Amtrak Rail Pass - Planning the great adventure - advice and questions

[cpotisch]

When you buy the rail pass, you pay a discounted rate for the roomettes on each segment.

You know, I've been looking, and I can't find any mention of "a discounted rate" for sleeper upgrades when you have a rail pass. From all I can tell, you still have to pay the full accommodation charge.

 

[niemi24s]

Perhaps by discounted he means low bucket - or maybe something else like the senior discount.

 

[Maglev]

My guess is that the up-charge for the sleeper was less than the fare Amtrak showed (which is the accommodation charge plus rail fare).

 

[niemi24s]

Here's some of the stuff I take on any trip in an Amtrak sleeper:

• Medium sized plastic bag to block a heating/cooling vent that won't respond to the room thermostat

• 2-3 feet of duct/gaffer's tape to hold the bag over the vent

• 3 or 4 carpenter's wooden wedges/'shims to jam in and silence rattles

• Package of hand sanitizing/cleaning wipes for the usual stuff plus to clean windows for clearer pictures

• Earplugs in case there's noisy people around

• Rubber flip-flops if you plan on taking showers

• Route Guides for each of the routes in case they're not provided

• Notes for each leg of the trip about any interesting features along the way (so you won't miss them) gleaned from:

•• Google Earth

•• Topographic maps from... http://www.mytopo.com/maps/index.cfm?feature

•• The FRA map... https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/GISFRASafety/

• Small 2-3 oz squirt bottle of pure maple syrup (optional)

• If you use a stand-alone camera, a rubber lens shade to block inside the train reflections when the lens shade is held loosely against the window.

 

[cpotisch]

My guess is that the up-charge for the sleeper was less than the fare Amtrak showed (which is the accommodation charge plus rail fare).

Yeah, that's probably it.