I took a 19-hour, overnight Amtrak train for the first time. Here are 14 things that surprised me about the long-haul journey

As someone who usually travels coach when taking an Amtrak train, I was surprised to learn Amtrak offers private rooms when I was booking a trip from New York to Chicago, which is a 19-hour ride.

The company offers smaller "roomettes," as they're called, which sleep two people at the back of the train, and larger "bedrooms" that sleep four.

To book a coach seat on the train from New York to Chicago, it would have cost $100, which is reasonable, but I decided I couldn't sit in a coach seat for 19 hours.

Instead, I booked one of the smaller rooms aboard the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak train, and it cost $550. Flying from New York to Chicago could cost as little as $70 on a good day and would get me there faster, so the fact that it was more expensive to take a train — which is significantly slower — surprised me.

The larger rooms, which fit four people, can cost over $1,000.

One corner of my roomette had a toilet, a pull-down sink, and a mirror. Luckily, I was traveling alone because otherwise, I'd be doing my business right next to my traveling buddy.

The bathroom space had soap, wet napkins, paper cups, and four towels. Although it was minimal, it was a nice touch that I wasn't expecting.

Although my small bathroom in my room didn't have a place to wash up, I was surprised to find a small shower at the back of the car strangely right next to the communal coffee station.

When I've ridden coach on past Amtrak trains, the conductors only checked my tickets and made sure everyone was following the rules. In the sleeper car, I was shocked to learn the conductors did so much more. They brought me food, drinks, and even offered turn-down service.

There was a control panel on the wall of my room with an attendant call button, which reminded me of flight attendants on a plane.

The attendant delivered my dinner at 5 pm, which was earlier than I expected. When I asked to have it later, the attendant said she would bring it anyway and that I could just "hold onto it."

When I woke up the following morning, I asked the attendant for breakfast, but she told me I slept through it. I thought it was strange because it was only 9 am, but she offered me a cup of oatmeal instead.

Plane food notoriously has a bad rap. After my Amtrak trip, I realized train food is no different.

For dinner, I ordered pasta with chicken and veggies, a small salad, and a roll. The pasta was fine yet burned, and the chicken was chewy. I didn't bother trying the salad because it was just a couple of pieces of lettuce. My favorite part of the meal was the buttered roll.

For the money I paid, I expected a bit more from Amtrak's food options.

When traveling, I usually wear layers because I never know if I'll be cold or hot on a plane or train. Luckily, in the room I booked, I was able to completely control the temperature. I could turn the AC on or off, raise the heat, or turn on a fan.

In the room I booked, there were two sleeping options. The two seats could be folded down to create a bed on the ground floor, while a bed could be pulled down from the ceiling. I chose to sleep in the bed that is suspended in the air by straps. The attendant helped me bring the bed down, and I climbed into it by using the toilet and sink as a staircase.

Once I was in the bed, I found it to be mildly comfortable, and the sheets and blankets were clean.

Unlike a plane, I felt every movement of the train. Every time it slowed down, picked up speed, or hit a bump, I felt it. Since I was laying in a bed suspended in the air, I felt these movements even more. At some points, I even felt a little motion sick, so it was difficult to fall asleep.

As the train rattles down the track, it shakes everything on board and creates loud sounds. This added to the difficulty of falling asleep, and as I laid in the bed, I remember wishing I packed earplugs.

While most stops along the route are quick, there are some stations where the train stays for 10 to 15 minutes for schedule adjustments. The crew told me via loudspeaker whenever the train was going to be staying put, and they left the doors open so people could step out. This was a godsend for the moments I needed some fresh air.

When I first got on the train, I was nervous I was going to feel every second of the 19 hours. I worried I would get bored, restless, or even claustrophobic. However, when I got off the train in Chicago, I realized it was a very easy journey — thanks to the help of Netflix and a long night's sleep.

Although the food wasn't great and the sleeping arrangement was unusual, the 19 hours flew right by.