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I'll be travelling on the Empire Builder next month in a sleeper with my elderly mother. Depending on how rough the ride is, she may not feel comfortable walking to the dining car. May I bring her meals from the dining car, or would the car attendant bring them, even though she is not in a handicapped room? If the car attendant brings them, what would be an appropriate tip? Does she tip him when he brings the meal, or do I just add something extra at the end of our trip? BTW, what is an appropriate tip for two adults and two children travellign the Entire route of the Empire Builder?
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You will not be able to take a meal from the diner - the car attendant must do that. I saw the attendants do this for several passengers on our trip - including us (my wife had knee surgery recently). On our recent trip one meal was brought by the attendant from another sleeper so I tipped him on the spot - it was $2. The other meal was brought by our regular attendant and I added to the tip when we left the train. I tipped the attendant on the Capitol, overnight from DC to Chicago $10 for the two of us. The attendant on the SW Chief received $20 since we were with her almost 2 days, and she brough a meal. I also included a tip with each meal when we ate in the dining car. And that's my two cents on the subject.
[This message has been edited by dcfan (edited 05-17-2003).]