JoeG

Has anyone taken Amtrak to Seattle from the Midwest recently? RT fare from Milwaukee is $224 for 2 right now which seems like a great deal. We've done this trip 3 times by car and several times by plane but never by train. It always seemed like a good idea. I'm afraid though that after 40+ hours you get pretty crusty by the time you arrive. The sleeper rooms are so expensive (+$1000) that I won't do that. We would be traveling in June. Any experiences pro or con would be greatly appreciated.
JoeG

JoeG

Hey! Is there anyone out there that can help???????????

JACKIE118

JoeG

Go! You'll have a wonderful time. It is fun meeting people, sitting in the sightseer car, looking at the view.

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rb_travelerxATyahoo

Suggestion: bring "moist towelettes" - or whatever you call those "wet-naps". Bring some toilet paper. Bring some snacks - candy, fruit, maybe some instant ice-tea mix, lemonade - whatever.

Don't think I'm a troll. I love riding Amtrak, but you're right, it *IS* a long trip. Maybe you can split it up & stop somewhere for a similar price?

Do NOT make this trip if you are a "type a" personality who gets upset with delays. The longer an Amtrak route is, the better the chance it suffers delays. But if you are easy going you'll probably love the train - such a relaxing way to travel, and with such great social interaction with the other passengers.

I've only traveled the east coast, not the length of time you're planning on, and as much as I enjoy the train, I was glad to end that segment of the trip, but still looked forward to the return.

Have a great trip!

Cassandra

I've gone from Chicago to Minneapolis on that train -- seemed nicer than Eastern trains, but if I were going all the way to Seattle, I'd take all those things mentioned above, plus a project or two (write your memoirs), some games, and maybe some books on tape as well as books on paper. I don't have the schedule at hand, but you might want to make special note of longer sojourns in certain stations, just to get OFF the train and putter around, etc.

I'll be honest that I got a sleeper just for that relatively short hop because I had a small child, but I have a lot of trouble imagining more than one night sleeping in a regular coach chair, no matter how comfortable. Learn isometrics and stretching, for sure!

arjay

Joe - You may already be aware but the Rail Sale section on the Amtrak webpage offers some phenomenal rates - short notice, a lot of them, but many with a pretty long lead time. They are sometimes double-digit from Chicago or Milwaukee to the West Coast, so be sure to check it out.

JoeG

Thanks for the replys. I was on the verge of committing but your scaring me! My wife seemed to lose interest after hearing the responses.I'm a friendly guy but I'm not sure about the social aspect - it could be fine but it also could be - ? Also, if the outbound trip is not enjoyable you have a long return trip to look forward to. I wanna be convinced to do this. I understand the train stops at Glacier National Park.

JoeG

retired_readytogo

We traveled to Denver last Feb. and got a "roomette" Tiny area with two large lounge type chairs with table in betwen that folds out.Two chairs make into a nice bed for one . However, the person who gets the "short straw" sleeps up top in a pull down bunkbed. Husband said it reminded him of the beds in the navy on the submarines!!!.I am 65 and 5ft. 9in and had no trouble with this arrangement. With this booking your meals are included and showers are available on lower level..
We both enjoyed the trip--would do it again but not with just coach seats..

JoeG

To:retired_readytogo:

I noticed that the fares (even the 2 for 1) started going up yesterday. Plus aren't even these tiny sleeper rooms outrageously expensive?

Joe G.

retired_readytogo

To Joe G.
You are right even the tiny romettes are expensive but it was the only way my husband would go !!!
Personally I do well in the coach for about 24 hours (Sacramento to Seattle is 22 hr.) after that i get really tired. It is because I just can't sleep sitting up!!! the seats do recline a bit and the footrest is a great help. My grand=daughter , 12 yrs. and I made the same trip but came back by plane--That worked out really well.
I love to travel and if I were in your place, I'd go for it. It is such a bargain!!! Try it if you don't like it ,you haven't used much money if you ae pleased, what a joy....
As for getting "crusty" Take large baggie with wash cloth and small towel and small bar of soap--you can get cleaned up quite nicely in bathrooms.
Glacier-in the past a bus would transport people from train station to hotels ( ?-what hotels) not sure about this recently=you would need to check this out.
Good luck---

arjay

Your concerns about the "social" aspect..I would say are groundless.

Yes, folks are friendly...but in an old-fashioned way that is pleasant and nostalgic (for a time, I woner, that how many of us have ever known)..but not overbearing or intrusive.

That camaraderie, to me, is one of the nicest things about train travel. You can always turn the other direction or move to another seat...

My biggest concern would be sitting up...for several days. I'm not sure I could handle that......

mrwunrfl

That's the train they call the Empire Builder. Search for that and you will find lots of info on the web, including minute by minute travel logs, photos, etc.
If I was to do it, I'd stop along the way a couple of nights and fly or drive back. It's no shinkansen.