I LOVE that smooth jazz that is playing in the background!

I’ve got no idea why this was suggested by KZfaq but I really enjoyed it regardless. Thanks for sharing

I find myself wary of drinking from any of the faucets on the train due to the unknowns of how often they're purged & sanitized. Bottled water and other beverages seem like cheap insurance. You meet a wide variety of folks on the train; it's part of the adventure.

To anyone reading this who wants to cross country by train but is nervous about eating with strangers: I did Dc-Seattle and back a few years ago, and was nervous about that eating arrangement, plus I'm anxious AF! Every diner party doing it has just as little idea of what's going on as the next. If you're feeling quiet, people are always respectful. They also are open about how awkward the situation is, helps to get everyone laughing and lighten things up. Anyone who's already had a few shared meals on their train trip will have gotten the hang of how to handle each encounter, and you learn a number of good questions to use when nothing else works. If you don't have any ideas, just search Google for suggested conversation questions for strangers. In the end, I had something like 24 meals with strangers on amtrak that week, and they've grown into among my fondest memories. You'd never meet these people otherwise!

Coach or business are fine on short trips...8 hrs or less....but anything over night...get a room, you will be thankful for it.

I ordered a Domino's Pizza while riding the Empire Builder for delivery to the train about 45 minutes before arriving at Havre, Montana. Oh, the looks I got when I got back on board.

Great video! I just rode the Coast Starlight from Oakland to Los Angeles yesterday. The trip was about 12hrs so I opted for Business Class. It was worth it. I had both sides of the row to myself, tons of leg room. The attendants were really friendly and helpful. Also, having dinner with strangers was really cool. I was riding solo and am usually really shy, but since everyone was so chill, the conversation flowed naturally.

My husband and I are planning several long distance Amtrak trips in the near future and because we've never Amtraked before there are questions. We've learned the basics from Amtrak's website, we're 2 guys 6'4 and 6'5 so sleeping will be a challenge even in the bedroom car, the food looks 5 star, etc but your video offered some tips we'd not thought about or seen on other videos. VERY WELL DONE, you're a charming couple! We'd like to return a few tips for anyone watching this - DO NOT book a trip via the AMTRAK website for long distance travel, call customer service. We spoke with an agent that booked our upcoming Texas Eagle Chicago to Cali trip with a bedroom, got us a hotel for two nights and back on the return train. She also offered un-posted discounts, arranged for a train featuring a Park Ranger lecture, suggested any tip for the car attendant be made in person when leaving at your destination and put us on hold while she found out the ceiling heights of the cars.

I love the train, but take your own food, and never be inn a hurry. Scenery is awesome, and I love to listen to audible books and crochet!

I've travel on Amtrak train (even former private RR Company before Amtrak merged) for 50 years. So, I go once (sometime twice) a year across the country as I love it and no matter if on time or delays.

I do find rooms midcar vs over the wheels are more comfortable with less rail vibration; allows for better nights sleep and less noise. Also don't forget to tip your car attendant! I tipped a little more per day when I ate in my room r/t ambulatory issues after hip surgery.c Love the Empire Builder!!

I loved your suggestions regarding the train. I thought you showed everything about the train layout that concerned me. I totally appreciated your suggestions which would never have occurred to me to be helpful.

I went Cross Country in 1998. I loved it. Three of us in a S.UV .I loved it and had the best time of my life.

Noticed an error. You do not get to get off at each stop. On the Zeph I believe there are two stops of a half hour each. Omaha, NE is around 20 min. Denver, CO is for just over a half hour, and Salt Lake City if for thirty minutes in the middle of the night. Reno usually is also a twenty minute or so stop. The rest of the stops are generally only for those getting off or on the train and not a getting off and taking a walk. If you are a smoker you can go for many hours without a smoke break. Sometimes you will get a five or ten minute stop and the conductor will let you get off to take a smoke. Do not go more that twenty feet away from the train because when it is ready to leave you have only a minute to get back on an they will leave you behind. I have seen it happen.

Nice video! I did the Lakeshore to Chicago from NYC and then Empire Builder out West about 4 years ago. It was wonderful.

I love you guys! So calm and LOTS of useful information--a lot of it applies to car and air travel too. You don't waste time either...onew suggestion after another. Well done.

Julie is just adorable.

Probably the best, most practicable advice I've seen on youtube for the subject at hand, thanks!

My wife likes water and ice. Our cabin attendant brought us as many bottles of water as we wanted and a bucket of ice. Just remember, you are on a train, the same attendant and the same waitress or waiter will be serving you every day. There are just a few people working on the train. So if you don't tip, you will not get a second bottle of water. If you want to carry everything yourself and hear that they ran out of towels or bottled water, then don't tip. On my first train trip I tipped like I would at a normal restaurant. On the third day I heard the waitress tell the couple by me that they were out of bottled water. I thought that was too bad as I wanted water, but the waitress then came and gave me two bottles of water without my asking. Treat the staff well and they will treat you well.

I'm getting ready to take a train trip. I loved your video. It was informative and loaded with realistic and helpful suggestions. The two of you work so well together. It was fun to watch...thank you!!!!

Jon and Julie thanks for all your wonderful helpful hints on train traveling. I am all excited now to try train traveling.

Am I the only one who LOVES the way she looks at him at the beginning of this video?

I've been planning my cross country trip for two years (saving for all bedroom cars). I learned some great tips here. I will definitely carry the hanger/hooks as well as safety pins and extension cord. Thanks for the great video!

Wife and I have traveled by sleeper train many times. However the last trip my wife had an embarrassing incident. We were traveling from Florida to New York on the silver service. I was looking out the window while the wife was taking a sponge bath completely naked. Then out of no where a double decker commuter train heading to Washington full of commuters came along side of us. I believe at least 40 people got a good look at her naked body before we realized it. I tried to throw a blanket for cover but it was too late. Never would I ever imagine that this could have happened. She always figured it would be safe to not having to close the curtains on a moving train. Lesson learned.

You should consider a snow train trip on Canada's Via Rail between Vancouver and Toronto. Wife and I did that in Feb. 2018, spending 3 nights in Jasper. We had a cabin, but spent about 80% of our daytime in the observation car which was not busy with people. Staff was friendlier, and food better than on Amtrak. I got scolded for having a handheld Ham radio to talk to my Ham friends back home. They thought I was listening to rail communications.

~ Lysol, my best friend when travelling! 😀👍🏻🇨🇦

Lynne is awesome! She was my attendant too!

Very well done. Best video I’ve seen regarding train trips. Thank you !!

7:25 "And they come right off...."(thinks to himself, 'Boy, I am so screwed.')

Great tips. Tanks so much!! Love the snack bag fashioned out of the LL Bean toiletries bag!!!

Thank you Joe & Julie! Very informative & helpful. Definitely on my bucket list!

You two did a wonderful job on the video. Thanks for sharing. We are leaving in a couple of weeks to start our mini cross country trip.

Excellent tips for potential first-timers, thank you.

Thanks for the tour and trip hints. We are planning a trip and your video was a big help.

Great video! I took this trip last year in July 2016. Flew from my home in Houston, Texas to Newark, took the Lake Shore Limited from Penn Station to Chicago in a Viewliner bedroom, then connected with the California Zephyr to San Francisco in a Superliner bedroom. Spent 3 days in the Bay area and then flew down to LA and took the Southwest Chief to Chicago in a bedroom, then flew back to Houston..Absolutely loved it!

This is an example on one sleeper car, there is another version the roomette does not have a toilet or sink. Another Idea is to carry a Power Strip with you as well. the bathroom and showers are different as well. Another tip would be to take a GPS with you, it will keep you informed as to where you are, how fast your travelling If you have a gopro or some other camera take a suction cup mount stick it to the window to help get video of the great scenery along the route. All in all a great video well done thank you.

Safety pins are a great idea.

Thank you for the comprehensive tour of the train and great suggestions for making life a bit easier during the ride.

Lots of great hints.

Great tips about the safety pins and removeable hooks. Thank you.

Thanks for this so much amazing video. Literally covered everything I wanted to know and more!

Thank you so much🌺 Taking a trip with my parents for their 55 anniversary this summer. Taking the coastal from LA to Seattle than Alaska Cruise. Your advice is very appreciated! Sending Y'all Love Blessings Light 💗🍍✨🐬🌺🌈💕🕉️

Thank you, you are such a helpful couple! It would be great to have company like yours on train!

Joe and Julie....well done. Great advise and info... Hope you do a lot more videos....

This was fantastic, thank you both for making an informative video about modern American train travel.

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I hope your trip was as delightful as the two of you.

~ You should ride the Canadian and or the Rocky Mountaineer. 🇨🇦

I dios my first one last year. My next crosses country is in March and this time I have a sleeper! I will also be doing some vlogging. Sooooooo RE-excited from seeing this video! So many people would love this!

to have your own room with a toilet is a bonus! i hate using shared toilets and when i stay at bed and breakfasts, which i prefer over hotels, i always get one with a private bathroom.

Large Binder Clips are our friends.... :)

I find the roomettes easier to sleep in than the rooms. I think the bed running lengthwise isolate the movement just a bit more than the ones across the train.

Very nicely done video; plenty of useful information well presented! Thanks!

extraordinary attention to detail ... utmost blessings!

Wow! Really well done review and thoughtful tips and info. Thanks!!

I liked both of you and your video! :)

Did a round the country odyssey on Amtra, last year. You guys nailed it

Rail travel in the USA is wonderful, imo. Those ppl in the comments section dissing rail travel, I’ll tell them to ride the Dog the same distance.....THEN......complain about rail travel!

Joe and Julie; this was by far the best video on train travel I've seen yet. I'd like to do a cross country trip sometime, and your take along tips were wonderful. I've "liked" the video so I can refer to it before I go. Thanks very much!

This was a really cool video, I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

Thanks for sharing the details of the trip and tricks.... y'all did very good. God bless you and your family Brother Daymond Chief Jones

Traveling with another couple or family single? You failed to mention, the full length mirror in each bedroom serves as a slide door that opens into the room next door, making in a suite. Book in advance for this. Your extension cord suggestion was an excellent one. Also, a roll of duct tape comes in very handy. Sorry, but "flip flops" are not a good idea when crossing between cars. Although there is a shower in the bedroom, there is one, or two on the lower lever of the car, with fresh towels and bar soap. Hot coffee, juice and bottled water are always available just around the corner outside the rooms. What a way to travel. And your presentation was outstanding. Thanks!

Good and Very helpful to prepare for the trip ! Thank you, guys!

I did cross country 3 times. Here is my advice: get a room. You make up the cost in privacy and 'free' food. Plus you can sleep. Bring a blanket even in the summer. They blast the AC and one trip was so cold I had to buy a blanket. If you go with coach, bring as much food and drink that will stay fresh. Food is really expensive esp in the dining car. I can't sleep well even in Amtrak's coaches seats which would be first class on a plane. Bring something to do or read. There are VAST open spaces in America like North Dakota-Montana trip. That was about 24 hours of nothing but farmland and a few minor stops. It gets boring. Alcohol is expensive so I brought my own. Don't smoke unless you are at a smoke break. Don't know about vaping. Get off even at smoke breaks to stretch your legs and see some of the land. Unfortunately, you really don't stay in one city long enough to go on a day tour. Make taking the train part of your trip. If you are in a hurry, fly.

Cool 😎. thanks for doing it and posting. BTW, the music makes me want to have a camel short & a dry martini 🍸👍🏻.

Thank you! We travel Denver to Illinois tomorrow. This was very helpful. Thanks!

Excellent tips and tricks! Thank you so much for making this video!! I've been wanting to ride the California Zephyr for some time.

Thanks for doing this video. I'm planning on doing a solo train trip from South Florida to D.C. next year just for fun. Looking forward to it.

Thanks a lot for this informative video. Looking forward to experiencing the west to east coast train ride.

Overall I liked the video, but *NO* *NO* *NO* to the safety pin in the cushion! Just once may *seem* fine, but if people did that over and over it would eventually fray and destroy the upholstery. =( That said, I recommend not just an extension cord, but a filtered/protected power strip with a long cord. That way you get multiple outlets, and you put less strain on sensitive electronic devices (the electrical system in the sleeper cars was designed to run old pre-digital electric razors and such and the power is not always to spec).

I'm planning taking a trip in Sept. 2018 around the whole country and staying a few nights in Diff. cities at hostels and so I can do laundry because I'm only taking 8 days of clothes . I will be bringing a a power bar for extra plugs and a small clip of fan also . thanks great video

I like your choice of background music - smooth jazz!

Very well made! I ride the lake shore limited monthly and I’ve had a roomette a few times. I get the handicapped accessible room because it automatically comes with my disability discount. It’s such a big room and such a big bathroom. I love this video!

I have rode several different trains. They all are different. I like the Canadian, Via Rail the best (Vancouver to Toronto, or vise versa). Better food, and generally much nicer staff. Wife and I like the cabins over a roomette. Cabins have a toilet in it which is better for older people who get up at night to pee. Most roomettes do not have a toilet. I wish I could stay awake 24 hours a day so I do not miss anything. Hate going through pretty mountains at night and missing the scenery. The rocking train lulls me to sleep even during the daytime.

Very good favour to general public. You are good. Thanks a million.

Amtrak is an underrated treasure! I have done 3 or 4 trips. I especially loved Autotrain! And my trip in the Chief to and from Albuquerque!

loved the video!! Cannot wait to take a Cross country Trip

Thanks for the tips! I’m going to Portland in August. On the way back I’m getting a roommette.

We would love to try this at least once.

Thank you for the information! I want to have a train vacation across country, soon!

Beautiful and informative video!!!! Very well done and helpful!!! I’ll be doing two trips next year. First is Houston to Chicago and back. Second is Houston to LA to Seattle to Chicago to NYC to New Orleans and back to Houston. This has been a 35 year dream. Every hint you gave was spot on!!! Thanks!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠

Sleeping was difficult for me, as the car kept rocking to the sides. At times I felt like I was going to be tossed out of bed. But it was ok. I totally enjoyed my roomette trip. Despised the return in Coach. Even having both seats to myself was not comfortable at all. Since our stop was at 3am, I didn't try to sleep, just dozed as best I could.

well done...I went Boston Chicago. Chicago LA...I remember it like it was yesterday and it was in 1996

Great video. Thanks. Safety pins and hooks great idea.

Wow great video! I love that LL Bean bag. You guys make a great team

I am always able to get more water bottles on the train sleeper cars.

There is a handicap accessible room on coast starlight. I’ve used it twice and so glad i was able to use it. 🌷💫

I plan on traveling from Los Angles to Richmond, VA via Chicago next spring and have been preparing a list of things I need to bring. I am glad I stumbled upon your video for a great starter list.

Great tips! Safety pins can be so useful and I never thought about Command hooks. I had been wondering about how the toilet paper was going to keep dry in the shower. Now I know, thanks!

Thanks, that video was alot of help I'll keep all of this in mind.

Oh, and anything for sanitizing-- Lysol, as you said. And hand sanitizer, baby wipes, etc.

On Feb. 19, 2018, wife and I are riding the Canadian between Vancouver and Toronto, with 3 day hotel stops in Jasper, meandering by bus (Motor Coach) to Banff, etc. We did the California Zephyr 5 years ago. Our car attendant was terrible. Waiter staff was fair. Scenery out West US was fantastic! Canadian trips have always had slightly nicer crew, with better food.

Some good and realistic tips

Great tips, thank you very much.

Awesome video.

Both my wife and I have done several train tours in Europe as we hail from the UK . Our ambition is to do coast to coast across the states by train as we have found train travel the best way to meet people. We appreciate your posting very much having driven in the states we love small town USA and can’t wait to go state side again. Thanks for the insight guys in to USA train travel

This is very helpful. Thanks so much for posting this! :)

One thing about this video that I noted: the video starts showing a Roomette, then shifts to the larger Bedroom with what I thought was insufficient notice, almost as if they were the same. Also, other than brief mention at the start of the Lake Shore Limited, the train(s) involved were not identified. The roomette and full size bedroom shown and described we're in Viewliner cars (which the Lake Shore Limited uses), but other exterior views appear to me to be from the California Zephyr, which uses Superliner cars, yet no Superliner rooms were shown. The rooms are different, so this might confuse viewers.....

Excellent video! Thanks for all the tips. ☺

I have been on the Silver Meteor many times and was always able to get more water bottles in my sleeper car.

We also had SCA Lynn on our trip on the CZ last year. She was great!