Updated
2024-08-29T14:27:23Z
Angle down icon
An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.
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.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the email.
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.
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.
Read next
Photos
Lifestyle
Travel
More…
Source : Business Insider