5 in a Roomette

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andhemakesthree

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Before you jump ALL OVER this topic, let me add that 3 are small children. We really want the room just to contain a toddler. The last flight we took (to Hawaii) the kids actually preferred to sleep on the floor! of the airplane in front of their seats b/c it was more comfortable than trying to sleep sitting up. Since we've booked coach, we would be sleeping in much more cramped accommodations (a seat) than could be imagined in a semi-private room right?

Of course, we couldn't book the reservation this way b/c a roomette is for 2 but they did tell us that we could try for an upgrade while on board.

OTHER THAN how small the rooms are, is there any reason that this would not work for a 'family room' are and possibly a place for some to sleep?

I've ridden the train many many many times but never got a sleeper before. I just can't imagine trying to change a diaper in those little coach bathrooms or worse, in the seat. <_<

And before it's mentioned, no we do not have the money for two rooms even if we upgraded after we had made a few stops. (Williams, AZ to Ft. Madison, IA - SW Chief)
 
You mentioned changing diapers in "those little coach bathrooms", isn't there always a giant handicapped bathroom? Find that one, those are huge.
 
A roomette only had 2 seats during the day, and after the beds are set up for the night, those 2 seats become the bottom berth. The upper berth is lowered from the ceiling, but there is no additional floor space.

As LTR mentioned, this could only be done in a Family Bedroom. You will have a long couch PLUS 2 more seats during the day, and 2 berths ~6 feet long PLUS 2 more ~4 feet long at night!
 
There ARE no family rooms available, that's part of the trouble. The other part being we couldn't afford it. With all that stuff, the airline (with our discount credits b/c they ruined our luggage) would be a lot cheaper and we really wanted to share the 'rail experience' with the kids.

As I said before, comfort is NOT the goal. Obviously, if you've ever slept in coach (and I'm sure most of us have) it is anything but comfortable, especially if you are accustomed to lying down. ;)

Seating isn't the issue b/c as I said, we would want to use it as a family room and for some to sleep. We could sit in the observation car, the cafe, etc etc. Not to mention that we would have purchased coach seats, so I don't see how sitting is going to be the coup de grace.

I know it wouldn't be comfy like a hotel - I'm just curious about your opinions as to why it wouldn't work.
 
An Amtrak Bedroom is about twice the size of the Roomette and it will fit two adults and one child. A roomette can only fit two adults and maybe if the children are small enough one adult and two children under 33" IF they sleep toe to toe and iF Amtrak would even allow such a thing. Quite frankly you need either a family bedroom or a bedroom suite . Amtrak rules would not allow for a family of 5 in a roomette nor would the fit even be close. Visualize a closet with an upper and lower bunk and a door that you would need to open to get ou tof bed-thats a roomette.
 
andhemakesthree said:
The last flight we took (to Hawaii) the kids actually preferred to sleep on the floor!
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I just got to mention, there is really no floor. So, forget that. ;)

However....

I only travel with my one kid, and yea, we get a roomette for overnight and LD train travel.

Let me say that you could lower the top buck, and put all three kids up there. Yea, it is a bit smaller than a twin size bed, but only you could judge if your three kids would sit for hours confined to such a space. In the two chairs under the top bunk, you and your wife could sit. At least for me, there is more than enough head room even with the top bunk down, to sit in those chairs. However, if you are a professional basketball player, you might find differently.

Now, I doubt Amtrak would allow a family of 5 to be packed in there, officially, but IMHO, you might be able to pull it off.
 
Tony said:
andhemakesthree said:
The last flight we took (to Hawaii) the kids actually preferred to sleep on the floor!
Click to expand...
I just got to mention, there is really no floor. So, forget that. ;)

However....

I only travel with my one kid, and yea, we get a roomette for overnight and LD train travel.

Let me say that you could lower the top buck, and put all three kids up there. Yea, it is a bit smaller than a twin size bed, but only you could judge if your three kids would sit for hours confined to such a space. In the two chairs under the top bunk, you and your wife could sit. At least for me, there is more than enough head room even with the top bunk down, to sit in those chairs. However, if you are a professional basketball player, you might find differently.

Now, I doubt Amtrak would allow a family of 5 to be packed in there, officially, but IMHO, you might be able to pull it off.
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That is EXACTLY what I wondering - thank you so much!!! My girls have always slept together in a single bed at home (b/c neither wants to sleep in the top bunk) :huh: so they are quite used to this arrangement. Our toddler sleeps wherever he wants ;)

I'm sure Amtrak wouldn't recommend this arrangement but I doubt there would be many times that we'd all be in there together anyway.

Thanks for the replies!
 
If possible, check the availability of the family bedroom the day before or after. If your plans are a little flexible, the family room is your best bet. If not, ask to be put on a waiting list for the family room. Don't forget to offset the price of the family bedroom with the included meals - for everyone. That may make the cost a little easier to swallow.

If coach is where you do end up, when you board, ask for seats at the very front of the car. Much more leg room (or sleeping space for the kids).
 
BeckysBarn said:
If possible, check the availability of the family bedroom the day before or after. If your plans are a little flexible, the family room is your best bet. If not, ask to be put on a waiting list for the family room. Don't forget to offset the price of the family bedroom with the included meals - for everyone. That may make the cost a little easier to swallow.
If coach is where you do end up, when you board, ask for seats at the very front of the car. Much more leg room (or sleeping space for the kids).
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This is an excellent suggestion - thanks for the tips!
 
This would be comparable to the phone booth stuffing of the '60's and '70's fraternities. I wouldn't recommend this to Superman and four of his closest buddies. I guess the question I would have is "What happens when the kids get fussy?" There's no where to put them! We had eight people in an accessible room on a Viewliner and it was well cramped with everyone standing and this is the biggest room in the Viewliners. My answer;Forget about it and try for the family room~ both you and the kids will get off the train with your sanity intact!!! :)
 
andhemakesthree said:
Seating isn't the issue b/c as I said, we would want to use it as a family room and for some to sleep. We could sit in the observation car, the cafe, etc etc. Not to mention that we would have purchased coach seats, so I don't see how sitting is going to be the coup de grace.
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I'm confused! :huh:

Are you wanting to get coach seats for everyone, sleeper for everyone or a sleeper AND coach seats? :huh:

  • If just coach seats, you don't get a sleeper
  • If just a sleeper, you dont also get coach seats
  • If both, the Diner is between coach and the sleeeper, and those not reserved in the sleeper can not go past the Diner
 
Long Train Runnin said:
When you upgrade on board the conductor who process is it is going to tell you that it can't be done with the 5 of you plain and simple.
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Long train;

I got away with this more than once but each time I was firmly told that only the allotted number of meals that was designated for the room size was all that would be allowed in the diner. He even brought me to the diner and told the LSA of the situation. I have even bought 4 tickets for the H room before boarding; the manual calls for three pax and meals.
 
I fully understand your desire for some privacy and comfort at a reasonable cost for your family. With that in mind please complete the following exercise (I'm totally serious) and you will get an idea of why the roomette is not appropriate for more than two people. I'm not trying to be snarky, just trying to show why this wouldn't work out so well even if Amtrak would let you do it. (They won't)

1. The Amtrak website states that a roomette is 3 feet 6 inches wide by 6 feet 6 inches long.

2. Use masking tape to mark out this distance on your living room floor.

3. Get all five of your family members inside the masking tape and stay for one hour.

4. See how that goes and then imagine being in there for however long your trip is.
 
As an alternate excercise, try this:

Before my first sleeper trip (CS, San Jose-Portland) I checked those dimensions, and then measured my desk at work.

A Superliner roomette's footprint was only ever-so-slightly larger than my desk. Um. Yes, cozy for two, squashed for more-than-two!
 
the_traveler said:
andhemakesthree said:
Seating isn't the issue b/c as I said, we would want to use it as a family room and for some to sleep. We could sit in the observation car, the cafe, etc etc. Not to mention that we would have purchased coach seats, so I don't see how sitting is going to be the coup de grace.
Click to expand...
I'm confused! :huh:

Are you wanting to get coach seats for everyone, sleeper for everyone or a sleeper AND coach seats? :huh:

  • If just coach seats, you don't get a sleeper
  • If just a sleeper, you dont also get coach seats
  • If both, the Diner is between coach and the sleeeper, and those not reserved in the sleeper can not go past the Diner
Click to expand...
We would only be able to "upgrade" 2 to the sleeper so 3 would still have coach seats, kwim?

Also, I was under the impression that you can have whomever you want in your room so I don't think they'd body block my kids or spouse from being there at any time.
 
coachseats said:
I fully understand your desire for some privacy and comfort at a reasonable cost for your family. With that in mind please complete the following exercise (I'm totally serious) and you will get an idea of why the roomette is not appropriate for more than two people. I'm not trying to be snarky, just trying to show why this wouldn't work out so well even if Amtrak would let you do it. (They won't)
1. The Amtrak website states that a roomette is 3 feet 6 inches wide by 6 feet 6 inches long.

2. Use masking tape to mark out this distance on your living room floor.

3. Get all five of your family members inside the masking tape and stay for one hour.

4. See how that goes and then imagine being in there for however long your trip is.
Click to expand...
As I said, we are not planning to ride the entire way in the roomette at the same time. I've said it several times. Not to be snarky.
 
coachseats said:
I fully understand your desire for some privacy and comfort at a reasonable cost for your family. With that in mind please complete the following exercise (I'm totally serious) and you will get an idea of why the roomette is not appropriate for more than two people. I'm not trying to be snarky, just trying to show why this wouldn't work out so well even if Amtrak would let you do it. (They won't)
1. The Amtrak website states that a roomette is 3 feet 6 inches wide by 6 feet 6 inches long.

2. Use masking tape to mark out this distance on your living room floor.

3. Get all five of your family members inside the masking tape and stay for one hour.

4. See how that goes and then imagine being in there for however long your trip is.
Click to expand...
That's a bit bigger than a bunk bed.

It has been a few years (decades?), but I remember having 4 friends come over, and the 5 of us could sit comfortably on a bunk bed and BS for hours.

It is bigger than a phone booth (but I guess there aren't many of us who still remember those).

Come to think of it, how big is a VW Bug inside? I think we had 5 in there, for a trip once.
 
andhemakesthree said:
I was under the impression that you can have whomever you want in your room so I don't think they'd body block my kids or spouse from being there at any time.
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No, they may not body block you, but the dining car staff may question who is entering the sleeper - especially someone who enters from coach. (That is one reason they put the Diner between coach and the sleepers.)
 
the_traveler said:
andhemakesthree said:
I was under the impression that you can have whomever you want in your room so I don't think they'd body block my kids or spouse from being there at any time.
Click to expand...
No, they may not body block you, but the dining car staff may question who is entering the sleeper - especially someone who enters from coach. (That is one reason they put the Diner between coach and the sleepers.)
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Yeah, I think that is right - I intended to talk to them about it just so they wouldn't think we were trying to pull something over on them. Like a PP said, just to make sure they know who is gonna be where and when.
 
I noted this earlier in the "three to a room" question earlier today, once I booked my wife, her sister, and three kids in a family bedroom, and I still hear about it. Were I to have done this with an economy sleeper, I'd have been neutered. I think you might be able to pull it off with two economy sleepers making two kids share one bunk, but five in the room would be like ten pounds of an organic byproduct in a five pound bag...
 
MikeM said:
I noted this earlier in the "three to a room" question earlier today, once I booked my wife, her sister, and three kids in a family bedroom, and I still hear about it. Were I to have done this with an economy sleeper, I'd have been neutered. I think you might be able to pull it off with two economy sleepers making two kids share one bunk, but five in the room would be like ten pounds of an organic byproduct in a five pound bag...
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LOL - I read your story in that thread :lol: We aren't looking for comfort and since in this scenario, I'm the wife, it would fly with me! I know it won't be great for me and as a parent, I'm used to that. I was just concerned in making a decision based on something I hadn't experienced firsthand. Thanks for all your help! ;)
 
A roomette is approximately the size to two standard telephone booths. I'm not talking about comfort here. I'm talking about room to breathe. You won't have it. My girlfriend (who is tiny) and I (admittedly large) fit in a Roomette, but we usually feel a tad cramped. Which is fine- we don't use it during the day.

I'd recommend two roomettes for that. I think Amtrak might be willing to allow that. But five people? Ever seen the crowding scene in "A Night At The Opera"? Or what a VW Bug looks like when the college students are going broke for records? Because this is about what you are proposing.
 
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