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Trip Reports by our Clients:
Cardinal, Empire Builder & Coast Starlight
By Richard Smith
We just got back Friday night. We arrived at JFK just in time to enjoy a lock down (terrorist scare) which kept us on a taxi-way for more then an hour. American has discontinued free in-flight snacks. However one hour out of JFK we were treated to cups of water. No ice... I suspect that was extra.
As to AMTRAK without exception we were well treated!!
1: The Cardinal arrived in Chicago 1.5 hours late. The lounge car staff was disinterested but not abusive. The young female attendant was flustered but polite. The food... diner quality or slightly worse. On the bright side the porter in the sleeper was vastly experienced and competent... highly professional. We gave him a good tip at Chicago.
2: Empire Builder. AMTRAK went all out. Gift boxes in the room, Individual splits of decent Champagne (one hour out of CHI) freshly baked cookies from the diner... The staff seemed highly trained, professional and dedicated to the enterprise. The food was terrific and the view from the lounge car fascinating (not up to the Zephyr though).
3: Coast Starlight. It's seen better days. There was a laid back non ostentatious professionalism throughout the trip which in its way was very pleasant. Unfortunately the 1st Class Lounge car was out of the consist. However there was plenty of room in the snack/lounge car so we did alright. The food was slightly better than that on the Cardinal but still institutional in character. For unfathomable reasons AMTRAK stocks the train with a female concierge who aside from greeting us and helping with table service (one meal) seemed to accomplish nothing. Perhaps they have function when the first class lounge is in the consist but on our trip they were baggage!
Both the Empire Builder and Starlight were on time or early... remarkable after last year.
We were vastly impressed by the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in LA. Reminded me of an old time Harold Lamb Movie palace!! Enormous operation! Amusingly the public hallways on the upper floor seemed a left over from Kubrick's "The Shining." We walked around the entertainment and business districts which could best be described as theatrical. Particularly the Disney Concert hall and the cathedral. The weather in LA was perfect.
Thanks for your service. We intend to go to the Grand Canyon next spring so you can expect to hear from us again.
Richard Smith
June 14, 2007
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