New York City: Moynihan Hall lounge and Amtrak to Toledo

February 2023

View of New York from Manhattan cruise terminal

Our cruise ship arrived at the Manhattan terminal and was ready for passengers to disembark before 8:00 AM. Our Amtrak ride was not until 3:40 PM, so we took our time disembarking, and then walked to Moynihan Train Hall. The walk was 1½ miles, which was not difficult even with our luggage. 

I am sharing info about the train station, and just a bit about the train ride in this post. You can find additional information about the train ride in my previous post about our train ride from Toledo to New York City.

Moynihan Train Hall in New York City

Metropolitan lounge, baggage check, and boarding in Moynihan Train Hall

The following passengers have access to the lounge in New York City: Amtrak Guest Rewards members with Select Plus or Select Executive status, Amtrak Guest Rewards station lounge pass holders, and passengers with first class or private room tickets. A roomette is a private room, so we had access to the lounge. Fortunately, there was not a time limit for how long we could be in the lounge, because we arrived before noon. 

Metropolitan Lounge in Moynihan Train Hall 

Once we checked in at the lounge, we were able to come and go, if we did not want to remain in the lounge the entire time. We had entered Moynihan Hall from 9th Street, so we saw Metropolitan Lounge before the baggage check area. Once inside the lounge, we observed an escalator from the lounge to the boarding area, which is also where the checked baggage counter is located. We were able to use the lounge escalator to access baggage check, and check our bags several hours before our trip. The agent in the lounge told us we could check our bags 24 hours ahead of time, if we wanted. When we first purchased our coach seats (before upgrading to a roomette), I had tried to find this information on Amtrak's website without success. I even called the train station to ask how far in advance we could check our bags, and I never reached a person. I left two messages, and no one ever called me back. It is great to know that bag check is available early, for passengers who want to explore the city until departure. 

We were a bit concerned about the weight of our larger bag, since it had weighed 49 lbs. on our trip out. There is a scale on the customer side of the counter to check bag weight and size (like the photo I shared in the Toledo station); however, it was not working. The person who took our bag did not seem to care; he merely hoisted the bag right over the working scale without weighing it, and then provided tags.

Looking toward balcony seating and boarding area from Metropolitan Lounge in Moynihan Train Hall

Amtrak: Roomette on Lake Shore Limited from Toledo to New York City

January 2023, 16-hour [actually 18-hour] Amtrak ride from Toledo 

View from Lake Shore Limited Car 4812 Roomette 1

Ticket purchase and Toledo station

We initially purchased coach seats online, and then upgraded to a roomette via telephone a few weeks before our trip when Amtrak was running a Buy 1 Get 1 special. The Amtrak representative had told me we did not need to pay the balance due until the day of our travel, and she had said we could pay the balance online. After we completed the upgrade process, I could not find our trip online [to view or to pay the balance]. I ended up calling back to pay the balance right away because we wanted to be able to view the trip details. I presume the trip needs to be booked online in order to pay the balance online, although this is not what we were told. This was our first experience upgrading and booking a roomette, so I had chosen to call. In the future, I think I would just complete everything online. After we paid in full, we received an email confirmation, which showed we had been assigned a roomette in car 4812. Apparently, the Amtrak system does not update throughout, because in the days leading up to our trip, we received several emails with upgrade offers for a roomette or sleeper car. This was a bit alarming before I double-checked the Amtrak website to confirm that our upgraded booking was in fact there. 

Baggage policy sign in Toledo station

Although we live in Michigan, we chose Toledo, Ohio for our starting point because this station has baggage check, and it is open 24 hours. The station is a mile from the Hilton Garden Inn downtown where we had stayed the night before. The agent in Toledo was helpful and professional. He clearly explained where to board the train when it arrived, at the far right end. When the train arrived in Toledo, there were about 10 passengers waiting to board in coach, and we were the only roomette passengers to board at this station.

Lake Shore Limited Car 4812 Roomette 1

Roomette #1 in car 4812

We were in room #1, and we were the only passengers in our car for most of our ride. Although this car was not a remodeled newer style, we had a great experience concerning our room. It was comfortable and quiet. The bed was made up when we entered at 3 AM. Four pillows and wrapped blankets were provided, along with two bottles of water. The photos above are what the room looked like when we arrived.

View from Lake Shore Limited Car 4812 Roomette 1

Chicago, Illinois: transportation, attractions, dining, Happy Hours

December 2019, Weekdays-weekend between Christmas and New Years

We spent three days around Chicago during our two-night stay. Following is information about some of the transportation we used and places we visited.

Sun rising in St. Joe; taken from Pere Marquette Amtrak ride en route from GRR.

Transportation

We took the Amtrak Pere Marquette route roundtrip from GRR. If you make a reservation in advance, the adult Smart Fare cost is usually $28 one-way, or 1,208 points. We were able to redeem points for part of the trip. The Christmas light decorations along the way were beautiful on the return trip. Both trips were uneventful, and we arrived on time. The train was 100% full on the way to Chicago, and it was not very full on the way back to Grand Rapids. This is the perfect situation for this trip. Grand Rapids in the first place to board the train when departing, so it was not a problem finding seats together. There are always many trains leaving Chicago, and it is nice when this route is not full, because Union Station is chaotic when it is. Click on the Amtrak label at the end of this post, if you are interested in more information from previous trips.

In Chicago, we took Uber from Sheraton Grand Chicago to Garfield Park Conservatory. There was a sign for Uber pickup in front of the hotel and Shula's Steakhouse (which is in the hotel). After I scheduled the ride, I sent a text stating our exact location in front of Shula's, because there are different street levels in Chicago, and GPS does not recognize that. The hotel concierge had mentioned rides and the different street levels during one of our conversations, and then I realized that was why my map app had been confused during some of our walks! 😁 We did not wait long, and the ride took less than 20 minutes. The cost was $12.71 pre-tip. We rode the Green Line train back to Chicago, which took about the same amount of time. You can purchase tickets from a machine at the station. The cost was $3 each for a single ticket (the website says $2.50; not sure why the price difference). The security person working in the station told us the ticket could be reused for the next two hours. There is a shelter and heating lamps in the platform waiting area. Trains run about every 10 minutes on weekdays.

My favorite room at Garfield Park Conservatory!

Garfield Park Conservatory, parks, attractions

Garfield Park Conservatory opens at 9AM, and we arrived about seven minutes early. Fortunately, the weather was nice, because there was not a covered waiting area. Others were waiting before we arrived, and they opened the doors a couple of minutes early.

Chicago, Illinois: Attractions, Dining, Happy Hours...

December 2018, Weekday-weekend, 2-days

Chicago, Illinois 

We spent two days walking around Chicago during our one-night stay just before Christmas. Many people think Chicago is an expensive place to visit; however, we found many low or no-cost things to do! Be sure and click the labels at the bottom of this post to find even more information from previous posts.

Transportation

We took the Pere Marquette Amtrak roundtrip to/from Chicago Union Station and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The scheduled time for this trip changed a few years ago, which gives more time in Chicago. We actually prefer the previous times, although the new times work, too. It is a 4-hour train ride: 6AM - 9:08 AM from GRR to CHI, and 6:30PM - 11:34 PM from CHI to GRR. Chicago is in the central time zone, and Michigan is in the eastern time zone. We have used public transportation during previous visits to Chicago; this time, we only walked after arriving.

Pere Marquette Amtrak train

To redeem points for this Amtrak route, the cost is 1,208 points for a one-way ticket. The fare from GRR is usually usually more than the fare from CHI, so I always use points for that leg of the trip (we usually visit before we have enough points for 2 roundtrip tickets). The one-way cost from Chicago to Grand Rapids was $28 per person. Unfortunately, the AAA discount I used to get is not currently active with Amtrak. Our trip was uneventful both ways. 

Screenshot of pedway map downloaded from Internet

Free Chicago walking tours ~ underground pedway winter tour

I learned about the underground pedway system while researching activities for this trip.  I was surprised I had not heard of this before. I recognized the pedway system symbols from previous trips to Chicago, and I did not know what they meant before this trip. The tour guides are volunteers, and the tours are free (other than tips). There are more tours available in addition to the winter tour that we chose. Just do an Internet search for "free Chicago walking tours" to find them. 

Pedway sign and symbol underground

Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan / Holiday Inn, Boat Show, 20 Monroe Live, Happy Hours

February 2017, Friday afternoon - overnight

View from Holiday Inn guestroom 511

Holiday Inn, King executive suite 511

This was our third or fourth stay at this Holiday Inn, and our experience was pretty similar to our past stays. Here is a link to photos and my 2014 post for executive guestroom 811. The only real difference in the guestroom this time was that the in-room coffeemaker had been upgraded to a Kuering K-cup machine. I was surprised there were only disposable cups in the guestroom, as there had been ceramic coffee mugs in 2014.

Coffeemaker in guestroom 511

Pere Marquette Amtrak / Grand Rapids to Chicago Union Station with Business Class Return

December 2015 - January 2016

business class seating - details under Chicago to GRR heading

Weekday a.m. departure from Vern J. Ehlers station in Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR) - December 2015

This was our second time departing from the new Grand Rapids train station on Century Ave. Our first experience was a year earlier, December 2014, after the new train station had just opened. This time, we were familiar with the location, and the fact that it is not easy to get to the station from Wealthy St. or US-131, despite the fact that it is located right next to both roads. Century Ave. goes underneath Wealthy St., and you cannot access Century Ave. directly from Wealthy St. We were arriving on US-131 from the north, and decided to take the first exit after Wealthy St., Franklin St., and then drive the ½ mile back to the train station. If you are arriving from the south, you would also take the Franklin St. exit, and then turn onto Sheridan Ave. to access Century Ave., as Franklin St. passes over Century Ave. with no direct access, just like Wealthy St.

We arrived at the station just before 5:30 a.m. for our 6:00 a.m. departure. The station was not crowded when we arrived, although it was a few minutes later. The boarding process started at 5:45 a.m., and we departed at exactly 6:00 a.m. even though many passengers were still standing and stowing luggage. You do not need to be seated before the Amtrak departs, like on an airplane. Boarding order was called as follows: business class, lower level and/or assistance needed (designated on boarding pass), and then groups with two or more (when we boarded). I assume solo travelers were called after this.

The Benefits of Pre-Trip Planning

Since I am a planner and I am very well organized, I tend to do a lot of research before any trip. Also, I prefer to have this type of thing out of the way beforehand, rather than doing it after we have left home! I am sharing a few suggestions that have served me well. Feel free to share your ideas, too, and let me know if you have any questions.

Take a look at the online Visitor's Bureau 

I always search for the visitor's bureau online for the area I will be visiting. I search by city, state, county, or any other keyword specific to the area we are traveling to. For example, when we visited the Gulf Coast in Florida, I searched for "Florida panhandle visitors" along with the names of the towns we were going to visit.

I then fill out the online form for any free brochures, maps, discounts, etc. for things we are interested in. I prefer to have items mailed because I am not a total smartphone user, and we sometimes make notes on printed maps of the area. Sometimes, I opt-in for email notifications, and sometimes not. I usually unsubscribe after our trip. I have found that doing this often makes us aware of things we did not know about, and you can find discounts, coupons, promotions, and information about special events.

Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

Before we visited Albuquerque, New Mexico, I submitted a request for a visitor's guide to be mailed to me (this always makes a good magazine for the plane ride, too). I found a coupon in the guide for Holiday Inn Express where we had planned to stay. The rate was $30 less than the AAA rate I had booked online! Amtrak often has coupons in their printed guides, which are not available online. Unfortunately, we have never found one for any of the routes we traveled, although I have seen them for other areas. We received many coupons when we visited Wisconsin Dells by subscribing to their emails and requesting a travel packet. These are just a few samples of things you can receive with a bit of research.

Amtrak Roundtrip from Grand Rapids (GRR), Michigan to Chicago (CHI)

December 2014, Friday - Saturday

We have ridden the Amtrak along this route several times. Two previous reviews can be found at the following links: January 2014 and January 2012.

Friday morning departure from Grand Rapids, Michigan on Pere Marquette #371

Our departure from Grand Rapids was uneventful other than the trouble we had getting to the train station. Fortunately, we had left for the train station early. I did not research the GRR train station before our trip since we have been to it several times. The station address was not printed on our boarding passes, and there was no information on the website during the reservation process that said that the train station had moved to 440 Century Avenue SW. 

Amtrak -- Roundtrip from GRR to CHI -- 4 1/2 late return

January 2014, Friday - Saturday

We have taken the Amtrak from Grand Rapids to Chicago and back several times, and I provided a review of one of our prior experiences here: January 2012. 

Friday morning departure from Grand Rapids, Michigan

There were only a few minor departure differences since I wrote my last review. We did not need to wait until we got to the station to print our boarding passes at the kiosk. We made the reservation online, and then I received an email with a PDF of our boarding passes that we printed. We also got our boarding passes this way in 2013; however, I did not write an Amtrak review in 2013. I have the Amtrak app, which I used to check the schedule, and I think that if I had also entered my account information on the app, we would have been able to use that as our boarding pass.

An Amtrak employee was inside the station when I entered to use the restroom before we departed, and I do not recall ever seeing an employee inside the station in Grand Rapids before.

We rode in upper level seats, and the ride was comfortable. The onboard ticket collector was friendly. Employees provided clear and accurate updates en route. Our arrival time was scheduled for 10:38 a.m, and we arrived at 10:48 a.m.

Saturday evening departure from Union Station, Chicago

Our return trip was horrendous. This was one of the most unpleasant travel days I have experienced, and I travel a lot! Our scheduled departure time was 4:55 p.m.

It was not until after we arrived at the station and people had started to line up to board that we were informed that the train was going to be delayed 30 minutes. Our departure time ended up being 2 hours and 23 minutes late, and we were not given much information while we waited. There was an announcement two or three times that merely said to stay in the area. Many passengers remained standing in line or they sat on the floor because there were not enough seats in the area. The trash cans around us were overflowing, and it was difficult to move around because there were so many people waiting. The train schedule board was never updated with a new expected departure time, and we did not learn the cause of the delay until we were getting ready to board.

When our train was finally on its way to the station from the yard, we were told that the cafe car had not been working and that they had to swap cars. It was not clear whether they meant that the car itself was not working or whether is was the cafe equipment, although it sounded like it was the cafe equipment. Many of the passengers waiting could have already been to their destination by this time. And, our train had been sitting in the yard since it had arrived from Grand Rapids that morning around 11 a.m. I do not understand why the train was not thoroughly checked sooner, so that any mechanical problems could have been taken care of before our scheduled departure.

We rode in a car similar to the one we had ridden in from Grand Rapids; however, this time it was very uncomfortable. This was probably because our 4-hour ride ended up being just over 6 hours, and the seat I was in needed to be replaced. My seat cushion kept sliding out, my fold down tray was dirty, and there was food debris on the floor in front of our seats. The open seats across the aisle did not seem much better when I went over and briefly sat in one, so we did not move.

All of the passengers traveling to stops before Grand Rapids ended up arriving about 2 1/2 hours late, and we ended up with another delay of just over 2 hours after we left Holland. When we got to Hudsonville, the train stopped, and we sat on the tracks for an hour. The information we were provided over the next two hours was unclear. The employee mumbled, and he did not clearly explain the reason for the delay. We were told something about a train car, a fire, and the Wyoming yard. 

After an hour or so on the tracks in Hudsonville, we started to move. The conductor then told us that we were going to proceed to the yard and deal with the situation when we got there. We again came to a stop a few miles from the train station. We remained in this location for another hour while we waited for a train beside us to be moved.

From the information I found online (car train fire in SW Grand Rapids), and what we observed, it appeared that a freight train had been moved because of a fire 4 hours earlier, and we had been sitting on the tracks waiting, because the freight train was in our way, and we had to wait for someone to come and move it.

Our scheduled arrival time into Grand Rapids was 9:55 p.m., and we arrived at 2:26 a.m. The Amtrak app said 2:22, which was not correct. It was only a few minutes later, so they must not have updated our arrival time when we were just short of arriving at 2:22.

Promotions and discounts

I "like" RailServe on Facebook because the Amtrak site says to do this in order to be informed about promotions and discounts. This is partially untrue. They do post the discounts eventually; however, do not rely on them to keep you informed. You are better off to do your own research, if you are interested in booking an Amtrak ticket.

When we were planning our trip, I searched online for discounts every few days, and I wished I had done this more frequently. I found the 20% Winter Sale discount over 24 hours before it was posted on Facebook. I was able to purchase our return tickets from Chicago with the discount when I found it; however, the promotional tickets for our outbound trip from Grand Rapids were already sold out by the time I found the discount. It was apparently available at least a few days before I found it, and before it was posted on Facebook. I missed out on the discount for our entire trip, because I had been counting on RailServe to let me know about upcoming promotions. Because I was following them on Facebook, I did not search for discounts as diligently as I had done for prior trips.

Overall

I felt betrayed by Amtrak and RailServe since I missed a discount by following their instructions. Their website encourages followers on Facebook several different times: 

• There is no advance notice of these sales, so be sure to "like" our Facebook Page for updates. 
• Subscribe to our Facebook Page for early notice of new Amtrak discounts. 
• UPDATES: Subscribe to our Facebook Page for the latest Amtrak promotion code discounts plus occasional 3-day fare sales not available on our website. 

  

During our trip, we thought the Amtrak delays were handled inefficiently, and I have contacted Amtrak about our experience. I "like" the Amtrak page on Facebook, so I contacted them via message the evening of our delay. After we arrived home, I submitted a customer contact form via their website. It has been 4 days since I first contacted Amtrak about our experience, and I have not heard from them.

I always enjoyed riding the Amtrak before this experience. The way that Amtrak treated its passengers when our delay was initially caused by mechanical reasons, is the same poor treatment we received from the Lake Express when our trip with them was canceled due to mechanical reasons July 2013.  

I travel by air frequently, and I am sometimes frustrated with the delays I encounter. After our experience with the Lake Express and Amtrak, however, I am certain that air travel is far more reliable and friendly. I will provide an update if I hear anything from Amtrak.

**Update
I had expressed our dissatisfaction by submitting an online form via the Amtrak web page. I used the "Employee Praise/Compliment" form, because there was not a form to register a complaint or problem! I received an automated reply eight days later, and I received a call from Amtrak five weeks later.

The Amtrak representative who called apologized for the situation, and he said that he was issuing us a future travel voucher, since the delay had been over four hours. He was professional, although he also implied that the delay was due to the fact that the train had arrived late from Grand Rapids that morning. The train had arrived slightly late--around 40 minutes, if I recall correctly; however, I do not understand why that would have made our departure almost 2½ hours late, since there had been almost six hours between the two trips. I did not think it was necessary to argue the point; I was glad to hear that Amtrak is aware of the problems along this route, and that they are looking into things. Now that we have this travel voucher, I am more apt to try the Amtrak again. The value is not high enough to cover a roundtrip, although it is better than nothing. It is good for one year, and if we travel with Amtrak again, I will share our experiences.

Amtrak -- Roundtrip from GRR to CHI

January 2012, Friday morning departure from GRR

The GRR Amtrak station is not staffed. Boarding documents can be printed from a kiosk, which is located in the entryway and accessible 24 hours. The inside waiting area opens at 6:30 AM, and bathrooms and limited seating are available inside. In the winter, this building is usually filled with passengers standing and sitting. I had to maneuver around many people to get to the restroom.

There are not many parking spots at the station either. There is an overflow lot kiddy corner across the street. We have, fortunately, been lucky enough to get a parking spot at the station every time we have taken the train. There always seems to be a lot of people coming and going in the morning, so if you don't find a spot right away, you might consider waiting a few minutes to see if anyone leaves. We have never found an empty spot upon arrival; however, someone has always departed right after we drove in. Since there is not much room inside the station, we opted to wait in our vehicle until the train arrived. You do not need to go through the waiting area to board the train.

The boarding process was quick and easy. Passengers were directed to different cars based on how many were in their party. We ended up in the front portion of the center car. The ride was smoother than I recalled from our last trip. The seats also appeared new. The cushions were different, there were different adjustment levers for reclining and a footrest, and the tray tables were larger with an indentation for a cup. Even though there was plenty of room, I was extremely uncomfortable before we arrived in Chicago. The seats were very hard on the bottom, and I found myself looking for reasons to stand up and move around. We rode in a different car with the older style seats for the return trip, so be sure and read how that compares below.

Our arrival time was scheduled for 10:33 AM Chicago time. We arrived about 15 minutes late, which has been typical every time we made this trip. Other than the uncomfortable cushion, the ride was uneventful and enjoyable.

January 2012, Saturday evening departure from CHI

The departure gate waiting area was not too bad--seating wise. I have been at this station for this trip when it was so crowded, that there was barely room for all the passengers to sit or stand. Amtrak does pre-boarding from Chicago for senior citizens (over 62), military, and Amtrak priority passengers. This is not real obvious. The sign by the entryway is small, and I could barely hear the announcement for boarding, even though I was seated very close to the announcer.

The boarding process went smoothly, and we were directed to different cars based on our destination. This time, we ended up in the back portion of the first car. So, we were directly through the connecting doorway, in front of where we had been seated for the trip to Chicago. The seats in this area were the older seats. They did not look old or grungy; I could only tell because the material was a darker color, and the features were not as updated. The seat reclining control was a round knob instead of a lever, and the tray table was smaller with no indentation for a beverage cup. The good thing about the older seats, is that they are more comfortable! I had no problem sitting for fours hours on the return trip, and I stood up to move around less than half as many times as I had on the trip to Chicago. We experienced a lot more motion seated in this area than we had on the way out. It felt like we were traveling faster, so the added movement may have been due to the speed, and the location where we were seated. Unless you have a problem with motion sickness, I don't expect the motion would be a problem.

I did not make note of our exact arrival time, although I'm sure it was on time. Every time we have been on the Amtrak when there was a delay, there has always been an announcement over the intercom. We departed Chicago a few minutes late--less than five minutes; however, the trip was uneventful after that, and the time stopped at each station for passengers to disembark was very quick.