Individual Guidelines for Booking a sleeper?

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dlagrua

dlagrua

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AU Supporting Member
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Nov 24, 2009
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Hillsborough, NJ
I am curious about regular train travelers decisions to book a sleeper or ride in coach. There are obviously a few factors to consider. On all the LD routes coach travelers always far outnumber those in sleepers and some travelers feel very comfortable riding in coach while others always avoid it.

On trips of up to 6 hours on the LD trains , and on the NEC routes (where there is no sleeper) we ride in coach. Most of our shorter trips we are on the Acela. If the trip extends to 7-8 hours or more we will always book a bedroom. This can more than double the cost of the trip but we are just not good sleepers on train in a coach seat and the cost of dinner must factor in.

So what is the opinion on making a decison for buying a coach or sleeper ticket? Is it cost, comfort, time/distance, privacy, all?
 
I am coach all the way, no matter how long I am on the train. I love being able to see out both sides of the train without having to worry about the roomette across the hall having their curtains closed. Plus I have no problem sleeping in coach, I put on my eye mask, grab my pillow and blanket and with the help of the train I go to sleep. I do not think that the cost of means meals is enough in my eyes to have to pay so much more for the sleeper. I also tend to try and get a lower level seat because of my mobility issues, but have done upstairs and of course on the single story trains enjoy being in coach.

I think alot of the people either can sleep sitting up or not and some like the people and others want the private area, I do not like the small quarters that the roomettes provide. I figure I cannot eat enough or take enough showers to feel good about spending so much for the sleeper. But that is me.
 
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For me, coach is doable, but the sleeper is nice too, having your own private space, meals included and such.

Coach isnt the root of all evil that some people like to claim. Yes, coach can get bad at times, but Coach on Amtrak beats being on a bus any day of week.

As far as for factors involved, availability of the sleeper, distance/time, and price are all factors in the decision.
 
Overnight? Sleeper.

There aren't really any day trips of significant length from DC where sleepers are available, but if they were, I'd make use of them.

I did plenty of trips in coach, and would do it again if I had to (I'm flying IAD-HNL this Christmas in the cheap seats, but that's because upgrades make Amtrak bedrooms look like a bargain), but if there's an upgrade available I'm taking it.
 
If traveling solo for trips on Amtrak that can last all day, I am fine with taking coach. Of course, this is the only option on many of the routes here in California where everything is one class (Capitol Corridor; San Joaquin; thruway routes; other carriers like ACE, CalTrain, etc.) But if my wife is traveling and we're taking a train trip longer than about 5 to 6 hours, we will upgrade. If it is overnight, it will be sleeper every single time without deviation. And if sleeper is not available or is oppressively expensive, we take other modes of transportation.
 
If it is overnight and sleepers are available, I go roomette if I am alone, if my wife is with me, bedroom.

I have taken coach on overnight trip if a sleeper is not available and found it acceptable, but I prefer

a sleeper (and shower).
 
The difference between coach and roomette is not that much for a couple. If I am traveling alone I will tend to go coach even overnight. I've never done a trip that requires two nights in the chair, though... that would be torture.
 
For me, if a sleeper is available, I will go sleeper (unless it is a short points run on the Silvers such as ORL to KIS, then I will go coach)
 
June the Coach Rider said:
I am coach all the way, no matter how long I am on the train. I love being able to see out both sides of the train without having to worry about the roomette across the hall having their curtains closed. Plus I have no problem sleeping in coach, I put on my eye mask, grab my pillow and blanket and with the help of the train I go to sleep. I do not think that the cost of means meals is enough in my eyes to have to pay so much more for the sleeper. I also tend to try and get a lower level seat because of my mobility issues, but have done upstairs and of course on the single story trains enjoy being in coach.
I think alot of the people either can sleep sitting up or not and some like the people and others want the private area, I do not like the small quarters that the roomettes provide. I figure I cannot eat enough or take enough showers to feel good about spending so much for the sleeper. But that is me.
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I guess that your screen name says it all and it offers an interesting perspective. I notice that you have traveled to the West Coast and back in Coach so that level of service seems perfect for your demeanor and comfort level. On the other hand my wife and myself are primarily sleeper travelers. We like coach for day trips, the seats are plenty big and comfortable, but on LD trips,we find it hard for to sleep on a train and the sleepers make it easier. If your travel is exclusively by coach, (and can get a nights sleep) you are capable of doing something that few rail passengers can do and are saving quite a bit of money in the process.
 
I'm in Penny's camp here: I've run into too much trouble with getting into the diner in coach, I like the privacy, and honestly RVR-north the sleeper is usually comparable to last-minute coach.
 
Between my wife's claustrophobia, our preference to be able to see out both sides of the train, and us being on a budget (not sure if we're poor or cheap), we have always travelled coach on our trips, which have been 2-night trips to the west coast. Sleeping in coach isn't simple, but sitting on a blanket for extra cushion and listening to music through the night helps. And we tend to bring our own snacks or eat from the snack car rather than eat in the diner (I would prefer to eat in the diner more, but my wife doesn't even like restaurants much).
 
dlagrua said:
June the Coach Rider said:
I am coach all the way, no matter how long I am on the train. I love being able to see out both sides of the train without having to worry about the roomette across the hall having their curtains closed. Plus I have no problem sleeping in coach, I put on my eye mask, grab my pillow and blanket and with the help of the train I go to sleep. I do not think that the cost of means meals is enough in my eyes to have to pay so much more for the sleeper. I also tend to try and get a lower level seat because of my mobility issues, but have done upstairs and of course on the single story trains enjoy being in coach.
I think alot of the people either can sleep sitting up or not and some like the people and others want the private area, I do not like the small quarters that the roomettes provide. I figure I cannot eat enough or take enough showers to feel good about spending so much for the sleeper. But that is me.
Click to expand...
I guess that your screen name says it all and it offers an interesting perspective. I notice that you have traveled to the West Coast and back in Coach so that level of service seems perfect for your demeanor and comfort level. On the other hand my wife and myself are primarily sleeper travelers. We like coach for day trips, the seats are plenty big and comfortable, but on LD trips,we find it hard for to sleep on a train and the sleepers make it easier. If your travel is exclusively by coach, (and can get a nights sleep) you are capable of doing something that few rail passengers can do and are saving quite a bit of money in the process.
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I try and bring my own food, but do eat one meal a day either from the diner or the cafe car. I may be a rare traveler, but I don't find it hard to sleep in coach at all, I fall asleep in my recliner a lot at home. I prefer to use the extra money that would be spent on a sleeper for fun when I get where I am going and usually try to fit in at least one night of hotel into my cross country trip after two nights on a train to get a good bath. Because of my disability, I am a sponge bath or regular bath person, cannot get medical devise wet, so no showers for me, so coach is fine with me.
 
tubaia said:
Between my wife's claustrophobia, our preference to be able to see out both sides of the train, and us being on a budget (not sure if we're poor or cheap), we have always travelled coach on our trips, which have been 2-night trips to the west coast. Sleeping in coach isn't simple, but sitting on a blanket for extra cushion and listening to music through the night helps. And we tend to bring our own snacks or eat from the snack car rather than eat in the diner (I would prefer to eat in the diner more, but my wife doesn't even like restaurants much).
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I also try and bring benidryl if I find I am having trouble falling asleep, but it gets quiet after 10 and I am able to sleep. I tried ear plugs or music, but both of them kept me awake, I find the click clack of the train and starring out the window puts me to sleep. Plus I don't want to miss the view from both sides of the train and do not like the noise of the observation car.
 
It depends on cost, my financial situation at the time, and what I have going on when I get to my destination. I don't mind one night in coach, or a full day (like my trip on the Vermonter last year), but sometimes I've splurged for a sleeper TRE-ALX if the price is right (which it occasionally is).

Over the years I've taken 66 lots of times south from New York and last time, I decided I probably won't do it again if I can help it. I don't sleep well enough to have a productive day when I arrive... but if I don't have to be anywhere, it's not as big of a deal. Same goes for flying: I'll do a red-eye in coach, but not if I have to work that day.

Last summer I took 67 north from ALX all the way to Boston, then got on the Downeaster, rented a car from Portland, and drove another three hours. I was in business class and had a lot of coffee (and was traveling with a friend), and it was fine. Don't know if I'd do it again if it were all in coach.
 
Hubby and I will usually do coach if there is not an overnight involved. We like the companionship of talking across the aisle (if our fellow travelers are so inclined). We like to eat our own food (veggies, fruits and nuts, and cheese/crackers). We like to see out both sides (like June), and will often spend some time in the SSL car. But for overnights, we prefer to lie flat, so we'll get a roomette. We aren't bedroom people (seems a lot of money to pay for the extra space), but would take advantage of it if the proice was close to comparable like some of the deals I've seen commented on. On rare occasions, we'll upgrade to business class even on a day-trip.
 
I've never taken a sleeper and, honestly, I might do it once or twice ever specifically as a vacation on its own (one trip to Essex MT and another grand tour of the US).

Realistically, for me, any trip that's long enough to require me to sleep on the train...I'm taking a different sort of metal tube to get where I'm going.
 
If the trip involves overnight travel, whether traveling alone or with my wife,its always sleeper. If its on the NEC, its Acela First or Business on Regional, If Business class is offered on a train, we always do it. When I was younger in HS, College, military, etc, I traveled overnight by coach sometimes....in the days of private railroads, sometimes only coach was offered. The private railroads usually has enough extra coaches on a train that as a single person you could have a seat to yourself. I do remember a few overnight trips in peak periods having to sit next to someone. If Parlor Cars seats or seats in section sleepers were available, I usually did them as the cost was not that much more than coach and it was an opportunity to travel in a unique car.
 
Alexandria Nick said:
Realistically, for me, any trip that's long enough to require me to sleep on the train...
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Ha. ha, for us the train trip is one of the most enjoyable parts of the vacation! Yes, we like to see the country as we pass through it, not just look down upon the land as if it were a map, while we're flying over it. Train time is relaxation time, not just a way to get from point "A" to point "B."
 
I am in June's camp on this one. You can call me Tom the coach rider. My first train trip was on a North America Rail Pass starting in Washington DC at 3AM in October 2001. I had bought the Pass before 9/11 happened.

I've been riding in coach probably more than 60 nights in the past 11 years.

Last year I spent most of 3 consecutive nights sleeping on trains between SPK and CLE.

On the way back we slept in the CLE station overnight since the LSL was late enough that it was dawn when we got on. I do remember sleeping on the floor of the Winnipeg station waiting for the 16 hour late Canadian. I much prefer to sleep on the train than in a station.

My one meal per day in the dining car is breakfast.

One guy I met in the dining car told me that he owned a yacht. He can afford to ride in sleepers but I can't.
 
I book a roomette for the sake of the people in coach. Even with the throat operation I use a CPAP machine on a setting of 19. If I were to fall asleep in coach, someone would most likely kill me in my sleep with the approval of everyone else in coach.

Besides, I need a place to get away from the AU foamers so I can enjoy some peace and quiet. :)

I've done short trips of 12 hours or less in coach with no problem other than the bar being closed due to it being Sunday and passing through dry counties ( that sucked.....CL NOL to ATL....oh the bar will be open at 10.....10am oh the bar will be open in Birmingham.....Birmingham oh we are in dry counties, bar will open in Atlanta ) Dang, forgot, on that trip i spent my time fliiping the "DINER THIS WAY" cards over to "DINER OTHER WAY" then rolled the numbers on most cars ( he he he he )

The one 16 hour trip in coach back in early 90's made me swear never to ride coach again. If I can't afford a room, I don't need the trip.

People like me need to be in a room. Usually a padded one
 
On shorter trips, I ride coach, even from Spokane, with its gawdawful departure times. My trips from Spokane have always been to either Portland, Seattle, or Glacier Park, 8 hours or so. For me, I don't see any reason to spend so much more on a room for that length of time, even when I board in the wee hours of the morning. For longer trips, I need a room. I don't sleep well sitting up, and claustrophobia is no problem for me. All of my long-distance trips I've taken have been with my uncle and if either of us get to the point we can't stand each other ;) we just head to the SSL. The availability of the shower and meals being included in the price of a sleeper make it that much better. The one time we were forced to ride coach long-distance, on the SWC from Chicago to Los Angeles, we survived, but I would never do that again if I don't have to. It might have been more tolerable if it weren't for the guy next to me who, in addition to reeking of stale cigarette smoke and B.O., blabbed on his fricking cell phone all day and all night. :angry: :angry: :angry: That and the fact the dining car staff made it abundantly clear they'd rather have jumped naked into a pit of rattlesnakes, with lit bamboo slivers shoved under their fingernails, than serve coach passengers, turned me off to traveling in coach for an overnight (or longer) trip. In fact, other than on the EB, where the dining car staff has always been excellent in my experience, whether traveling by coach or by sleeper, I've found most dining car staffs indifferent at best toward coach passengers.
 
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I live in California so short local trips are in coach. My long distance trips are usually from Chicago to LA and I get a roomette because of being quiet as well as preferring privacy overall. I've never ridden overnight in coach and in fact have never really considered doing that. I do check the prices and don't go on a day that seems too high to me.
 
I'm a Roomette Traveler all the way. I love eating in the dining car, I take advantage of the free coffee and bottled water (which adds up if you're a coffee drinker like me!) and I like being able to close my door and have a fully private room. For scenic trips like the Zephyr, I'm going to be in the lounge car.

Being able to close and lock a door, lie down with bedding and go to sleep is worth the $$$ in my book any day!

If the train is not an overnight journey for me, I won't pay for a Roomette, and I have never paid for business class. I'm fine in coach as long as there is no sleeping involved.
 
Sleeper for actual overnight trips where I have to sleep. When I tried anything else, the damn people who yak on their cellphones....

If I'm taking a route where I don't actually have to sleep, I price it out, but thinking about it, I have often gotten a roomette anyway. Which is funny considering that I actually like coach for shorter trips.

Once it was partly due to the sheer length of the trip (Coast Starlight from Sacramento to Los Angeles) -- after the first nine hours, it's nice to be able to get away from, well, all those people yakking on cellphones -- and partly due to Pacific Parlour Car access (which didn't happen because they substituted a SSL, but at least it was an empty SSL -- the regular SSL was jam-packed).

The other time was Chicago to Minneapolis and was probably unnecessary, but it was my first time in a Superliner roomette. I don't remember why I chose to do that.
 
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