Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for privacy during the day and a real bed to sleep in at night, a
roomette or bedroom is definitely the way to go.
Business Class: Another Coach Option
Amtrak offers an upgrade to business class on their all-coach
trains; it comes with an additional charge above and beyond
the basic rail fare. The additional cost isn't much, which is
fair because you really don't get much in the way of extras. If
you're traveling on one of the trains offering what Amtrak calls
“regional service” in the Northeast, business class gets you into
the first car behind the locomotive which may (or may not) be
less crowded than the regular coach cars. You also get free non-
alcoholic drinks in the cafe car. The basic coach fare
between
New York City and Washington, D.C., varies, with cheaper fares
for early morning departures. Last I checked, the business-class
supplement was $36, but that price could change by the time you
read this. Whatever it is, you'll have to drink a lot of soft drinks
to make the extra charge worthwhile.
The Unreserved “Reserved” Seat
You already know that securing a coach seat on any of Amtrak's
long-distance trains requires a reservation. You also need to
know that on most trains your reservation does not mean you
have a specific seat assignment; it means simply that there will be
one empty coach seat for you somewhere on that train. This is a
small but important detail—especially if there are several people
traveling as a group. See chapter 5 for some of the things you can
do ahead of time and in the boarding process to get a good seat
or to make sure that your family will be seated together.
Can You Sleep Sitting Up?
The seats in coach class are wide and comfortable—there is
ample legroom even when they're fully reclined. Seats on the
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