I've spent 128 hours on overnight Amtrak trains. These are the 8 biggest mistakes I've made.

After my first overnight Amtrak trip, I learned that the train statement has a loyalty programme that awards passengers 2 points per $1 spent. Points whitethorn beryllium utilized for tickets, hotels, shopping, and dining, and it's free to join.

If I'd signed up, I would person earned 3,000 points toward my adjacent Amtrak adventure. I missed retired that time, but I joined the programme aft my Denver to Salt Lake City travel and person since accumulated astir 7,000 points.

When I booked my first overnight Amtrak ride, I didn't cheque if my summons included entree to the Metropolitan Lounge astatine NYC's Penn Station, wherever I departed.

Available astatine prime Amtrak stations, the Metropolitan Lounge is simply a quiet waiting area that's free for Amtrak customers successful first people and sleeper cabins. It has comfortable seats, free snacks, and drinks.

I missed the opportunity to return advantage of this perk connected my first overnight trip, but I've since made usage of the lounges successful NYC, Washington, DC, and Chicago, for overnight and first-class trips.

I knew opting for the top bunk connected my first overnight Amtrak thrust was a correction earlier I fell asleep. I wasn't utilized to really bumpy trains tin beryllium for agelong periods, and I recovered the thrust felt moreover shakier up top.

I wouldn't urge the apical bunk to newbies. But now that I'm utilized to the rumbly rails, I bask sleeping up there.

Unfortunately, I felt sick for astir of my first overnight train ride, truthful I've learned that mobility sickness medicine is simply a must-have connected my Amtrak packing list.

I besides won't hide snacks. Although Amtrak sleeper tickets see breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I regretted not bringing my ain nutrient to tide maine complete betwixt meals connected that first trip.

On the 2nd ride, erstwhile I had a chamber pinch a afloat bathroom, I didn't usage the ablution because I hadn't thought to bring waterproof shoes to protect my feet. So the adjacent clip I booked a chamber successful 2026, I was judge to battalion a brace of Crocs.

While I'm gladsome I had ablution shoes connected my 2026 trip, I should person near my towel and toiletries astatine location because the train provided both.

I besides regretted packing my ukulele and drumsticks. I'm a musician and thought it would beryllium a bully measurement to walk the clip connected the 53-hour journey, but erstwhile I was connected board, I realized they'd beryllium excessively large to play without disturbing different travelers.

My first 2 overnight Amtrak rides betwixt NYC and Miami had onboard WiFi. So erstwhile I sewage to my Amtrak train successful Denver for my thrust to Salt Lake City, I was amazed to find this way didn't see it.

In hindsight, I should person checked if I'd person an net relationship earlier boarding. Had I known I wouldn't, I'd person downloaded immoderate TV shows and movies for the journey.

For me, the astir uncomfortable portion of overnight train recreation is being stuck successful a confined space. Luckily, Amtrak trains sometimes extremity for agelong capable for continuing passengers to get retired and agelong their legs.

I usually return this clip to locomotion up and down the level and do immoderate ray cardio, but each erstwhile successful a while, whether I'm entranced successful a book aliases deterred by the weather, I enactment inside. And each clip I do, I extremity up stirring pinch pent-up power soon after.

I deliberation I've yet learned my lesson. On my caller 53-hour Amtrak journey, I went extracurricular each chance I got.

Joey Hadden is simply a recreation newsman and photojournalist astatine Business Insider based successful NYC. She covers proscription modes, replacement lifestyles, and luxury travel. Many of Joey's stories are ocular features that springiness readers a front-row spot to her individual experiences astatine location and astir the world.Joey graduated from St. Edward's University successful May 2019 pinch a BA successful Photocommunications. Since joining BI successful 2019, Joey has traveled by train successful 7 different countries, from day trips to overnight rides arsenic agelong arsenic 30 hours. She's ridden connected galore different train lines, including Amtrak, Via Rail, and the iconic Orient Express of the 21st century, among others. During her travels, she's slept successful countless accommodations — five-star hotels, unique mini homes, and backstage train cabins, to sanction a few.When walking successful North America, Joey takes readers wrong the continent's wealthiest enclaves wherever billionaires hide away, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Medina, Washington. She spends her free clip singing and playing drums for the indie-rock set Blanket Approval. You tin travel Joey connected Instagram or nonstop her an email at [email protected].Popular ArticlesI spent $1,000 to person a room to myself connected a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the champion acquisition I've had connected an overnight train successful the US.I booked basal system flights pinch Delta and United. They felt for illustration 2 wholly different classes.I went connected an adults-only cruise for the first time, and 8 things amazed meI spent 2 nights successful a 2-story, 100-square-foot mini location successful Germany that was smaller than immoderate I've seen successful the USStep wrong the richest metropolis successful Arizona, wherever able Californians are flocking for backstage mountainside estates