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Booking your trip- Online or by phone
Booking you trip online is easy and allows you to compare prices and different routes. I booked all but one section of our trip online. I added a bus route to our trip and it would not let me add it too the actual reservation so I had to call Amtrak.
I was still not allowed to add it to our main reservation but could book it with a 2nd reservation number.
So in the end I could have just booked it online with the 2nd reservation number.
I myself prefer booking things online, but on that note when I called(1-800-872-7245) they assisted me just fine.
Fellow travelers aboard the train
Your fellow travelers that you will encounter will range from young to old and from the haves and the have not's.
Everyone we ran into where nice folks. We did run into a father & daughter that where a little overbearing, but decides that they where very nice and helpful and full of information. Must are willing to strike up a conversation and that is part of the Amtrak experience, meeting people from all over the USA and the World.
Getting around the train
Getting around the train is a fun experience. First off you have to get used to walking while the train is a moving around.
The hallways are narrow but unless your 400 pounds getting around is not a problem. Now getting up the stairs is a little tighter especially carrying luggage. If your in a sleeper cars you go toward the back of the train for the dining and observation cars.
If your in the Coach seats you're toward the end of the train and will have to go forward.
Moving car to car is always done from the upper levels of the train.
The food on the train
The food on the train is fair, not first class at all. Most is microwave to order. However if you get the steak it appeared to be cooked to order and was very tasty. When traveling in the sleepers your 3 meals in the dining car are included, but does not include alcohol or gratuity. We tipped accordingly to what we ate. If your paying for your food it is a little pricey for the quality.
The snack bar which is in the lower level of the observation car and is where you can get beer, liquor or snacks and food.
Our experience was that when getting a sandwich down there, the attendant does not care and will microwave your food to death. You will have to ask him/her to go easy on the microwave. The snack bar attendant was the only Amtrak employee that seemed to be put out for having wait on you. Bring your own snacks for back ups. If your in a sleeper you can also bring your own Liquor.
The service on the train
The service we got on the train was fair in most cases. The servers in the dining car are not trained as waitstaff,
but they are friendly overall. The sleeping care attendants was friendly and helpful.
The other Amtrak personal where friendly and helpful. As stated earlier the snack bar attended was the weakest link.
Having been in the restaurant before for 25+ years I really think they could have done a little better job in the dining car.
The attendants that run the car seem to run it on there terms forgeting that they are in the customer service business.
The the overall experience was good, but they really need a customer service training program installed.
Sleeping on the train
Sleeping on the train was not too bad, the first night we were tired and we slept like rocks. If you are a light sleeper you might have some trouble. As far as noise, the level was low, so the only thing you need to get used to is the train noise and the rocking.
We had booked a sleeper on the longer routes so we got to sleep horizontally in private room and did not hear others.
I would recommend a sleeper if you're on the train longer then one night if you can afford it. Not only do you get to sleep laying down you also get coffee, juice, bottled water and ice in the sleeping car all day plus your meals in the dining car are included.
You also get access to a shower, passengers traveling in coach do not have this benefit.
Using the shower and restrooms onboard
Using the shower and bathrooms on the train can be challenging. The bathroom on the upper level is tighter then the ones on the lower level because of the layout. Also remember when the upper is occupied that there are 4 more downstairs. When an bathroom is occupied there is a little light either above the door on the ceiling or on wall. Take advantage of train stops to use the restrooms as it is less awkward. There is only one shower and it is located on the lower level of your car. Taking a shower reallly can be challenging if your on bumpy tracks. One of the cars had a bench the other did not. I did not use the bench and just kept my feet apart while showering. The shower controls work just like yours at home. I never had to wait for a shower but then 3 mornings a took mine very early and on the others I took mine after breakfast.
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