Around mid-March, 2020 travel plans went from “Maybe we’ll be able to go somewhere for Memorial Day weekend!” to “Maybe we’ll be able to see the remaining members of our families for the holidays in 2022!” (Too dark?) OK, so it’s not quite that extreme—some people have had the opportunity to go from sheltering-in-place in their own home to packing up the car, driving to an Airbnb, and then sheltering-in-place in a different home. Given that our world now consists of living in “bubbles” in which we can control our environment and feel (at least somewhat) safer, it’s no surprise that RV travel has become incredibly popular.
But RVs aren’t a practical and affordable option for everyone—and what if you want to travel somewhere without driving, but still crave the experience of sleeping in a moving vehicle? Well, great news: Amtrak is having another two-for-one sale on roomettes. Here’s how to take advantage of the offer.
How to book a discounted roomette
First of all, let’s talk expectations. While definitely more comfortable than spending the night trying to contort yourself into a shape that makes sleeping in a single seat bearable, Amtrak’s roomettes don’t exactly offer the old-world glamour of the train sleeper cars in old movies. Still, these mini private rooms not only allow you to travel while practicing social distancing, they also provide two seats that convert to upper and lower sleeping areas. Roomette passengers also get exclusive access to a bathroom and shower in the car, and towels and linens. Other perks include priority boarding, complimentary lounge access and free meals on the train.
If this sounds appealing, you have until tomorrow (Saturday, August 15) to take advantage of Amtrak’s buy-one-get-one roomette sale. To book tickets, use the Fare Finder here or enter code V538 when booking your trip on the Amtrak app. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of travel to get this deal, and it’s not available on the Auto Train.
Dates, rates and destinations
Though the sale ends tomorrow, you can book tickets for trips through September 30, 2020. And if you’re wondering where you can go and how much it’ll cost, here are some sample fares:
Chicago, IL to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, $193
Atlanta, GA to New Orleans, LA, $243
Chicago, IL to Denver, CO, $299
Washington, D.C. to Chicago, IL, $319
Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA, $352
Boston, MA to Chicago, IL, $402
New York, NY to Savannah, GA, $416