If you have never taken the train before, you are probably filled with questions about what seats to book. Perhaps you have taken the train, but this time you want to upgrade to first class seating. Taking Amtrak to your destination can be a relatively cheap and entertaining way of traveling, but there are things you should know about booking your seats to make your train accommodations more comfortable.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Coach Seats
Coach is the cheapest way to travel on Amtrak. Coach seats are located on the upper level of the train. The seats recline, and there is a footrest so travelers can sleep during the night. There are washrooms for you to use, but you do have to go downstairs to the lower level on most trains.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Lower Level Coach Seats
The lower level coach seats on Amtrak are reserved for elderly or handicapped travelers. You must request to be seated in the lower level in order to sit there. The aisles are wider and there is more room between seats. There is also room for travelers confined to a wheelchair. Since the restrooms are on the lower level, you don’t have to climb stairs to use the restrooms.
Because of my son’s disability, we normally travel on Amtrak’s lower level. In my experience, the lower level of the train is darker and more quiet for overnight traveling.
Amtrak Seating Guide: First Class Accommodations
There are three options for traveling first class on Amtrak. Not all accommodations will be available for every train, so double check when making your reservations. First class accommodations on Amtrak are much more expensive than traveling coach. For instance, a coach seat from Spokane, Washington, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, is $150. The price to upgrade to first class is an additional $340 to $1020, depending on which service you choose. However, all your meals are included in the price of your room, and the personal service and comfort of first class is worth the price, especially if you are traveling long distances.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Roomette
The “basic” of first class travel on Amtrak is the roomette. Located on a sleeping car, the roomette is really a bunk bed situated in a room the size of a small closet. But it’s private, and there are bathrooms and shower facilities located on each level.
While there isn’t much room in a roomette, this is my preferred way to travel on Amtrak. Each room is climate controlled and the beds are rather comfortable. The ability to stretch out at night and freshen up in the morning is priceless on a long train ride.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Family Bedroom
If you are traveling with your family, the family bedroom is a better option for first class Amtrak accommodations. The family bedroom has two full-sized beds and two smaller beds for children. The lower bunk converts into a sofa, and the bottom child’s bed folds into two chairs for seating during the day.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Bedroom
This is the most expensive way to travel on Amtrak. The bedroom is similar to the roomette in that it seats two adult travelers. However, the main difference is that there is a private bathroom and shower located in the bedroom, allowing for more privacy. The bedroom is also twice as big as the roomette.
Amtrak Seating Guide: Now book your seats!
Now that you know everything there is to know about Amtrak seating, get online and book your train seats. Check out my related article on what to pack in your carry-on luggage, and prepare to enjoy traveling the countryside courtesy of Amtrak.
Sources:
www.amtrak.com
