Hold onto the backs of seats or the overhead luggage racks for stability while walking. When passing between cars, hold onto the red/white candystripe rails and make sure you wear shoes. Many people will be only too happy to help if you need somebody to carry something for you.
Geoff M.
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Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.
You will have to use the phone as you will be upgrading an existing reservation. Be certain to mention your confirmation number when addressing the live agent. Just keep saying agent to the automatic voice recognition system (Julie).
The difference is simply that of a reasonable expectation of an enjoyable trip and the certainty of an endurance contest. Of course it is considerably more pricey than the coach, but in life you get what you pay for. For myself, I would not even consider overnight coach. If the $$$ weren't there, I would consider other means or maybe just stay at home.
Get that room before someone else beats you to it.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 11-16-2003).]
This might help put things into perspective. Each Superliner coach seats just over 70 people, and each train usually has three to five coaches. They are usually well populated at night.
Sleeping cars carry about 40 people or so, and each train will have two sleepers, maybe three if it is busy.
These basic numbers indicate that the vast majority of overnight Amtrak travelers are happily riding coach. It isn't ideal by any means, but it works just fine for a whole lot of people.
If you do decide to upgrade to a room, you might ask if you can get a lower level room, or perhaps the handicapped room might even be available. The lower level tends to sway less and the rest rooms are closer. The handicapped room has its own toilet.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 11-16-2003).]
Also if you asked nicely, you could have the Sleeping car attendant bring you your food from the dining car to your room if you didnt feel like walking, you could not however do this in a coach, at least I dont think so. Please tip well though if does do this for you.
[This message has been edited by UncleBuck44 (edited 11-16-2003).]
quote:
Originally posted by UncleBuck44:
Also if you asked nicely, you could have the Sleeping car attendant bring you your food from the dining car to your room if you didnt feel like walking, you could not however do this in a coach, at least I dont think so. Please tip well though if does do this for you.
If you are unable to walk to the diner, the coach attendant is supposed to bring meals to your seat. Tipping should be the same as if you went to the diner, 15-20% of the bill.
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F40PH #757099-8
March 29, 1976-August 17, 2001
Requisecat in pacis
P42DC #53063
Around 2.5 million miles to go
You might talk to your doctor and have him prescribe you some good sleeping pills that work. I find it impossible to sleep in coach and sometimes you just can't count on having two seats to yourself. Just be careful you don't become addicted to the sleeping pills.
An eye masque and ear plugs might be useful as well.
Also, if you can't afford a sleeper, maybe there is a seat available in the lower level of coach. I've been having knee problems and am grateful that Amtrak was able to get me a seat there because now I don't have to negotiate those insane stairwells. This all assumes that your train is a two level Superliner.
Travelling by coach is really not so bad. Just bring along plenty of distractions and get ready to be in a fairly social situation. Pretend you are Walt Whitman. That might help.
[This message has been edited by Chucky (edited 11-18-2003).]
Sleeper:
geoffm
royaltrain
Gilbert B Norman
Amtrak 207
UncleBuck44
Coach:
Amtrak 288
Mr. Toy
Chucky
Normally, I'd advise a sleeper. But given Boyce's mobility difficulties and the early morning arrival in Pensacola, I'd agree lower level coach is the way to go. Car entrance, luggage storage, and WCs are all nearby on the same level, and the attendant will be happy to bring you whatever you'd like from the lounge or dining car. (Don't worry, they will check in and ask for orders). The folks riding lower level are often a quieter, older crowd, many with mobility concerns. Also, the lower level coach section is a room by itself with no one passing through. This usually means a much quieter atmosphere than upstairs. Also, the noise from the lounge car movies can be a real pain if you're seated in an adjacent coach.
Looks like there's still availability. You might want to give Amtrak a call and discuss this option.
Have a great trip, and please let us hear all about it when you get back!
-Mark
[This message has been edited by stlboomer (edited 11-18-2003).]
Geoff M.
Now the one posting I'm waiting to see on this topic is from someone who represents they could well afford Sleeper if they so choose, but PREFERS Coach.
Lastly, to Mr. STL: don't get me going on those G#% D@^^ M*#%@* F%#(!*# movies. I think back to a Feb 01 trip on Auto Train where I met an absolutely delightful couple (he an MD, she an RN). We had dinner together, then afterward convened in the Lounge where our discussions ranged from topics such as wine and Bridge. Well guess what it was time for the movie and the party was over. They had a Standard as did I; nowhere to convene.
As many who participate at the various Forums know, I believe that Amtrak should market the Deluxe as the standard two person accomodation. The Standard Room is simply for one person with exceptions i.e. adult and small child, two adolescents, and two young adults who are quite prepared to make sacrifices to the level of hostel accomodations.
There is one big problem; there are simply not enough Deluxe to go around, especially in the East with the single level trains.
We all know what the remedy for that is - $$$$$$$
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 11-19-2003).]
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Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.
quote:
Originally posted by espeefoamer:
I vastly prefer riding sleeper overnight,but willtake coach if I don't have the bucks.Travelling coach is far superior to not going at all.I just can't stay away from train travel.
That about says it all. Thanks!
I should clarify; Amtrak will sell a Standard Room for double occupancy no questions asked. In view of the paucity of Deluxe accomodations on the single-level trains, this is probably best. Even if there were, considering that Amtrak is oublicly funded, it is likely in their best interest that any marketing practices that could be characterized as "bait and switch' or even the more softer "plus sell" are best avoided.
On that note, I think that when Amtrak learned that the 100 Viewliners that were "in the bag" suddenly got cut to 50, they were wise to "weight" the accomodation "mix" towards Standards. This enabled as many as possible to sleep.
We continue to hear in the various "five year plans" a "dangling' of '75 new cars'. Possibly some of these will be Viewliner Sleepers. If that be the case, I would hope that the configuration could be weighted towards Deluxe, such as 8Dlx-4Std.
Oh and lastly, since we have discussed movies here, a relevant line of script is in both "Ninotchka" and its musical remake "Silk Stockings' where the leading man (Fred Astaire in the latter) says to the leading lady "I've been reading about your Five Year Plans for the past fifteen years".