Originally Posted by
serpens
As Long Train Runnin said, the coupon is only valid on the rail portion of the fare. The first passenger will pay the full price of the roomette. I envision no scenario where the coupon will make a $2000 difference in the cost of travel. To investigate this for yourself, ask the Amtrak web site how much your trip would be for one person.
Independent of that, a roomette is cramped for two people, and the upper bunk (sometimes called the coffin) can be difficult to enter or exit. I (6 feet tall, 180 pounds) have trouble rolling over in the upper bunk once I'm up there. I have made multiple trips with two people in a roomette, and I expect never to do so again.
I did call Amtrak and it doesn’t make a $2000 difference but I think it saves something $700, which is still real money. (I can’t recall the exact amount, I was in the car at the time of the call).
I am 5’7” and 157 pounds so the upper bunk is less of an issue.
We are still interested in the Empire Builder but at this point we are leaning more towards a Grand Canyon tour. The first leg of that would be just one night.
Thanks.