AMTRAK ROOMETTE Everything You Need to Know 2021 // Detailed Room Tour, Shower, Food and More 

Hey Dirk! We're so glad you liked the video. We plan on doing more train trips, we have some big bucket-list type dreams abroad but we also hope to do another Amtrak East to West from Florida to California or Washington State. Fingers crossed! Thanks for the support 😀🙏

So glad it was helpful … have a great trip !

I am retired from the airlines and can still travel for FREE on the airlines but would rather pay and take the train. It's just a much better experience for me. I don't get molested at the train station just to get into the boarding area like I do at airports. The staff seems less stressed and friendlier on trains than the "friendly skies" staff. Even sitting in coach you get lots of leg room and can lean your seat back without "squashing" the person behind you. You get wider coach seats and they are very comfortable. Like sitting in a Lazy-Boy. Speaking of room, the restrooms are roomier on trains also. I am not a big guy and those airplane restrooms are tight. You can get up and walk around on a train and most trains have diner cars. Try doing that on an airplane and see what happens.

Hi Royster! That's a great point. How much would you suggest for a trip around 24 hours?

My wife and I generally tip $10 per passenger per 24 hours ( assuming the attendant is helpful, friendly and concerned about our trip enjoyment). We always give the tip as we get off the train at our final destination for that specific train.

*** bring cash **** no ATM.. $2-3 tip per person/meal to waiter. 🚂

How was it

Good morning. I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who responded to my inquiry about the Toccoa Train Station. This is what I have learned to be true. 1.) The station has a small waiting room and restroom that opens automatically one hour before scheduled arrival. It was open at 12:05 AM for the 1:05 AM train. 2.) The train picks up passengers and their luggage and is gone very quickly. Don’t be late! 3.) I parked my car in the area where the Amtrak sign was where N Alexander Street ends at the tracks. There are six parking spaces there and a ramp on each side of the parking to take you to the sidewalk and up to the platform easily with your luggage. My car was in the same condition on Friday as it was when I left it on Monday morning. I didn’t notify anybody but did see a police officer or uniformed security officer checking things out on the street just opposite the train station when I got back. 4.) Unless you’re up for a thrashing, I wouldn’t recommend taking the train if you need to sleep. Short trips might be acceptable. But I left at 1:05 AM and arrived in Philadelphia at 4:45 PM the same day. 15 hours and 40 minutes. I had asked that the Roomette be made up into the bed before I boarded. It was changed back to seats while I was at breakfast. I’m a large woman. 6’ tall and heavy. I felt like I had gone 15 rounds with Hulk Hogan in his prime. I had light bruises up and down my arms. I didn’t check elsewhere. The mattress on the bed is probably 2” thick. The Roomette is 6’2” by 3’6”. Every time I got remotely comfortable in the bed we would round a corner and I would be slammed hard against the plastic of the commode/sink wall, or against the wall of the train. Stop’s would plaster me to the end of the bed. We are not talking gently at all. I’m a large woman. I don’t know how smaller and thinner people do it. I would think they would just about break their arms if they had less padding than I. Also using the commode when the bed is down is a feat in and of itself without leg room of any kind and your legs pressed firmly together. This might not be so bad for thinner and shorter people. But tall, fluffy folks beware. The sink was nice to have. But know water splashes with each use. I kept one of the hand towels reserved just to dry off the sink top and environs before closing it. This includes anything you have charging in the outlets. 5.) Changing clothes is quite the challenge when the train is moving and on short stops. Standing can be tricky. I learned to flex my knees just a bit and stand with my feet apart and always have one hand ready to grab something for stability. 6.) When I was ready to disembark, my Carriage Attendant told me to come over to the next car as it was safer. Two other passengers came to the break at the end of the train after I did. I noticed how much the car I had been in moved like a whip, back and forth. I watched as the train slammed the man nearest the exit face first into the wall of the corridor, hard. I don’t understand how these things are running in the shape the cars and the tracks are in. 7.) The good of the trip was the service. My Cabin Attendants on both legs of my trip were awesome. They helped with my luggage, meals, ice and water. Anything. The Red Caps at the Philadelphia train station were good as well. As was the Lounge Attendant at the Philadelphia station. 8.) The food was decent, the lunch, dinner was quite yummy. 9.) On the return trip I didn’t have them make the seats into a bed. I was given 2 pillows. The air was cold, which is weird for me to get cold. So one pillow was stuffed across the vent by the window. The other I used also for cushioning and a pillow. I eventually got the second blanket down to help me get warm. I did manage to sleep an hour or two at a time for about five hours. I had to keep my feet on the floor to be comfortable enough to do so. With the padding from both pillows and blankets I was finally able to nod off. 10.) The lady who mentioned something to the effect of “Why on earth would I want to take the train? It’s horrible” was spot on! I wish I hadn’t already bought my tickets, and had listened to her. Next business trip I have planned with a co-worker in Atlanta to leave my car at her house and we’ll catch an Uber to the airport.

Hey! I hope you can find a time to take the trip soon!

It's so cool to hear other great experiences. Definitely a unique way to see the states. Thanks for watching!

Awesome 👏!!! We are so glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching!

Thanks for watching!

Hi Mihir! Glad RU-vid connected us. Thanks for subscribing. Talk to you later!

Thank you for watching 🙌💗

Thanks so much 🙏🏻☺️

Right on! We’re so glad you liked the video we had a great time making it 🚂 thanks for watching 🙏🏻🙏🏻

You are so welcome 🙏🏻😊 we hope it helps and that you have a great trip!! Thank you for watching.

Thank you very much!

Hi Trevor. Thanks for checking out the video! We loved the adventure and filming it. The room is so small and tight, it's challenging to capture. You have to see it for yourself!

The new Viewliners (Viewliner II) do not look like these. They are a different colour and the toilets have been removed. One roomette has been removed in the car to become the new bathroom in the cars.

@@TrainMike2013 To me removing the toilet is a downgrade.

@@TheMrPeteChannel I don't like the removal either but some study said that others didn't like it due to the smell. My reply is that it likely was people's OWN smell causing the issue. My gf and I have never had an issue and have been in a roomette on Amtrak many times.

@@TrainMike2013 If you don't like the smell don't use it! I think some people just don't like the thought of sleeping by a toilet.

MrBucketlist! What's up man? Are you from Tampa? We live in St. Petersburg when we're not on the road. I think you'll enjoy the train experience.

I'm going to greensboro nc to miami, or i think greensboro, nc to new orleans to miami

You are so welcome 🙏🏻 thank you for watching! You two are going to have a blast! Kids love the train 🚂

You're welcome!

Hey Kenneth 👋 thanks so much for watching. It’s great to hear about other routes people love - we’re considering doing a long cross country route next. It is a blast isn’t it 🚂 take care & thanks for the recommendations!!

@@JustAdrift You're welcome!

Thank you Scott for the clarification!! It is important to know the difference, when we took the trip we didn’t know there were different kinds. Thanks for watching and take care my friend !

I've traveled on West Coast. I noticed same difference too.

Amtrak really needs to update the superliner trains. They are outdated, in disrepair and dirty.

To be clear it was a viewliner 1 car since it had the toilet in the roommate, the viewliner 2 cars have no toilet in the roommate but still a sink

Well that’s cool. Thank you for watching 😊

You'll love it. Thanks for checking out the video!

Thank you so much 😊

Thanks

Hi Joanie! Thanks for checking out the video. I signed up for Amtrak notifications by email and they send me emails about discounted fairs every once in a while. I hope that helps also!

That sounds amazing, we were talking about how cool it would be to go the other direction, thanks so much for the suggestion! 🚂

My sister & I going on this trip in. May 16-20 2022 from Chicago to Seattle. Can’t wait.

@@myracastillo4882 Hope the 2 of you love the trip as much as I have my last 3. The only thing about traveling Thanksgiving time was it getting dark so soon. So many of the sights were missed. You'll have much more sunlight and beauty.

Definitely!

I glad you said you appreciated the in-room toilet. We really did also. Do you know if there is anyway to know if you will be in a Viewliner I or II when you book? I can't wait to get in the newer model and check it out.

@@JustAdrift I’m not really sure! I book my Amtrak trips thru the app or online. I know my assigned car number, but not if it’s a I or a II. There are typically 3 Viewliner I and 1 Viewliner II sleepers on the Silver Service trains. Maybe if you book on the phone (still possible?), you could make a request. BTW, except for the AutoTrain, all Superliner sleepers are on western routes. They can’t be used on the NE Corridor because they can’t fit thru the ancient tunnels, esp the one in Baltimore!

This is so good to know all of this - I have no idea if you can still call to book 😂 the website makes things so easy with that one exception

@@JustAdrift To me, one of the things I always liked about taking sleeper trains is going down the dimmed swaying corridor at night, toothbrush in hand, to the bathroom at the end of the car. The conductor & porter usually kept it quite clean; there was never any big mess. I'm not finicky. The trip would get me out of my compartment, which had 4 beds (bunks). I enjoyed seeing the mysterious man & woman talking in low tones as they stared out the night at the dark forest speeding past at a steady 50 miles per hour... Modern Americans I think are too accustomed to luxury. Roughing it a little is fun, & a good experience. Putting bathrooms & showers in the train rooms means less rooms per wagon, and is one reason why Amtrak prices are so outrageous. The other reason is that Amtrak is top heavy, i.e. it has too many executives, and each executive salary is too high. Put these "suits" out to real jobs, get them laying track; lets get rails & stations built in 300 more cities by 2025. Amtrak can & should go everywhere, & go affordably, just as the trains in Europe do.

Hi, we want to book NYC to Orlando but we want bed, and I'm kind of confused with the roomette and bedroom. We want to try for 1st time with our autistic child. Last time (May 2021) we went to FL on a flight was a nightmare for her. Plus she wanted to stand up and walk and no room on the bathroom to change her diaper.

Nice! I think you'll love it! Let us know how it goes.

Tell um that dude from Indiana says hello

Oh, this is one of my dreams!

Baller!

Hi EC! Thanks for the comment. Have a good one!

You wouldn’t need a roommette for that trip since it’s in the daytime unless privacy is a big thing for you.

@@peregrino9154 Well, it would be more affordable than going in a roomette to New York from Atlanta, lol. But then I would be able to use the lounge in New York if I rode in a roomette. So maybe you're right, lol.

A room on a train is definitely not cheaper.

Hi Anthony! We’re so glad you enjoyed our video. It was certainly fun to make. There are a lot of pros for train travel 🧭 I did some quick math for our trip if we drove vs taken the train… Gas $150 Hotel $100 Food 15 x 4 x 2 = $120 Beers $15 It would have been less expensive to drive if we still had our truck… but you still have the wear and tear on the vehicle and you have to drive vs enjoy the ride. If it’s in your budget I’d say go for it. It’s a fun trip !

That's not entirely accurate

Thank you for the clarification!

Hello! Thanks so much for watching. Assuming you’ve already booked your tickets in advance online Amtrak recommends at least 30-45 minutes, if you have to check any baggage earlier. I would plan on 1:30 or 2 to check baggage and pick up any last minute items - and to be able to see the lounge at the station before you board. We wish you an amazing trip!

@@JustAdrift Appreciate it! Going on Amtrak Roomette to Miami (from NY) soon for the very 1st time and so excited! It will be round trip and I've booked 2 different trains- Silver Meteor to Miami and Silver Star back to NY

Hi Odas, Great question. We were speculating that the Roomette might have some challenges for anyone over 6'. I'm sure they've made it 'just' big enough but you will definitely be close to each other. My husband and I are both 5'-6" tall and our knees didn't touch but there wasn't a ton of extra room. Also, once they turn down the beds after dinner we both hung out in the bottom bunk at that point it might get tight (we have another Amtrak video that is linked in this video if you want to see what it looks like). Hope this helps and have fun on your trip!

If you want to sit with your knees jammed into each other.

You can sit outboards, that would fix any issues with the knees. Otherwise, you can always go to the lounge car which is open to the public.

It's recommended.

@@TheMrPeteChannel by who? Tipping is based off service.

Hi Zane! Thanks for watching man. We had great service so we tipped our car attendant and waiter on the train 🚂 if you have good service be sure to tip!

$2-3 tip per meal per person 🚂🍴🍜. $5 or more to room steward... *** Bring cash **** no 🏧 ATM..

Someone has pointed out that you need Amtrak's App to get WiFi. I haven't checked that yet but there's hope.

@@JustAdrift Was mobile data still accessible? In a plane I learned it's not as the last time I flew I was a kid in the pre-smart phone days so didn't even think about not having internet.

Thank you!

I would say 6’ long !

@@JustAdrift cool thank you!! Traveled a handful of times on Amtrak, but only ever rode coach. I’m taking a trip here next month and thought about a roomette! Thanks!

Hi William! Thanks for the comment. How much is a 24 hour train ride in a sleeper car? Do you have a private bedroom similar to the roomette? I (Mason speaking) have visited Kunming and enjoyed it. I didn't take a train anywhere though.

Best sleep I've had was on a 24 hour train ride in China!

Hi Teddy! Thanks for watching. Yes that’s what we’ve heard … having the toilet was convenient once you got used to it. We will be traveling cross country in a few weeks and hopefully will get to experience the new roommette on that trip!

There is a bathroom down the hall so I would suggest they go do that there. The toilet is like on an airplane- it has a vacuum flush. Thanks for watching!

Nope!

No. They take 'fresh air stops' a.k.a. smoke stops but that's it.

Yes. I've heard that tipping $10-$20 per night is customary. Thanks for watching, Sally!

Tipping,. $2-3 per meal/ per person,. ***Bring cash ****. No ATM 🚂

The seats are on an incline but do not lean back. I however didn’t notice it lacked this until your comment 😂 so I guess they are at an ideal tilt. The seats were surprisingly comfortable and I would recommend them. Yes the room is a bit of a splurge but what a fun time! Thanks for watching 🙌

Absolutely!!

The roommettes are 6'6" wide, and the bed stretches the whole length. I think the bedrooms have longer beds, but they're definitely wider and can sleep two side by side.

We are both 5’6” and were really comfortable. If you’re over 6’ I think it would start to get cramped.

@@JustAdrift that’s too bad for all the alphas and Chads out there cuz ✈️ not much better

Amazing! Do it!

@@JustAdrift 👍

Yes it is definitely about the experience!

I think it’s very kid friendly - all the kids we saw were having a blast ! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻

Well that’s up to you and what you’re into… we used the bathroom down the hall. 😂

That is a good question… I am not sure. When we went they had limited dining, now the full meal service is back up. We are actually going on another train trip next week. I’ll ask!

We think it's a pretty good deal for long travel. Keep it mind that you get a private room for two and meals are included. There are ways to make it even more affordable. Look out for deals and discount from Amtrak. We get emails with deals from them weekly. If you have lots of luggage, it becomes a better deal because other modes of travel like air travel will charge you for additional baggage. If you make an overnight train part of a vacation experience, that makes it more affordable as well. If you were to take an airplane, buy meals, and stay at a hotel overnight it would probably be more expensive then taking an overnight train. What do you think?

If you ride coach and don't eat it's very affordable.

@@jeffdur1330 Don't have to starve, just bring your own food.

No smoking on the train at all, even in your room. however, they do tell you when stops are coming up for smokers/how long you have

That was our experience also. It seemed like every 4 or 5 stops they would announce a smoke break. Hope that helps, Herbert. Thanks for the help, OppositeofHate7!

No. Outside on stops. Only.....

Hi Richard! Do you know if they are making any floor space changes in the new Viewliner II Roomettes? We are shorter then average (we're both 5'6) and it was comfortable. But if you are 5'10 or taller, I could see it felling pretty tight. Thanks for checking the video out.

@@JustAdrift no space changes, just the removal of the toilet. There are videos on RU-vid showing the new rooms.

That's basically what the bedrooms are. The Bedrooms are double the size of the roommettes and can sleep 3. Then there's the suites that's double the size of the bedrooms.

You got used to it.

I wouldn't blame you for that. Whatever makes the journey work for you!

travel Travel is a Luxury, that people pay for :)

On the flip side, people pay $1200 for a first class transcontinental flights for only 6 hrs to stay at a TV and are stuck in the same seat.

@@jeffreycoooper3893 Yeah but you are off in six hours not 22 hours.

Hi Andrew! Thanks for watching. I think it depends on how you look at it, remember it is also your transportation. If we were flying we could maybe save but a big part of going is the experience. It’s also not like a hotel room in that aspect- each person needs a ticket to ride 🎟. Have a good one !

@@LancerX916 Depends on the trip. In reality those 22 hours are more like 12 if you factor in time for sleep/shower. But most people don't travel end to end, they usually travel from end to midpoint. For example, on the NEC, the ride from DC to NYC is 3+ hours, which is acceptable and more convenient than flying. However, the trip to Boston is 7 hours and it would make more sense to fly. But, I could take the Night Owl which is 10 hours from DC to BOS (they slow down the train), but I'm sleeping on my way there (10PM to 8AM).

Wrong! Maybe last minute, but roomettes are usually under $500, sometimes $300 when on sale.

@@TrainMike2013 um from where to where? Cross country rooms are never under 1000$ round trip.

@@jeffdur1330 you must be thinking bedrooms. This video is for roommettes, much different.

@@TrainMike2013 it's the same for roomettes.

@@TrainMike2013 instead of arguing why don't you just tell me what cross country route has roomettes for less than 1000$? And dates too. Thanks.

To get WiFi access?

Book your ticket on the app

I also suggest downloading a speedometer app …. At some points I found we were hitting 105. Hard to gauge how fast you’re going when you’re up off the ground

Hi Katrina! Thanks for the comment. I agree with you personally. I can see both sides of the debate, though.

There is no bottom floor on viewliners. Only the Superliners are two floors.