advice: get a room. You make up the cost in privacy and 'free' food. Plus you can sleep. Bring a blanket even in the summer. They blast the AC and one trip was so cold I had to buy a blanket. If you go with coach, bring as much food and drink that will stay fresh. Food is really expensive esp in the dining car. I can't sleep well even in Amtrak's coaches seats which would be first class on a plane. Bring something to do or read. There are VAST open spaces in America like North Dakota-Montana trip. That was about 24 hours of nothing but farmland and a few minor stops. It gets boring. Alcohol is expensive so I brought my own. Don't smoke unless you are at a smoke break. Don't know about vaping. Get off even at smoke breaks to stretch your legs and see some of the land. Unfortunately, you really don't stay in one city long enough to go on a day tour. Make taking the train part of your trip. If you are in a hurry, fly.
Smoke breaks? They don't have smoking cars anymore?
@@markbarnes6626 No. They used to on the bottom floor. Now they stop every few hundred miles. Makes no sense since the smoking room was sealed.
Thanks for this so much amazing video. Literally covered everything I wanted to know and more!
Joe and Julie; this was by far the best video on train travel I've seen yet. I'd like to do a cross country trip sometime, and your take along tips were wonderful. I've "liked" the video so I can refer to it before I go. Thanks very much!
Thank you so much🌺 Taking a trip with my parents for their 55 anniversary this summer. Taking the coastal from LA to Seattle than Alaska Cruise. Your advice is very appreciated! Sending Y'all Love Blessings Light 💗🍍✨🐬🌺🌈💕🕉️
to have your own room with a toilet is a bonus! i hate using shared toilets and when i stay at bed and breakfasts, which i prefer over hotels, i always get one with a private bathroom.
Great video! I took this trip last year in July 2016. Flew from my home in Houston, Texas to Newark, took the Lake Shore Limited from Penn Station to Chicago in a Viewliner bedroom, then connected with the California Zephyr to San Francisco in a Superliner bedroom. Spent 3 days in the Bay area and then flew down to LA and took the Southwest Chief to Chicago in a bedroom, then flew back to Houston..Absolutely loved it!
What a terrific trip. I would like to take a cross country trip, but live in Arizona. I had planned to do a Chicago to L.A. trip (where I could get off in Needles, CA if I wanted to), but your Newark idea sounds much better. Sounds like you had a good trip.
It was a blast! can't wait to do it again!
Traveling with another couple or family single? You failed to mention, the full length mirror in each bedroom serves as a slide door that opens into the room next door, making in a suite. Book in advance for this. Your extension cord suggestion was an excellent one. Also, a roll of duct tape comes in very handy. Sorry, but "flip flops" are not a good idea when crossing between cars. Although there is a shower in the bedroom, there is one, or two on the lower lever of the car, with fresh towels and bar soap. Hot coffee, juice and bottled water are always available just around the corner outside the rooms. What a way to travel. And your presentation was outstanding. Thanks!
This is an example on one sleeper car, there is another version the roomette does not have a toilet or sink. Another Idea is to carry a Power Strip with you as well. the bathroom and showers are different as well. Another tip would be to take a GPS with you, it will keep you informed as to where you are, how fast your travelling If you have a gopro or some other camera take a suction cup mount stick it to the window to help get video of the great scenery along the route. All in all a great video well done thank you.
Actually, although they call it a roomette, they're in a regular bedroom. Huge, huge difference. Thee are plenty of videos that show real roomettes. I've taken Amtrak twice now in a roomette, travelling alone, and it's perfect for one person. I also have them put me in a room on the lower level, as I'm right next to three, yes three, toilets, as well as the shower.
The double decker superliner roomettes do not have toilets or sinks. But those cars have restrooms and showers on the lower level,
Thank you for the comprehensive tour of the train and great suggestions for making life a bit easier during the ride.
Joe and Julie....well done. Great advise and info... Hope you do a lot more videos....
Did a round the country odyssey on Amtra, last year. You guys nailed it
Thanks for doing this video. I'm planning on doing a solo train trip from South Florida to D.C. next year just for fun. Looking forward to it.
Safety pins are a great idea.
~ You should ride the Canadian and or the Rocky Mountaineer. 🇨🇦
This was fantastic, thank you both for making an informative video about modern American train travel.
Lots of great hints.
Thanks for the tips!
I’m going to Portland in August. On the way back I’m getting a roommette.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I hope your trip was as delightful as the two of you.
Thank you! It was a spectacular vacation! Unforgettable and we are glad we took the time to go by train.
Thank you! We travel Denver to Illinois tomorrow. This was very helpful. Thanks!
I liked both of you and your video! :)
Very well made! I ride the lake shore limited monthly and I’ve had a roomette a few times. I get the handicapped accessible room because it automatically comes with my disability discount. It’s such a big room and such a big bathroom. I love this video!
Excellent tips and tricks! Thank you so much for making this video!! I've been wanting to ride the California Zephyr for some time.
Did you do it yet? Did you get slammed against the wall (I did) while walking to the dining car as the train hits a bad spot on the tracks?
Thanks for sharing the details of the trip and tricks.... y'all did very good.
God bless you and your family
Brother Daymond Chief Jones
Wow! Really well done review and thoughtful tips and info. Thanks!!
I'm planning taking a trip in Sept. 2018 around the whole country and staying a few nights in Diff. cities at hostels and so I can do laundry because I'm only taking 8 days of clothes . I will be bringing a a power bar for extra plugs and a small clip of fan also .
thanks great video
Plus 1 for the clip fan. Helps when sleeping as well.
Thank you for the information! I want to have a train vacation across country, soon!
On Feb. 19, 2018, wife and I are riding the Canadian between Vancouver and Toronto, with 3 day hotel stops in Jasper, meandering by bus (Motor Coach) to Banff, etc. We did the California Zephyr 5 years ago. Our car attendant was terrible. Waiter staff was fair. Scenery out West US was fantastic! Canadian trips have always had slightly nicer crew, with better food.
Very nicely done video; plenty of useful information well presented! Thanks!
Overall I liked the video, but *NO* *NO* *NO* to the safety pin in the cushion! Just once may *seem* fine, but if people did that over and over it would eventually fray and destroy the upholstery. =(
That said, I recommend not just an extension cord, but a filtered/protected power strip with a long cord. That way you get multiple outlets, and you put less strain on sensitive electronic devices (the electrical system in the sleeper cars was designed to run old pre-digital electric razors and such and the power is not always to spec).
Overkill? You must of been the Hall Monitor in school? Now I'm going to pin everything in site and you can't stop me!!
Modern AC powered devices with chargers, especially USB ones, use universal switching power supplies. They will not even notice the power supply irregularities you mentioned. And who wants to schlep a power conditioner around with them just to use on the train?
I got the smaller wrap into themselves power strips. They have limited power conditioning, but they have a few plugs AND USB outlets. So you don't need plugs for everything. Worked great and are easy to pack. Useful even in the hotel when you get to your destination.
@@anthonylan2295 I AGREE WITH Yume 100% ON NO PINS IN THE UPHOLSTERY. I CONSIDER THAT AS DAMAGING PROPERTY. VERY INCONSIDERATE!!!
Thanks a lot for this informative video. Looking forward to experiencing the west to east coast train ride.
I like your choice of background music - smooth jazz!
Large Binder Clips are our friends.... :)
I plan on traveling from Los Angles to Richmond, VA via Chicago next spring and have been preparing a list of things I need to bring. I am glad I stumbled upon your video for a great starter list.
How was your trip?
Beautiful and informative video!!!! Very well done and helpful!!! I’ll be doing two trips next year. First is Houston to Chicago and back. Second is Houston to LA to Seattle to Chicago to NYC to New Orleans and back to Houston. This has been a 35 year dream. Every hint you gave was spot on!!! Thanks!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠
hillsunshine43 ... Hey, the more the merrier!!! Me and mine wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!!! God bless you and yours!!! Chuck Knight. 🤠
Good and Very helpful to prepare for the trip ! Thank you, guys!
Amtrak is an underrated treasure! I have done 3 or 4 trips.
I especially loved Autotrain! And my trip in the Chief to and from Albuquerque!
This was a really cool video, I enjoyed more than I thought I would.
Sleeping was difficult for me, as the car kept rocking to the sides. At times I felt like I was going to be tossed out of bed. But it was ok. I totally enjoyed my roomette trip. Despised the return in Coach. Even having both seats to myself was not comfortable at all. Since our stop was at 3am, I didn't try to sleep, just dozed as best I could.
7:25 "And they come right off...."(thinks to himself, 'Boy, I am so screwed.')
I am always able to get more water bottles on the train sleeper cars.
Wow great video! I love that LL Bean bag. You guys make a great team
extraordinary attention to detail ... utmost blessings!
Great tips! Safety pins can be so useful and I never thought about Command hooks. I had been wondering about how the toilet paper was going to keep dry in the shower. Now I know, thanks!
Use safety pins sparingly and cautiously. They can damage the fabric, especially if you hang things from them. Glasses are probably safe, but avoid overuse!
Safety pin tip is a really BAD idea as the fabric was never intended to be used as a pin cushion. The rocking movement of the train is going to cause the item attached to the pin to swing back and forth stressing the fabric.
loved the video!! Cannot wait to take a Cross country Trip
Cool 😎. thanks for doing it and posting.
BTW, the music makes me want to have a camel short & a dry martini 🍸👍🏻.
well done...I went Boston Chicago. Chicago LA...I remember it like it was yesterday and it was in 1996
I have rode several different trains. They all are different. I like the Canadian, Via Rail the best (Vancouver to Toronto, or vise versa). Better food, and generally much nicer staff. Wife and I like the cabins over a roomette. Cabins have a toilet in it which is better for older people who get up at night to pee. Most roomettes do not have a toilet. I wish I could stay awake 24 hours a day so I do not miss anything. Hate going through pretty mountains at night and missing the scenery. The rocking train lulls me to sleep even during the daytime.
There is a handicap accessible room on coast starlight. I’ve used it twice and so glad i was able to use it. 🌷💫
Great video. Thanks. Safety pins and hooks great idea.
Thanks, that video was alot of help I'll keep all of this in mind.
Hanging your glasses from a pin is one of the most clever tips I've ever seen.
Informative and pleasant video, thanks for sharing! My son and I took the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Tuscon last year. It was an impulse trip at the last minute and we stayed in coach. They are traveling with livestock back there which they cook along the way... kidding, but it was low class all the way. However, we loved the dining car (among the happy people) and viewing car. Next time, we are getting a family room.
Both my wife and I have done several train tours in Europe as we hail from the UK .
Our ambition is to do coast to coast across the states by train as we have found train travel the best way to meet people.
We appreciate your posting very much having driven in the states we love small town USA and can’t wait to go state side again.
Thanks for the insight guys in to USA train travel
Rail travel in the USA is wonderful, imo. Those ppl in the comments section dissing rail travel, I’ll tell them to ride the Dog the same distance.....THEN......complain about rail travel!
We would love to try this at least once.
Great tips, thank you very much.
Oh, and anything for sanitizing-- Lysol, as you said. And hand sanitizer, baby wipes, etc.
"Baby Wipes" are a bad choice for sanitizing anything in the rooms. First, they don't usually have any sanitizing ingredients, second, they have ingredients that can leave a hard to remove film on surfaces.
Personally, I pack:
- Windex wipes in the little travel packs (good for cleaning windows and other surfaces, leave no residue)
- Alcohol wipes in individual sealed packs (good for sanitizing and cleaning anything that has a greasy component)
- Baby Wipes in small travel packs for cleaning face, hands
Very good favour to general public. You are good. Thanks a million.
Thank you so much for the advice! I'm actually thinking about going on a train trip some time after Covid-19! The information you gave was very useful!
Do note: due to COVID they serve microwave meals in the diner and you cannot sit with others.
Due to Amtrak trying to cut costs, it MAY stay like that after COVID is done. On the website it says that traditional dining is going to come back but we don’t know
This is very helpful. Thanks so much for posting this! :)
Excellent video! Thanks for all the tips. ☺
Nice, Paul Desmond on the train too.....
Very classy music. Thank you.