I spent 60 hours on overnight Amtrak trains. Here are 9 things that surprised me the most on long-haul rides.

While you might think trains would be cheaper than flying, that's not always the case. On recent Amtrak trips I booked, a roomette accommodation to Miami cost $500, and a bedroom accommodation to New York cost $1,000.

This pricing is typical for the fall, which is the time period when I traveled, according to a recent Amtrak booking search. (For full disclosure, Insider paid for the train accommodations, per our reporting standards.)

Depending on the time and day, a flight from New York City to Miami in basic economy could cost around $100 round trip, according to a recent Google Flight search. A first-class round-trip flight would be similar in price to an Amtrak roomette, according to a search on Kayak.

While the train accommodations I booked offered more space, privacy, and amenities than a flight in either economy or first-class, I was still shocked by how expensive it can be to travel by train, especially since it can take ten times longer. A one-way overnight train between New York and Miami took 30 hours. That same flight is often approximately three hours.

Admittedly, an Amtrak roomette is a big step up from sitting in coach, where you get one single seat among other passengers, while a roomette is a private space with a door and blinds to cover up the windows.

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. They can sleep up to two adults.

Amtrak also offers bedrooms that 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.

I thought the bedroom offered ample space to stretch out and move about, which made all the difference to me.

While I was impressed with the roomette's use of space, having just 20 square feet of extra room to move around in the bedroom on the way home was undoubtedly a better experience for me.

Read more: I paid $500 extra to upgrade my room on a 30-hour Amtrak ride, and I thought the additional 20 square feet was worth every penny

When my first train from New York to Miami started moving, I noticed it was a bumpy ride, kind of like a flight when the seat belt sign is on. I figured this would be temporary, but I was surprised that the bumps never stopped. I thought the whole ride was shaky, and so was the ride back. As a result, I suffered from motion sickness throughout both trips.

Every time I stood up to walk through the train cars, I felt like I was on an airplane trying to use the bathroom during turbulence.

Sleeping was also more difficult with the constant shaking. I woke up often feeling disoriented.

Read more: I took a 30-hour train from New York to Miami, and the motion sickness and terrible sleep were too much for me

In addition to the ceiling light, each seat had its own area light, reading light, and night light, which seemed to be more than what you'd get in economy on a flight or even a regular train seat.

My Amtrak roomette and bedroom also both had a temperature dial and air conditioning vents, and I was able to keep it cool in my room, around 66 degrees Fahrenheit. I wasn't expecting to have control over the temperature during my trip, and this was a nice touch.

Read more: I spent $500 for a 20-square-foot room on a 30-hour Amtrak ride, where no space was left unused. Take a look inside.

To the right of the mirror in the bedroom was a cabinet where I could store toiletries and other personal items. This feature allowed me to unpack a little, the way I would in a hotel room, and make myself more comfortable.

Read more: I spent $1,000 for a 45-square-foot bedroom with its own bathroom on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. Take a look inside.

Next to the bedroom seating area was a small closet with three hangers for clothing you'd want to use to keep looking sharp. I think I'd use it for storing jackets or ironed clothing, or hanging formal wear if I were traveling to an event.

Read more: I spent $1,000 for a 45-square-foot bedroom with its own bathroom on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. Take a look inside.

While the pillows were too light and weak for my liking, I thought that the Amtrak beds were squishy but firm, the sheets were soft and smooth, and the blanket was warm and pleasantly fuzzy. I was expecting the beds to be much less comfortable to sleep on, so this was a nice, and welcome, surprise on an overnight trip.

Read more: I spent 60 hours on Amtrak trains with a carry-on bag and a backpack. Here are 7 things I regret not packing and 9 items I'm glad I brought.

I thought that when meal times came around, I'd prefer to stay in my room to eat, but I actually found that going to the dining car was a nice change of scenery. It gave me a chance to stretch out and move my legs every few hours (and my mouth, as other passengers ate there, too).

Read more: I spent 30 hours on an Amtrak from NYC to Miami. Here are 11 ways I made the long ride more bearable.

Meals were included in both roomette and bedroom fares. While I enjoyed the train's heartier options, like braised beef short ribs, the meal that I typically think of as the lightest was the most filling — breakfast.

The breakfast tray included a sandwich, yogurt, oatmeal, a muffin, and coffee. This meal kept me full longer than the lunch and dinner entrees, which came with protein and a couple of sides.

In general, the food was decent. I thought it would be more like airplane meals, but I was surprised to find the meals to be totally edible and even enjoyable.

My Amtrak trips were full of surprises that left me with a better understanding of what it takes to travel overnight by train.

Read more: I spent $1,000 to have a room to myself on a 30-hour Amtrak ride, and it's the only way I'd ever travel long distance by train again