The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle over 46 hours. Two roomettes were booked across the hall for four adults at a combined cost of $2,988, chosen for perceived value. Sleeper-car tickets included complimentary lounge access with seating and snacks, priority boarding, and an onboard attendant who introduced amenities, dining policies, and contact procedures. Roomettes measured roughly 3 by 6 feet and 6 by 6 feet, offering limited luggage space; larger bags were stored on an external rack. The quarters felt tight but were manageable for two people, and the trip offered a distinctive cross-country travel experience.
"I did a lot of research before booking tickets for our group of four adults and settled on two roomettes directly across the hall from each other for $2,988. It felt like the best value. On the day of our trip, we arrived at Chicago's Union Station about an hour before our train was scheduled to depart. Sleeper-car guests get complimentary access to a lounge, where we enjoyed comfortable seating and a buffet of snacks. Our ticket also included priority boarding."
"Some online reviews I saw had noted that the space was small - measuring 3 feet by 6 feet wide and 6 feet by 6 feet long - and didn't offer much room to store luggage. We each only brought a small backpack into the space with us and were able to store our larger luggage on a rack near the door. Although the quarters felt tight, I thought they easily accommodated two people."
"I've always been a fan of trains. As a child, my favorite book was "The Little Engine that Could," and I've seen the Hitchcock classic "North by Northwest" at least a half dozen times. So, when I saw that Amtrak offered cross-country train travel, I was immediately intrigued. I'd taken a five-hour train ride from Detroit to Chicago before, but I'd never been on a longer journey by rail. It seemed like a unique way to kick off our annual family vacation."
Read at Business Insider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]