All about the Autotrain

[jad215]

I just recently booked our trip back from Florida to DC in October using miles. We always get a roommette and the trip costed 25,000 Amtrak points (Continental miles transfer 1 to 1 Amtrak points, I also converted Hilton points but the ratio is not 1 to 1). 15,000 for the roommette and 10,000 for a Regular car. This also included our rail fare (I'm assuming in the points for the roommette). We saved a little over $700 because the way back was priced higher than the way down, so use miles for the more expensive trip if you don't have enough for round trip. You just book them separately as two distinct trips. I hope this helps!

 

[artesian]

I just recently booked our trip back from Florida to DC in October using miles. We always get a roommette and the trip costed 25,000 Amtrak points (Continental miles transfer 1 to 1 Amtrak points, I also converted Hilton points but the ratio is not 1 to 1). 15,000 for the roommette and 10,000 for a Regular car. This also included our rail fare (I'm assuming in the points for the roommette). We saved a little over $700 because the way back was priced higher than the way down, so use miles for the more expensive trip if you don't have enough for round trip. You just book them separately as two distinct trips. I hope this helps!

this conversion/transfer can be done on the amtrak site?

 

[jad215]

this conversion/transfer can be done on the amtrak site?

If I remember correctly I had to do it from the Continental site (and I may have had to call the number on there) and the Hilton site.

it can also take several weeks for the points to show up in your Amtrak account. I think they say up to six, but it only took about a week or two for me.

 

[PEANUT1]

So we are booked for WDW in October..it will cost us around 850-900$ to fly or FREE again with the bedroom on the autotrain with 60,000 miles....I am trying to decide what to do...Free is good but we just took the train in November and I wanted to fly next time...wwyd.?? decision, decisions.

 

[kittylady1972]

Wow so glad I read this today about the miles transfer. I'm pretty sure DH has some miles on Continental/US Airways so I'm going to see if we have enough to cover part of our trip and maybe upgrade us to a roomette after all!

 

[Marshay]

so use miles for the more expensive trip if you don't have enough for round trip. You just book them separately as two distinct trips. I hope this helps!

A good reminder!!

 

[Cupmom]

Bump!!!

 

[PIERCEDRN]

To answer some questions:
Yes you can book one way for amtrak on miles... in fact the two legs are booked separately. The Family bedroom with a regular car is the example I used because it is the best for a family of 4- 20000 for the room and 10000 for the car. A big SUV is oversized and so costs 15000 miles. The auto train cannot be booked without the car, and you have to be able to pay both in points. A roomette is 15000 plus the car 10000, but the deluxe bedroom for 20000 +10000 is a better value if you can swing it. Coach seats are only 5500 each but again the car is 10000. The room price in miles includes the fare, so the family room holds 4, roomette holds 2, and deluxe bedroom 2 (apparently there can be wiggle room with this... they were going to let us fit 2 adults and 2 small kids in the deluxe when there was no family rooms... but that would be CRAMPED!)
The sleeping cars are separate from the coach cars so you will not see anyone in your party if you have separate categories.
christinou: sorry but only continental, and now United with transfer to CO can be transferred 1:1 free to Amtrak. No luck for Usairways.
The United to Continental transfer can be done online with my link, or by phone.
The online transfer is instant, as I was able to call after doing it and transfer my new continental miles to Amtrak.
The Continental to Amtrak has to be by phone, and takes "10 business days" but usually takes less.
I don't know if UA/CO's relationship with amtrak will continue after the merger in 2012, so I am moving all my eligible miles to Amtrak now.
Hope that helps!
I totally agree with someone else who once posted, "Taking the Train is the only civilized way to travel."
BOB

 

[kittylady1972]

Well fingers crossed...I applied for the Continental Mastercard online this week but am waiting...didn't get instant approval. We have excellent credit...so it might just be that I applied on my own with just my salary and didn't factor in DH at all...figured I'd add him after the fact for the extra 5K points. Hoping I can get it...and then transfer my miles to him or he can transfer to me and with THAT we should have enough that we could book two bedrooms on the trip home! That would be great! That would mean no driving at all this trip. Especially since the prices for the trip home are so expensive. Just need to get the miles all here and transferred in enough time that there are still rooms left to book. The Saturday travel is really hurting us. Might just have to stay in Disney an extra night and take the Sunday train instead!

I think I'm going to go ahead an upgrade to rooms for our trip down. I found out yesterday they would let us book two roomettes for our family of five, since it's 2 adults and 3 kids. Two kids can easily sleep together on one of the beds...they are small enough kids. I figure we'll really only be in the rooms mostly when sleeping anyway...we plan to wander and check out the train the rest of the time.

DH would rather have a room with the bathroom, but I don't think it's necessary and don't want to spend the extra money right now. Not when we still have many other Disney expenses. I still have to get our Disney tickets purchased!

So excited about this train travel first time experience now! Can't wait to see the kids expressions when they learn about it too!

 

[NJBILL]

I think I'm going to go ahead an upgrade to rooms for our trip down. I found out yesterday they would let us book two roomettes for our family of five, since it's 2 adults and 3 kids. Two kids can easily sleep together on one of the beds...they are small enough kids. I figure we'll really only be in the rooms mostly when sleeping anyway...we plan to wander and check out the train the rest of the time.

DH would rather have a room with the bathroom, but I don't think it's necessary and don't want to spend the extra money right now. Not when we still have many other Disney expenses. I still have to get our Disney tickets purchased!

So excited about this train travel first time experience now! Can't wait to see the kids expressions when they learn about it too!

You and your family will love the train..Just a note of caution. We always had 2 roomettes for 5 people when my kids were smaller. A few years ago, I had to pay for all of my meals,as the conductor on the train said 'roomettes are technically for two people,and just beacuse they (Amtrak) booked the room for 5, only Four 4 people would receive complimentary meals.. When I returned from my trip, I tried to dispute this with Amtrak and was NOT successful in getting a refund for paying out of pocket for my meals. SInce then, we have taken coach. I would recommend getting something in writing from Amtrak prior to your trip that all 5 people will get complimentay meals, and bring it with you.


Enjoy your trip.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Well fingers crossed...I applied for the Continental Mastercard online this week but am waiting...didn't get instant approval. We have excellent credit...so it might just be that I applied on my own with just my salary and didn't factor in DH at all...figured I'd add him after the fact for the extra 5K points. Hoping I can get it...and then transfer my miles to him or he can transfer to me and with THAT we should have enough that we could book two bedrooms on the trip home! That would be great! That would mean no driving at all this trip. Especially since the prices for the trip home are so expensive. Just need to get the miles all here and transferred in enough time that there are still rooms left to book. The Saturday travel is really hurting us. Might just have to stay in Disney an extra night and take the Sunday train instead!

I think I'm going to go ahead an upgrade to rooms for our trip down. I found out yesterday they would let us book two roomettes for our family of five, since it's 2 adults and 3 kids. Two kids can easily sleep together on one of the beds...they are small enough kids. I figure we'll really only be in the rooms mostly when sleeping anyway...we plan to wander and check out the train the rest of the time.

DH would rather have a room with the bathroom, but I don't think it's necessary and don't want to spend the extra money right now. Not when we still have many other Disney expenses. I still have to get our Disney tickets purchased!

So excited about this train travel first time experience now! Can't wait to see the kids expressions when they learn about it too!

I'd check but my understanding on getting the card...points are not awarded until after your first trip.....they don't give you the card and points at the same time....I believe it states after first travel.....check so you don't get surprised with a huge bill.....roomettes are very small...they come with a toilet right in the same cubby hole they call a room, no privacy...other should leave the roomette while someone uses the facility....above the toilet is a pull down sink, which you have to crawl up to get to the upper berth....seats 2 quite well but anymore is not comfortable no matter how small they are...just to forewarn you......we've done roomettes a few times but any more....there's more open space in coach....the sleeper car with roomettes on both sides make for a very narrow hall.....people can not pass...

 

[chartle]

roomettes are very small...they come with a toilet right in the same cubby hole they call a room, no privacy...other should leave the roomette while someone uses the facility....above the toilet is a pull down sink, which you have to crawl up to get to the upper berth....seats 2 quite well but anymore is not comfortable no matter how small they are...just to forewarn you......we've done roomettes a few times but any more....there's more open space in coach....the sleeper car with roomettes on both sides make for a very narrow hall.....people can not pass...

I just double checked the the Amtrak website and the only room option that includes a toilet and shower is the Super Liner Bedroom.

The roomette and the family bedroom use the shared bathrooms.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I just double checked the the Amtrak website and the only room option that includes a toilet and shower is the Super Liner Bedroom.

The roomette and the family bedroom use the shared bathrooms.

We switch trains in DC to head south, and every single time we've gotten a roomette, a toilet was in the room....that's Train 98 and 97 Silver Service/ Palmetto....Sivler meteor and Silver Star....shower was communal at the end of the car.....sink in roomette....

 

[NJBILL]

All roomettes have a toilet.

 

[chartle]

We switch trains in DC to head south, and every single time we've gotten a roomette, a toilet was in the room....that's Train 98 and 97 Silver Service/ Palmetto....Sivler meteor and Silver Star....shower was communal at the end of the car.....sink in roomette....

The auto train uses different cars. They are 2 level Superliner II sleepers.

The roomette does not have a toilet, as I posted only the regular bathroom does.

This page explains the difference.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241267399802

I looked at the Viewliner rooms and I see what you mean about the toilet.

 

[DC7800]

All roomettes have a toilet.

Actually, only Roomettes on Viewliner sleeping cars, such as used on single-level trains like the Silver Star and Silver Meteor, have a (unshielded) toilet in the room. Superliner sleepers, such as the cars used on Auto Train, do not have a toilet in the room.

All bedrooms have both toilet and shower, except Family Bedrooms (found only on Superliners), which have neither toilet nor shower.

 

[chartle]

All roomettes have a toilet.

Not on the Autotrain, see post above.

 

[Marshay]

I think I'm going to go ahead an upgrade to rooms for our trip down. I found out yesterday they would let us book two roomettes for our family of five, since it's 2 adults and 3 kids. Two kids can easily sleep together on one of the beds...they are small enough kids. I figure we'll really only be in the rooms mostly when sleeping anyway...we plan to wander and check out the train the rest of the time.

So excited about this train travel first time experience now! Can't wait to see the kids expressions when they learn about it too!

Best of luck on your travel...remember if they only offer meals for 4 people (not the 5th person), then just share. My DD5 was allowed to order off of the adult menu (nothing says she has to do the childrens menu) and then you'll get a larger portion to share.



another confirmation that the Roomettes DO NOT have toilettes in them. See my pictures I posted of the roomettes several pages back. There are rooms that sleep 3 that have a toilet in them. If you want the Family Bedroom that sleeps 4, then you do not get a toilet.

Personally, I see no need to have a toilet in your room. There are 5 (maybe 4?) on each train and that is plenty. No need to have those smells, etc in your small room anyway.

 

[Cupmom]

Any codes out for summer discounts??

 

[bdcp]

Roomettes absolutely don't have bathrooms on the AT. They're very small. We had a roomette in 2006. We've found traveling coach that going downstairs to the bathroom isn't a big deal. On a full train, the toilets can have issues. Worst we've seen was one backed up a little. But that was only once out of 6 trips (3 round trips).