2025-07-09T12:42:02Z
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I traveled from Miami to Tampa aboard the Amtrak Floridian.
The coach seat felt just like aircraft journey, whereas the first-class room supplied extra lodging.
Total, I discovered the personal roomette to be value it, regardless of being 4 instances the worth of coach.
As somebody who’s traveled throughout Florida on long-distance buses, I felt like an Amtrak coach seat was a significant improve.So the first-class roomette? A full expertise of its personal.On a latest journey between Miami and the Tampa Bay space — a journey that takes 5 hours and 26 minutes every means — I in contrast coach and first-class experiences aboard the Amtrak Floridian, which travels from Chicago to Miami.The worth for the coach ticket from Miami to Tampa was $60. The worth for the return journey within the first-class roomette from Tampa to Miami was $230.For the upper price ticket, the first-class roomette consists of dinner, a non-public lavatory contained in the roomette, and area for 2 folks. I traveled solo, however reserving the roomette for 2 folks would convey the price right down to about twice the worth of the coach ticket per particular person.From the consolation of stretching out on full, practically twin-size beds to the elevated eating expertise, I discovered the more expensive possibility was value it, particularly when splitting the prices between two folks.This is how the 2 experiences in contrast.
Amtrak’s coach-class seating jogged my memory of economic system airplane cabins.
Seats have been distributed in rows of 4 with a center aisle.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
The coach automobile’s seat distribution, organized in about 40 rows of two seats on either side of an aisle, jogged my memory a variety of economic system flights, however with more room between seats and with passengers getting into by way of the again of the automobile as an alternative of the entrance.As soon as we walked into the automobile, passengers have been free to decide on the place to sit down. I selected a window seat close to the entrance of the automobile.
Within the first-class sleeper automobile, slim hallways led to a few dozen personal rooms.
The primary-class automobile held a few dozen personal roomettes and bedrooms.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the first-class automobile, slim hallways led passengers to their personal rooms, with every automobile holding about 12 roomettes — just like the one I booked — and others holding a number of of the bigger bed room choices.These bigger bedrooms, that are additionally designed for 2 folks, value $363 and supply twice the area of the roomette I stayed in. In addition they embody a non-public in-room bathe.Throughout my journey, which was towards the tip of the prepare’s route from Chicago to Miami, a lot of the rooms have been empty or had already been utilized by earlier friends.
The coach seats have been comfy and spacious.
The economic system coach seats may recline and had a footrest that might open.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Whereas the prepare cabin resembled a aircraft cabin, I discovered the extensive seats considerably bigger and extra comfy than these in most airplanes or long-distance buses.The seat may recline and had a footrest that might open to lie down virtually fully flat.The coach class seats additionally had overhead storage compartments, and every seat additionally had entry to a fold-down desk and a wall plug, which got here in helpful to cost my cellphone.
Within the first-class roomette, the upholstered seats doubled as a decrease mattress when reclined all the way in which.
The roomette had two seats that might recline collectively to kind a mattress.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the first-class roomette, which is supposed for 2 folks, the room had two upholstered seats that might recline collectively to kind a decrease mattress, whereas an higher mattress could possibly be lifted all the way in which to the ceiling and lowered to a climbable peak.The roomette, which is 3 toes and 6 inches extensive and 6 toes and 6 inches lengthy, presents roughly 23 sq. toes in whole.
Within the economic system seat, the legroom was very comfy, and I may recline.
Legroom on Amtrak economic system is considerably extra comfy than most airplanes.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
For my coach journey, the prepare departed within the morning and arrived within the early afternoon, so there was no want for a full mattress. Nonetheless, the legroom I had as somebody who’s 5 toes 4 inches was ample, and the reclining options made mendacity down very comfy.
Within the roomette, the higher berth had its personal storage resolution and window.
The higher mattress within the roomette was very spacious, though it felt a bit unstable.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
The higher mattress of the roomette, which could possibly be accessed by climbing over the bathroom seat, had an overhead storage compartment and its personal window.Whereas the higher mattress — which was as lengthy and practically as extensive as an everyday twin mattress — felt spacious and cozy, full with good bedsheets, it did really feel a bit unstable because of the hole between the mattress and the wall. Whereas a safety strap regarded prefer it could possibly be hooked up to the roof to create a web, I used to be not capable of connect it and as an alternative opted to spend most of my journey within the decrease mattress.My journey went from the late afternoon, with the prepare departing round 5:30 p.m., into the late night time, with the prepare arriving at my ultimate vacation spot at practically midnight.Throughout this nighttime journey, I spent most of my time within the two beds within the personal room, utilizing the decrease one for almost all of the journey. I used to be capable of flip off the room lights and shut the window curtains, turning room into comfy sleeping quarters that made the journey really feel much less draining than it might’ve in a coach seat.
The economic system café’s tables have been spacious and supplied good views.
The economic system café tables jogged my memory of public college cafeterias.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the economic system café automobile, coach vacationers may buy and eat their meals at spacious tables with views out of the prepare’s home windows.After consuming, I stayed at a desk for many of my journey within the economic system café automobile.
The primary-class eating automobile felt extra like a fantastic eating restaurant.
The eating automobile supplied an elevated expertise when in comparison with the coach class.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Alternatively, the first-class eating automobile had double the home windows and extra ornate lighting and seats.The tables have been coated by white tablecloths, and every desk had a miniature bouquet together with condiments.As soon as the eating automobile opened service round 6 p.m., passengers have been free to decide on the place to sit down.The dinner service and the total meal have been included within the worth of the first-class ticket. On longer journeys, breakfast and lunch are additionally offered all through the day.
Within the economy-class café, I needed to wait practically an hour to buy meals.
The road went down all the way in which to the automobile entrance.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the economic system café, I needed to wait virtually an hour to order my meals.There was just one particular person working the money register, getting ready the meals, and serving drinks, so every diner earlier than me took as much as 10 minutes to order and obtain their meals.Amtrak didn’t reply to a request for remark about my expertise.
Within the fantastic eating automobile, cheeseburgers have been accompanied by chips and toppings.
Because of difficulties on my journey, the first-class menu featured restricted choices, just like the economic system café.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Diners have been greeted by a waiter who took our orders from a restricted menu attributable to kitchen difficulties on the journey. The menu included cheeseburgers, turkey subs, and ham sandwiches, choices I acknowledged from the economic system café menu.I received a cheeseburger, which, in contrast to the economic system class possibility, got here with chips and toppings, together with tomatoes, lettuce, pink onions, and pickles. I additionally dressed up the burger with the condiments on the desk. The burger was nice and felt like a restaurant burger quite than a fast-food or microwaved burger.Though it was an analogous providing to the economic system class, it did really feel like an elevated eating expertise.Amtrak didn’t reply to a request for remark about my expertise.
The coach-class microwaved meals have been inexpensive and sufficiently tasty.
Meals have been served on paper trays.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
As soon as I lastly received to the entrance of the road within the economic system café, I ordered mac ‘n cheese, a chocolate chip cookie, and a soda. The meals was served on a stadium-style paper tray.The meals was tasty. I paid $3 for the soda, $7.50 for the mac ‘n cheese, and $3.50 for the cookie.
The primary-class meal was adopted by a brownie dessert.
The brownie was fudgy and topped with ethereal whipped cream.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the first-class eating automobile, we have been introduced brownies after the dinner service. The brownies have been sizzling and fudgy and topped with chocolate syrup and ethereal whipped cream.
The coach lavatory was considerably extra spacious than an airplane lavatory.
The economy-class lavatory was spacious and decently clear.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
The economic system lavatory was spacious in comparison with airplane loos, and it was additionally ADA-accessible. Though it nonetheless felt like a public lavatory, it was decently clear after the practically six-hour journey.
Though personal from the remainder of the prepare, the first-class lavatory was a bit awkward, particularly for 2 folks.
The primary-class roomette has its personal personal lavatory.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Within the roomette, which had its personal lavatory, a bathroom and a sink opened from the steps going as much as the higher mattress.When the room door and curtains have been closed, it was very personal for me as a solo traveler.Nevertheless, with two folks within the roomette, it might be a bit too awkward, because it’s in no way separated from the remainder of the room.
In the end, the roomette supplied a greater, fuller, and extra comfy expertise, and I’d guide it once more.
For long-distance journey, I might select the roomette over the coach, though the economic system possibility is nice for brief distances.
Kristine Villarroel/Enterprise Insider
Whereas I loved each experiences, the roomette supplied a fuller expertise that was completely different from what you possibly can get by way of aircraft or bus journey, whereas the coach possibility felt just like each.Even at a better worth level, I’d pay for the roomette once more, particularly on longer journeys whenever you need to have an area to recharge.
