Room Location

[sunchaser]

I do anything to try and avoid bedroom A. The position of the bathroom (due to the necessary cutout of the room being at the end of the car) does not leave much room once the beds are set!
Even if "the sofa is facing backwards" if there are 2 people, and 1 sits on the sofa and the other in the seat, you're facing each other! I'd rather have that than sitting side by side - and having to turn all the time!

Regardless, I always instruct the attendent to make the bed "feet first".

Even on a Viewliner? :huh: One end of the matress is narrower, and goes against the in-room UN-ENCLOSED toilet!

When we rode in the bedrooms, we chose to sit side by side on the sofa & cuddle-except for the last one on the Zephyr (that was facing backwards). I was a little leery of riding backwards. :unsure: I thought I might get a bit dizzy. I noticed when looking out the window sometimes even facing forward I got a little dizzy. Coulda been the wine, but didn't drink alot. :blink: I think it was just the speed of the train & my eyes trying to focus on stuff going by. That's why on the last one I sat in the chair most of the time. I too liked the bed set up feet towards the window in the bedroom. I did wake up a few times on the train, but I liked being able to look out the window to see the moon, etc. We haven't been in a roomette yet. This was our first trip. Might have a roomette on the next trip, want to go to Glenwood Springs next.

 

[jackal]

Might have a roomette on the next trip, want to go to Glenwood Springs next.

If you do, I'd suggest going to DEN and then turning around to do a stopover at Glenwood Springs (or after leaving Glenwood, going to DEN and then coming back the next morning). The very best scenery on the Amtrak system is between Glenwood and Denver! You wouldn't want to miss that!

 

[sunchaser]

Might have a roomette on the next trip, want to go to Glenwood Springs next.

If you do, I'd suggest going to DEN and then turning around to do a stopover at Glenwood Springs (or after leaving Glenwood, going to DEN and then coming back the next morning). The very best scenery on the Amtrak system is between Glenwood and Denver! You wouldn't want to miss that!

Want to do Glenwood Springs for the Hot Springs & the cool hotel. Click here to see the hotel

Hopefully we'll have time to check out where Doc Holladay is buried. Talking about 2 days in Glenwood, then back to SLC.

But, we've never been to Denver, either. Just wanted to do a short run out of town. Don't want to go to Reno.

 

[jackal]

Might have a roomette on the next trip, want to go to Glenwood Springs next.

If you do, I'd suggest going to DEN and then turning around to do a stopover at Glenwood Springs (or after leaving Glenwood, going to DEN and then coming back the next morning). The very best scenery on the Amtrak system is between Glenwood and Denver! You wouldn't want to miss that!

Want to do Glenwood Springs for the Hot Springs & the cool hotel. Click here to see the hotel

Hopefully we'll have time to check out where Doc Holladay is buried. Talking about 2 days in Glenwood, then back to SLC.

But, we've never been to Denver, either. Just wanted to do a short run out of town. Don't want to go to Reno.

Yup, I drove by that hotel when I was driving back from UT to CO after my train trip.

The price of a roomette between SLC and DEN ($172 at low bucket) isn't much more than that between SLC and GSC (Glenwood Springs; $150 at low bucket). And coach between DEN and GSC is extremely reasonable--$38 at low bucket. So even if you don't want to/can't afford to spend time in DEN, I'd do this:

1. Book a roomette from SLC to DEN ($172+$65 for second person)

2. Overnight in DEN (there are plenty of affordable places near the train station--I paid $70 for the Ramada Inn just across the freeway with same-day notice, and you could probably do a lot better than that with advanced planning)

3. Book a coach seat for DEN-GSC ($38 pp)--don't bother wasting it on a sleeper, since you'll be spending the whole day in the Sightseer Lounge!

4. Book a roomette ($150+$52 for second person) or, to save money, a coach seat ($52 pp) for GSC-SLC (you could probably do coach if money were tight, since it's only a nine-hour trip and you'd get home by 11pm).

Total cost is (assuming two people, a $70 hotel room in DEN, and a roomette between GSC and SLC,) $585 for the two of you, versus $404 to go just to GSC. That's only a $181 difference for two people--only $90.50 per person--and is a very small price to pay given the incredible scenery you'd be treating yourselves to. And if you can get a cheaper place to stay in DEN or opt for a coach seat from GSC back home to SLC, the price goes even further down.

If you were daring (like the_traveler :lol: ), you could skip the hotel in DEN by riding right through DEN and continuing to ride eastbound to Holredge, NE, get off there at 1:54 am, only wait until 2:34 am, and then board the westbound CZ to continue back to GSC. You'd have to be pretty sure your eastbound train wouldn't get delayed, though--with only 40 minutes to make the connection, you wouldn't want to have your eastbound get delayed for some freight and then watch your westbound CZ pass you before you get off! And Holredge, NE (population 5,636) doesn't exactly look like the kind of town you could occupy yourself for a full day in if you get stuck there...

 

[sunchaser]

Yup, I drove by that hotel when I was driving back from UT to CO after my train trip.
The price of a roomette between SLC and DEN ($172 at low bucket) isn't much more than that between SLC and GSC (Glenwood Springs; $150 at low bucket). And coach between DEN and GSC is extremely reasonable--$38 at low bucket. So even if you don't want to/can't afford to spend time in DEN, I'd do this:

1. Book a roomette from SLC to DEN ($172+$65 for second person)

2. Overnight in DEN (there are plenty of affordable places near the train station--I paid $70 for the Ramada Inn just across the freeway with same-day notice, and you could probably do a lot better than that with advanced planning)

3. Book a coach seat for DEN-GSC ($38 pp)--don't bother wasting it on a sleeper, since you'll be spending the whole day in the Sightseer Lounge!

4. Book a roomette ($150+$52 for second person) or, to save money, a coach seat ($52 pp) for GSC-SLC (you could probably do coach if money were tight, since it's only a nine-hour trip and you'd get home by 11pm).

Total cost is (assuming two people, a $70 hotel room in DEN, and a roomette between GSC and SLC,) $585 for the two of you, versus $404 to go just to GSC. That's only a $181 difference for two people--only $90.50 per person--and is a very small price to pay given the incredible scenery you'd be treating yourselves to. And if you can get a cheaper place to stay in DEN or opt for a coach seat from GSC back home to SLC, the price goes even further down.

If you were daring (like the_traveler :lol: ), you could skip the hotel in DEN by riding right through DEN and continuing to ride eastbound to Holredge, NE, get off there at 1:54 am, only wait until 2:34 am, and then board the westbound CZ to continue back to GSC. You'd have to be pretty sure your eastbound train wouldn't get delayed, though--with only 40 minutes to make the connection, you wouldn't want to have your eastbound get delayed for some freight and then watch your westbound CZ pass you before you get off! And Holredge, NE (population 5,636) doesn't exactly look like the kind of town you could occupy yourself for a full day in if you get stuck there...

Great Ideas! But this trip was my idea, so working within some time restrictions & travel requirements, as well as preferences, this is the plan:

SLC->GSC Oct 26th w/roomette-2 nights in GSC at Hot Springs Hotel to soak for a bit.

GSC->SLC- Oct 28th w/roomette-total for train w/2 roomettes $423.40 (VA discount included)

Hotel $300 for 2 nights.

Since it will be winterish weather, I don't want to go much further east, I'm looking for a place to warm up instead!!!

Hubby does not want to travel coach at all. Not a snooty thing, an anxiety thing. He will probably go back to sleep when we board in SLC, we will be boarding at 4:00 am!!! I like the idea of a roomette in case either one of us wants to stretch out, hubby's back is messed up. Also like the meals included thing. When we go anywhere we have to have a house/pet sitter for the Macaws/Cockatiel/Fish/Cat. The Macaws are fed outside their cages, on perches. Also have other time constraints. Don't need to get waaay out of town, just a bit. :lol:

Sounds like a Challenge for the_traveler!!!!

 

[jackal]

Yup, I drove by that hotel when I was driving back from UT to CO after my train trip.
The price of a roomette between SLC and DEN ($172 at low bucket) isn't much more than that between SLC and GSC (Glenwood Springs; $150 at low bucket). And coach between DEN and GSC is extremely reasonable--$38 at low bucket. So even if you don't want to/can't afford to spend time in DEN, I'd do this:

1. Book a roomette from SLC to DEN ($172+$65 for second person)

2. Overnight in DEN (there are plenty of affordable places near the train station--I paid $70 for the Ramada Inn just across the freeway with same-day notice, and you could probably do a lot better than that with advanced planning)

3. Book a coach seat for DEN-GSC ($38 pp)--don't bother wasting it on a sleeper, since you'll be spending the whole day in the Sightseer Lounge!

4. Book a roomette ($150+$52 for second person) or, to save money, a coach seat ($52 pp) for GSC-SLC (you could probably do coach if money were tight, since it's only a nine-hour trip and you'd get home by 11pm).

Total cost is (assuming two people, a $70 hotel room in DEN, and a roomette between GSC and SLC,) $585 for the two of you, versus $404 to go just to GSC. That's only a $181 difference for two people--only $90.50 per person--and is a very small price to pay given the incredible scenery you'd be treating yourselves to. And if you can get a cheaper place to stay in DEN or opt for a coach seat from GSC back home to SLC, the price goes even further down.

If you were daring (like the_traveler :lol: ), you could skip the hotel in DEN by riding right through DEN and continuing to ride eastbound to Holredge, NE, get off there at 1:54 am, only wait until 2:34 am, and then board the westbound CZ to continue back to GSC. You'd have to be pretty sure your eastbound train wouldn't get delayed, though--with only 40 minutes to make the connection, you wouldn't want to have your eastbound get delayed for some freight and then watch your westbound CZ pass you before you get off! And Holredge, NE (population 5,636) doesn't exactly look like the kind of town you could occupy yourself for a full day in if you get stuck there...

Great Ideas! But this trip was my idea, so working within some time restrictions & travel requirements, as well as preferences, this is the plan:

SLC->GSC Oct 26th w/roomette-2 nights in GSC at Hot Springs Hotel to soak for a bit.

GSC->SLC- Oct 28th w/roomette-total for train w/2 roomettes $423.40 (VA discount included)

Hotel $300 for 2 nights.

Since it will be winterish weather, I don't want to go much further east, I'm looking for a place to warm up instead!!!

Hubby does not want to travel coach at all. Not a snooty thing, an anxiety thing. He will probably go back to sleep when we board in SLC, we will be boarding at 4:00 am!!! I like the idea of a roomette in case either one of us wants to stretch out, hubby's back is messed up. Also like the meals included thing. When we go anywhere we have to have a house/pet sitter for the Macaws/Cockatiel/Fish/Cat. The Macaws are fed outside their cages, on perches. Also have other time constraints. Don't need to get waaay out of town, just a bit. :lol:

Sounds like a Challenge for the_traveler!!!!

Well, unfortunately, I don't have any pictures (I didn't have a digital camera at the time, and Amtrak didn't sell disposable cameras on board), but trust me when I say you're missing out on some INCREDIBLE scenery! It truly is worth it if you can at all make it work.

 

[AAARGH!]

Room E is a pretty nice room. Whenever we'd get a regular sleeper car instead of a Dormitory car, I'd try to be the first in to grab the E room.

HUH? What do you mean "first in to grab the E room?" Your room is assigned upon the issuance of the ticket and not when boarding!

Ah, yes yes, I work for AMTRAK. Formerly a dining car LSA on the Empire Builder.

Formerly?