P
paul mccusker
Guest
My friend and I have booked sleeper accomodation from Chicago to Memphis next year.Departure time from chicago is 20.00. Can anyone advise us if we will get a meal onboard at that time.
Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:
Paul,
Assuming that the dining car is restored to the train once it returns to New Orleans, the Yes, you will get dinner on board.
The procedure, pre Katrina and the loss of New Orleans as a stop, was that sleeping car passengers were taken from the Metropolitan Lounge around 7:15 to 7:30 pm to the train. Usually within 15 to 20 minutes of boarding, first call for the dining car will come. So you should be eating dinner, before the train ever leaves the station.
Note: You must be inside the Metropolitan Lounge to get this privledge. If you are in the general waiting room, then you'll end up boarding with the coach passegers and will miss the early seating.
Assuming that the dining car is restored to the train once it returns to New Orleans, the Yes, you will get dinner on board.
The procedure, pre Katrina and the loss of New Orleans as a stop, was that sleeping car passengers were taken from the Metropolitan Lounge around 7:15 to 7:30 pm to the train. Usually within 15 to 20 minutes of boarding, first call for the dining car will come. So you should be eating dinner, before the train ever leaves the station.
Note: You must be inside the Metropolitan Lounge to get this privledge. If you are in the general waiting room, then you'll end up boarding with the coach passegers and will miss the early seating.
P
paul mccusker
Guest
Thanks for the info Alan.Will make sure we get to the met lounge before boarding. We have a 30 day national railpass and intend to make good use of it.We have booked 4 parts of our trip already, chicago-memphis,memphis-st louis, st louis-kansas city and kansas city- los angeles. We have booked sleepers for all of these except st louis -kansas.Once in la we hope to vist Vagas and San Francisco.Any suggestions for a good route back towards New york for our flight home to Scotland would be apprieciated. paul. p.s. can anyone recomend any hotels in memphis,st louis or kansas. preferably close to amtrak stations.
How did you book the leg from Memphis to St. Louis?paul mccusker said:
Are you returning via Chicago?
Because otherwise you will need to get off the train at like 3:30 in the morning at Carbondale, assuming the train is running on time, to board a bus to reach St. Louis. :blink:
Now with regard to the Met Lounge in Chicago, just in case you didn't know:
Your sleeper tickets qualify you as a First Class passenger on Amtrak. As a first class passenger you are entitled to utilize Amtrak's first class lounge in Chicago. These lounges are a nice quiet refuge in the often-bustling train station. They have nice plush chairs, newspapers, TV's, free soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and clean safe bathrooms. They also allow you to board your train before the rest of the masses.
In Chicago the lounge is called the "Metropolitan Lounge". It is located on the lower level of Union Station, which is also the track level. If you are standing in front of and facing the Amtrak ticket windows, then the Amtrak waiting area is to your left. When you enter the main Amtrak waiting area through a sliding glass door, just walk forward and slightly to the left. There should be another sliding glass door along with a sign, just show your tickets and relax.
There is even a free luggage storage room, where you can check your bags for the day if you want to do some sightseeing around town. Just make sure that you're back in the room by like 7:00 PM. If for some reason the train is delayed and they won't be serving dinner on board, then they'll give you some vouchers for a free meal at one of the fast food places within the station.
Re; Hotels in Memphis.
The top, by far, so far as QUALITY and reputation goes is the Hotel Peabody and it is a short cab ride from the station. Not sure how reasonable the prices are, though. Check the internet, see if you can get good prices. It is an oldie goldie well-preserved landmark type of hotel. Most cities the size of Memphis have at least one.
This may be getting way, way, way off the subject (you are making a train trip after all , not a "hotel' trip....I realize that) , but there is a duck parade twice a day in the lobby of the Peabody. Am sure you can read about that on the net. I know that is a minor part of a much larger trip, but thought I would throw it in. Anybody traveling to or through Memphis needs to be made awaref of the Peabody ducks.
The top, by far, so far as QUALITY and reputation goes is the Hotel Peabody and it is a short cab ride from the station. Not sure how reasonable the prices are, though. Check the internet, see if you can get good prices. It is an oldie goldie well-preserved landmark type of hotel. Most cities the size of Memphis have at least one.
This may be getting way, way, way off the subject (you are making a train trip after all , not a "hotel' trip....I realize that) , but there is a duck parade twice a day in the lobby of the Peabody. Am sure you can read about that on the net. I know that is a minor part of a much larger trip, but thought I would throw it in. Anybody traveling to or through Memphis needs to be made awaref of the Peabody ducks.
P
paul mccusker
Guest
Hi alan the memphis -st louis leg is as you say via bus from carbondale.Thanks for the tips regarding the met lounge as we did not know anything about it.We will also make use of the luggage room.Our trip kicks off next mar 24th and we fly home on the 21st of april.The off peak pass is really good value for us on this side of the pond at 209 pounds for thirty days. Will try and post a travelouge of our journey when we get home.
P
paul mccusker
Guest
Bill thanks for the hotel info will check the internet to see what kind of prices they are asking. paul
Ok, just wanted to make sure that you knew it was a bus and that you'd be woken up at 3:00 AM.paul mccusker said:
As for hotels, hopefully as other member's check in they'll have some more recomendations for you.
Finally, keep checking back here, as we'll post updates if/when the diner is restored to the City of New Orleans.
A far as your trip back to New York from California, here are a few routes to take:
From Vegas, make your way up to San Francisco either by the San Joaquins or for a more scenic trip, go back to Los Angeles and book a sleeper on the Coast Starlight to San Fran. From San Fran you have two options.
A. Reboard the Coast Starlight and go north to Portland or Seattle. (I'd spend a day or so in either of these cities) Then take a sleeper on the Empire Builder back to Chicago.
B. From San Fran, take the California Zephyr to Chicago.
Both options have pretty good scenery, but if you want to experience a high level of service, do option A. The Empire Builder has just enhanced their on board service, just as the Coast Starlight has. Just remember the Starlight is known for running late all the time. Thats why I say spend a day in Portland or Seattle so you won't have to be bussed to make your connection.
Enjoy the trip!
From Vegas, make your way up to San Francisco either by the San Joaquins or for a more scenic trip, go back to Los Angeles and book a sleeper on the Coast Starlight to San Fran. From San Fran you have two options.
A. Reboard the Coast Starlight and go north to Portland or Seattle. (I'd spend a day or so in either of these cities) Then take a sleeper on the Empire Builder back to Chicago.
B. From San Fran, take the California Zephyr to Chicago.
Both options have pretty good scenery, but if you want to experience a high level of service, do option A. The Empire Builder has just enhanced their on board service, just as the Coast Starlight has. Just remember the Starlight is known for running late all the time. Thats why I say spend a day in Portland or Seattle so you won't have to be bussed to make your connection.
Enjoy the trip!
If you take the Empire Builder to Chicago you definately want to stay in Portland or even Seattle so that you won't be bussed from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Pasco, WA or Spokane, WA to catch the Builder due to a late Coast Starlight. I've never traveled from Seattle, but going from Portland sends you through the Columbia River Gorge which is pretty cool.
