What Rooms To Avoid On Amtrak

I'm an older person and not real steady on my feet on a moving train, so I LOVE rooms 13 and 14. Much better than dealing with those tiny winding staircases whiile the train is moving.

I have traveled on the Coast Starlight, from Emeryville to Seattle, many times. A couple of years ago, I was assigned a roomette on the lower floor, for the first time. I found that I actually preferred it. I have requested it, ever since. On that first journey "below," I did have the room adjacent to the family room, and I don't recall it being terribly loud ... it was a family with 3 kids. I like the relative feeling of privacy on the lower floor, and there are 3 bathrooms. I don't think I've ever had to wait. I also like the "foyer," for stretching my legs, and for having access to the doors that provide scenes from both sides of the train. On my last trip, in July, I was talking with a gentleman in the room across the hall. He wasn't enthusiastic about being downstairs, and I told him that I prefer it. We had a good group of neighbors on that trip, and we visited the lounge together, and even coordinated dinner times to eat together (southbound). That gentleman was persuaded, and said he would request a lower room, in the future.

Can confirm about the roomettes near the family bedroom. I was in room 12 for a few hours with two kids in the family bedroom who bickered and whined in typical sibling fashion the whole time with a grandmother who had clearly given up on moderating them. I had my door closed but they might as well have been right outside my door. It was not the relaxing trip I was hoping for. On the flip side, I had room 19 on the Southwest Chief LA to Chicago and it was the quietest, most peaceful experience ever. It was my first long train ride and I've been trying to recapture that experience ever since, haha.

For me, a roomette is OK for one person and a one night trip. It is way too small for two people. I always go for the bedroom with shower and toilet combo. Even that is a bit small to move around in (the bathroom, that is) for a tall or large person. Also, noise isn't a problem for me - I just take out my hearing aides and voila!

I loved the family bedroom! I didn’t get the noise from neighbors like you did. And room 2 is also my favorite roomette. It’s also next to the coffee maker.

I was so surprised with this video. I was able to get the family bedroom when I solo traveled on the California Zephyr. And I absolutely loved it! When I travel on the Zephyr again I will definitely book the same room. I didn't notice any problem with noise or bumpiness. And I had a great time interacting with the people that were in the 2 roomettes in the same car. Because I'm short, I was able to sit at the window on the left side. Put my suitcase under my knees and put the blanket straight across. Put my feet up and stretch out sitting up watching out the window. Beautiful views from either side of the train, and I was able to share those views with the people in the roomettes. My only problem was the one outlet was up high and I didn't have an extension cord. But the wonderful car attendant did and loaned me her extension cord so I could use it throughout the ride.

I was actually in the family bedroom on the Capitol Limited once (because, as you note, it was quite a lot cheaper than the roomettes). I liked it, because it provided an incredible amount of space for one person. In the car I was assigned to, it was next to the shower and a toilet rather than next to roomettes (the handicapped room was near the roomettes). I think that made it quieter than what you describe, and it was also convenient to have the toilet right outside the door. You are right, though, that the windows are MUCH smaller than standard. The Capitol Limited mostly runs through darkness, so that really didn't make a lot of difference to me.

I had a kerfuffle a few years back... I had booked a roomette, round trip, on the Capitol Limited. On the way out (to Chicago), the crew failed to scan my ticket in...so, when I showed up for the return trip from Chicago, Amtrak had cancelled my reservation. The Conductor took me into the "Transition Car" (where his office was) and sorted the thing out and they placed me into the "Handicapped Accessible Family Bedroom" which was vacant. Had an ensuite toilette and shower, but was right over the rear wheel bogies. In the middle of the night, as we were cruising along at 80 mph, we hit a shopping cart that some kids had thrown onto the tracks, and it came to rest right below me. Terrifying. To be awakened by a crashing sound and then something being dragged just inches below you. And the crew didn't announce anything. So, when I looked out the window, all I could see were flashlight beams looking down right under my window. When I asked about it the next morning, the car attendant said, "Oh, you heard that?" YEAH, I HEARD THAT...

Pretty sure that I was in a Superliner I on the Southwest Chief. It was just me traveling (on a budget) so I got a roomette because that leg was 43hrs from Chicago to Los Angeles. My roomette was the very last room on the left (if you’re looking toward the back of the car) in the last car, upper deck. It was definitely a bit noisy / rocky but I still managed to sleep pretty well. I loved the overall experience. My stateroom attendant was also fantastic.

As someone who had ridden trains a lot in 78 years (and some 20,000 miles during two rail "marathons" recently) I generally agree with your evaluations. I did one stint in roomette #14 and then in the family bedroom and was not aware of the sound problems, but it was mostly the overnight leg when most everyone was asleep. I have ridden bedrooms and roomettes on both Viewliner and Superliner equipment. Had a roomette on a Viewliner II sleeper-baggage combo, a family bedroom on a Superliner and even the handicapped bedroom on a Viewliner (long story). I have also ridden a "cabin for two" on Via Rail's Renaissance equipment and also a roomette (aka "Cabin for one") on the Canadian. Never mind riding older equipment earlier in my like (like sections on old heavyweight Pullmans). My "bottom line" is no accommodation will be absolutely perfect but most of the Amtrak equipment is good travelling as long as you do your research and are prepared for the differences. You all do a good job of highlighting the differences -- which some will find a pro and others a con.

Same. We LOVE the family room. It’s not a bedroom with a toilet. It’s the BEST for us and a great value for a family of four.

I took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA last month as a solo traveler in a family bedroom and I can’t imagine going any other way. I loved being able to stretch out, having the closet (however small), and the solid door. I never heard my neighbors and had no noise from above. The bed was wider than a roomette’s and very comfortable. With windows on both sides, I never felt shorted on the views despite being on the lower level. If you’re traveling alone but want space at a relatively affordable price, the family bedroom is the way to go.

I was is a family bedroom once. I had blown out my knee and was going to be on two crutches. So my wife and I booked the family bedroom, figuring the window on each side was some compensation for me having no chance at getting to where we usually spent most of our time: the observation car. Didn't find either being over the wheels or the neighboring roomettes a problem. And our car attendant was pleased with the generous tip he got for delivering our lunches and dinners. (My wife went to breakfast on her own.)

Trains were our favorite mode of transportation while stationed in Germany, they went everywhere. Since then it has been my dream to go on a vacation via Amtrak, preferable thru Colorado towards San Francisco. Your videos have been a tremendous help in planning this trip. Can't wait for spring 2024!

This about Roomettes 9 & 10. Which I have had several times and the knowledge passed onto me by an excellent car attendant. When making up the bed, have your attendant position your head away from the end of the car. It makes a big difference in the noise you'll hear where the couplers banging and smashing together and the vestibule. Plus the door opening and closing.

I have preferred the downstairs roomettes in the past as the foot traffic was much less. Plus, the proximity of the bathrooms was appreciated.

Just booked my first trip in an Amtrak sleeper for the end of Feb! Thanks to you all I feel prepared and ready to go! Taking SWC from LA to CHI, staying one night (Pizza and a Hockey Game in Chicago) then taking TE all the way back to LA. You mentioned room 2...I got Room 2! On BOTH trains! Pretty excited about that now lol. Anyway, thanks for the content, keep up the amazing work!

I find the family bedroom to be the absolute best room simply because it has windows on both sides. You never have anyone walking in front of your room through the aisle.

Superliner Room A is the only one that doesn't have a sliding door between it and the next sleeper (which lets them convert to a suite), That door rattles unless wedged. More importantly, you share the air, so you can catch a cold, flu, or whatever other fun bug your neighbor's brought aboard. Last November, a couple coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper from LA to Chicago gave me covid for the first time. The covid itself was mild, but covid + rheumatoid arthritis can trigger weird health complications and teach you fun new vocabulary such as "uveitis" that you never wanted to learn or experience. It was months of scary and a lot of pain and several months of being blind, and I now have to take 2 expensive medications I didn't before, and I don't wanna go through that again.. But I don't wanna stay at home forever, either, so I've had to find ways to mitigate the risk. On two legs of my last 2 trps, someone was coughing and sneezing in the next sleeper. For protection, I wedged the sliding door hard against its frame with hand towels, used a small portable air purifier, and masked when not eating. I'm sure the attendant thought I was crazy. I didn't have to worry about all that with sleeper A. Same thing with the handicapped room at the end of the Viewliner I where I got put after the bathrooms on my Cardinal car broke down. No room is hermetically sealed, of course, but at least you're not breathing in what your neighbor's breathing out all night.

I really like the family room--being able to see out of both sides, and enough room to have your luggage in with you.