Kostroma

After much planning and lip service, I'm finally ready to book my train tickets. I will be taking the Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA and back in late October. My mother is accompanying me and we will have a sleeper. I originally wanted a Deluxe bedroom, but it's about $400 more(round trip) than the Standard.

I realize that one gets their own bathroom facilities and more room to move about in the Deluxe, but is it really worth an additional $400? I've never travelled overnight on Amtrak before, so I'm not familiar with the size and dimensions of the rooms other than an internet virtual tour. I welcome the comments of anyone who's stayed in the sleepers.

GoTravel

I could be wrong but if I remember correctly, the toliet is in the room in the deluxe and not in a separate 'closet'. Also, no shower.

Kostroma

The Deluxe has a toilet, shower, and vanity, while the Standard does not. If the trip were longer, I wouldn't hesitate to pay the premium for the Deluxe, but it's only 1 1/2 days. That's why I'm asking those who are experienced with this trip the pros and cons of each.

traveler24

It is VERY important that you define "standard" and "sleeper".
The "sleeper" that I used on a different trip was only meant for 2 people---t he person who did NOT sleep on the bottom bed would have to be very agile to get to the top "bunk".The toilet was down the hall on each car and shower was in the lower level.
During the day the bottom bed makes into 2 very comfortable lounge type chairs that face each other and it quite adequate.
I did see several couples using the above arrangements with out voiced complaints.
IMO one step up from a "sleeper" would be worth the money.
Hope this helps

AAFrequentFlyer

There is a big difference between a regular sleeper and a deluxe. Now that said, is it worth it? If you and your mom are not very agile, I would definately do the deluxe, and if nothing else, you do have a private toilet and shower, as small as it is, it is still private. Both cabins are treated as first class cabins, so as far as food and amenities, both cabins get the same treatment.
Have a great trip!

gocats2002

We went from Chicago to Boston a couple of years ago on Amtrak. The kids had the normal sleeper and we had the deluxe, if the nomenclature was the same. The kids room was like a little closet, with two bunks on top of each other, like travler 24 says, and the bottom bunk converted to two facing chairs with a little table between - good for cards or games. There was a little toilet in the normal sleeper, too, on our train. It was used as the step to the top bunk when the lid was shut. There was not a lot of privacy using the toilet in the std. cabin, needless to say. Presumably there is one down the hall as well?

The deluxe had a larger bed beneath that was good for my tall husband, and a ladder to climb up to the top bunk. We had a private bathroom in a separate little room and it even had a little shower you could use. I think we had a separate chair, as well, but can't remember.

Both rooms had a tv that showed several movies, and both had sinks. As AAsays, both had access to first class dining, the same way. The service was great.

If my husband weren't so tall, we'd have gone for the smaller rooms for ourselves. They are certainly adequate. The deluxe are definitely roomier, though. I don't remember the cost differential being as great, in our case though, maybe because we were going one way and got a lower fare.
You have to think of your needs. If you are separate sexes, definitly go with the deluxe for the greater privacy.
Can you visit an Amtrak station and have a peak?

gocats2002

Did you look at the Amtrak website. They have a pretty good picture of what you get:

http://www.amtrak.com/plan/accommoda...leepindex.html

Looking at it, maybe my husbands bed wasn't wider. I sure remember it that way, though. How weird. Maybe they've reconfigured a little.

SaraLM

Mom, brother and I rode on the Starlight and we had the deluxe. Sleeping was cozy - the bottom bunk is barely a double. I am slightly weird about bathrooms but I can not imagine sharing my toilet and shower for that amount of time. I remember walking by them and they smelled like some men's public restrooms (i.e. pee). Sharing a shower with an unknown quantity of people.... not me!

However, if I were to do it again with just my husband I might contemplate the standard but we would have to be pretty tight for me to contemplate it for long. If I were headed to San Fran that was an early morning stop and I could check in immediately and take a shower then I probably would do that but that whole last day on the train is icky. Some people don't take showers every day so it may not bother you, I am just a clean freak.

So for me I would say it would be worth $400 but if you can skip a shower or don't mind sharing then go for the standard - but do be sure you can climb into a top bunk.

Cassandra

I checked the Amtrak site and I have to say they equivocate about whether there's going to be a commode in your Standard bedroom or not. I have traveled as a single in a Standard that did have the toilet, but the bed folded down on top of it, so you'd better not need to go in the middle of the night!

Hopefully the double is not arranged like that. But if you actually live in Seattle perhaps you could talk to someone in the Seattle station who could be specific about the arrangements. It may make a big difference to your mother whether she has to cope with wandering down the hall to use the facilities (not to mention what can happen to the 'aesthetics' of a shared bathroom.

Cassandra

PS: I just remembered a "hint" someone told me, and the Amtrak website bears it out. They will withhold the "accessible" bedrooms up to 14 days before the trip to make sure people who really need them will get them. Those rooms are on a lower level, usually, so they don't have the same view, but they are quite spacious and have an adjoining accessible bathroom. If you call after that 14-day cut-off before the trip, perhaps you could request a change to one of those rooms - maybe on stand-by basis in case someone in a wheelchair books at the last minute. For that matter, depending on your mother's mobility, remember that on some trains the sleeping cars are two-level and involve dealing with some stairs. Again: worth a call either directly to Amtrak (I haven't had particularly reliable information from them about accommodations, however) or if you can dig up a number of someone to call at Seattle, try that. (I've been known to actually go to the station ahead of time to meet on of the trains and just ask the porters this sort of question. Works well.)

Enjoy the trip, though!

AAFrequentFlyer

Cassandra,
The deluxe/Family bedrooms DO HAVE private showers and bathrooms.

gocats2002

Totally agree on the rooms that are for disabled. They were quite spacious and it would be a coup to get one of them.

Cassandra

AAFF, read my post: I said it equivocated about the *Standard* bedroom (not the deluxe) -- if you click on the diagram of the Superliner standard, it shows no toilet but the text says: "There are restrooms and a shower close by, or you can have a sink, vanity, toilet and fully-enclosed shower right in your room." If you know for a fact that the Starlight train only uses "Viewliner" Standards (which all do have toilets in the room), or that the Starlight uses "Superliner" Standards that will ALWAYS have a toilet in them, then I stand corrected. But I said what I said based on what Amtrak said about Standard bedrooms.

Sabrina

Have taken several cross country trips on Amtrack. We have gotten the deluxe bedroom and it does contain a seperate bath and shower. On a trip across Canada with the Canadian Railroad, we booked what we thought was a deluxe room, but it did not have a shower. Had a toilet and wash basin in our room. However, at the end of each car, there was a dressing room and large shower for the use of those on that car. It was kept spotless and cleaned after each person took a shower. Have a wonderful trip. I think you might be happier with a deluxe room on Amtrack. We have also had the handicapped room on the lower level of the train. It is much larger, but you must climb stairs for the observation area of the train and the dining car, I believe.

Sabrina

Kostroma,
My husband said the reason he did not like the special needs rooms are that they are located on the lower level right over the wheels of the train, making for a bumpy ride.
Hope you enjoy your train trip.
We just booked deluxe rooms for our journey, as we will be on the train several nights.

Kostroma

Wow! Thanks for all the replies.

Climbing in the top bunk is definitely out of the question for my mother, but I could easily do it. They do provide a ladder, don't they?

Meanwhile, I just e-mailed Amtrak asking them if it's possible to tour a train. I'm not holding my breath, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I don't live in Seattle proper, but I will be there at the end of the week for my cousin's graduation at Seahawk Stadium. That's right next to King Street Station, and if they allowed us to see the rooms, that would be perfect.

The shared facilities thing doesn't squick me too much. In my office, we have one co-ed bathroom. Also, I've been cross country on Greyhound 3 times. Granted I was 9 years old at the time, but if I could survive that, I think I can survive one day and a half on Amtrak sharing a bathroom.

I'm taking everyone's advice into consideration. Amtrak is having a 25% off sale that ends on Sunday, so I only have a few more days to decide.

Cassandra

I hope Amtrak will try to be helpful, but there are now security measures in effect at all stations and I have some doubts about whether they'd actually let you board a train without a ticket. Recently took the Cascades train (what a spectacular ride) and had to pass through 2 check points before boarding. Although that was Vancouver, undoubtedly we went through all that as part of crossing into the US. It was "condition orange" at the time, but I'd be surprised if the Seattle station didn't have something similar.

If they will, great. Otherwise, perhaps you can ask to talk to someone very familiar with the particular facitilites on the Starlight -- conductor, porter, etc. if the window agent isn't.

Please check back either when you can get the information or after the trip -- at this point, pretty curious, esp. since I have the possibility of making the same trip next year.

Kostroma

Well, after much deliberation, we decided to go with the Standard. As we near the departure time, I'll check with Amtrak regarding upgrades. Sometimes, if a train doesn't sell out, they'll offer really good deals. If not, then que sera sera.

I got an e-mail from Amtrak saying that train tours are at the discretion of the station manager, but I was unable to get a hold of him.

Since the trip is only (scheduled) 36 hours and most of that time won't be spent in the room anyway, we decided that there are better things to spend $400 on.

Thanks to everyone for you input.