Booked!

After my night of 2.a.m. research and still no word back from this travel agency that I was trying to touch base with, I ended up right back in my thought process where I had begun. Since I had read the review of Yotel Hotel by a person in a wheelchair who stayed there and saw the photos, I knew I had wanted to stay there. But the Hotel wasn't in Brooklyn and I knew I could find a cheaper place to stay. So I kept Yotel in the back of my mind but kept looking.

What clenched it for me was really two things.

First, during my night of research I had come across an Accessible Taxi dispatch company that originates out of Manhattan. They will take you to any burough but your trip must begin in Manhattan. Because of my ignorance in the geography of NYC, I didn't realize where Penn Station is. The company (www.accessibledispatch.com) replied to my email the next day and said that "yes" they could take me from the train station to the hotel. One of the reasons that I was going to utilize the travel agency was because they claimed that they could make transportation arrangements to and from. Well, I just took care of that myself.

Second, the proximity of the hotel to the train station. That is pretty much what did it. Though, I really wanted to stay in Brooklyn, being near Times Square might work out for the best. I can go to Central Park, Times Square (obviously), go to the US Open, go to a NYM game, and I can still venture into Brooklyn if time allows.

So I booked the Yotel Hotel! That was yesterday.

This morning I got my train ticket! I was going to book online but I needed to ask a couple of questions first and I'm glad that I called.

First, I needed to ask about boarding access as I know how Union Station (Los Angeles) works but not Chicago. I was assured that while Chicago does not have an on board ramp as L.A. does, I will not have problems boarding. Lets's hope so!

Second, I asked about the dining car. 40 hours to Chicago and then another 19 to NYC, a woman is going to need to eat. Again, I was assured that though the aisles are too narrow for me to get to the dining car, I would have food brought to me. (Taking mental note to have money to tip, if needed).

Then began the process of booking and the agent asked if I would like an accessible seat to transfer to. Not knowing how comfortable I will be to transfer out of my chair I didn't know. But then the agent informed me that there would be no extra cost to have a space for my chair and an accessible seat to transfer to. And thinking on it, it'll probably be a lot more comfortable to try to catch some Z's in a Amtrak seat then it will my wheelchair. So I now have that option.

So that's that! I have the Hotel booked and the train ticket bought. Now begins buying a few things I still need and saving money.

Saving! Saving! Saving!

My countdown clock on my phone says 210 days. I can not wait! I don't think it will all truly sink in til I'm on that train.