- Joined
- Feb 2, 2017
- Messages
- 6
Hello everyone! Thank you for your sage advice in advance. I did a search of my topics over the forum and didn't find quite what I was looking for; but if any of these topics have already been discussed elsewhere please let me know so as to not be repetitive.
I'm a Florida resident but each May I travel to Cleveland, OH for work, and I always take a week or so of vacation afterwards and have a little rail adventure - two years ago, it was to Niagara Falls, ON, and last year it was to visit family in Chicago, IL. This year I'm hoping to make a true long distance trek and visit Seattle, WA and Portland, OR, for sightseeing and visiting a few friends out west - followed by flying back home. I'm also hoping to make a day stopover at Grand Forks, ND, to visit Northwest Angle, MN via rental car (northernmost point of the 48 states - little bucket list item). I'd then be hopping back on the train to complete the trip to the West Coast.
I am usually a very budget conscious person when I travel and so I'm planning on staying in a hotel in ND which should keep me rested enough to ride coach the remaining 36 hours to Seattle. (I'm in my 20s and work night shift often anyway.)
I know I'll be sorely tempted around the 14 hour mark though. I've looked at riding coach for the majority of the ride and only having a roommette ticket upgrade for a portion of 6-10 hours at some point - but it doesn't seem to be much of a discount compared to just having the roommette the whole trip. Does anyone have recommendations on trying to save and only having a roommette for a portion of the trip?
Second - and I know this may be taboo to mention, apologies if it is - I've heard a few tales that long distance coach veterans know that there are certain areas of the train which are technically "closed" at night that if you're a quiet guest, you can manage to sprawl for a few hours late at night (i.e. The Observation car). Is this wishful thinking or could I really snag a few hours of a nap at night there rather than my coach seat?
Thanks again for everyone's advice!
I'm a Florida resident but each May I travel to Cleveland, OH for work, and I always take a week or so of vacation afterwards and have a little rail adventure - two years ago, it was to Niagara Falls, ON, and last year it was to visit family in Chicago, IL. This year I'm hoping to make a true long distance trek and visit Seattle, WA and Portland, OR, for sightseeing and visiting a few friends out west - followed by flying back home. I'm also hoping to make a day stopover at Grand Forks, ND, to visit Northwest Angle, MN via rental car (northernmost point of the 48 states - little bucket list item). I'd then be hopping back on the train to complete the trip to the West Coast.
I am usually a very budget conscious person when I travel and so I'm planning on staying in a hotel in ND which should keep me rested enough to ride coach the remaining 36 hours to Seattle. (I'm in my 20s and work night shift often anyway.)
I know I'll be sorely tempted around the 14 hour mark though. I've looked at riding coach for the majority of the ride and only having a roommette ticket upgrade for a portion of 6-10 hours at some point - but it doesn't seem to be much of a discount compared to just having the roommette the whole trip. Does anyone have recommendations on trying to save and only having a roommette for a portion of the trip?
Second - and I know this may be taboo to mention, apologies if it is - I've heard a few tales that long distance coach veterans know that there are certain areas of the train which are technically "closed" at night that if you're a quiet guest, you can manage to sprawl for a few hours late at night (i.e. The Observation car). Is this wishful thinking or could I really snag a few hours of a nap at night there rather than my coach seat?
Thanks again for everyone's advice!