Sleeper Familiarization

[niemi24s]

Know a couple in their early 80's who live close to Albany who are contemplating a train trip out West, but whose only Amtrak experience is a short 230 mile trip in coach. Before they jump off the deep end and actually book this trip I already recommended these two things to try to see if such a lengthy journey would suit them:

• Take the shortest possible round trip using both Viewliner and Superliner sleepers such as: ALB to NYP then NYP to WAS, both in Coach; WAS to CLE in some Superliner sleeper; finally, CLE to ALB in some Viewliner sleeper. This one is easy to set up - just use AmSnag to pick the cheapest dates, book it and do it. No sweat here.

• Trying to arrange some sort of familiarization tour of both types of sleepers in perhaps Albany and Washington. But is this even possible?

Thanx in advance for any suggestions.

 

[spinnaker]

There are plenty of videos on youtube that show the various sleepers. In addition Amtrak has virtual tours.

In thier 80s I would not recommend a roomette unless one or both is very spry.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

In thier 80s I would not recommend a roomette unless one or both is very spry.

In their 80s, I would have to ask how well they can handle steep, narrow, stairs.

I would also make sure they are on routes where they get 3 meals per day.

Go out to the sleeper car with them, and slip a VERY good tip to their SCA.

 

[Dakota 400]

On a Suplerliner Sleeper, I'd recommend booking two Roomettes across from each other on the lower level. If the narrow, steep stairs are an issue for them, their meals could be served in their Roomettes by their SCA.

 

[PVD]

Careful with when this would be scheduled,, for the time being, there is no direct ALB-NYP anything on Amtrak, sleeper or otherwise.

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

In their 80's, I wouldn't recommend CLE where they are getting off and on the train during the graveyard shift. Might as well go to CHI then, it's only a few more hours (or maybe the hours are better in TOL or South Bend).

 

[cpotisch]

I don't know of any real way to get a tour of a sleeper in person, but Amtrak's virtual tours are pretty good, and there are some great YouTube videos that can help them get aquatinted. I second what the others have said that it might be pretty difficult for either of them to get to the top bunk, so they might need two roomettes. This strikes me as a rather long and expensive way to figure out if they can handle a trip out west, and I feel like they don't really need to try both types of sleepers ahead of time. Because of this, I would recommend they just take the LSL to/from BOS in a roomette, and then have them just watch a couple videos of the Superliner roomettes. That way they'll get a good sense of both accommodations, and can make a decision from there.

 

[RPC]

Plenty of good advice has already been given. If your couple are reasonably spry, they might want to save the money from the trial tour and put it toward getting a bedroom rather than a roomette - the upper bunk is reached via ladder and the room has its own bathroom/shower. Both my parents could deal with a bedroom well into their 80s, but getting into a roomette upper bunk would have been beyond my mom's capability.

 

[tricia]

It's sometimes possible to get two roomettes for less than the cost of one bedroom. Two roomettes, across the aisle from each other, might suit them best.

 

[niemi24s]

Thanks for the comments, but I think any trial run with a connection between the Westbound CL and the Eastbound LSL would have to be in CLE despite the ungodly hour of the change. That's because a change any farther West of CLE has no more than 1h21m to make the connection so an overnight would be necessary. Even a change at CLE has some risk of being missed with only 2h57m for a scheduled change.

While a visit to a yarded or waiting Superliner sleeper would give them some idea of what it's like to go up and down the stairs, no amount of virtual tours, YouTube videos or static (non-moving) visits would let them really know what it's like to move about on a moving train. And I honestly don't know how how receptive they'd be to having all their meals delivered to their room(s).

All in all, methinks a pair of Roomettes or a Bedroom Suite would suit them best. The big unknown is West of CHI on a Superliner with its steep steps. I may recommend sleepers upstairs so they'll only have to deal with the steps while the train is at a standstill - unless they (gulp!) want to shower - and try to get a sleeper as close as possible to the Diner Car.

 

[Dakota 400]

niemi24s,

Your idea of a bedroom suite on a Superliner Sleeper would be better for them, in my opinion, rather than a just a single bedroom. A bedroom's lower bed really is not large enough for two adults. And, needing to climb up and down a ladder on a moving train can be a challenge even for me even in my younger years. I would not attempt it now. And, I am not yet in my 80's. I would think booking a bedroom suite would be very expensive and maybe more than they are willing to pay?

 

[niemi24s]

Depending on how the buckets align when they want to travel, their fare for a Bedroom Suite on the EB could be $1670 to $3681. A pair of Roomettes could be $936 to $1838.

And I'm quite fond of Superliner Bedrooms. Sitting on the pot with the door open watching the scenery go by is almost as relaxing as sitting in my outhouse watching the chipmunks chasing each other!

 

[Ryan]

While a visit to a yarded or waiting Superliner sleeper would give them some idea of what it's like to go up and down the stairs, no amount of virtual tours, YouTube videos or static (non-moving) visits would let them really know what it's like to move about on a moving train. And I honestly don't know how how receptive they'd be to having all their meals delivered to their room(s).

Now perhaps you understand why your standard answer to “Just use Google/Trip Advisor/Look at a Map” is routinely panned.

Perhaps.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

While a visit to a yarded or waiting Superliner sleeper would give them some idea of what it's like to go up and down the stairs, no amount of virtual tours, YouTube videos or static (non-moving) visits would let them really know what it's like to move about on a moving train. And I honestly don't know how how receptive they'd be to having all their meals delivered to their room(s).

Now perhaps you understand why your standard answer to “Just use Google/Trip Advisor/Look at a Map” is routinely panned.

Perhaps.

^^This^^

 

[cpotisch]

It's sometimes possible to get two roomettes for less than the cost of one bedroom. Two roomettes, across the aisle from each other, might suit them best.

For the Superliner portion of the trip, I think that two upper-level roomettes is the best option, since they'd only have to go up and down the stairs once, and would each have a bottom bunk. Then I would recommend either a Bedroom or two roomettes for the Viewliner portion of the trip, since they can probably squeeze into the bottom bunk of a bedroom for one night, or will both have bottom bunks for the night. On a 15 hour ride, I think they can make either work. It is also possible that someone in their 80s could make it into the upper bunk in a bedroom, though it really depends on the person, however I think it's completely unfeasible to expect them to do so in a roomette. Anyhow, that's my take on what the best options are.

 

[niemi24s]

Some hasty calculations using low bucket fares shows that an ALB to NYP to WAS to CLE to ALB test trip would cost them:

• $949.40 for a pair of Roomettes or

• $1238.80 for a pair of Bedrooms

While this sounds like a lot of $, when compared to a hypothetical trip from ALB to CHI to SEA to EMY to CHI to ALB whose total fares range from $3843 (for two low bucket Roomettes all the way) up to $13,823 (for two high bucket Bedrooms all the way) it may be worth it for them to "test the waters" first. The worst case scenario is for them to press on and book the trip at perhaps 4 or more times the cost of the test trip only to find it either unmanageable or terribly unpleasant.

I've sent them a link to this thread so they can read all the comments (including the two totally irrelevant ones) but It's their decision on whether or not to make a test trip first.

 

[cpotisch]

Some hasty calculations using low bucket fares shows that an ALB to NYP to WAS to CLE to ALB test trip would cost them:

• $949.40 for a pair of Roomettes or

• $1238.80 for a pair of Bedrooms

While this sounds like a lot of $, when compared to a hypothetical trip from ALB to CHI to SEA to EMY to CHI to ALB whose total fares range from $3843 (for two low bucket Roomettes all the way) up to $13,823 (for two high bucket Bedrooms all the way) it may be worth it for them to "test the waters" first. The worst case scenario is for them to press on and book the trip at perhaps 4 or more times the cost of the test trip only to find it either unmanageable or terribly unpleasant.

I've sent them a link to this thread so they can read all the comments (including the two totally irrelevant ones) but It's their decision on whether or not to make a test trip first.

I don't think that two Bedrooms is really necessary. If they want two bottom bunks, two roomettes will do the job. It's nice to have the in-room bathroom(s), but it's near impossible to find low bucket fares for both rooms in a Bedroom Suite, so it's likely it would cost multiple times what two roomettes would cost. My point is, I highly doubt that it will be worth it.

 

[railiner]

Too bad Amtrak doesn't deem it good marketing to hold "Family Day's" display's any longer....

 

[JRR]

There are several good YouTube videos showing the various sleeper accommodations.

 

[Asher]

Sounds like a lot of nonsense to book a test trip. Are these folk mobile, if so book a trip. Why do they want to be jumping on and off trains to see if they like it. Best to get on and settle in. If they are not mobile then look for something other than train travel. I would have them check out a roommate on you tube.

 

[tricia]

If they are not mobile then look for something other than train travel.

That's a bit harsh. Amtrak by law is required to make reasonable accommodation for passengers with mobility disabilities, and most Amtrak staff I've encountered (when traveling with my elderly, mobility-impaired father) have been very graciously helpful with this.

Train travel is ideal for folks with certain kinds of mobility problems: You can see a lot without needing to walk very far, and even if you ordinarily use a cane for balance you might not need it on the train--the corridors are narrow, and there are ample things to grab onto to steady oneself along the way.

 

[cpotisch]

If they are not mobile then look for something other than train travel.

That's a bit harsh. Amtrak by law is required to make reasonable accommodation for passengers with mobility disabilities, and most Amtrak staff I've encountered (when traveling with my elderly, mobility-impaired father) have been very graciously helpful with this.

Train travel is ideal for folks with certain kinds of mobility problems: You can see a lot without needing to walk very far, and even if you ordinarily use a cane for balance you might not need it on the train--the corridors are narrow, and there are ample things to grab onto to steady oneself along the way.

While I do think that train travel can be great for those with mobility problems, there are a couple points in your post that I don't totally agree with:

While Amtrak is required to make reasonable accommodation for pax with impaired mobility, I've found that that's not always the case. Multiple times, I've seen Amtrak fail to provide necessary equipment (ramps, carts, etc) and assistance to passengers trying to board or disembark from the train. Sometimes the staff aren't helpful, other times the station just doesn't have the necessary stuff onsite.

I do also sort of disagree that passengers who need canes might not need them as much when moving about a moving train. I feel like the sudden motion and swaying of the train really more than compensates for the fact that you have plenty of stuff to grab on to as you walk though it. I just feel like someone who usually needs a cane might as well keep using it while on board. Just my take.

 

[cpotisch]

There are several good YouTube videos showing the various sleeper accommodations.

Yep, but the OP said that that wouldn't give the couple a good enough sense of the accommodations. Funny, given some of his past advice to other members...

 

[Grandpa D]

Well, my wife and I took a trip LVW - MKE and back two weeks ago. We had a bedroom and she slept down, I was up. (Her back is worse than mine.) No problems. And we're both in our 80's. Of course we've done this before so knew how it would be. But the "trial run" does seem like a good idea.

 

[Asher]

If they are not mobile then look for something other than train travel.

That's a bit harsh. Amtrak by law is required to make reasonable accommodation for passengers with mobility disabilities, and most Amtrak staff I've encountered (when traveling with my elderly, mobility-impaired father) have been very graciously helpful with this.

Train travel is ideal for folks with certain kinds of mobility problems: You can see a lot without needing to walk very far, and even if you ordinarily use a cane for balance you might not need it on the train--the corridors are narrow, and there are ample things to grab onto to steady oneself along the way.

Sorry, I meant by being mobile are they able to get around. The fact that they want to take a trip pretty much tells me they will be just fine.