I took my first long-distance Amtrak ride on short notice. Here are 5 mistakes I'd try to avoid next time.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Author selfie and view of Amtrak train from outside
I took a 20-hour Amtrak trip on a whim amid airport chaos. I made some rookie mistakes along the way.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider

I'm a New Yorker who went to Seattle for the first time. Here are 9 things that surprised me.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author, wearing a camera around her neck, stands smiling on a Seattle rooftop with a view of the city behind her.
Business Insider's travel reporter took her first trip to Seattle, and it was full of surprises.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent $2,200 for a private bedroom on a 53-hour Amtrak ride. Here are 7 reasons I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A composite image of a train parked outside with snow on the ground and the author sitting in an Amtrak bedroom with a window behind her
A Business Insider reporter took Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville, California.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I took the longest train ride in the US. 6 things surprised me about the 53-hour adventure across the country.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author sits in an Amtrak bedroom with a mirror on the left back wall and a window on the right
A Business Insider reporter spent 53 hours on Amtrak's California Zephyr train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

We spent 92 hours in an Amtrak roomette. Despite our many struggles and the $1,765 price tag, we'd do it again.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Man smiling on Amtrak train
I spent 92 hours on Amtrak's Sunset Limited with my girlfriend in a roomette.

Farrin Rosenthal

I upgraded to Amtrak's business class for $50. As nice as my 8-hour ride was, I'll probably stick with coach.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Woman taking selfie on Amtrak train
My eight-hour ride in Amtrak's business class allowed me to work on the move while also being quite comfortable.

Alexis Buncich

I compared coach and business class seats on a 4-hour Amtrak ride. One perk made the $120 upgrade worth it.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A split image showing Talia Lakritz and an Amtrak train.
Is upgrading from coach to business class on Amtrak worth it? I traveled in both to find out.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

I chose a 20-hour train over a 2-hour flight to avoid airport chaos. See what the experience aboard was really like.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Split image of Amtrak train from the outside and author selfie.
Perks like comfortable seats and spacious bathrooms made my train trip enjoyable.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider

I've let my kids take Amtrak by themselves since they were 13. I love giving them independence.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Sara Clarke's son in front of an Amtrak sign
The author's son has taken the Amtrak alone since he was 13.

Courtesy of Sara Clarke

I canceled my flight and paid $200 for a 20-hour Amtrak ride to avoid TSA airport chaos. It was better than flying.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Photo composite of the author in Amtrak and long TSA lines at airports
I took the Amtrak to avoid airport chaos. It took 10 times as long and cost twice as much as flying.

Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider/Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

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