Business Insider's reporter spent 60 hours in Amtrak sleeper cars, and learned things about overnight train travel she regrets not knowing before.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I regret not knowing a few things ahead of my long-haul, overnight Amtrak rides in 2021.
I took trips from NYC to Miami and back that were 30 hours each but time seemed to pass more slowly.
I wish I knew internet service wouldn't be reliable, among other lessons I learned the hard way.
In October of 2021, I booked a round-trip ride between New York City and Miami on Amtrak's overnight sleeper train. In total, I spent 60 hours on the rails.
On the way to Miami, I spent 30 hours in a $500 roomette accommodation, which is a 20-square-foot enclosed private space with a fold-out table, two chairs that fold out into a bed, and an additional bed that pulls down from the ceiling.
On my way back to NYC, I spent 30 hours in the next level up, a bedroom accommodation that cost $1,000 for a private 45-square-foot room. It was double the cost of a roomette for twice as much space and also includes a private bathroom.
While I enjoyed the trip, there are some things I wish I had known about this type of travel before that would have made me more prepared for the ride.
I thought both train rides felt bumpy the whole time.
Regardless of where I slept, I felt bumps throughout the night. But the top bunk was the shakiest to me.
The author lies in the top bunk during her first overnight train ride.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
In the roomette, I tried sleeping on both the top and bottom bunks.
I experienced bumps along the journey in both cots but found it easier to sleep on the bottom where I thought it felt a little less shaky. Next time, I'd skip the top bunk entirely.
While the bed, sheets, and blankets were comfier than I expected, I didn't think much of the provided pillows.
The author wakes up in the morning during her second overnight train ride.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The beds on my Amtrak trains were firm and slightly cushy on top, just the way I like a bed. But when I was drifting off to sleep each night, I thought of my fluffy, dense pillows at home and wished the ones provided to me on the train were a bit softer.
Although the roomette sleeps two, it can feel cramped even for one person.
The author sits in the roomette.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I am 5-f00t-3 and of average build, and I felt cramped in the roomette's 25 square feet of space. If I were taller or larger, I imagine I would feel even more cramped, especially if I had to share the room with another person. This makes the upgrade to a larger bedroom worth it, in my opinion.
My WiFi service was spotty throughout my trip, which made getting work done a little tricky.
The author works during her ride.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I planned to spend several hours of each journey working on my laptop. Amtrak provides WiFi but I thought the train's internet connection wasn't consistent, so I had to adapt my workflow to do work that didn't require WiFi.
My cell-data service was also in and out throughout the journey.
The author uses her Nintendo Switch and her phone on the train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The internet wasn't the only spotty service. I noticed that cell service on my phone seemed to come in and out, too. I wished I'd downloaded more movies and shows from streaming apps to keep myself occupied when my phone and internet weren't working.
I didn't realize that time would seem to pass more slowly on my 30-hour journeys.
The author passes the time on her first overnight train ride.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I knew 30 hours would be a long ride one way, but time seemed to pass so slowly that 30 hours felt twice as long as it usually does in my regular daily life.
I was glad that I at least packed other things to keep me occupied with spotty WiFi and cell service, such as my Nintendo Switch and music.
The cup holders in Amtrak roomettes and bedrooms fit a standard 12-ounce water bottle. I didn't know mine wouldn't fit.
The author's water bottle didn't fit in the cup holder.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I brought a big water bottle to stay hydrated on my long journey, but it was too large to fit inside the cup holder, meant for a standard 12-ounce cup.
Had I known this, I would have packed a few smaller water bottles instead.
I think you have to view the ride itself as part of your vacation to really enjoy it.
The author sits in a roomette on an overnight Amtrak.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I'm someone who deals with travel anxiety, and so I found the length of the trip initially overwhelming. It's tough for me to relax when I am between destinations, and for some reason, I struggled to view the train as a destination in itself.
But after taking two 30-hour rides, I've realized that if you can think of the train ride as part of the journey, I think you'll find it much more enjoyable.
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