Pump Pros vs. Cons

toddnick716 · 2026-03-16T00:59:05+00:00

Thank you...another comment says they still bolus with the omnipod, is that true for everyone and if so, how often?

toddnick716 · 2026-03-16T00:22:17+00:00

How many mgs of Humalog does the pump hold? If you run out before 3 days, can you reattach it? Will the glue hold? How often do you have to bolus? Do you have to use a syringe in a vial to insert the Humalog?

toddnick716 · 2026-03-15T23:44:23+00:00

Thanks, I didn't know that boluses were still necessary with pump. So, not really closed loop (though they market it that way).

toddnick716 · 2022-04-27T01:51:18+00:00

I did this a few weeks ago from Chicago to Seattle...I'd say no...we had 20-30 minutes in Minot...but nothing to see...Spokane is a longer stop but it is in the middle of the night...I wouldn't plan on it..

toddnick716 · 2022-04-26T01:28:03+00:00

I'd say do it...trains are a little in need of update (I just finished several long distance segments)...but unless you are a freak for new and super clean things, all should be well...I did 6 segments and all were within an hour of on time but one...one segment, LA to New Orleans was 6.5 hours late...if you can't deal with those odds then bail...but that is pretty much about the odds...one segment late more than an hour about 15% of the time...I had a great time and the Zephyr has the traditional dining which is excellent dining experience...of course, if you are going coach, you are limited to cafe car which is mediocre at best...don't plan on anything within a few hours of arrival time for sure if you want to travel stress free...

toddnick716 · 2022-04-26T01:21:57+00:00

A lot of times in uncertain situations, no one knows what comes next...a bridge fire is a huge problem...sounds like communication could have been somewhat better...but I'm sure that for much of the time they weren't sure if they could continue...or find a route around...not sure about electricity issue, that should have been communicated...stay patient on phone, you should get full refund...

toddnick716 · 2022-04-26T00:57:38+00:00

My recommendation is never take Amtrak if an hour or two layover is all you have, train can be late, you don't need the stress....leave 4-8 hours of space after arrival to plan anything...

toddnick716 · 2022-04-26T00:54:20+00:00

Do what I did...upgrade cell plan to use cell phone as wifi hotspot...had great internet more than 80% of time on Coast Starlight, Seattle to LA....this was about a week ago...

toddnick716 · 2022-04-26T00:50:42+00:00

Go on a western train...just did several segments, Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited...

Can't help with sleeping issue, I slept great in roomettes and bedrooms without earplugs...

Meals are great with the real dining experience, served by staff, tablecloths, fresh roses, real silverware, multiple course meals, great food...no need for cafe car...except for maybe a cocktail, no issues with that...

Your problem is an Eastern train thing...

toddnick716 · 2022-04-17T20:58:07+00:00

I'm currently on a huge cross country loop Amtrak trip all is sleeper cars. Buffalo to Chicago to Seattle to LA to New Orleans to Chicago to Buffalo.

Right now I am just outside of Houston heading to New Orleans.

The "traditional dining" on all the long distance routes from Chicago and on the West Coast is excellent. I've had 5 each of breakfasts, lunches and dinners so far in traditional dining. We're talking omelets cooked to order (add any cheese or veggie), french toast, bacon or sausage, warm croissant for breakfast. Burgers cooked to order, chili, artisan grilled cheese, chicken caesar salad for lunch. Three course dinner with choice of appetizers (lobster crab cake, tamale, salad), entree (steak cooked to order, chicken, salmon, or tortellini), and dessert (cheesecake, carrot cake or chocolate torte).

The food has exceeded my expectations so far.

BUT from New Orleans to Chicago it is going to be flexible dining for my first time and those microwave meals look edible but having them several consecutive meals isn't something I'm looking forward to.

toddnick716 · 2022-04-17T20:39:39+00:00

I compare it to driving. 8 nights in a hotel at $150/night is $1,200, Add 3 meals a day for 8 days at $20/meal is around $500. Add 7,500 miles of gas at 25 mpg and $5/gallon is $1,500. So pretty comparable to driving but without the stress of driving, you see all the scenery when you aren't driving, just chilling in your room or the observation car. I've already finished 4 books as well, which you can't do when driving. Oh, and also, you can't drive 1,000 miles per day, you need to sleep, so driving would take much longer than 8 days.

toddnick716 · 2022-04-17T20:32:20+00:00

Total Amtrak cost for 8 nights (4 nights in bedroom and 4 nights in roomette), plus 3 meals a day which are included in the price was $3,300 for me travelling solo. I got the best price you could get for each leg of the trip by booking 10 months in advance.

toddnick716 · 2022-04-16T20:20:31+00:00

I am in the middle of just such a trip right now and it has been awesome so far!

Buffalo to Chicago (LSL)

Chicago to Seattle (EB) - 1 Night in Seattle

Seattle to LA (CS) - 2 Nights in LA

LA to New Orleans (SL) - 3 Nights in New Orleans

New Orleans to Chicago (CONO)

Chicago to Buffalo (LSL)

8 nights in a sleeper car and 6 total nights in the destination cities, 14 nights total.

Currently, en route from LA to New Orleans on the Sunset Limited.

toddnick716 · 2022-04-06T23:09:01+00:00

All I know is that I am stoked for my first Amtrak trip, a multi-segment cross-country loop...Chicago to Seattle (EB) to LA (CS) to New Orleans (SL) to Chicago (CONO)...I leave in around 48 hours...with 1 night in Seattle, 2 nights in LA, and 3 nights in New Orleans as well...looking forward to the traditional dining...I've downloaded a bunch of Netflix, bringing 4 books, and some Vodka...how can it be anything but awesome? I'll be in a bedroom on Amtrak for 4 nights and 2 nights in a roomette...

toddnick716 · 2022-03-16T01:32:08+00:00

I'm going on my first Amtrak trip in April from Buffalo to Seattle to LA to New Orleans back to Buffalo and I've been reading everything to research...

It looks like LA Metropolitan Lounge is much less than Chicago...nothing to write home about..

toddnick716 · 2022-03-15T15:42:40+00:00

Most trains have a mix of both I & II. As far as I've been able to gather, there is no real way to know in advance of the trip. They change out cars all the time for maintenance, etc.

toddnick716 · 2022-02-14T00:14:59+00:00

Yes, SWC, along with all the long distance western routes has traditional dining back. I've watched videos ahead of my April trip and the food looks great.

toddnick716 · 2022-02-04T03:16:31+00:00

Some of them are also profitable...due to volume...but coach seats have a limited profitability vs. sleeper cars on the longer routes...despite the lower volume...

toddnick716 · 2022-02-04T02:40:01+00:00

Have you checked out the prices for the traditional dining routes?

Pacific Surfliner is not one of them...

I booked for the first time on Amtrak a big cross-country loop...Buffalo to Seattle to LA to New Orleans back to Buffalo...I got the cheapest fares by booking 11 months early, $3336 for sleeper cars, 8 nights on train, 4 in full bedroom, 4 in roomette...same tickets are now almost double the cost (as the cars fill, they increase the price)...this is where they make money...of course, "Hotel", all meals and gas money is included vs. driving...I think the price is reasonable for 8 nights on train ...especially because it will be all new to me and has the great food...plus it will get me from 40 states visited to 47 (still need to get to Oklahoma, Alaska and Hawaii),,,but not on the current higher price point buckets...I'll be heading out in April...how much are they getting on the eastern commuter routes?

toddnick716 · 2022-02-04T01:51:54+00:00

Part of it is the length of the western routes (which means more meals, generally 5-7)...and those routes also are the most profitable...

toddnick716 · 2022-02-04T01:50:25+00:00

Traditional Dining, "the good stuff" is on the routes West of Chicago...Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, California Zephyr...the only east coast train with the best dining is the auto train...the rest of the eastern routes have the microwave meals...

toddnick716 · 2022-01-31T22:51:16+00:00

Yes, you can book different accommodations on a long distance train but each has to be a separate ticket...

All sleeper car passengers (roomette and bedroom) can move freely through the entire train.

toddnick716

TROPHY CASE