GusTrain
Train Attendant
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2014
- Messages
- 43
I booked this trip as our "1.0 Last Hurrah" in January...at a late date, my husband was unable to go & our 29 year old son was able to take the time off work & accompany his grateful mom! I got unexpected fun one-on-one time with our adult son...& he got an amazing 16 day first train trip..for free!
Our route was:
Coast Starlight
Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA
Sunset Limited
Los Angeles to New Orleans, LA
Crescent
New Orleans to Birmingham, AL
(Rental car to Charleston, SC)
Silver Meteor
Charleston to New York City
Lake Shore Limited
NYC to Chicago
California Zephyr
Chicago to Sacramento, CA
Coast Starlight
Sacramento to Portland, OR!
With the exception of coach class NOL to BHM, we did roomettes the whole way...
We got one day touring New Orleans (not enough! What a fun city!)
We got 3 days visiting family in Birmingham (precious time)
We got 3 days in NYC (our first time there-AMAZING place! We have to go back!!)
I planned the trip in a way that added 4 new routes to my list, we saw wonderful scenery, & had great weather. We can even boast our trains were all on time!!
I highly recommend "Free Tours by Foot"! We took a foodies/history/French Quarter walking tour in New Orleans & a night walking tour & Central Park biking tour in NYC...
We saw & learned SO much with their tours!
As far as the trains go...
-the food was mostly good (the same menu the majority of the routes got old)...my son loved the steak & mashed potatoes!
-I was sad the PPC was not on the CS (replaced with an extra observation car)-but we did score the cute "copper" Coast Starlight cups
-I noticed a huge difference in the quality of care from our first class car attendants. On 2 of our routes they were not even outside to greet us & check us in-both times we just got on & made our own way to the room-no one ever even checked our tickets. And one of those I never saw the whole trip!
-I really liked the new Chicago Metropolitan lounge! I had read negative comments here, so I was pleasantly surprised-the check in staff were friendly & smiling & the place was light and bright. My son was really impressed with the "first class" lounges...passing the long lines heading to our special rooms! I told him he would never be able to settle for coach class again! LOL
-thanks for all of the pre-trip advice from you all!! We had a GREAT trip!
Our route was:
Coast Starlight
Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA
Sunset Limited
Los Angeles to New Orleans, LA
Crescent
New Orleans to Birmingham, AL
(Rental car to Charleston, SC)
Silver Meteor
Charleston to New York City
Lake Shore Limited
NYC to Chicago
California Zephyr
Chicago to Sacramento, CA
Coast Starlight
Sacramento to Portland, OR!
With the exception of coach class NOL to BHM, we did roomettes the whole way...
We got one day touring New Orleans (not enough! What a fun city!)
We got 3 days visiting family in Birmingham (precious time)
We got 3 days in NYC (our first time there-AMAZING place! We have to go back!!)
I planned the trip in a way that added 4 new routes to my list, we saw wonderful scenery, & had great weather. We can even boast our trains were all on time!!
I highly recommend "Free Tours by Foot"! We took a foodies/history/French Quarter walking tour in New Orleans & a night walking tour & Central Park biking tour in NYC...
We saw & learned SO much with their tours!
As far as the trains go...
-the food was mostly good (the same menu the majority of the routes got old)...my son loved the steak & mashed potatoes!
-I was sad the PPC was not on the CS (replaced with an extra observation car)-but we did score the cute "copper" Coast Starlight cups
-I noticed a huge difference in the quality of care from our first class car attendants. On 2 of our routes they were not even outside to greet us & check us in-both times we just got on & made our own way to the room-no one ever even checked our tickets. And one of those I never saw the whole trip!
-I really liked the new Chicago Metropolitan lounge! I had read negative comments here, so I was pleasantly surprised-the check in staff were friendly & smiling & the place was light and bright. My son was really impressed with the "first class" lounges...passing the long lines heading to our special rooms! I told him he would never be able to settle for coach class again! LOL
-thanks for all of the pre-trip advice from you all!! We had a GREAT trip!