Nice job Nick. Taking this same trip in August from Ann Arbor, Michigan thru Chicago to Seattle. Will be our 2nd trip on Amtrak. Took a western trip on Amtrak in January out of LA. The trip didn't go as planned due to the Armageddon Snow Storm in Chicago and the Midwest which shut down everything that day, but it was still a great adventure, even though the Amtrak segment ended for us in Denver. Long story. Was a great adventure, and Amtrak personnel and Mgmt could not have been more wonderful. Can't control the weather, but the adventure was a great introduction into Amtrak and life traveling the rails. Loved it!!! Looking forward to August. And the Bedroom IS the car to book for sure over the Roomette, if you can swing the extra $$. 👍
The added restroom in the Bedroom is a great feature. The Roomette is great for 1, but a little cramped for 2, and no restroom. But the added privacy is great either way, and the food is pretty solid. We are actually going in August because I always wanted to visit Seattle, AND the Tigers are playing in Seattle, so I'm looking forward to seeing a night game. Then we'll fly back after 2 nights in Seattle. Just a weekend gig!!!!
I would have went for the steak option too, can’t go wrong with it! You are right, the Seattle segment of the train loses the lounge car at Spokane but also keep in mind that the Portland segment of the train loses the dining car at Spokane
Yep i always did the steak but hate its only for distances more than 2 nights and the 1 nights only get flexible dining now(Which is still ok) but before used to be steak and shrimp and lunch was the big thick cheeseburger😱😱😱 Amtrak i love but book early for sleeping accommodations because they can get expensive
I took the zephyr last week, I ordered steak both nights, it was amazing with the coconut shrimp and cheese cake. I will be ordering the same thing next trip I take.
Thanks for stopping in! I can't wait to do more of the "famous" routes of Amtrak. The Coast Starlight, the Palmetto Line, the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief...they all look great! Hoping to do more train content through 2024!
I'll say this - you're tougher than I am. I rode coach for the short trip from Seattle to Spokane after filming this and I couldn't imagine having to spend 46 hours in those seats. As for ordering steak and dessert - it's available to passengers in coach on a space limited basis, as in - if there isn't space you will not be able to order meals. The little cafe shop in the observation car will be your only source for snacks at that point.
@@NickGoesFar ihave driven back and forth in this route and I90 5-6times in my car w dog when I lived in Vancouver Wa. I think I can make due with the recline seat🤞👌🏻I’m 5’1” I’m frugal😆❤️✌🏻
One of my favorite stretches of this route is the initial stage leaving Seattle. It skims along the edge of Puget Sound for probably 2/3 of the distance between Seattle and Everett.
At about 17:30, the view is of the Foss River while crossing on the trestle which is part of a big u-bend. I disappointed he didn’t mention the Cascade Tunnel, the longest in the US
Great video! Looking at doing this route soon, also in a bedroom. Question - understanding that you can go either to Seattle or Portland, which one enables you to stay on the same train that you started on? Traveling with my elderly dad, so the fewer train transitions the better. Thanks!
Technically either. If you’re going to Seattle you’ll be in one sleeper car, if you’re going to Portland you’ll be in the other. I prefer the Seattle route as the trip through the cascades is more scenic. The diner car goes to Seattle, the observation car goes to Portland.
Just got off empire builder too, steak was great! I had a roomette.. how do you bid? You upgraded to a ? I’ve heard some older trains had sinks and toilets in roomettes.. I wasn’t so lucky .. was a great trip though , no linens on our tables though 😊thanks for sharing !
I currently have a roomette purchased, but the bid on the mobile app started out at $360 for the bedroom. Since I am riding by myself, I think I'll keep the roomette. I am returning to Detroit First class on United and that will cover the cost of that ticket for me. :)
Approaching retirement I started watching Amtrak, mostly Empire Builder videos. Based on where I live I soon figured out that getting to the train, getting on & off, getting to my final destination, or back home after trip, is always going to be done in the darkest hours of the night. I wish someone would do a video about getting on & off Amtrak at 3:00 am in the middle of nowhere, with stations & entire small towns locked up tight until normal business hours. No steak, trying to sleep in the daytime, and up in the middle of my night for breakfast or lunch. Not everyone lives in Chicago, Seattle or Portland!
And I don’t either. I flew in to Chicago to meet the train. All the late night stops, for the most part I slept through, and the steak was available all dinner services
They're the same seats - but I would say that the lower level is perhaps more isolated from the rest of the train, so maybe easier to get some shut-eye in? I rode in the upper level, I liked that it was on the same level as everything else, and had better views. The upper level is the "main" level on this route, it connects to the observation car, the dining car, etc. The lower levels are mostly bathrooms and storage.
Actually, the only portion of the route that is originally the great northern railroad is from Fargo to Seattle From Saint Paul to Fargo, that trackage was originally built by the northern Pacific railroad From Chicago to Glenview, that is Metra tracks Then from Glenview to Saint Paul, that was originally built by the Milwaukee Road railroad, which today is a part of the CPKC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad
i actually laughed out loud watching this, thank you for that LOL. this is the best amtrak video i've seen. i'm doing california zephyr and then empire builder in a couple weeks. going the portland way, so will see how that goes. thanks again for sharing your experience.
Great video. I booked a cross country train ride last April. Long story short, Amtrak canceled the trip the same day I was to leave Chicago.😢 I havent rebooked yet, but its on my bucket list. I watch Downey Live channel as well.
As a fellow who has a love/ hate relationship with Amtrak, Please, make the attempt until you get it done. I have vowed never again, only to book another leg of their routes. One thing I learned, if you have a connection, always stay over, or have an early arrival, and LATE departure on the connection. I tried to take my 93 year old dad on a connection from Tucson to LA to catch the pacific run up California to Seattle, Train was 6 hours late to Tucson, missed the LA connection, rode a bus to Bakersfield. Long story short, missed the whole purpose of the trip!, anyway, the experience will teach you patience, if nothing else, but you see the country at a pace few appreciate. Don't leave the world with any regrets!!
I received an email from Amtrak a couple of weeks prior to our travel date inviting me to bid, it took me to a website specifically for that. If sleepers are fully booked though, they don’t send the email.
Thank you for pronouncing Illinois correctly many people say it with the s which is wrong since for the people who do not know the d Illinois is silent.
Honestly, at this point I don't recall, that was back in April. It was the bottom of the slider. And when I told the agent in the lounge his eyebrows shot up and he said "that almost never happens", I presume typically because people bid higher.
Hi. Love your video. I’m also a newbie to your channel. I’m confused though. You upgraded from one roomette to one bedroom? When I book next year I’m getting two roomettes. So I can bid for two bedrooms?
I'm not entirely sure what the bidding situation would be if you have two roomette's booked on one reservation - they likely give you a "per room" bidding option. I'm curious to hear how it goes.
@@lindanordlund6753 I didn’t know bidding up was available for coach to sleeper cabins. I believe they only hold 2 passengers. You would need to upgrade to a family bedroom for extra beds.
@lindanordlund753 the bedroom only lets you get 3 people into 1 bedroom is if you call Amtrak and do reservation over the phone I think 3 roommates across each other have to call for that it will still be less expensive than the bedroom most likely.
Great video. Why did you have to return back to Spokane? Does it not stop there or did you just go all the way to Seattle for the video? Is it possible to get off along the way for overnight stops? Does that increase the cost much?
We went all the way to Seattle for the video BUT home is Coeur d’Alene, Idaho which is served by the Spokane station. So, practically, we should have gotten off in Spokane - but wanted to get the entire experience.
I just did this trip in the opposite direction and it was terrible. Every switch we went over rocked our car violently. The shower was dirty, our beds were equipped with old mattresses and flat pillows and the car attendant had to cover 2 sleepers due to staff shortage. I return to Seattle in 2 weeks, so Amtrak needs to get this right, or I will just fly instead.
I always take Amtrak but planning a trip from NYC to Seattle and the 2nd train is same commute as yours Chicago to Seattle
@@RaymondMcNamaraJr that’ll be a great trip!
Nice job Nick. Taking this same trip in August from Ann Arbor, Michigan thru Chicago to Seattle. Will be our 2nd trip on Amtrak. Took a western trip on Amtrak in January out of LA. The trip didn't go as planned due to the Armageddon Snow Storm in Chicago and the Midwest which shut down everything that day, but it was still a great adventure, even though the Amtrak segment ended for us in Denver. Long story. Was a great adventure, and Amtrak personnel and Mgmt could not have been more wonderful. Can't control the weather, but the adventure was a great introduction into Amtrak and life traveling the rails. Loved it!!! Looking forward to August. And the Bedroom IS the car to book for sure over the Roomette, if you can swing the extra $$. 👍
Absolutely! The extra space made for a very comfortable trip! I still want to do a roomette trip one of these days for comparison!
The added restroom in the Bedroom is a great feature. The Roomette is great for 1, but a little cramped for 2, and no restroom. But the added privacy is great either way, and the food is pretty solid. We are actually going in August because I always wanted to visit Seattle, AND the Tigers are playing in Seattle, so I'm looking forward to seeing a night game. Then we'll fly back after 2 nights in Seattle. Just a weekend gig!!!!
I have watched your vide, Well done
I stayed in that lounge before few times when going to my sisters in Kansas and its nice
I would have went for the steak option too, can’t go wrong with it! You are right, the Seattle segment of the train loses the lounge car at Spokane but also keep in mind that the Portland segment of the train loses the dining car at Spokane
😅 well…I wanted BOTH cars
@@NickGoesFar I agree, it would be better if both cars go to both places!
Yep i always did the steak but hate its only for distances more than 2 nights and the 1 nights only get flexible dining now(Which is still ok) but before used to be steak and shrimp and lunch was the big thick cheeseburger😱😱😱 Amtrak i love but book early for sleeping accommodations because they can get expensive
I took the zephyr last week, I ordered steak both nights, it was amazing with the coconut shrimp and cheese cake. I will be ordering the same thing next trip I take.
I'm definitely a steak fan on Amtrak. The coconut shrimp was good, but I think I'll stick to the salad in the future.
@@NickGoesFar Taken 3 times since I made this comment over a year ago. Still ordering the steak and shrimp. lol
❤Loving this video ❤I’m a newbie to your channel ❤Thanks for taking us along on this journey and I’m hoping to go along on other Amtrak trips ❤
Thanks for stopping in! I can't wait to do more of the "famous" routes of Amtrak. The Coast Starlight, the Palmetto Line, the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief...they all look great! Hoping to do more train content through 2024!
I’m taking same trip in October 👍🏻I choose coach after watching. Several videos ? Can anyone in coach order the steak and dessert?yumm
I'll say this - you're tougher than I am. I rode coach for the short trip from Seattle to Spokane after filming this and I couldn't imagine having to spend 46 hours in those seats. As for ordering steak and dessert - it's available to passengers in coach on a space limited basis, as in - if there isn't space you will not be able to order meals. The little cafe shop in the observation car will be your only source for snacks at that point.
@@NickGoesFar ihave driven back and forth in this route and I90 5-6times in my car w dog when I lived in Vancouver Wa. I think I can make due with the recline seat🤞👌🏻I’m 5’1” I’m frugal😆❤️✌🏻
Sick video man. We are taking Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans this August. I can't wait!
It’s a great experience! Enjoy!
One of my favorite stretches of this route is the initial stage leaving Seattle. It skims along the edge of Puget Sound for probably 2/3 of the distance between Seattle and Everett.
We heard, a lot, that we rode it backwards. That last stretch along the sound is really nice either direction.
Great video and very informative. I’ll be taking the Zephyr in July from Chicago to Davis, CA. Can’t wait for that journey to happen!
That’s going to be awesome! Enjoy!
At about 17:30, the view is of the Foss River while crossing on the trestle which is part of a big u-bend.
I disappointed he didn’t mention the Cascade Tunnel, the longest in the US
I'm sorry I didn't mention it - this route is fantastic, and there's so much I found it hard to really fit it all into a reasonable length video!
Very cool. I have watched the Downey live version but I like your style too.
Thanks! Funny enough the train was full of Mike's fans, many making the trip because they had seen his videos.
The editing, descriptions, music choice are on par with documentaries on PBS :) Excited to see more of your videos.
Thank you so much! I’m always learning and trying to improve!
Great video! Looking at doing this route soon, also in a bedroom. Question - understanding that you can go either to Seattle or Portland, which one enables you to stay on the same train that you started on? Traveling with my elderly dad, so the fewer train transitions the better. Thanks!
Technically either. If you’re going to Seattle you’ll be in one sleeper car, if you’re going to Portland you’ll be in the other. I prefer the Seattle route as the trip through the cascades is more scenic. The diner car goes to Seattle, the observation car goes to Portland.
Just got off empire builder too, steak was great! I had a roomette.. how do you bid? You upgraded to a ? I’ve heard some older trains had sinks and toilets in roomettes.. I wasn’t so lucky .. was a great trip though , no linens on our tables though 😊thanks for sharing !
I currently have a roomette purchased, but the bid on the mobile app started out at $360 for the bedroom. Since I am riding by myself, I think I'll keep the roomette. I am returning to Detroit First class on United and that will cover the cost of that ticket for me. :)
Wonderful video. Hope you do more Amtrak trips.
There are more to come! Thanks!
Approaching retirement I started watching Amtrak, mostly Empire Builder videos. Based on where I live I soon figured out that getting to the train, getting on & off, getting to my final destination, or back home after trip, is always going to be done in the darkest hours of the night. I wish someone would do a video about getting on & off Amtrak at 3:00 am in the middle of nowhere, with stations & entire small towns locked up tight until normal business hours. No steak, trying to sleep in the daytime, and up in the middle of my night for breakfast or lunch.
Not everyone lives in Chicago, Seattle or Portland!
And I don’t either. I flew in to Chicago to meet the train. All the late night stops, for the most part I slept through, and the steak was available all dinner services
great video, met you on this trip and saw ourselves in the background a couple of times. Glad we followed you :)
I remember chatting with you guys! I’m looking into an overland rental in Costa Rica now, I’ve got the bug!
Cool video mate. I'm an Aussie who likes watching train travelling. You covered everything without any crap. Keep up the good work 👏
Thanks so much! I've seen some awesome train vids from down in Aus, I'd love to get down there and try them out.
Roomettes are great for one adult. Even though they have two seats and bunks two adults could be tight. It's a great way to travel.
The next few trips I'm looking at will most likely be solo trips, and I've been looking at roomettes
Hey Neph and Big Bro! Thanks for the ride-along! Let me know when you are ready for the Rocky Mountaineer!
Can't wait!
Nice video
Thanks!
I also choose the upper level? Thinking it would be less busy? Any pros or cons on upper or lower
They're the same seats - but I would say that the lower level is perhaps more isolated from the rest of the train, so maybe easier to get some shut-eye in? I rode in the upper level, I liked that it was on the same level as everything else, and had better views. The upper level is the "main" level on this route, it connects to the observation car, the dining car, etc. The lower levels are mostly bathrooms and storage.
@@NickGoesFar good to know I hope I can switch I thought the top was more isolated!! Thanks safe travels👍🏻
Actually, the only portion of the route that is originally the great northern railroad is from Fargo to Seattle
From Saint Paul to Fargo, that trackage was originally built by the northern Pacific railroad
From Chicago to Glenview, that is Metra tracks
Then from Glenview to Saint Paul, that was originally built by the Milwaukee Road railroad, which today is a part of the CPKC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad
That’s awesome, love the extra information. Thank you. 👏
i actually laughed out loud watching this, thank you for that LOL. this is the best amtrak video i've seen. i'm doing california zephyr and then empire builder in a couple weeks. going the portland way, so will see how that goes. thanks again for sharing your experience.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The California Zephyr is supposed to be a really beautiful route!
Great video. I booked a cross country train ride last April. Long story short, Amtrak canceled the trip the same day I was to leave Chicago.😢 I havent rebooked yet, but its on my bucket list. I watch Downey Live channel as well.
Definitely rebook and go ride the rails! It was a really enjoyable experience.
As a fellow who has a love/ hate relationship with Amtrak, Please, make the attempt until you get it done. I have vowed never again, only to book another leg of their routes. One thing I learned, if you have a connection, always stay over, or have an early arrival, and LATE departure on the connection. I tried to take my 93 year old dad on a connection from Tucson to LA to catch the pacific run up California to Seattle, Train was 6 hours late to Tucson, missed the LA connection, rode a bus to Bakersfield. Long story short, missed the whole purpose of the trip!, anyway, the experience will teach you patience, if nothing else, but you see the country at a pace few appreciate. Don't leave the world with any regrets!!
When and how do you bid on upgrades
I received an email from Amtrak a couple of weeks prior to our travel date inviting me to bid, it took me to a website specifically for that. If sleepers are fully booked though, they don’t send the email.
Thank you for pronouncing Illinois correctly many people say it with the s which is wrong since for the people who do not know the d Illinois is silent.
@@chrisdobrowolski2783 Illinois I’ve got, but I mispronounce so many other things so it all sort of balances out
Hi great video. Just subscribed
That's awesome, thank you!
I was in that lounge 3 times 1500 points each time
1500 points for access to the lounge? Are those the Amtrak points?
@@NickGoesFar been to every lounge
@@NickGoesFar yup. Well. Worth every point
May I ask how much you bid for the upgrade? I realize it varies, but just wanted to get a rough scope.
Honestly, at this point I don't recall, that was back in April. It was the bottom of the slider. And when I told the agent in the lounge his eyebrows shot up and he said "that almost never happens", I presume typically because people bid higher.
Hi. Love your video. I’m also a newbie to your channel. I’m confused though. You upgraded from one roomette to one bedroom? When I book next year I’m getting two roomettes. So I can bid for two bedrooms?
I'm not entirely sure what the bidding situation would be if you have two roomette's booked on one reservation - they likely give you a "per room" bidding option. I'm curious to hear how it goes.
I tried the lowest bid for Starlight not lucky though....
Yeah the agent at the lounge said we were really lucky that we got it at that level.
I am taking coach chicago to portland with 2 sisters. If I bid and win on a bedroom would all 3 of us fit and get the meals?
@@lindanordlund6753 I didn’t know bidding up was available for coach to sleeper cabins. I believe they only hold 2 passengers. You would need to upgrade to a family bedroom for extra beds.
@lindanordlund753 the bedroom only lets you get 3 people into 1 bedroom is if you call Amtrak and do reservation over the phone I think 3 roommates across each other have to call for that it will still be less expensive than the bedroom most likely.
I like the video. How much did you bid to get the upgrade?
Thanks! I'm not sure, this was months ago now - all I know is that it was the lowest the slider could go to bid!
Great video. Thanks. When was you travel?
This was at the end of April 2023
Great video. Why did you have to return back to Spokane? Does it not stop there or did you just go all the way to Seattle for the video? Is it possible to get off along the way for overnight stops? Does that increase the cost much?
We went all the way to Seattle for the video BUT home is Coeur d’Alene, Idaho which is served by the Spokane station. So, practically, we should have gotten off in Spokane - but wanted to get the entire experience.
I just did this trip in the opposite direction and it was terrible. Every switch we went over rocked our car violently. The shower was dirty, our beds were equipped with old mattresses and flat pillows and the car attendant had to cover 2 sleepers due to staff shortage.
I return to Seattle in 2 weeks, so Amtrak needs to get this right, or I will just fly instead.
ooof! it sounds like you had a really rough journey.
The lounge is really helpful if you’re socially phobic…
And if you're connecting through Chicago and need a place to stay for a long "layover" it's nice to have a place to store your bags.