Business Insider's reporter traveled by train down the East Coast from New York to Miami in an Amtrak Viewliner roomette.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
This 20-square-foot train cabin was my home for 30 hours.
I spent $500 for the private space aboard an Amtrak train from NYC to Miami.
Take a look around the tiny hotel room on the rails.
I’ll never forget my first Amtrak roomette.
Before I’d spent roughly 200 hours on overnight trains in the US and Europe, I had no idea what to expect on the 30-hour journey from New York City to Miami in October 2021.
It was my first overnight Amtrak trip, and I was set on having a bed in a private space. So I spent $500 on a roomette accommodation — the lowest-tier private cabin on Amtrak sleeper trains.
The 22.75-square-foot cabin contained two beds, a toilet, and basic amenities. Thanks to clever storage hacks, it felt like a tiny hotel room with no unused space.
See inside the most affordable Amtrak ride in a private cabin.
I walked down a narrow corridor through three sleeper cars to my private room.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Inside the enclosed space with a sliding door, I found two seats that could pull out into a bed, a table, and a bed above the seats that pulled down.
I thought this was a big step up from sitting in coach, where you get one train seat and sit with other passengers.
My roomette had a sliding door and blinds to cover the windows.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Across from the window was a sliding door with a lock and curtains for privacy.
I spotted clever storage features that reminded me of a tiny home, like a pullout table between the chairs.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The table also had two foldout leaves for more counter space. This feature came in handy to work on my laptop.
In some roomettes — mine included — a side table swings open to reveal a hidden toilet. Above it, I had a folding sink and mirror.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
With no privacy curtain around the toilet, I was grateful to be a solo traveler.
It’s worth noting that Amtrak is filtering out toilets in the roomettes, so you’re less likely to find one today.
The train had limited availability when I booked my ticket, so I had to switch to a roomette without a toilet partway through my trip.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
In this roomette, I used a shared bathroom at the back of the sleeper car.
I was surprised by the variety of lighting options, which seemed to be more than what I'd get in economy on a flight.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I was also surprised to be able to control the temperature inside my roomette with a dial and air conditioning vents. I kept it cool, about 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
My ticket included meals, which I ate in the dining car.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
For dinner, 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.
I’ve seen great improvements in Amtrak’s food since this trip, especially on overnight rides.
After dinner, I was ready to rest for the night. I opted for the top bunk.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
The roomette seats folded into a bed on the bottom level, and a top bunk pulled down from the ceiling.
I decided to sleep up top, where I found a pillow and a blanket wrapped in plastic, both soft and cozy.
While I found the train movement through the night a little unsettling, I appreciated the dim, blue light on the wall next to me. It was my favorite feature of the roomette because it reminded me of my colorful night light at home.
I didn't get much sleep, but I'm glad I went with the top bunk because of the morning views.
The author lays in the top bunk of a roomette on an Amtrak train.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Looking out the window reminded me I was going somewhere exciting, and I thought it was a welcome distraction from the tight quarters.
Though the roomette started to feel small as I neared the full 30 hours in it, I thought it made impressive use of roughly 20 square feet.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
After 30 hours in a roomette, I would book the accommodation again. But for those looking for more room to stretch out, I recommend the Amtrak bedroom.
