Having never ridden a train in the UK, I have a feeling that getting a private room on a train isn’t a big deal over there. That’s just me referencing the compartments I read and saw in Harry Potter. Maybe you still have to pay for a true private room equipped with a bed. No clue. Having a private room (Roomette) was a first-time experience for me while taking a 35-hour journey on the Coast Starlight train.
Last post I mentioned the boarding process. Other than feeling a bit lost at station arrival, the boarding process was very easy. We even got priority boarding as part of the fare! I was greeted by our car attendant, Lupe ( pronounced loo-pay which is short for Guadalupe) who told me where I could find my seat. I was headed to Room 7 located on the second level.
Upon arrival, I had a well-presented room with two seats, two pillows, two water bottles, a table, and privacy curtains. Additionally, there was a small closet, under-seat storage (I don’t recommend that since the floor is probably gross), tissues, and very large windows. This room is very tiny and can technically fit two people, however, you may consider this option for two smaller people or a solo trip much like mine.
Privacy was one of the best features of having a private room. I could close the curtains and door to ensure there were no disruptions as I rested or worked, but I also had the freedom to open them back up. My neighbor across the hall was very friendly and we chatted every once in a while during the journey. She took advantage of the opportunity to have all meals delivered to her room. My meals were with other passengers inside the dining car.
Meals were included with the private room price (a $30-45 value!). The dining car attendant would come by all the sleeper cars (where the private rooms were) and set up reservation times for those who wanted to eat in the dining car. If folks wanted a meal delivered, the individual car attendant would assist with that. Lupe was really good about taking those orders and delivering at first availability.
The private room being in a sleeper car meant that we had access to restrooms and showers. My room was a Roomette which meant the restroom and shower had shared access. We didn’t literally share the showers at the same time. Anybody in our car could use them though. If I had been in a higher class of room, I could have had a restroom and shower inside my private room. No worries! That wasn’t a major concern. Plus, this room was booked last-minute.
Sleeping in the room was good and not great. I liked the pillows I received as they were more firm than soft and provided support. Lupe offered to set up the room for sleeping and offered last calls before turning to her other duties. I opted out of the assistance and attempted to make the bed myself (ignoring the instructions). I failed. So with a partially converted seat/bed I rested through the night.
Unfortunately, our train was terminated early due to an accident on the track in Los Angeles. We had an early wake up, abbreviated breakfast, and were off the train by 8:40am the next morning.
Was booking a Roomette on the Amtrak worth the money? On the route I was on, absolutely. Going from Seattle to Los Angeles on a 35-hour train ride makes the cost of a sleeper car (private room) worthwhile. Any overnight Amtrak journey is worth it. I highly recommend considering the Roomette if you want the benefits of first class without the extra space other rooms give you. Would I go overnight on Amtrak again? There are a couple itineraries that peaked my interest. So, yes.
Signing off from Emeryville, CA.
A Couple New Things 
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