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  4. Amtrak's roomette and bedroom sleeper cars are my favorite way to travel along the East Coast. Right now, they're on sale for as low as $250.

Amtrak's roomette and bedroom sleeper cars are my favorite way to travel along the East Coast. Right now, they're on sale for as low as $250.

Joey Hadden   

Amtrak's roomette and bedroom sleeper cars are my favorite way to travel along the East Coast. Right now, they're on sale for as low as $250.
Thelife2 min read
  • Amtrak is having a sale on coach, roomette, and bedroom tickets between Florida and the Northeast.
  • Coach starts at $39 and roomette and bedroom fares start at $249 and $449 if you book by August 23.

With unpredictable travel chaos this summer, I think Amtrak's sleeper cars are the best way to travel up and down the East Coast.

Right now, they're on sale for a fraction of the amount I paid.

Amtrak's Auto Train is offering a limited-time deal on northbound fares between Sanford, Florida, and Lorton, Virginia, for trips that take place between September 6 and December 15. Book by August 23 and reserve a coach seat for as low as $39, while a roomette starts at $249 for one person, and a bedroom starts at $449. Blackout dates apply, including November 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27.

While you can't go wrong with a cheap coach ticket, after spending 60 hours in Amtrak roomette and bedroom accommodations, it's become my favorite way to travel long distances along the East Coast.

And considering I spent $500 for a roomette between New York City and Florida, and $1,000 for a bedroom on the way back, I think it's a great deal. While I can't book this offer from my hometown in New York, I'd definitely consider it as a way to break up a trip back from Florida, should my travels take me there.

Here's a closer look at these private accommodations and why I'll be recommending this deal to all of my friends.

Amtrak Bedroom vs. Roomette

Amtrak's sleeper Auto Train cars travel through the night and come with private rooms known as roomettes and bedrooms. These tickets also include meals.

Unlike coach or business classes where you sit among other passengers, the roomette is a private space with a door and blinds to cover up the windows.

I booked a roomette for a 30-hour ride from NYC to Miami last fall and paid $500 for the approximately 20-square-foot private cabin that included two beds, a table, and two chairs.

According to Amtrak's website, roomettes are around 22.75 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard twin-size bed, Insider reported, and can sleep up to two adults.

One of the chairs folds out into a bed, and another bed pulls down from the ceiling. Some roomettes have a private toilet, though it's not separated by a door — it's a part of the seat. All roomette passengers have access to a bathroom and shower in the main car.

For a 30-hour train ride like mine, I think the roomette's price tag is worth it for the private space with temperature control and a lie-flat bed.

An Amtrak bedroom offers twice the space and a private bathroom. On my way back to NYC from Miami, I booked a bedroom for $1,000 and found it was my favorite way to travel this year.

According to Amtrak's website, bedrooms are around 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed, Insider reported. They can also sleep up to two adults.

Having so much extra private space to move around during this long journey made it worth the cost, in my opinion, and I can't imagine a more comfortable way to travel long distances right now. I'd love to do it for half the price this fall.


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