Recent content by rene50

I confess, I've been reading/posting for several weeks, and I just now understand what this kindergarten walk is that you speak of. :giggle: Even after doing it last week at Union Station in CHI, it didn't occur to me that it was the kindergarten walk. I finally got it after reading another...

My husband asked a frequent traveler in our sleeping car about the appropriate gratuity for an attendant who provided good service. He tipped $30 for two nights. We did have lunch in our room one day because the dining car was packed, and he brought us bevarages and ice a few times.

We just did it last week, and yes, the Metropolitan Lounge was crowded, but there was plenty of available sitting. I was not impressed. Then, I walked around and looked in the coach waiting areas, and realized the Metropolitan Lounge wasn't that bad. :giggle: They call passengers by train and...

Good point. For me, I think the roomette was about $420, vs. $1200, and since it was a special birthday trip, I should have spent the extra money.

We’ve been back for about a week from our trip on the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco). Thank you all for the tips and advice; they were very helpful. As requested, here’s my follow-up on the trip: We had no problems at all taking the train from MDW to Union Station...

I've heard the same type of stories, but my family traveled to Memphis by train to go to Goldsmith's Department Store, and to Little Rock to shop at Pfiefer-Blass (now Dillards's). Don't ask me, but my mother preferred a certain brand of sheets that she could only get at Goldsmith's. They are...

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I've heard many times "I measured it." Yep, and sometimes they measure incorrectly, and often the empty bag is certainly within the limits, but once it is stuffed full of "stuff," it is way oversized. That dang pocket on the outside, stuffed full, makes it too...

Joanie, you Rock in my book! :) I should probably bow out of this discussion, but I'm going to continue to stick up for my cohorts in the travel industry. Trust me, employees are not in cahoots. They don't care how big of a bag you are attempting to carry on . They do care, however, about...

Is the Amtrak Standards Manual the operating manual for employees?

That makes sense.

If the trains are already equipped with WiFi, is there a reason why Amtrak doesn't charge passengers for WiFi access as a way to generate more revenue?

I'm not sure. After making the origninal reservation online, I called to have our rommette changed to the upper level because that's what my husband preferrd, and there was no problem.Then, after noticing a lower fare online, I called back again and was told that the difference in fare would be...

Some great ideas here! I love the idea of wearing undergarments that need to be tossed! :) I have a friend who does that. I can pack for 10 days in a standard 21x14x9 roller bag, along with a large purse, or tote that I put over the handle of the roller bag. It might bother some, but I don't...

No, I would not expect a passenger to know the inner workings of Amtrak. However, without knowing the inner workings of Amtrak, two employees in cahoots about one carryon bag seems a bit far-fetched. I would not expect an employee to whip out a tape measure. She had already been told by one...

:giggle: At least you tried the wall climbing! The thought crossed my mind, but that was as far as I got.