California Zephyr - train from Chicago to San Francisco?

I travel every year on Amtrak from Chicago to LA, not on the Zephyr, but on the Southwest Chief. I would highly recommend a roomette. Nice seating and window for the daytime, all your meals (a drink with dinner.) The only reason for a bigger space is the bedrooms can come with a private toilet. In the roomette you share with the other roomettes in that car. Each roomette has an upper berth so could be up 14 others. (check my math) Also, these cars are closest to the dining car which makes it easier have less cars to go from one to another. That's the part I always find scary on a train.

I recently traveled in a roomette on the Coast Starlght from Los Angeles to Portland and back again. The roomette is fine for one person - for two if you know each other quite well, as it is a tight space when the lower bed is made up. The restrooms are shared, but there must be three or four between the lower and upper level per car, plus a shower room, so there was always one available. Both attendants were extremely friendly and helpful. I had a number of pleasant conversations at shared tables in the dining car. I can't see doing that long a trip in a standard or business seat.

I'm planning the trio over LDW in 2027 (5/30) departure.

Are you traveling 'over LDW" ( i.e., Labor Day Weekend, which is in September) or in May over Memorial Day Weekend?

thanks, markcw.....I have some mobility issues and forgot the bathrooms on the lower level. Have you ever been brave enough to try the shower down there? I did once, years ago, but too scary to be on a wet floor with the train moving back & forth.

jgosnell,
Based on this query and your other post about going to Vancouver from Seattle, I am curious about where you are from, as your questions seem a bit naive to me. That is not meant as an insult, but rather the thought that you have not traveled much in the US. I could be way off base with that assumption. You, of course, do not need to answer my question. And I apologize if I sound intrusive. Best of luck with your travel plans.

Have you ever been brave enough to try the shower down there?

I considered it, but since the trips were just overnight, I decided in each case to wait until I reached my destination. Overall, I preferred the lower level to the upper, despite the need to climb the stairs each time to go to the dining car or otherwise move about the train.

Several years ago I took Amtrak from Whitefish, MT to Chicago and decided once was enough. The trip took way too long (24 hours) for me.

Although I travel about twice a year on Amtrak, I have to agree with Happy Traveler. Taking Amtrak is part of the journey. It isn't the fastest, most efficient to get where you are going. However, the views of the West right outside our roomette window my sister and I see every year from Chicago to LA are so wonderful. We especially love eating in the dining car, having an evening beverage and watching the world go by just outside the spacious windows.

Taking Amtrak is part of the journey.

I would say it's the major point of the trip.

A few years back I spoke to Amtrak customer service about booking a roomette for one. I was told that if I called them, they would give me a better price than what is published on line. I do not know if this is still true but it is worth checking out.

I have only travelled by coach. For. a long journey, I advise against it.

As others have said when you book a roomette, that includes all meals and maybe snacks. When I travelled years ago the food was actually pretty good.

I'm not aware that there is business class on the Trans Continentals- that is usually only on the short to medium distance services.

I can't find a Business Class fare on the CZ, but for such a small difference in fare, it suggests that you are changing onto a short distance train at either end of the trip.

I've done the CZ the other way, eastbound. I could never justify personally paying an extra $2,500 to essentially only get en suite facilities for the extra money.

Given that the trains are normally full in sleeping class I don't think I could justify to myself ethically occupying a family room, for solo use, even if Amtrak are willing to sell it to me.

I think 53 hours in coach, so 2 nights trying to sleep in a coach class seat, would be gruelling, bearing in mind that your 3 meals per day (and drinks) are going to be quite a lot of extra money. In sleeper class you get tea/coffee/water on tap for free (and get to use the Metropolitan Lounge at Chicago Union). Coach class is more for intermediate journeys.
If travelling coach to save money maybe stop over somewhere in the middle of the journey, to have a real bed for a night or two- Denver or Glenwood Springs in CO being the possibly more obvious options.

I don't know if they still do it, or even if it can be heard in coach, but in sleeper class there used to be live guided commentary for the 5 hours between Reno and Sacramento- another reason to travel at least in roomette.

bearing in mind that your 3 meals per day (and drinks) are going to be quite a lot of extra money [if in coach]

As a sleeping car passenger, I was surprised to hear how expensive a meal was for coach passengers - you are paying for the privilege in addition to the food.

Having done a cross-country trip on the Empire Builder, my advice is to fly.