Went on 3-Day Amtrak Journey in Bed room With Dog for $2,000, Price It

• I took a three-day Amtrak journey from Delaware to California with my service canine, Oliver.
• The journey, which cost about $2,200, saved me from the headache of airport travel.
• Amtrak and its attendants have been accommodating to my service canine, and I’d 100% take the journey once more.

Even when splurging on first-class upgrades, lounge access, or TSA Pre-Check, I do not know many individuals who would think about the airport setting notably stress-free.

Ironically, this stress solely intensified once I started touring with my service canine, Oliver, a companion particularly educated to assist make my life simpler.

Each time we fly, I’ve to face in lengthy strains to show he isn’t only a pet. I additionally must take care of numerous well-intentioned strangers attempting to pet him within the airport lounge whereas repeatedly explaining why they can’t.

This previous summer season, after a very tough journey home to Delaware to go to household, I’d nearly had sufficient. I’d give something to go for a extra stress-free journey again to The Angels.

I began interested by the Amtrak trip I’d taken with my grandparents once I was 16. Since then, I’ve romanticized cross-country rail journey and have needed to do it once more solo.

Because I used to be in no rush to get again to LA, the roughly three-day journey appeared like a super answer. I might take the practice and skip the airport altogether.

I knew Amtrak’s bedroom options can be expensive (roughly $2,200 for the journey), but when I used to be going to spend three days on a practice, I needed to be as snug as potential.

Our journey started in Wilmington, Delaware

When the day arrived, we boarded our first leg of the journey from Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington, DC.

It was a painless couple of hours and, as soon as in DC, we had a brief layover.

We had sufficient time to stretch our legs and see the Capitol Building outdoors the station.

The journey from DC to Chicago provided gorgeous views

The journey’s subsequent leg was 12 hours in a single day from DC to Chicago.

Shortly after boarding, the attendant stopped by to introduce himself and supply the station stops the place I may let Oliver relieve himself.

Once we pulled out of the station, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the attractive surroundings got here into view.

Heading northwest by way of the Appalachians throughout sundown, crossing streams and rocky rivers, I used to be already greater than happy with my determination to e-book the practice.

I used to be pleasantly stunned by the scale of my bed room on the practice

When reserving the journey, the one room choice left was the accessible bed room, which is positioned on the primary flooring of Amtrak’s double-decker Superliners.

I used to be pleasantly stunned with the room measurement, which stretched throughout your entire width of the automobile.

The room featured two seats that folded down into the primary of two beds. The attendant graciously set the mattress up for us earlier than it was time to fall asleep.

The one downfall of this cabin was that, for accessibility functions, solely a curtain separated the bathroom space from the remainder of the room.

I loved dinner in my bed room

For dinner, I had the choice to eat both within the eating automobile or my bed room. I opted for my room as I used to be having fun with the solitude and exquisite views.

Because I used to be touring in a sleeper automobile, all of my meals have been included within the value of the journey.

The menu provided a three-course meal that included a number of appetizers, entrées, and desserts.

For dinner, I selected the coconut shrimp, sirloin steak, and a slice of cake, which have been all scrumptious.

I used to be impressed with the variety of choices available, in addition to the standard of meals.

We had time to discover Chicago throughout our layover

The subsequent morning, we awoke brilliant and early to a knock from the practice attendant, as we would be arriving in Chicago shortly.

We had a four-hour layover, which gave us sufficient time to absorb the sights of the river and Willis Tower.

When we returned to the station, we spent the remaining time in Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge, which was stocked with varied snacks and drinks.

Next, we boarded Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which might take us to Los Angeles

When it was time to board the Southwest Chief for the roughly 48-hour journey to Los Angeles, we had an almost equivalent boarding expertise.

The practice made fresh-air stops each few hours, which meant there can be ample alternatives to stretch our legs and loads of toilet breaks for Oliver.

However, on the primary evening of this route, I made a terrifying discovery: I not had WiFi.

This got here as a shock to me since many Amtrak trains do offer free WiFi. However, it isn’t but provided on just a few of the extra distant routes.

Eventually, I warmed as much as the concept and welcomed being disconnected for a bit.

Over the following two days, I dined on scrumptious, restaurant-quality meals and spent most of my time sitting within the remark automobile with Oliver.

Oliver and I particularly loved spending time within the remark automobile

The remaining practice’s remark automobile was the crown jewel of the journey.

Available to all practice passengers, the remark deck was located on the highest flooring of the automobile, offering gorgeous panoramic views of the landscapes.

Seating choices have been plentiful, starting from single chairs to booth-like tables the place folks may play playing cards, socialize, or, in my case, spend time studying.

I stared in awe because the landscapes turned from expansive fields to rugged mountains to haunting, rocky deserts.

When we pulled into LA’s Union Station roughly 48 hours later, it was a mix of reduction and disappointment.

I used to be blissful to be home however actually disenchanted the journey had come to an finish.

I might completely take the journey once more to keep away from the airport

Amtrak and its attendants have been completely accommodating to service dogs, and Oliver was capable of accompany me wherever I went on the practice.

It was a reflective, painless expertise with an unknowingly much-needed disconnection from deadlines, textual content messages, and emails.

Although I do know leisurely, cross-country practice journey is not usually a possible choice in right this moment’s fast-paced, jet-set world, I might do it yet again to keep away from the airport.