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Hey everyone, as I have said in other posts I was planning a trip from Los Angeles Union Station up to Oregon. I have now booked my reservation with Amtrak and the hotel in Chemult, OR. I am leaving soon and I have a Standard sleeper on the inbound trip, and reserved coach on the way back. This will be my first overnight Amtrak trip and I am really looking forward to it! I have a few questions that I don¡¦t want to mess up on so here they are:
1) How do I obtain my meal vouchers on the inbound trip? Are they physical tickets or do I tell my server which room I am in? 2) I know that you have to tip your Sleeping car attendant¡KBut I want to know when and of corse how much money. I assume he seats me in the sleeper when we leave L.A. so I would most likely tip quite a bit then for he would be nice throughout the trip¡KWhat else do I tip for? 3) In the dining car I have eaten before, but I hate to share a table with complete strangersƒ¼. If I have my meal taken to my room...How much is a generous nice tip, and will my food get cold? 4) I really look forward to my Sleeper because I hate that fancy sign on the 2nd dining car that says ¡§Sleeping Car Guests Only¡¨. What is in the Parlor Car...A movie theatre some finger food, nice chairs¡KWhat kind of movies/food? 5) On the outbound trip back from Chemult¡KThe train gets in there at 8:05 PM if it¡¦s on timeƒ¼. Will I get a swat next to my travel companion¡KI noticed this Saturday¡¦s Coast Starlight train #14 coach is sold out! Will it be crowded when I get on? 6) My last question is about my bike¡KI am going to buy a bike bag and I need to know if I would be able to get it to Chemult¡KKeep in mind I would be going the back-way coach...and Chemult is definitely an un-staffed station. 7) OK...one last question¡KIs anyone from Oregon on this board? I need to know about Chemult¡KI understand it¡¦s mainly used as a thruway hub to La Pine, Sunriver, Bend and the Redmond Airport. But what is there in Chemult. MY HOTEL: www.dawsonhouse.net
Thanks for the help guys!
PS. What time does the Sunset Limited usually depart? If I got early to Union Station I might catch it leaving! ļ
------------------ --Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com AIM: pillsburyMN
GrandmaJudy Member # 2467
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I can address a few of your concerns. There are no meal vouchers. If you'll be on the train at dinner, the head dining steward will visit you to make a dinner reservation. For other meals, you just go to the dining car. Since you'll be coming from your sleeper, you will just tell the dining car attendant you are in the sleeper & then sign your table check. I usually tip a sleeper attendant $5 per night (I travel alone) - more if extra service is performed. I give them about 1/2 at the beginning, tip extra at the time he delivers a meal to my room, and give him the rest (if he really has given good service) when he comes to my room to help me get ready to leave the train. Don't forget to tip your waiter in the dining car like you would tip in a restaurant, even though your meal is free. If the service is bad, the tip should reflect that. I tried to tip the head steward who had been particularly nice to me on the CZ, and he refused the tip & asked me to give it to my waiter if he deserved it. Classy guy! Last trip on CS was in 2001, but on that trip there was fruit, sweet rolls, coffee etc before breakfast, a wine tasting in the afternoon and (unfortunately) the dirtiest windows I have ever seen on a train. I believe if 2 of you are traveling together in coach & made your reservations at the same time, the attendant will attempt to seat you together. They should know how many are getting on/off at each stop & if they are traveling together. However, you may not be seated together if the train is full. It's not really a "reserved" seat in the sense that you have a particular seat assigned - just a guarantee that there is a seat on the train for you. Sharing a table with strangers in the dining car can be a lot of fun - provided you are willing to be friendly, too. Most people will talk - especially about themselves. Ask where there are going, what they do, etc. I've met some interesting people & a few duds. You might like it. I'm sure others will comment on your other issues. Have fun!
CoastStarlight99 Member # 2734
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Thanks grandma Judy
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Coast: I would be interested in your impressions of the "Dawson House Lodge". I am going up on the Coast Starlight this summer, leaving San Jose, CA for Portland, OR. Then will transfer to the Empire Builder on a trip to Whitefish, MT. I am interested, at some future time, going to Bend and Sunriver. I could not find anything the the AAA tourbook on accommodations in Chemult, so your link to the Dawson House is interesting..thanks for that. I would be interested, as well, if there is any sort of car rental place in Cheumult..as would have to find a way to drive from Chemult to Bend or Sun River..looks like a 40-50 mile drive from Chemult. I agree with Grandma Judy on all of her comments. I had a real bad experience, on my last trip on the Coast Starlight, in the dining car. Got thrown in with a really obnoxious couple who spent the whole time cussing and arguing with each other. One suggestion, take the latest dinner reservations..sometimes you get a table by yourself, or with few people. Sometimes you get a table with interesting people, but it seems this is more of the exception rather than the rule. Hope you enjoy your trip. Please post a summary of your trip & impressions when you get back. Yukon-11
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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As a seasoned Coast Starlight traveler let me take 'em by the numbers.
1) The servers know you're from a sleeping car because you'll arrive in the diner from a sleeping car! They'll place a meal check in front of you and you'll write in your car and room numbers, then sign it.
2) You don't have to tip your car attendant, but if the service is decent the attendant deserves some recognition. $5 per night is standard. I never tip until the end of the journey. An attendant has to earn it first. Extra services, such as meals in your room can be tipped at the time the service is provided. I'd tip the attendant as I would a dining car server (15% or more of the value of the meal). Dinner is by reservation. Be sure to be in your room when they are taking reservations. They'll announce it.
3) Tip as you would in any restaurant, based on the value of the meal. Some people just tip a dollar for breakfast and lunch and two dollars for dinner. That's acceptable, too, and usually comes close to 15% anyway. Don't be afraid to eat with strangers. You'll meet people you otherwise would have come in contact with. You'll improve your cultural literacy at every meal.
4) Parlour Car has... 1-movie theater on lower level. 2-three types of seating. 3-full bar with complimentary sodas and juice. 4-Continental breakfast (cereal, sweet rolls, juice, all self-serve). The Parlour Car attendant will take your name for breakfast and lunch if the diner is full, so you don't have to go into the diner to put in your name.
5) On the Starlight, especially on a Saturday night, the coaches are liable to be pretty full. Expect to be seated next to someone. Might be a pretty girl! Might be a friendly lumberjack. I did coach overnights on that train a lot when I was your age, and it was a lot of fun.
6) Don't know about the bike. Call Amtrak.
7) There is nothing in Chemult that I am aware of. I assumed you had a reason for choosing it as your destination. If you have good bicycle endurance you'll have many opportunities to see explore surrounding forests, which are quite pretty. But it will be a bit of a culture shock. The Dawson House looks like a pretty rustic place. Good for a quiet getaway from the big city. Not much for nightlife, I expect!
I'll be interested to see how this turns out. It will be a great adventure for you.
------------------ Sing to the tune of Humoresque: Passengers will please refrain, From flushing toilets while the train, Is standing in the station, I love you.
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Might be a friendly lumberjack. 
I did coach overnights on that train a lot when I was your age, and it was a lot of fun.