Thank you for all your helpful information, signed up for Amtrak rewards like you suggested, and received the notification of the roomette BOGO, so come fall, a fabulous trip is happening. Really cannot thank both of you enough.
I love your vlogs and videos! 😍 I think the long routes with a sleeper car are justifiable - a place to sleep and all your meals included so that’s how I look at it. When I retire, I want to travel via Amtrak all over the country!
This is my first time traveling on Amtrak Auto Train I from Florida to Virginia tomorrow . I have been listening to your videos hope there helpful I’ have a Roomette myself.
We can park our car for free at our city's train station and take the train to D C. Gets to Union Station in about 3 hours. Then we can either walk a block to our favorite hotel or catch the metro at Union Station to go museum hopping. We love it!
I'd like to add that there's also a disabled person's carer's 50% discount. The disabled person's ticket has a 10% discount as well. So my family is 5 ppl: myself, who is disabled; my son, who is my carer; and my 3 grands, the youngest who is 2 years old, the oldest is 8. The total for a sleeper from Milwaukee to San Francisco is $2780+. With the meals included, it's an amazing price, plus the benefit of not having the stress of driving. We already have a place to stay in SF, and we'll rent a car while there (3 days) so they're are no downsides to riding the trains. Thanks guys! I love Amtrak, and you two have just made it even better.
My favorite part of your videos is how much both of you respect what the other person has to say,.....and let each other finish a thought without interruption.......and Oh Yeah your information is extremely valuable.
Hello! I just wanted to thank you both for doing this video. During all this isolating time, my husband and I have spent WAY too much time watching RU-vid travel videos. We have especially enjoyed watching ones about train travel. Although we have traveled quite a bit by train in Europe, we have never taken a train trip longer than a hour here in the U.S. . Your videos have definitely inspired us to do so. As a matter a fact, just this morning, I saw this video and told my husband about it. Well, we just BOOKED our first train vacation!! Yippee!! Glacier National Park, here we come (from San Francisco). Thanks again and keep inspiring people.
Thanks so much for the information in this video. I just signed up for Amtrak alerts re discounts. Can’t wait for my first cross country railroad experience! 🚂
We looked at OKJ to PDX in October, 2022. Coach Class was the same for Adult or Senior, $75pp. Adult Business Class was $118pp but Senior Business Class was $129pp. So much for Senior Discount on Amtrak. [Rob & Allie: Keep up the good work.]
I notice the weekday tickets are def cheaper then the friday or weekend tickets ,,, makes sense,, entice more traffic during the work week vs weekend. hmmmm ,, the bogo deals sound tempting for sure
Hi. I enjoy your channel. I am a single senior. Can you speak about traveling as a single person especially a woman? Women, especially elderly women, are more vulnerable and I would like to travel on Amtrak but I am scared. Plus, how does the buy one get one free apply to me, if it does? Thank you for all the great tips
I find that conductors and train attendants generally look out for passengers who may be vulnerable or who may need assistance in any way. I'm not a senior, but I found that the attendants in the sleeping cabin were keeping tabs on making sure I was okay (meals, bed turnover, comfort).
I am a 71 year old single woman with mobility issues. I am leaving in one week for a trip from Atlanta to New orleans where I will spend one night then go on to Chicago. I will spend 11 hours there then back to New orleans for 5 days......first time around for most of it and I am so excited! Oh yes, I am going by myself.......I want it badly enough so I am doing it! Part way by coach, part by roommette, part by accessible bedroom.....this is a practice trip for the cross country one I want to do.....if you want to go on a trip, maybe you can find a travelling buddy or just take short trip to get a feel for it....
I am so happy to find other older women that are interested in solo train travel! I’ve taken several solo cruises, but I’m ready to hit the rails. There is definitely a need for blogs/vlogs focusing on single women train travel (of any age really) bonus if they focus on senior women. LINDA - Bravo on taking your initial train trip! Hope you have a fantastic time!
Please don't b afraid to travel Amtrak as a lone senior!! I traveled to grand canyon and LA Alone!! People u meet on the train will watch out 4 you. Make friends with the conductor who will watch out for you.
Travel smart,. No purse...,. Belly pack only ! Travel /pack light. don't depend on others for lifting..etc..be ready for stairs on trains,. I am 65 - travel alone alot
goodness! I paid $1500 for two for the california zephyr (this includes a NYC to Chicago sleeper car leg though)! but this is during the summer peak season, I thought i did good now i feel like i grossly over paid
Another great video. Thanks. When I enter my dates with both senior discount and just as an adult, I get the same amount or sometimes even more for a senior. I also went to the discount page and found a 20% off for my trip. Except when I checked the fares it was $50 more than I had been finding without the "discount." Their site is very untrustworthy.
Thanks for the information. I'll be traveling alone in June 2022 from Chicago to Mt Rushmore and then to Seattle. If I find the buy one get free. Will be able to buy it, even if I'm traveling alone. Thanks
You two are so adorable together... I just love watching your vids, even if I know what they're about. But I like and appreciate it more when there's something to learn! Do you guys travel jst for the sake of traveling, or do you always have plans at your destination? I'm finding I just like hopping on the train, staying overnight and coming back. I did a day trip to NYP from home (UCA) and the place (Moynihan Train Hall) is amazing! Totally worth the fare to just hang out for a few hours there.
I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak merged private Railroad Company for over 52 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because trains travel is a blast with a wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car is the best! I used take Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose and now it's called Caltrain extends to Gilroy (south of San Jose). For now covid and I will resume traveling again. For you guys taking a short trip to see if like the trains before taking long trip. Enjoy!
I found the Amtrak website is not the most user-friendly!I saw Senior discount but it does not apply to any roomette or any private overnight accommodation, only the economy seats.Ok for a shorter trip than a long-haul, which is what I am interested in.I am in LA.Am I wrong about that? I think the long-haul prices with overnight accom are definitely way more expensive than flying.I am still thinking about it.You guys are a great couple btw!
I’m still confused on how to book really early if it doesn’t matter when you book early like flights. I’m missing something. You mentioned something about a train filling up will mean it gets more expensive as it fills up. So do I just peek at all the dates and look for trains with 10%-30% full to be sure I get a cheaper roomette?
Just like supermarkets then. Even in an expensive city like London, you don't have to wait for a sale to go to the supermarket or drugstore. You just go and pick up whatever you need, when you need it.
I want/need a discount tick for Zephyr from Chicago to California with a Roomette, in the near future.. Wow, the cost have gone up in the last 5 years...like everything else. it use to be roughly twice (with roomette) the flying rate but now it looks like 3-4 times as much as the flights. I remember booking, and when it dropped we just called and they kept giving us the lower price.
4:38 "as the train fills up, the prices go up" This is sort of true, but doesn't tell the whole story. Amtrak tickets are sold on a "bucket" system. Think of several buckets of tickets, and each bucket is sold for a different price. Tickets in the cheapest bucket are sold out first. Once those are gone, the next most expensive bucket of tickets are sold until they're gone, and so forth. That's why buying as far in advance as possible is generally the best strategy for cheap tickets as the amount you save from buying from the cheapest bucket could very well be significantly more than the 10% or 15% so-called "deals". There's a catch, though. Sometimes someone with a cheap bucket ticket will return it, let's say the day before departure. That one cheap bucket ticket is immediately put back on sale, so if you're lucky (and vigilant) it is technically possible to snag a really cheap bucket ticket at the last minute.
how often are the BOGO's offered? a few times a year ? I just came across your channel....Love the info you offer......still up in the air if train travel is for me....but you definitely gave me some things to think about....THANK YOU!!!
Am I correct in thinking that there is a price everyone pays,regardless of accommodations, and the actual room I'd roomette is extra? Or is it one price for coach,one price for roomette and one price for bedroom?
Thank you for the comprehensive information on Amtrak discounts. I have signed up for the Amtrak Rewards and hoping to get notified of BOGO or Group travel discounts. Quick question - can one get a refund for unused tickets should travel plans change?
so like in the video a roomette wont be 50% in the BOGO deals. the way rooms on amtrak are charged is the lowest coach fare for both plus the cost of the room accommodation. so when you travel with 2 a room is not actually the twice the price of traveling w one. It might be 10-40% more. I was looking to book NYC to Emeryville california via the empire builder and the california zephyr. for one person it was $1200 and for two it was $1500 so i assume that for BOGO it would also be $1200. With that in mind yes it would also be for the larger rooms as well
Does Amtrak serve all their meals on plastic or cardboard? I know it’s not the Orient Express but don’t they use tablecloths or ceramic and metal utensils or plastic?
Are Rail Passenger Network member discounts better than standard adult? I saw this option listed under discounts in the my profile preferences section under discounts.
I was watching your video and I realized one thing you did not take into account when you were mentioning getting the BOGO discount. What use is the BOGO when you are traveling solo?
You can check bags for free at most, but not all, stations. Your destination station also has to accept checked luggage. On Superliner coach cars (the two-story cars), there is an area downstairs for bags. There is plenty of room, but you leave your stuff there at your own risk. Viewliners have a small area for bags, but it might be full. I put a fairly large suitcase on the overhead rack in coach, and it fit.
Hey Kevin, So the way Amtrak works is that only the coach part of the ticket would be buy one get one free. But there's a good reason for that. When you buy the roomette or bedroom upgrade, you only pay it once-- NOT per person! For example, you and a friend buy coach tickets for $150 each. The roomette upgrade costs $350. That means the total cost of the ticket would be $650, but both you and your friend would have a place to sleep, You will both have hot showers with towels and soap provided, and all of your hot meals would be paid for. If you were to do this during a buy one get one sale, one of your coach tickets would be free and the total cost of the ride would be $500.
Have you ever used any of the thru way services? I am in Houston and wanting to go to Maricopa Az and maybe take the thru way route up to the grand canyon. Am I able to purchase that on the Amtrak app also?
You have to go to Amtrak website & first figure out what cities you're traveling between (or do you mean the entire route?). It's all self explanatory.. Type in city pairs & the date. As they said, if you are a senior, disabled, etc., click on the drop down menu for "Traveler" & click on your discount. If you're disabled, Amtrak will ask you a couple of questions before they find trains for you. One day the roomette on a train might be $1400. & the very next day, that same train (s) with the same accommodations could be $1700. I am going Cleveland to West Palm in Sept in full size bedroom (I want my own bathroom) and checking for the same trains/accommodations in a 30 day period, the cheapest with my disability discount was $1309.30 & most expensive was $1890.30. It takes a little work & travel date flexibility but the Amtrak website should be able to answer your question.
@@donwaltz2798 As an Amtrak Select Plus passenger, I have used the website for dozens of round trips for sleeper car service over the years & find it easy to navigate. I'll let you know that the discounts are "Senior", "Disabled", "Companion", "Rail Passengers Association", "Military (Active)" & "Military (Retired)'. Also, theses discounts are 10% of coach fare & not of a roomette or bedroom. If you're still having trouble, you should give Amtrak Reservations a call 1-800-872-7245 with your city pairs, travel dates & let them know which discount applies to you. They are open 7 days a week 8AM to 8PM (they shortened their hours opened because of Covid). Not sure what kind of price range you'll looking for but it will probably be on the higher range. I talked to an Amtrak employee last week & she said trains are filling fast. Amtrak thought it would take until 2022 before passenger numbers are back at full range but they are already there, according to her. Hope this helps & good luck on your quest!
Are face masks required in the roomettes? I just spoke to an agent and they said the polocy was changed. I can't believe I have to wear a mask in my room for 22 hrs and also sleep with it? is this true?
You can wearing without face mask because in sleeper car is like "hotel" while your room door is closed. I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak merged private Railroad Company for over 52 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing in any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because trains travel is a blast with a wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car is the best! I used take Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose and now it's called Caltrain extends to Gilroy (south of San Jose). For now covid and I will resume traveling again. For you guys taking a short trip to see if like the trains before taking long trip. Enjoy!
This shouldnt be true! I Use the sleeper 6 times already and there is no policy that you need to wear mask inside the room unless you are going to get your food or to use the bathroom.
Is there a discount for retired federal government workers? And a senior discount through AARP? Although I know that both of you are not old enough for that….LOL
I really love your channel! I'm still trying to get my husband to consider a train trip. Or maybe I'll go somewhere by myself and leave him at home to take care of the cats! LOL!
I just started researching Amtrak and am enjoying your videos. I’m planning ahead for summer 2024 so I’ll have lots of time to figure it out and you’re a BIG help. Thank you!!!
Will be taking Amtrak from NJ to Delray, FL sometime in the next two months. Very excited. Last time I took a train I was in my early 20s. I’m a senior now. Your videos are very informative. Thank you so much!!
I just recently thought about using Amtrak in my upcoming vacation and was left in shock at the price of round trip tickets. $4000 for a sleeper. I can fly round trip for $1200 and save 4 days.
You don’t really take the train to go somewhere, you take the train for the experience of being on the train. The reason you would take the train is to see the country side and making it part of the vacation.
@@UpstopEjector Well for the rather large sum they charge I'm starting to question why my tax dollars are being used to keep them in business. They could actually turn a profit and get more people interested in train travel if they would be a little more competitive on the price. I can see why they are going under and needing government subsidies.
@@UpstopEjector with a train ride you don't see anything except trees and woods it's no excitement to see.... UNLESS YOU LOVE TREES AND WOODS WHICH I CAN LOOK OUT MY BACK DOOR TO SEE.....
If the purpose of your travel is to get to your destination as quickly as possible, then you fly. Taking the train means you want to build the experience of riding on a train into your vacation. Nice meals in a more comfortable setting, seeing countryside and landscapes you might not otherwise see, having a couple of days of peace and quiet in your own sleeper car, away from the hustle and bustle sounds magnificent to some. But everything ain't for everybody.
Love your informative videos! About the train vs plane price tho, I priced a trip for the lil’ missus and I with a sleeper room from Chicago to Irvine, California. Full price with no discounts, the train was actually quite a bit more than airfare even with baggage. And only slightly less than 1st class, which we never do.
Tipping etiquette on Amtrak: Dining car: servers are fully compensated Amtrak employees and tips are not expected. It's perfectly acceptable to just leave change, round up, or leave nothing. Sleeper car attendant: minimum of $5 per person per day of travel. If the attendant is particularly vigilant, for example if they convert your room at to a sleeper while you're at dinner without needing to ask, you should tip more.
You guys are awesome. I’ve been binge watching your videos and can’t wait to take my first cross country trip. I signed up for rewards and see you can also earn rewards by shopping some of my favorite retailers thru the Amtrak site and by taking surveys so that’s cool. Also target has Amtrak gift cards so red card holders get 5% off each purchase of a gift card.
Really valuable info. I have never thought of taking the train to go visiting places. This is all so new to me. I am sure this is valuable info for those people who don't enjoy or is afraid of flying. I wonder how it all works, say if you are travelling from Canada to the U.S. or vice versa. Your videos have opened a whole different option to travellers looking for options .
I'm new to this channel do these two travelers work for the trains (AMTRAK) If NOT they travel a lot with lot's of big money to travel and do these videos from state to state.....from what I see I can't afford ; are your meals included in your ticket they travel once twice a month who's paying for their travels from new York to Calif. gotta cost at - least 6,000 for two people plus food cost WOW ! me I would have to fly which would be much cheaper way cheaper than a 2 to 3 day long train ride....NOPE ; not for me from what I see and hear you gotta be loaded with cash to take a train ride from state to state which don't make any sense to me to be on a rocky train ride.....WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I DID TRAIN RIDES OFTEN WHICH WAS A CHEAP WAY TO GO I HAD NO IDEA THE PRICE HAD GOTTEN SO PRICEY I HEARD ONE LADY SAY 4,000 TO TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK TO OUT WEST NO WAY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO.....
all you see is BACK WOODS and TREES and I'm not a WOODS and TREES PERSON I cut them all down in my YARD (ONCE a LARGE SNAKE FAIL OUTTA one of my TREES) I knew then they all had to go plus I don't like the MESS they LEAVE in the FALL on my GROUND LOT'S of WORK and TREES are DANGEROUS as WELL... I TRAVELED BACK in the DAY for what I call POCKET CHANGE but these days you can almost pay for a HOME in those BACK WOODS for the PRICE it COST now ROUND TRIP NOPE. ; not for me from NEW YORK to FL. you would need to take a LOAN OUT just to make the TRIP and PRAY you RETURN.... to PRICEY for a POOR PERSON I'm not saying me but ; why should I pay a PRICE like that when I can FLY much.CHEAPER... HOW DO THEY SANITIZE THOSE SLEEPER PEOPLE MOUTH RUNS WHEN SLEEP SOME PEOPLE HAS BED BUGS SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST NASTY SO HOW DO THEY PROTECT YOUR SAFETY ; DO THEY STEAM CLEAN JUST WHAT DO THEY DO TO MAKE YOU SAFE..... I NO IN HOTELS THEY HALF CLEAN NO SANITIZING AT ALL I KNOW I WORK THERE THEY CLEAN THE TOP BUT UNDERNEATH IS VERY NASTY THE ROOMS APPEAR TO BE CLEAN AND SANITIZED ; APPEAR....
4:30 I would have to disagree (to an extent). Amtrak fares are often in fee buckets but can be seen having a variety of fluctuations. For example, I take the Wolverine/Bluewater in Michigan between Kalamazoo and Chicago. Fares about a week out are often $22-27 for coach and $47 for business. In many cases these price do go up as you get closer to departure, usually to $47 for coach and, if they are available, $68 for business. However, some days during part of spring into the summer, prices will potentially drop by $10-20 if you book on a particular day during the week prior to departure. This seems to take effect on only some routes and is indicated by demand and season. I have also seen similar effects with the Lake Shore Limited, which I also take occasionally, where rooms often sell out months before but, in cases where they don't, can go for dramatically less than a month or even a week prior. I would not take that route at face value, though; I once saved close to $150 just by choosing Kingston over Albany when travelling to see relatives in the Hudson valley.
I do have a question though. When it comes to roomettes, why is it always so expensive even a whole year in advance? I booked from Seattle to Chicago last September and only did so when the price dropped from like almost 1100$ to 650$! I keep checking the prices for next Sept and it's just really strange. No idea how it works or what causes the drops. You'd think super far in advance to be a huge deal but for more than one grand one way? Ughhhhh lol.
Hi - I love your videos and appreciate that you explained how and where to get a discount. However, I just tried to input a senior discount from New Haven to NYC. The price seemed high so I then input just a regular adult fare. The senior fare was actually higher. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s a website glitch? It’s simply what happened (and I tried the comparison twice to be sure). Your viewers might keep this in mind and check pricing both ways to make sure they get the lowest price.
Thank you so much for the info! I had no idea that Amtrak had a standing Veteran's discount or where even to put it in on their website. Thanks to you I saved about 300 on a round trip roomette reservation. You guys are awesome!
