One advantage of lower level rooms for a photographer is the ability to clean your window at stops with suitable platforms. For the CZ, this is especially important if your room is on the South side of the train.
Why must you drag your carryon up the stairs?I prefer lower level because I don't have to drag my carryon luggage up the stairs - but I'm a senior.
It's possible that the SCA was somewhat less accessible but I only had him turn down the bed, and he did that when I went to dinner. I didn't need to call him so I can't judge if he'd have been slower responded to a lower level room.
Not exactly and it has nothing to do with the scenery.One advantage of lower level rooms for a photographer is the ability to clean your window at stops with suitable platforms. For the CZ, this is especially important if your room is on the South side of the train.
Excuse the hijack.
So south side is the better side on the CZ? Should we seek out the sight seeing lounge, for sure, if not on the south?
I've posted pics on the "Cooler" thread of our pre-boarding picnics & happy hours. Never had a problem with the stairs. And, we take one large cooler of food, another with ice, champagne, sodas and mixers, a liquor tote bag (6-bottle), 2 gym bags with clothes, a bag with blanket and pillow, and two computers for RedBox movies. Maybe 3 trips up & down, but never a problem...never run across anyone. We plan to be the last to board and last to de-board (have to wait an hour for the car anyway!). On the AT 8-times-a-year...will post pics of next weeks trip later.Why must you drag your carryon up the stairs?I prefer lower level because I don't have to drag my carryon luggage up the stairs - but I'm a senior....
Actually, most people experience motion sickness much more when pitching forward and backward, so I would think that most people would prefer the orientation of the roomette beds. Either way, I would agree that the lower level provides a much better ride - smoother and less sway-y, which I think is worth taking into consideration.When I was doing Roomettes, much preferred the lowers. But...keep one thing in mind: In a Roomette you sleep parallel to the tracks so sway sideways. In the Bedrooms, I'm sleeping perpendicular to the track, hence sway head-to-toe.
When I was in the Family Bedroom, I didn’t notice any extra track or roadbed noise. While it may very well be there, I think it’s pretty insignificant compared to everything else.Agree that the rolling (side to side) is slightly less on the lower level. Also, since there are no lower level rooms located at the ends of the car, there is also slightly less pitch and yaw motion. OTOH, track and roadbed noise is slightly more noticeable...so you have to consider all that in addition to the other consideration's in choosing....
I think I preferred the upper level overall, mainly because I don't like to have to go up and down the stairs whenever I want to go to the dining car or SSL. And on a route with a lot of trees and objects along the scenic portions (like the CZ), the upper level can offer MUCH better views than the lower. I think it depends on the route and how you spend your day. If you're only really sleeping in your room, and spend most of the day in the SSL and diner, then the worse views and hassle of going up and down the stairs isn't as much of a big deal. And the convenience of being so close to the bathrooms, showers, and baggage area might be great. However, if you're spending most of your day in your room, and don't need easy access to the baggage area, having a quieter ride and not needing to use the stairs is also great. It really comes down to preference.Unpopular opinion here:
I actually don't like the lower level. If you want to see much of anything, you have to go up to the lounge. My view was consistently blocked by other railcars sitting on sidings, tall grass, fences, etc. Even when my view wasn't blocked, it still looked different. (I'd been on this train at least ten times.) I really missed being up high.
While it was nice to have the shower right there, it didn't make up for having to walk upstairs every time I wanted to go to the lounge, eat in the dining car, and go to the cafe. I don't pack much, so carrying my small bag up the stairs is no big deal, and I don't require access to the baggage storage area. I'd rather just head up and be done with it.
Additionally, every time people boarded during the night, they woke me up. They would (loudly) ask the car attendant questions and chat with each other, all while the car attendant tried to whisper and make it a point that other people were sleeping.
I didn't notice a huge difference in the jerking and swaying, to be honest. While sitting in the dining car, I could tell we were swaying a bit more, but it wasn't so much worse than the lower level that I would be convinced to purchase a lower level roomette again.
I'm glad I had the chance to compare upper vs. lower (this last trip was my first time in a lower level roomette), because now I know to switch to the upper level if at all possible.
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