Sleepy San Fran, Sleepless in Seattle and Rockies Sleeper to Chicago - 12 Nights

Includes three tours in Seattle and 3 nights full-board Amtrak sleeper train journey

Some holidays are measured in destinations; this one is measured in unforgettable moments. From the rolling hills of San Francisco to the soaring skyline of Chicago, this 12-night twin-rail American adventure delivers a remarkable combination of city exploration and legendary train travel. Begin with 3 nights in a 4-star San Francisco hotel, where the Golden Gate Bridge, waterfront districts and famous cable cars create the perfect introduction to the West Coast.

Then settle into an overnight full-board sleeper train to Seattle, watching changing landscapes unfold as you travel north. During your 3-night stay in Seattle, discover the engineering marvel of the Boeing Factory Tour, take in spectacular city views from the Space Needle, and uncover fascinating local history on the Pioneer Square Underground Tour.

Next comes one of the most memorable sections of the journey—a 2-night full-board Amtrak sleeper train across the Rocky Mountains. Witness towering peaks, dramatic valleys and endless wilderness from the comfort of your carriage before arriving in vibrant Chicago. A 3 night hotel stay provides the perfect base to explore the architecture, world-class museums and lively neighbourhoods. From urban icons to breath-taking mountain scenery, this itinerary showcases the very best of the U.S of A.

Fly to San Francisco for an overnight hotel stay

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman`s Wharf

This hotel is located close to a host of attractions in San Francisco. Guests will find themselves within easy access of a wealth of shopping opportunities, dining options and entertainment venues and Oakland International Airport is just 20 km away. Guests can enjoy an energetic workout in the gym, followed by a leisurely swim in the pool. Guests are sure to be impressed by the wide range of facilities and services that the hotel has to offer. This wonderful hotel enjoys a grand architectural design. The guest rooms are beautifully appointed, offering a relaxing setting in which to completely unwind at the end of the day. The rooms are well equipped with modern amenities, for the utmost in comfort and convenience. Grab & Go Deli shop is available in the lobby with opening daily hours of 6:30-22:00. Effective day: From 1st of AprilOvernight self-parking Current: $50 plus tax($57) Update to: $53 plus tax ($60. 42).

A further two nights' hotel stay

San Francisco

The cruise terminal is the next pier along to Pier 39 which is a huge entertainment, dining and shopping complex. This is situated in the heat of the famous Fisherman's Wharf area where there are lots of bars, fishing boats and restaurants. From here you will see magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and have the opportunity to take a boat trip to visit Alcatraz. Perhaps take the famous cable car over the hill to Union square – the heart of the downtown shopping area of the city.

Join the Amtrak Bus to Emryville Station to board the Amtrak Coast Starlight  train service overnight on full board in private sleeper roomette to Seattle.

Amtrak - Coast Starlight Train - San Francisco to Seattle

1 Night - 23hrs 01mins.
Depart 20:50 - Arrive 19:51
San Francisco - Bus to Emeryville - Train to Sacramento - Portland Oregon - Cascades - Columbia River - Seattle.
Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast. En route daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, the Coast Starlight passes through Portland, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara. The scenery along the Coast Starlight route is unsurpassed. The dramatic snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests, fertile valleys and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline provide a stunning backdrop for your journey. All sleeping car amenities include:

  • Climate control.
  • Electric outlets (110v).
  • Fold down table.
  • Fresh towels and linens.
  • Bottled mineral water, morning tea, coffee and juice.
  • Assistance of a sleeping car attendant.
  • Private daytime seating converting to bunk beds at night and turndown service.
  • Meals are included at mealtimes for breakfast lunch and dinner. On some services they are in the restaurant, on other services they are in the form of packed chilled meals in your private accommodation – please call for details.
  • Roomettes are 3ft 6” x 6ft 8”. Beds are 6ft x 2ft 4”. Sleeper roomettes have use of shared toilet and shower facilities in each car.
  • Larger bedrooms at 6ft 6”x 7ft 6” are available with larger bunk beds which include en-suite shower and toilet facilities. Please call for details, availability and upgrade costs.
  • Main luggage should be checked into the baggage car with hand luggage taken into your roomette.
  • The train formations vary between services and are subject to change.

Disembark the train and make your way to your nearby centraly located hotel in Seattle for an overnight stay.

Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour

Go underground on a 1-hour walking history tour through Seattle's original neighborhood. Our experienced guides lead small groups above, and beneath, Pioneer Square to the street level that existed in the 1890s. Explore underground pathways that were built more than 120 years ago, learning details on early Seattle history, why these spaces were built, and how they have been used (and misused) over the years. Marvel at how this former tidal flat has since transformed into one of the 20 largest cities in the United States.

Inclusions:

Professional guide

Mayflower Park Hotel

This residence is directly connected to the Westlake Centre and its 80 speciality shops and restaurants. Built in 1927, this hotel comprises a total of 160 rooms and was beautifully restored, retaining the atmosphere of a classic European establishment. Crystal chandeliers, lofty ceilings, stained glass windows and fresh flowers contribute to the feeling of old world charm. Lobby antiques include a 1776 grandfather clock and an 1810 English Regency breakfront. The exterior of the building has some of the finest terracotta detailing in Seattle. All guest rooms are tastefully appointed in classic colour schemes and many feature columned headboards and armoires in a traditional Queen Anne style. All come with modern amenities, such as Internet access and individually adjustable heating and air conditioning.

A further overnight hotel stay.

Seattle

Seattle is perhaps not the best known American city for British travellers but it is a city which has lots to offer during a stay here. The shopping is excellent, as is the dining and bars for some lively nightlife. Pike Place Market is a focal point in the downtown area and just steps away from the waterfront. Pioneer Square marks Seattle's original downtown area dating back to 1852 and is home to art galleries , cafes , sports bars and nightclubs. The Seattle Underground Tour ($16pp) can be found here and is well worth it as you have a chance to visit eerie sunken store fronts and forgotten streets which were at the original ground level before the Great Fire of 1889. These were covered up and built on in an effort to clean up the city in the second half of the 19th century. For the best views of the city visit the Space Needle which was built for the World's Fair in 1962. This 605 foot tower is the equivalent to 60 floors high and houses the revolving Sky City restaurant open for lunch a dinner daily. It was built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes of up to 9.1 in magnitude! At the Boeing Factory see how airplanes are built on this 4.5-hour small-group trip to the largest building in the world. Spend 90 minutes in the massive Boeing assembly plant and see a variety of different planes in production such as the 737, 747, 767, 777, 787, and Dreamliner aircraft . Then explore the interactive exhibits and displays in the Aviation Centre Gallery and visit the educational Future of Flight Aviation Centre museum.

Beneath The Streets Underground History Tour

Go underground on a 1-hour walking history tour through Seattle's original neighborhood. Our experienced guides lead small groups above, and beneath, Pioneer Square to the street level that existed in the 1890s. Explore underground pathways that were built more than 120 years ago, learning details on early Seattle history, why these spaces were built, and how they have been used (and misused) over the years. Marvel at how this former tidal flat has since transformed into one of the 20 largest cities in the United States.

Inclusions:

Professional guide

A further overnight hotel stay.

Boeing Factory Tour with Guided Transport from Seattle

Round trip transportation and factory tour tickets are included in this guided excursion from downtown Seattle to the wonders of the Boeing Factory! The Boeing assembly plant is home to legendary planes like the 747, 777 and the world's most advanced jetliner the 787 Dreamliner. You'll have an opportunity to learn about Boeing's long and storied history, go inside the world's largest building to view airplanes in various stages of assembly, enjoy exhibits in the Future of Flight Gallery, and hang out on the "Strato Deck" for some plane spotting.

Inclusions:

Admission to the factory Tour at Boeing Future of Flight
Guided Transport from Seattle 35 miles north to the Future of Flight Aviation Center and back
Knowledgeable and entertaining local driver/guide
Local taxes
Pickup and drop-off from the Hyatt Regency (hotel address is 808 Howell Street) in Downtown Seattle

Make your way to the station to board the Amtrak Empire  Builder train service for 2 nights on full board in private sleeper roomette across the Rocky Mountains.

Amtrak - Empire Builder Train - Seattle to Chicago

2 Nights - 45hrs 15mins.
Depart 16:40 - Arrive 16:45
Seattle –Cascade Mountains – Icicle Canyon – Spokane – Glacier Park – Montana – North Dakota – Minnesota – Wisconsin- Chicago.
Not only does this route have breathtaking scenery but there is also an amazing amount of classic North American History in the area, such as Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Chief Sitting Bull, the Wild Horse Stampede and the development of the Great Northern Railroad across the Rockies. There are lots of general interest points, including the longest tunnel, the tallest building, the largest building at the Boeing Factory, the longest river, the biggest shopping mall, the midway point between the Equator and the North Pole, the home of Bing Crosby and one of only 3 antipodes in North America!
Scenic Rockies train tour – overnight on board the train in a private sleeper roomette on full board. Your train journey takes you through the Cascade Mountains, Icicle Canyon and Spokane - the home of Bing Crosby. Then it’s onward through Glacier Park (where snowfall averages 100-200 inches per year) and across high trestle bridges. Montana marks the end of the Rockies and Havre is a service stop where you will have time to catch some refreshing mountain air. Wagner is where Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid pulled off their final great train robbery on 3rd July 1901. Wolf Point had a major frontier role in wolf trapping and trading and it is also the home of the Wild Horse Stampede.
Fort Buford in North Dakota is where Chief Sitting Bull surrendered after the battle of Little Big Horn in 1881. The twin cities of St Paul & Minneapolis are midway between the Equator and the North Pole; and where you will have an opportunity to stretch their legs. After Minneapolis you will see 140 miles of Mississippi River farmland and river bank towns with barges and restored paddlewheel boats. Winona, with Sugar Loaf Mountain on the right, was a ceremonial meeting place of the Sioux.
The train crosses into Wisconsin at La Crosse, at this point the Mississippi River is wide, quiet and immensely scenic. Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan was initially made famous by German immigrants brewing beer and is the home of the Miller brewery. All sleeping car amenities include:

  • Climate control.
  • Electric outlets (110v).
  • Fold down table.
  • Fresh towels and linens.
  • Bottled mineral water, morning tea, coffee and juice.
  • Assistance of a sleeping car attendant.
  • Private daytime seating converting to bunk beds at night and turndown service.
  • Meals are included at mealtimes for breakfast lunch and dinner. On some services they are in the restaurant, on other services they are in the form of packed chilled meals in your private accommodation – please call for details.
  • Roomettes are 3ft 6” x 6ft 8”. Beds are 6ft x 2ft 4”. Sleeper roomettes have use of shared toilet and shower facilities in each car.
  • Larger bedrooms at 6ft 6”x 7ft 6” are available with larger bunk beds which include en-suite shower and toilet facilities. Please call for details, availability and upgrade costs.
  • Main luggage should be checked into the baggage car with hand luggage taken into your roomette.
  • The train formations vary between services and are subject to change.

Disembark the train and make your way to your hotel for thrree nights' stay.

Chicago

There is lots to see and do in Chicago, go to the beach, shops on the Magnificent Mile, stare at the reflections in the giant "Cloud Gate" stainless steel bean sculpture or stand on the glass "Ledge" 103 floors up in the Willis Tower(formerly Sears Tower), the tallest building in the US. You can enjoy a fine dining experience with a view in the Signature Room on 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building. Route 66 starts in Chicago at the Buckingham Fountain, and there is the amazing elevated CTA metro system which defines the central Loop area of Downtown Chicago.

Millennium Knickerbocker Chicago

Located just steps from Chicago's vibrant Rush Street, this luxurious hotel offers stylish accommodations with premium amenities, state-of-the-art event facilities, and exceptional dining experiences. A prime destination for shopping, dining, and business in downtown Chicago, the hotel is conveniently located near iconic attractions such as Water Tower Place, Michigan Avenue, the John Hancock Tower, and Navy Pier. World-class museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, are also within easy walking distance. The hotel boasts an impressive 5, 480 square meters of flexible function space, ideal for a variety of meetings and events. Its famed Crystal Ballroom, complete with a built-in illuminated dance floor and stunning crystal chandeliers, has hosted countless elegant wedding receptions. Please note, an additional fee of $20 per person applies for guests over 13 years old. Overnight stays are $76 (including tax) with unlimited in/out privileges. Shorter stay options are also available, ranging from $28 to $45 (including tax) for stays between 2 and 8 hours. Self-parking is available for $55 per night without in/out privileges.

Make your way to the airport for your overnight flight home.

Origin Trip Start Date Trip End Date Price
Heathrow 01/08/26 Saturday 14/08/26 Friday £3559 View
Heathrow 08/08/26 Saturday 21/08/26 Friday £3859 View
Heathrow 15/08/26 Saturday 28/08/26 Friday £3249 View
Heathrow 22/08/26 Saturday 04/09/26 Friday £3149 View
Heathrow 29/08/26 Saturday 11/09/26 Friday £3369 View
Heathrow 05/09/26 Saturday 18/09/26 Friday £3759 View
Heathrow 12/09/26 Saturday 25/09/26 Friday £3879 View
Heathrow 19/09/26 Saturday 02/10/26 Friday £3359 View
Heathrow 26/09/26 Saturday 09/10/26 Friday £3299 View
Heathrow 03/10/26 Saturday 16/10/26 Friday £2849 View