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- I recently spent 30 hours on an Amtrak train traveling from New York City to Miami in 2021.
- I found the ride to be rough and bumpy, with far too much time spent in a cramped space.
- But if you value the journey as much as the destination, you might enjoy the ride.
I've traveled on several overnight trains, but I'll never forget my first time.
As a travel reporter who doesn't particularly enjoy flying, I thought I'd try an alternative mode of transportation for a trip from NYC to Miami in 2021.
Even though the train ride was more expensive than a typical economy flight to Miami and took 10 times longer, I booked a private room with two beds and a toilet on an Amtrak sleeper train for $500.
But I didn't anticipate how poorly the constant motion and length of the trip would make me feel.
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Waiting at the train station felt a lot like waiting in an airport but with less security. My train ticket got me into the waiting room, where I sat until it was time to board.
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The sleeper cars are right behind the dining car.
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The corridor was so narrow that you could only walk down it single file.
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A step up from sitting in coach, where you get a regular train seat, a roomette is a private space with a door and blinds to cover up the windows.
Inside, there are two seats across from each other, a table that folds out in between, and a bed above the seats that pulls down. The seats also pull out into a bed.
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With the seat down and the sink folded up, you'd never know there was a bathroom in the room.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
There was no privacy for those traveling in pairs.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
A decade ago, I may have had a bigger problem with the toilet situation next to my bed in the Roomette. But, thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri, a spray that goes in the toilet just before you poop to eliminate odors.
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There was a bathroom at the back of the sleeper car where I could use the toilet.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The table had two foldout leaves, too, for more space.
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In addition to the ceiling light, each seat had its own area light, reading light, and night light. I counted 11 light switches in my Roomette.
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My Roomette had a temperature dial and air conditioning vents, and I kept it cool in my room, around 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
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When I stood up to walk through the train cars, I felt like I was on an airplane during turbulence. It felt like this the whole journey, and I ended up feeling motion sickness for the majority of the trip.
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Even though eating in my room was an option, I didn't want it to smell like food in my bunk all night.
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I had braised short ribs, mashed potatoes, and a hard roll. While I didn't love the meal as it came, I made a little sandwich out of the ingredients, which tasted better to me.
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The room's seats fold out into a bed on the bottom level, but I wanted to try sleeping up top.
The bed was suspended in the air, and there were blankets wrapped in plastic that I found surprisingly soft and comfortable.
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As I nestled into a sleeping position, I listened to the choo choo of the train whistle and pretended I was on the Polar Express until I finally fell asleep.
I woke up a few times in the night feeling disoriented, and I had to remind myself where I was. There were also times when I was worried I might fall out of bed.
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Even though I didn't sleep well, I'm glad I went with the top bunk because of the views I had in the morning.
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I passed a lot of the time working.
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While the train had internet, I found the connection to be unreliable. So I was glad I had downloaded movies, TV shows, and podcasts to my phone and iPad before my trip.
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Since 2021, I've gotten more comfortable on overnight trains and have learned to appreciate them.
In my opinion, taking a long train journey is a lot like taking a road trip — if you consider the ride a part of the vacation, then maybe it would be worth it for you.