Have you ever do Amtrak Journey? Before I went on a business trip to Washington, DC, I had planned to meet up with my wife and daughter in New York. But things didn’t go as planned, and I ended up on Staten Island. Because getting into LaGuardia didn’t look like the best option, I started looking into other ways to get there.
An Amtrak Journey: The Problem with Amtrak
Due to their high prices, traditional options were looked down upon. United’s $450 price for a flight to Newark made me look for cheaper choices. A $120 JetBlue trip to JFK that would get me there at 3 p.m., an hour before my dinner plans, looked like a good deal. Then I thought about Amtrak’s sleeper car option, which was a unique and interesting choice.
Taking the Roomette into account
I was interested in the Roomette’s $352 price tag. During my 18-year stay in Washington, DC, I took Amtrak many times, but I had never been in a sleeping car. I was interested in the chance to explore a new part of train travel and the allure of a private place.
An Amtrak Journey: The Experience of the Lounge
If you chose the Roomette, you could also use Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge. When I got to Union Station, I buzzed my way in because I thought it would be a fancy place. In fact, though, things were a little different. The lounge felt a little dark and lacked natural light. Even so, the fact that there were lots of snacks like popcorn, pretzels, and chips was a good thing.
Getting on the Train
As news of Crescent 20 spread through the bar, I joined a small group of people making their way to track 25. Someone from the staff led us to the train and told us over and over, “It’s the one on the left.” My Roomette wasn’t the same as the one on my ticket when I got there because it needed to “air out.”
The Experience of a Roomette
Even though it was small, the Roomette had a unique, old-fashioned feel that made me think of a 1960s James Bond movie. There were two seats facing each other, a fold-out seat, a toilet that was hidden, and a bed that went over the chairs. The Roomette could be used for many things; it could be turned into a sitting area or a separate bathroom.
An Amtrak Journey: Amenities on Board
As soon as the train left, the power and wifi started working. The internet wasn’t as fast as the free internet on Delta, American, or JetBlue, but it worked fine. As part of the experience, there was a free meal. The worker suggested the beef, but it was disappointing and tasted like a frozen dinner that was turned down.
There is room for growth.
The Roomette was a one-of-a-kind experience, but the small area left a lot to be desired. It was very different from the bedrooms on the train, which were much bigger. Taller people had trouble because the bunk bed was so close to the roof. The bigger bedrooms, on the other hand, were more comfortable and had private showers, which was a nice touch.
An Amtrak Journey: In conclusion
The unusual way I got from Washington, DC, to Staten Island turned into an artistic journey on Amtrak. There were some problems with going in a sleeper car, but the unique experience made the trip more exciting. There’s a chance that the Roomette wouldn’t be the best choice for everyone, but the trip itself was memorable and unique, and it made me appreciate unusual ways to travel even more.
