California Zephyr With 2 Kids - Family Bedroom vs 2 Roomettes

Cal said:

Aren't there three?

Click to expand...

I've no idea how many there are on any specific train other than each car only has one. My ". . .six. . ." referred to the number of travel dates that at least one Family Bedroom was shown as available for booking out of the fifteen travel dates in that period.

niemi24s said:

I've no idea how many there are on any specific train other than each car only has one. My ". . .six. . ." referred to the number of travel dates that a Family Bedroom was available out of the fifteen travel dates in that period.

Click to expand...

[/QUOTE]
Got it.

And it was only available on six out of the fifteen? Meaning 9 trains had all two-four of them booked already? That is very surprising..

I don't find it the least bit surprising. Family Bedrooms (the scarcest sleeper) on one of the more scenic Amtrak routes and during (I think) the first month of Summer vacation for many secondary schools.

gtalum said:

Thanks everyone for your input! I think we're going to do the two roomettes. I will be sure to call to reserve them, so that we get assigned roomettes across the hall.

I may wait a few weeks to see what happens with the daily service requirement in the new covid bill. Perhaps fares will drop if they release a bunch of capacity...

Click to expand...

I think two roomettes is a good choice We did 2 roomettes in Sep 2020 on the EB to Glacier. It was BOGO at the time and the kids were in one room across from us. But I would definitely confirm that they are across from each other. On our initial reservation, the put us kitty korner and because I was not aware of the room number layouts, I did not determine the problem until much later. Fortunately, headquarters was able to correct the problem and still retain the pricing.

My kids are usually glued to the phone but everyone was usually glued to the windows and my son, his Kindle. Once we found our train legs, we spent alot of time in the observation car. Tip: some of the observation car chairs swivel...so there is never a bad side.

And regarding the restroom, I thought it was just like anything you'd find on a plane or other public conveyance. Just brace yourself, know where the toilet paper is, and wear footwear.

Have fun!

Here's another thing to consider, depending on how tight your schedule is once you depart CHI and what you plan to do once getting off the train in EMY.

About two hours and eighty some miles before EMY lies Sacramento with a quite nice railroad museum, which I'm sure would be big hit with at least one of your children. While it's closed now due to Covid, it may be open for your trip. My suggestion would be (if it's open) to get off the train in Sacramento (SAC) take in the museum spend the night in SAC (or the reverse of that) and then take one of the eight Capitol Corridor trains on to EMY the next day: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...es/Capitol-Corridor-Schedule-CCJPA-082420.pdf If Covid restrictions get lifted, the museum opens and the Capitol Corridor schedule gets back to normal there would be fifteen trains to pick from during the week that go from SAC to EMY.

Here's a map showing the locations of the train station, museum and hotel the Wife & stayed at a few years ago:

Each of those walks is about 230 yards. And you can actually touch the big stuff in that museum:

Here's a link to what can be seen there: California State Railroad Museum (Sacramento) - 2021 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

If I were you I'd do the Family Bedroom, but that's just my opinion of course. I once did a trip from Chicago - LA in Roomette 14 on the lower level and never felt that I had a lesser view being on the 1st floor. In reality, it was nice and quiet as there is no traffic going up and down the hall except for those in the rooms in lower level. Being close to the bathrooms and shower is a definite plus.

Family bedroom if the kids are little. If the kids are teenagers, then two roomettes.

I’d vote for the family bedroom - you have way more space and having the windows on both side of the train is a big plus. I’d rather have a large private room than 2 small rooms with a public hallway in between.

bms said:

Family bedroom if the kids are little. If the kids are teenagers, then two roomettes.

Click to expand...

The correct answer. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

niemi24s said:

If you refer to the fare charts here... Long Distance Train Coach & Sleeper Fares (Buckets) ...you'll notice that it's possible two Roomettes could be cheaper than one Family Bedroom for the three of you provided you have some flexibility in your travel date.

In addition, consider that the Family Bedroom windows are only half the width of those in other sleeper rooms:
View attachment 20829
And if this is a one-time occasion, uh, what's money got to do with it anyway?

I'd go for two Roomettes across from each other and to get them you'd need to make the reservation with an agent - can't get that arrangement by booking online. If you try booking two Roomettes online you might even get Roomettes in two different cars!

Click to expand...

I agree. I know from experience that you cant assume a family will be properly distributed across 2 roomettes unless you discuss that detail

At one time Amtrak used to proved Route Guides tailored for each route in each sleeper room, but quit doing so (I think) a few years ago. Fortunately, some kind soul has archived them for us and here's a link to the one for the California Zephyr: http://testsite.itworksdc.com/amtra...-California-Zephyr-Train-Route-Guide-2014.pdf While it mentions a few of the high points along the way, there are many, many more. F'rinstance, between the Grand Junction CO and Green River UT stations. . .

• 2 items are shown in the Amtrak Route Guide,
• 7 items are shown on Google Maps and
• 20 items are shown on the topographical map available here: MyTopo Search

Those items on topo maps include such things as tunnels, bridges, railroad sidings with names, settlements and anything else that might be of interest or help identify where you might possibly be by sound alone (tunnels, bridges, sidings or crossings). During daytime tunnels can be sensed by eye and ear and there are tunnels galore West of Denver.

Perhaps your kids might like the challenge of using the link provided to see how many tunnels they can find.

So I'm resurrecting my own old thread. Due to some major health problems on my part, we didn't do our trip this summer.

I'm planning to try again for after Christmas. To get two roomettes directly across from one another, do I need to book with a telephone agent, or can I book online and then have an agent reassign the roomettes? Hold times are apparently very long.

I recommend a telephone agent. Reserving across from each other initially is easier than booking on line and then calling back and trying to change. Hold times are long, but you can opt for a call back. As with most everything else these days, patience is important.

gtalum said:

Since it's just me and the kids, she could take the bigger upper bunk. This is the way I'm leaning. I'm mainly concerned because I've read that the windows are smaller. But the fact that there are windows on both sides is a positive.

Click to expand...

And you can go to the SSL for better views anyway.

I booked two roomettes 7 and 8 in car 0531. I did the callback thing. It was about an hour. The agent tried to convince me roomettes 2 and 7 were across from one another, and I had to convince her otherwise.