Originally Posted by
soitgoes
Originally Posted by
jkm024
By the fourth time I called back, I finally got an answer... apparently that second "Bedroom" listing is, in fact, an accessible bedroom - despite the fact that the website does not say so. The agent noted that there were accessible bedrooms available on both the Silver Star and the Silver Meteor, but then stated that "I probably wouldn't want" an accessible bedroom. After looking on Amtrak's website, it doesn't seem like there is any particular downfall to the accessible bedroom .. however, maybe it is just poor etiquette to book and accessible bedroom when one is not actually handicapped? I guess that could've been the issue.
I also don't think there is a moral or etiquette issue if you take the only thing available on the entire train. If you book an accessible bedroom when other bedrooms are available (and usable by you), that's problematic and potentially unfair.
While it's too late now, were I confronted with that choice I would have taken the accesible bedroom. There is no real down fall to that room, especially in a Viewliner sleeper. It's a bit roomier than even the regular bedrooms and still has the bathroom and shower. The only thing that it doesn't have that a regular bedroom has, is the ability to look through the door and out the window on the other side of the train.
The door on this room faces the vestibule of the train car, so your view is technically into the next car ahead of the train. I suppose that you might hear a bit more track noise because of this, but I've never stayed in the room (only looked around) so I can't really say.
As for the moral/etiquette issue, Amtrak holds the handicapped rooms out of regular inventory until 1 week prior to departure of said train. If the room has not been booked by a party that meets the qualifications, then it is released for sale to the public at large.
This is why for weeks you saw nothing and then suddenly the surpise yesterday of finding a bedroom for sale.
Originally Posted by
soitgoes
If one is available, I'd prefer the non-accessible bedroom (mostly because I like the upper level), but there is no real downfall.
There is no upper level on a Viewliner sleeper, unless you like riding on the roof of the car.
And the crew tends to frown on that idea.
