Lake Shore Limited Trip (many questions) also food allergy questions..

Shop deals on ebay
Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Ron Thibodeau

Guest
Good Day, Gang!'

I'm taking the Lake Shore Limited from Boston to Cleveland, OH next week. I booked my roomette last year, and I'm ready to go.

I do have a few questions:

1. I have a gluten allergy, so I was unsure of whether or not I should bother with dining in the dining car, and instead bring my own snacks/drinks with me (as I usually do when traveling) to avoid getting violently ill... anyone else with Celiac traveled and dined on Amtrak?

2. How early should I arrive before my train departs, and who do I see about checking my baggage?

3. Is it customary to tip the attendant who turns down your bed, and sets up your room for you? If so, how much is adequate (I hate to appear cheap when tipping)?

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm very much looking forward to this trip. I HATE flying, and I 'm glad that Amtrak was available for this conference!

Ron Thibodeau
 
I would suggest you bring some snacks, but at least try to get a suitable meal in the dinning car, as you have paid for one. If you tell your server clearly what your needs are, you should be ok. They are used to food allergies.

We ate in the dinning car when my son had a nut allergy without any problem.

Probably get to the station an hour before your train departs in order to check your bags. There will be somewhere at the station to check them.

If you do get a meal in the dinner, it is customary to leave a tip there, about $4 a meal seems ok. I tip the sleeper attendant $10, per night, unless they are too lazy to do their jobs, which can happen.

Have a great trip!

Ed.
 
Hi, Ron!

I'm headed the other way on the LSL next week! I hope to tip my attendant $5 for helping me when I board, then another $5 every time I ask him or her to do something special for me, and $20 at the end of the trip. I say "hope to tip" because sometimes the attendants are not very forthcoming at providing services, but this is how much I tip on most sleeper trips.
 
Usually, I tip the sleeping car attendant (SCA) $10 per person per night at the end of the trip. I do not tip during the trip, unless they do something special (such as bring a meal to your room) - then I tip at that time. If you board with a Red Cap, I tip them (not the SCA) since the Red Cap will put your bags in the room for you.

You check your baggage at South Station in the baggage room (out the left most door and to the left of the tracks - ask if you can't locate it). I assume since you said Boston, you're referring to South Station, It offers checked baggage service, the other Boston area station (Back Bay) that the Lake Shore Limited stops at does not. In Cleveland, you check them at the ticket counter.

Prior to departure from South Station, you are entitled to utilize the Club Acela since you have a sleeper!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Wow! Thanks so much for the responses.

You have all been great, and have made me much more excited for the journey. Thanks again.
 
I too tip $10 per person per night at the end of the trip. If I took a meal in my room I would tip extra at that time. I have traded the SCA breakfast in my room from him/her and I make up the room. Even trade, no tip for that one.
 
Usually, I tip my Sleeping Car Attendant $10 per person per night at the end of the trip. I do not tip during the trip. In the Dining Car I leave a few dollars on the table, say 3-5 dollars depending on the service during the meal. Tipping in America is almost like a science for me as a European. When to tip and how much is very confusing and difficult at times.
 
Woodcut60 said:
Usually, I tip my Sleeping Car Attendant $10 per person per night at the end of the trip. I do not tip during the trip. In the Dining Car I leave a few dollars on the table, say 3-5 dollars depending on the service during the meal. Tipping in America is almost like a science for me as a European. When to tip and how much is very confusing and difficult at times.
Click to expand...
It isn't based on logic and doesn't make any sense to many Americans either, which is why it's really more of an art than a science. Amtrak is a perfect example of how illogical tipping has become. Nearly all Amtrak staff are paid good salaries and receive exceptional benefits (for Americans) but some of them are still tipped just for doing the job they were hired to do. No matter how many people you ask or how long you debate the merits it will never make objective sense because tipping in America is mostly an exercise in arbitrary expectations. In the end I would suggest you tip whatever makes sense to you and not worry about it too much. Americans exported arbitrary tipping to the rest of the world so what right do we have to expect the rest of the world not to import their own concept of tipping (or lack thereof) back into the US?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
For Food issues, look up Food Facts under the menu page for all the trains. It will tell you what Allergens like Milk, Soy, Wheat etc. per entree.

As for tipping, I tip the SCA $10 per night per person unless there have been AWOL, then zero tip, or been especially helpful, then maybe $20 per night per person. I had a SCA who made my Granddaughters first train trip (one night) so special for her, I gave him $50.
 
Do be aware of the track record for off-time performance, especially on your return trip. Don't expect to have a tight schedule, and you should be fine.
 
If you're leaving from South Station, you have access to Club Acela prior to departure. I think it's upstairs.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top