But I'd advise you to actually book your tickets by phone. To bypass "Julie," the automated reservations non-person, simply say "agent."
That way, you can speak to a live Amtrak agent and choose a specific room number. It will make a big difference to your comfort level during the trip.
Basically, rooms situated toward the center of the car give a smoother ride.
On the upper level, rooms #3 or #4 are the best (#1 is the attendant's room and #2 is too near the public toilet, where you'll hear the door slam all night long).
On the lower level, which feels a bit more private, rooms #11 and #12 are your best choices (the other standard rooms share a wall with the "Family Room").
You'll find a floor plan of a Superliner sleeping car here:
http://trainweb.org/crocon/sleeperplans.html
[This message has been edited by dmwnc1959 (edited 12-04-2003).]
Information on other hotels located near Amtrak stations (such as Seattle), check out:
www.railhotels.com
If you will be going coach on one leg of your trip, and sleeper on the other, I second pismobum's and dmwnc1959's ideas. As they suggest, consider travelling coach to Portland on the Coast Starlight, Cascades coach to Seattle, and sleeper on your return to San Francisco.
Dilly's suggestions on making your reservations are excellent. I might add you might be able to get significant discounts on the coach legs of your trip at the Rail Sale section of the Amtrak website. These discounts are only available on the internet, and probably won't be posted until a month or so before your scheduled departure date.
As a last thought, you might want to check out:
www.accentontravelusa.com
This is a travel agency in Klamath Falls that specializes in rail travel. Its owners, Ted & Sylvia Blishak, often take rail trips to cultural events, and have posted travelogues about some of these trips. Their travelogue "Cultural tour of the Pacific Coast, Spring 2002" might be of interest to you. You might consider booking their trip through them; any extra cost in Amtrak fares might be offset by special arts/cultural packages they may be able to offer.
I hope you have a great trip.
quote:
Originally posted by City of Miami:
I have a companion to share a standard sleeper to bring the cost down (right?) at least one way. Is one way or the other preferable?
I'm not clear if this means you would have a traveling companion one way, or if you would be taking coach one way. Having a companion dramatically reduces the cost per person in a sleeper, because you only pay for the room once. For many trips, a sleeper for two can often be cheaper than flying coach.
Be advised, the upper bunk is pretty tight, and usually the smaller, more limber person ends up there. The room itself has very little floor space when the beds are open. It's not much more than a large serving platter!
The first time you book a train trip, I suggest you talk to an agent on the phone. They can answer all of you questions. Once you know your way around a train, you can make reservations on the web.
You might want to ask the agent for an upstairs room in one direction, and a downstairs room in the other. Then you can sample both areas and see which you like best. Some people prefer upper rooms, some people prefer lower level rooms. Upper level has the better view. The lower level sways less and has more privacy, but may have more noise from the wheels.
Dilly doesn't like room 2, but I've had it twice and I like it. Everyone seems to have their own preferences.
And now, at the risk of repeating what regulars have read over and over, here is my standard advice to Amtrak first timers: Expect to have a good time, but don't expect perfection. This is Amtrak, not the Orient Express. Every trip seems to involve a few glitches, mostly with timekeeping, sometimes with other service issues.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
When you board the bus in San Francisco, sit as close as possible to the door -- and make sure you're one of the first passengers to exit at Emeryville. If the crew inside the station instructs you to form a line, make sure you're standing at the front of it.
Just remember that you'll be traveling on the day before Christmas -- and that EVERYBODY wants a window seat. If your train is heavily-booked and you move too slowly, you could end up heading for Reno with one foot planted in the aisle.