USA Amtrak Rail Pass

[pianocat]

Another vote here for at least trying the roomette. I can never completely relax in coach - there's too much stimulation, be it people going up and down the aisle, kids making noises 2 rows away, etc. Sure as I close my eyes to doze, say for an afternoon nap....there's something to jolt me awake. In a roomette, you can have total privacy with the curtains closed, door locked - if i feel like lounging around in my boxers and tank while having my own personal giant picture window to watch the landscape roll by, I can. Even better with earplugs/music playing. For longer journeys, especially, the idea that hot meals are covered means that I don't have to bring a ton of snacks. Guaranteed....if you eat 3 meals on a given day in the Dining car you will NOT be hungry!! As a matter of fact, this last trip....last meal on the train, I ordered from the Kids Menu because I was still full from the previous meal. They really take care of you! If you've never had a roomette experience, I recommend it for a long distance leg you're considering on your trip. Just my $.02.....

 

[SarahZ]

Thanks - if buying a rail pass and then upgrading to a roomette in advance ( buy and upgrade now- travelling in August) is the same price as booking a roomette ticket independently, then is there any reasons why you would choose one over the other (rail pass vs multi city tickets)

Because you're still going to save money overall. The rail pass is a better value than buying all of the individual tickets. Just let the call center agent know which stretches you want to add a roomette to.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

Thanks - if buying a rail pass and then upgrading to a roomette in advance ( buy and upgrade now- travelling in August) is the same price as booking a roomette ticket independently, then is there any reasons why you would choose one over the other (rail pass vs multi city tickets)

For short runs, it might be the same, but what they are saying is the same is the upgrade surcharge that is above either the rail pass price or the single ticket price. For me, as I most always go end to end on my trains, the rail pass is less expensive, but the price to upgrade would be the same. I hope that helps.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

I am not saying upgrade if that is what you want, I was just stating that for me, I have done that and also had a bedroom and I miss the atmosphere of the coach. Tat is what makes the world go round, we all have to agree to disagree.

 

[Edgar Woodhead]

If I bought multi city tickets, how would I make the seat reservations, would i still have to email amtrak the required trains and dates like on a rail pass. (From uk)

 

[tomfuller]

Consider the fact that the train may be somewhat later to Williams Junction than the scheduled time (9:30PM). Instead of riding the Grand Canyon Railroad, think about getting off in Flagstaff and driving a rental car so that you can go on your own schedule to the Grand Canyon.

I take it that you are flying home from San Francisco. If you had the extra time you could buy the 30 day pass with 4 extra segments which would get you home. The price difference between the 15 and 30 day passes is probably less than the airfare from San Francisco to New York

 

[Edgar Woodhead]

Ok thanks I will consider this

Booking individual tickets is starting to look like a better option however, due to the fact I can make an immediate reservation whilst booking, and also because I have looked on the amsnag website, and it does have some very low fares!

 

[Edgar Woodhead]

But on amsnag how do you book for more than one person- I can't see how, and when you change the number of people on the amtrak website, the low fares dissapeared!!

 

[caravanman]

Amsnag is just a site for for finding low fares, it is an amateur contribution to assist folk locate the best days to travel, you cannot book anything on it!

On Amtrak .com, you just select the start and destination, and the number of passengers, and the date... The train/seat/ room options appear. Select your preferences and you follow through to book and pay. You can print out the tickets from your email.

Ed.

 

[caravanman]

[SIZE=medium]If we imagine that I want to go from Chicago to Los Angeles on Tues 18 Feb…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The Amtrak fares currently show the following prices and options:[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Southwest Chief Train: Value seat $135, Value $169 Flexible $331, and Roomette is priced at $505.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The Roomette total on this day is made up as follows: $169 for the train journey, plus $336 for the Roomette.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]If you add another adult to the booking, the roomette price changes to $674… This is made up of two adult train journey fees of $169 x 2 = $338 plus the Roomette charge which remains the same for one or two persons. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Just to make matters a little complicated… A railpass will always cover the train journey element of a roomette booking, you just need to pay the difference of the Roomette charge. So if you happened to have a railpass and wanted to upgrade to a roomette on the above train example, you would pay the $336 plus use one segment off your railpass.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]It can be rather awkward for first time users, but we on AU will always try to assist![/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Ed [/SIZE]

 

[June the Coach Rider]

But on amsnag how do you book for more than one person- I can't see how, and when you change the number of people on the amtrak website, the low fares dissapeared!!

Not sure which segment you are talking about, but when they show the two people, the website shows the double price and the addition of the second coach fair to the roomette pricing. I did it NYP-ORL as an example.

 

[Edgar]

Booked bedrooms and roomettes all the way