when to upgrade a room for autotrain?

[fac]

I recall reading that it was possible to book a room or upgrade a room when we check in, my question is at what point do we ask for an upgrade or for a room?

 

[ibcnu]

We booked 2 roomettes (it was less expensive than the bedrooms) when we made our reservations months ago. Since then, the price has gone up dramatically. I would book as soon as possible, some rooms may sell out, especially if you are traveling when the snowbirds travel south in the fall (or north in the spring).

 

[cburek]

I recall reading that it was possible to book a room or upgrade a room when we check in, my question is at what point do we ask for an upgrade or for a room?

You can ask the day of, when you check in if there are any rooms available to pay to upgrade. Its correct that the fares generally go up as you get closer. I had been monitoring the rates for a few weeks before I was able to make my reservation and the rates actually came down a bit right before I booked, unusual but true. This may be because there was a cancellation or that the train is not booked up on rooms. I am 19 days out at this point and there are still 12 bedrooms remaining. Good luck

 

[fac]

thanks.
I already have a roomette booked going down as I will be travelling with 2 DDs. I booked over the phone, but then I thought I should have booked a bedroom, hence thinking whether I should upgrade. I am going to check whether the rate goes down.

Coming back, we will have a family room as DH will be joining us.

 

[Robin&Marian+2]

I am 19 days out at this point and there are still 12 bedrooms remaining. Good luck

May I ask how you knew how many bedrooms are left? We're planning on taking the AT, and I'm just curious if I should keep my eye out for a lower rate (just booked!)

 

[Sadie22]

thanks.
I already have a roomette booked going down as I will be travelling with 2 DDs. I booked over the phone, but then I thought I should have booked a bedroom, hence thinking whether I should upgrade. I am going to check whether the rate goes down.

Coming back, we will have a family room as DH will be joining us.

Roomettes are tiny with two seats facing each other which convert into one bunk and then the second bunk pulls down from the wall. Unless you have two tiny little kids who can sleep feet to feet, a roomette is going to be too small. I'm amazed you were allowed to book that for 3 persons.

 

[Sadie22]

May I ask how you knew how many bedrooms are left? We're planning on taking the AT, and I'm just curious if I should keep my eye out for a lower rate (just booked!)

We had to book a return trip when we arrived down there. They compared prices for us as the price varied by day of return and we were a little bit flexible. Even on the less expensive day the return trip cost about 40 percent more than the trip down which I had booked six months prior. Prices do not usually go down. They go up.

 

[fac]

Roomettes are tiny with two seats facing each other which convert into one bunk and then the second bunk pulls down from the wall. Unless you have two tiny little kids who can sleep feet to feet, a roomette is going to be too small. I'm amazed you were allowed to book that for 3 persons.

Both of my kids are less than 70 lb. each. It turned out the sleeping arrangement was okay, as they liked to sleep on the same bed at home. But we could not stay in the roomette during the day because they would be fighting if they were to sit together. Luckily, my younger one made a friend in the coach area and she played with her friend most of the time.

Overall, we like the experience and the kids already asked to take the autotrain again. However, I cannot say the same for DH. We had a family room when we returned with DH, but he complained he could not sleep.