My family is taking it's first Amtrak trip on the 17th - the LSL from CLE to CHI, then the SWC to ABQ. I've been reading everything I can find online but have a few unanswered questions. I'm hoping you all can help!
First, we've booked 2 roomettes on every leg round-trip. I really debated the necessity on the first leg since we are getting on in Cleveland at 3:30 in the am (if the train's on time! ), but my kids can be noisy and besides worries about disturbing other passengers, I don't think they'll get back to sleep at all unless in a quiet, private space.
Anyway, on the way out we have rooms 9&10 on the Viewliner which looks okay, and 9&10 again on the Superliner - also good. On the way home, we were only able to get 12 & 9 on the Superliner (two different levels) and 2 & 9 on the Viewliner (opposite ends of the car). I tried calling to see if they can move one of the roms in either case to put us closer together, and was told they would have to charge more. But when I looked online it loked like they had 1-2 roomettes left on each train at the same price I paid. Should I keep trying or is it not that big a deal?
Second, the top berths sound pretty cramped, so I am hoping to put the kids up there, but I am worried about them falling out. My 8yo son would probably be fine, but my 3yo daughter still sleeps in a crib at home. Somewhere online I read some kids travel stories and one mentioned some kind of net to keep him from falling out of the upper berth that was put up by the attendant. I asked when I called Amtrak, but the agent did not know anything about this. Anyone else with experience?
This is a last minute trip and we are all really excited. Any other general advice from all of you would be much appreciated. I have already read the pinned thread of tips and tricks.
First, we've booked 2 roomettes on every leg round-trip. I really debated the necessity on the first leg since we are getting on in Cleveland at 3:30 in the am (if the train's on time! ), but my kids can be noisy and besides worries about disturbing other passengers, I don't think they'll get back to sleep at all unless in a quiet, private space.
Anyway, on the way out we have rooms 9&10 on the Viewliner which looks okay, and 9&10 again on the Superliner - also good. On the way home, we were only able to get 12 & 9 on the Superliner (two different levels) and 2 & 9 on the Viewliner (opposite ends of the car). I tried calling to see if they can move one of the roms in either case to put us closer together, and was told they would have to charge more. But when I looked online it loked like they had 1-2 roomettes left on each train at the same price I paid. Should I keep trying or is it not that big a deal?
Second, the top berths sound pretty cramped, so I am hoping to put the kids up there, but I am worried about them falling out. My 8yo son would probably be fine, but my 3yo daughter still sleeps in a crib at home. Somewhere online I read some kids travel stories and one mentioned some kind of net to keep him from falling out of the upper berth that was put up by the attendant. I asked when I called Amtrak, but the agent did not know anything about this. Anyone else with experience?
This is a last minute trip and we are all really excited. Any other general advice from all of you would be much appreciated. I have already read the pinned thread of tips and tricks.