About 52 hours will be spent on the train trip from Chicago to California.
It would have been ideal if we had brought along a few things that would have made the trip from Chicago to California much more pleasant.
Ginger chews
It’s possible that the ginger chews helped with the motion sickness. I realized too late that I should have brought ginger chews. Ginger is a natural motion-sickness treatment, and I wish I could have tried it instead of the artificial Dramamine and sea-nausea relief bands.
Pillow
For more relaxation, I should have taken my pillow. In retrospect, I wish I had brought along an extra cushion in my roomette because it was a bit on the stiff side. A simple neck pillow would have been appreciated. However, if you book a roomette on Amtrak, you won’t need to carry your bedding because the company will supply a pillow and blanket.
Blanket
For rides in the fall or winter, I always take along an extra blanket. An oversized comforter is one of my favorite ways to go off to sleep at night. Amtrak blankets are just the right thickness for a cold night on the train, but they’re not as warm as a comforter. To stay warm and comfortable on rides in the fall and winter, I think I’ll bring along a little blanket.
Downloaded movies
There were a couple of movies I could have downloaded and watched later.
It would have been nice to have downloaded some Netflix shows before boarding the train, given there is no Internet access. I had to write, so I tried to devote my attention to that, although I could have used the time more productively by watching a movie (or three) in my studio apartment.
Playing cards
The cards would have been entertaining to play. I regret not taking a deck of cards because I enjoy playing card games. It would have been nice to have something to do when I needed a break from my computer and mobile device. Also, in a post-COVID-19 era, I hope to take a long train voyage where I can socialize with strangers through games of cards.
Wine
I’ll be sure to bring along my favorite wine the next time we go camping. I wasn’t aware that roomettes typically allowed guests to bring their alcohol. The wine Amtrak served with dinner was excellent, but I wished I had packed my own to savor in my compartment afterward. On my next trip by rail, I will be sure to pack my go-to bottle of red or white wine.
Snacks
I brought some food, but now I wish I had brought more. The meals on Amtrak were above and beyond my expectations. However, it would have been wonderful to have some variety in the snacks available.
Air freshener
When I saw someone with a small cooler, I wished I had brought one so I could have brought more perishable food options in addition to the packaged ones. I wish I had a jelly air freshener to perk up my tiny apartment. I wish I had brought an air freshener, but I know that some people have sensitivities to specific smells while traveling.
The train didn’t smell bad, but I longed for a more pleasant aroma after a few days. The roomette would have benefitted from a jelly air freshener or spray, which could have been brought along.
Earplugs
When riding a train, it can get quite noisy; earplugs might have been helpful in this situation. Even if the other riders weren’t annoying, the train’s jolting and background noise made for a restless night’s sleep. On the first night, earplugs would have helped me adjust to sleeping on a train.
Eye mask
Bring an eye mask if you need total darkness when sleeping. Sleeping on the train was relatively easy for me, and I did so, but there was a small amount of light that seeped in through the door at night.
On the second night, I figured out that I could block most of it by placing my backpack in front of the door, which served as added protection, but I still would have appreciated an eye mask to ensure complete darkness.
source:businessinsider.in
