California Zephyr 2023 (Chicago-San Fran): Coach, first time and learn from my mistakes! | JULIA KEI
This is my first multi day train trip. My first time on an Amtrak (and in coach). I've done a lot of research on how to make this train ride as smooth as possible. I've answered a lot of questions I had before boarding on this train with this video. If you have any additional questions about this trip, please write it in the comments and I will get to it :)
Additional note:
After many of the same comments, I FINALLY know you don't pronounce the "S" in "Illinoi"
-I chose to do this trip during the winter as I wanted to see snow!
-I bought my ticket about a month before my departure date.
-The train ride itself is suppose to be for 52 hours, but with "disruptions," it took 53 hours, plus 1 hour bus shuttle transfer = 54 hours!
Hope this helps you with your train journey!
Пікірлер: 60
Thank you for sharing the awesomeness of train travel in coachclass.. This is one of my favorite routes….Bravo!! Well done..
Excellent Amtrak video. Thanks!
When I was younger I had no problem with coach. Took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to Barstow. Took the northern route once from Chicago to Seattle. I would get a roomette or sleeper were I to travel by Amtrak today. I know it's expensive but toughing it in coach without being able to dine in the dining car would not be very enjoyable. Love that cheesecake!
I took this train a few years ago and had an empty seat next to me all the way from NYC to Chicago and then on this train from Chicago to Emoryville. Listening to your soft voice while watching was very relaxing and then when you showed your pretty face it was even nicer. I also took my own meals and saved lots of money by doing so. I do think that the little water pot was a great idea. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Nice video. How smart to bring the collapsible kettle!! You really had a nice setup at your seat🙂
Really enjoyed your video. Very informative! Thank you for sharing. I hope to make the same trip later this year.
Great video. I've done roomettes because I'm too old to sleep in coach. It's a lot more expensive ($1000 when purchased in advance), but much more comfortable.
I will be traveling from Fairfield to Virginia will be ridding Coach all the way. 3 days on the train 🚆. My Son told me he made many friends on board. But my told its a safe journey, not to worry about anything. I never been on Amtrak so kinda concerned. My trip will be in mid July. I want to eventually make it to Orlando. But have to wait for an approval before I leave California. 😊
Very well done video. Glad you enjoyed your trip on the Zephyr! (Nice music choice too)
You REALLY have your stuff together Julia!!! This was a fabulously filmed and narrated video in the most soothingly sweet voice of any of these films on Amtrak. Great job!!!
Smart girl with the collapsible hot water kettle and ramen/tea/coffee packs! Love your soothing voice. Subscribed!
Very nice video. My son is treating me to this trip in July for my 50th but springing for a room. Cannot wait!
@brianpacker3703
6 ай бұрын
I've done this route many times and LOVE it. Her train was uncharacteristically "on time." Be prepared for hours of delays. Remember that you've got nowhere to be other than enjoying where you are, and the delays no longer seem to matter. I'm glad you're getting a room, that is what really makes the experience so wonderful. Enjoy meeting people in the dining car, some of my best train stories are from who I was talking with during my meals. But you can get your meals delivered to your room, I would recommend a lunch (Get breakfast delivered and you can have it in bed!).
@Whatamidoinghere262
6 ай бұрын
@@brianpacker3703 I actually did this trip a few years ago with my then 6 year old daughter. And it was actually 30 minutes ahead of schedule when it reached Davis, CA!
Looking forward to the same trip in August…thanks for the Charlie Brown Christmas music, it went well with your vid!
Very nice. Thanks for the ride along. Can't wait til my trip!
Love this video. I personally don’t think I could do this trip in coach now but could when I was much younger. Your description of the entire train and trip is informative
Enjoyed your video and travel Julie 👌 The coach seats are comfortable and cheap too. I'm glad you experienced the train ride. 👍
Excellent work.Thanks for sharing your experience 👏🏻
Hey, thanks so much for sharing your Amtrak journey in coach. I have been looking for any videos about the coach accommodation, and yours had all the answers to my questions about how it was like in coach. So, thanks so much.
Very nice job on this video. I hope to see future train vlogs from you!
This is a nice video. I live in a town with a Zephr depot so I have traveled on the train many times. My home train stop is one of the overnight Nebraska stops. The train usually stops around 2am. I usually book a sleeper roomette. One comment is that the first sleeper car behind the baggage car is the crew dorm car. There are a few overflow roomettes that they do sell to revenue passengers in that car when the other two sleeper cars are full.
Great video
Very nice video
Nice video, your voice is very calm and soothing
Enjoyed the video, thanks.
24:43 - I grew up in this town for the majority of my childhood!
Hi Julia I really enjoyed watching your video from CHI to SanFran, because I am planning it myself as well. really good info ! Do you think it d be doing better in winter season so we can see beautiful scenery?
Will take this route in April.😂
Next time I'll go visit Chicago either Amtrack southwest chief express or Texas eagles express train
I love how you kept saying Illa Noise. They hate that but I think it's funny to say it your way to tease them.
Amtrak has free WIFI but with varying dependability. It was usually good when I take the Wolverine from Detroit to and from Chicago but some time it drops out and I have to keep restarting it. Other vloggers of this route stated that in very rural/wilderness areas they get no WIFI or cell signal for some time. Be prepared for that!
The California's zephyr hit a milk truck in colorado east bound
How was your sleeping experience for the 3 days in coach……Thanks for sharing
Nice video. We’re going to take Coach from SF to Chicago in a few weeks. Is WiFi available? Or included? Thank you!
Actually the S is silent in Illinois.
@Julia_Kei
7 ай бұрын
good to know
I was under the impression that the Zephyr does not have Wi-Fi, is that still the case?
Thank you for your insights on the coach side of things. How much did you spend on food overall? And how was the shower situation?
@Julia_Kei
6 ай бұрын
Overall food total spent came out to be around $80 for the whole train ride (54 hours). This includes my one meal at the dining car, a few meals from the Amtrak cafe, and the food/drinks/snacks I bought at the market before I boarded the train. I spent about $10-15 per meal. I spent about $10 per "light" meal at the Amtrak cafe. Amtrak dining car has breakfast for $20, lunch for $25, and dinner $45 (subject to availability). I've seen other people bring their own bread to make PB&J, fruits, cookies/chips. Regarding the shower situation, there is no shower in the coachclass car. I just tough it out and ended up using babywipes to clean my self at the lounge restroom and changed my clothes daily to refresh myself. At the end of the video, you can see my hair is kind of oily and messy...
@yochillfelix
6 ай бұрын
@@Julia_Kei Thanks again for the insights!!!
hello took that route a few times in coach i dont rember gettiing seat assigments that must be new
What month did you go and was it crowded?
The "s" at the end of Illinois is silent. It is not pronounced.
The ‘S’ is silent in Illinois. 🙄
Its Illinois NOT Illinoissss
I am a bit confused, you had access to the dining car from coach on the zephyr, everything I see from Amtrak suggests that is only availbe for those in rooms or roomettes, please explain thank you!
@Julia_Kei
7 ай бұрын
Meals are already included in the ticket for anyone in the sleeping car(rooms and roomettes). With Coach, its subject to availability. My train had a lot of available seats in the dinner car, probably because it was not a full train. They will announce through the speaker when there are open seats (and the price) after the people in the sleeping car are about done with their meal. Hope that answer your questions.
@jimh.6293
7 ай бұрын
@@Julia_Kei Thank you yes, it sounds like eating in the dining car can be a treat to give oneself if traveling in coach, but not to depend on it when traveling with coach and prepare to eat one's own food or cafe food for the trip. Thank you!
what was that you used to put your feet up in? What was the temperature on the train?
@Julia_Kei
6 ай бұрын
That is an airplane seat footrest hammock that I used. Temperature in the train was room temperature, but slightly on the colder side (probably due winter season and snow outside). I never noticed the temperature so I didn't have any concerns about it. I wore long sleeve lounge wear and it seemed to work out for me.
Where did you get your collapsible kettle
@Julia_Kei
6 ай бұрын
On Amazon/online. I just search for Collapsible electric kettle. There are electric heated tumblers also!
How was the Moon River?
@Julia_Kei
7 ай бұрын
Surprisingly there was none, maybe it was too cold.
Bad move on your part. The cost of the bedroom and roomettes have gone through the roof,. For me, anything over 4 hours, I get a private room. Take care.
Good video but a couple of minor things drove me crazy. First the "s" in Illinois is not pronounced. It's a French work like "debris". Second, about 27 minutes in describing the most beautiful views of the "whole entire" trip. Either use whole or entire but both is redundant. Again overall an interesting video. Keep it up.