Continuing the theme from Mr Harris, do you prefer beds which are: 1. Across the width of the carriage (European trains are mostly, if not all, this way); 2. Along the length of the carriage, with the head facing forward (eg Superliner standard rooms); 3. Along the length of the carriage, with the toes pointing forward to travel?
For some reason, in my experience, (3) seems to be the most common. However, I much prefer (2) and will change the bed around accordingly! (1) is overall best since you're less likely to roll out of bed.
Geoff M.
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
I've found that I sleep best when traveling "the European Way," with the bed across the width of the car.
In an Amtrak standard room, regardless of which way the car and bed are turned, I always tell the attendant I want to travel feet-first.
For me, to try to sleep with my head pointed toward the front of the train is as disorienting as riding backward in coach. It just feels wrong.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Deluxe rooms are wonderful for the footprint and the bed size. Transverse beds? That's cool
Standard rooms? Prefer to travel head first (watching where we've been).
John
Posted by Grandma Judy (Member # 3278) on :
In a deluxe room on the Empire Builder, I preferred to have my head near the window for better night-time viewing, but I found that since people tended to sit near the window during the day, the bed sagged noticeably at that end. The next night, I had the attendant reverse the bed & slept much better. My advice - try lying down for a nap before the bed is made up to be sure that your head doesn't end up lower than your body!
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
My experience in Deluxe rooms is severely limited, having been able to afford only one of same in the last several years. But I found I had trouble sleeping when getting rocked head to toe. I find rocking side to side makes sleeping easier.
This leaves the question of head first or feet first. I have mixed feelings. I worry about what would happen if a panic stop if my head was first, so I think for safety feet first is best.
One thing I've really appreciated is attendants who make up the lower bunk with the feet closest to the steps to the upper bunk. That way you don't have to have their smelly feet in your nose-space. And someone climbing into the upper isn't liable to step on your face if their feet slip.
------------------ Sing to the tune of Humoresque: Passengers will please refrain, From flushing toilets while the train, Is standing in the station, I love you.
We were in a family bedroom on our trip in May, and the European-style, crossways bed seems much more stable when the train is really rocking. Otherwise, I'm a fan of feet-forward sleeping. In the event of a disaster, I'd rather have my feet hit the wall than my head.
