I picked my largest bag — a 32-liter backpack — for my trip to Europe.

I wasn't sure how well this bag would work for a two-week trip, so I practiced packing as lightly as possible to ensure I could fit everything. 

I started with my essential work gear — a laptop, cameras, lenses, and a notebook. Then, I packed chargers, toiletries, and snacks before realizing my work gear and other essentials were taking priority over clothes.

I hoped to bring two packing cubes full of clothing, but I could only fit one. This cut my proposed wardrobe in half.

I ended up packing two polos, one T-shirt, one long-sleeve T-shirt, three pairs of pants, a sweater, a blazer, a dress, and two light jackets.

Although I impressed myself by packing lighter than ever while still having everything I needed for the longest trip I'd ever taken, I couldn't help feeling disappointed in my limited outfit choices. 

I've never seen a backpacking social-media post about doing laundry, but I found myself washing my clothes at nearly every Airbnb I stayed in.

I stayed in each accommodation for just one or two nights, so to ensure my clothes would be dry before checking out, I had to prioritize doing laundry as soon as I checked in.

I brought my own laundry soap and used sinks and bathtubs to wash each garment before hanging them up to dry.

This was a bummer since I often arrived at each accommodation feeling exhausted from travel, and washing my clothes was the last thing I felt like doing. 

From a converted wine barrel outside Zurich to an Airstream trailer in Vienna, most of my Airbnbs were tiny homes with less than 100 square feet of space. So, the slightest bit of clutter made them look like a total mess. Having my clothes hanging to dry made the spaces feel even more chaotic.

Each time I returned to my accommodations, I was greeted with a disheveled space that made me feel stressed out. Since I'd worked hard to keep my apartment looking spotless at home, I wasn't used to living in a cluttered space. I found it hard to relax in these rooms after tiring days of exploring.

I booked two overnight trains during my trip to free up daylight hours for exploring.

But I didn't anticipate how challenging it would be to get a good night's rest in a small, shared space.

To get from Vienna to Venice, I booked a bunk in a shared cabin on an overnight train run by the Nightjet rail line, which operates overnight routes between Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands.

Since I booked a shared room with up to five others, I expected to feel slightly cramped, but I still thought I'd have some space to move around the room.

However, the 74-square-foot cabin didn't feel like enough space for myself and the other travelers, especially with everyone's luggage. Our cabin only had four people in it, and I thought it would have been even more uncomfortable had it been fully booked with six people.

There was space for bags above the beds, but not enough for everyone. I couldn't do much more than sit in my bunk and quickly became disappointed by my choice to travel this way.

Before my trip, I imagined each bunk in the shared cabin on the sleeper train would have a curtain for privacy. However, the beds were completely exposed, so I had to go to the bathroom to change into my pajamas privately.

I also had to wake another traveler using the top bunk in the middle of the night to use the bathroom since the room's lock was only accessible from their bunk.

After this experience, I don't think I'll ever bunk with strangers on an overnight train again, especially since some Nightjet routes have private cabins.

"Offering our passengers a high level of travel comfort is an important concern for us," a representative for OBB Nightjet told BI. "We are constantly working on improvements to our product and also take into account the requirements of our customers."

On my other overnight train from Berlin to Vienna, I had an even harder time sleeping. I sat in a seating carriage room with six seats facing each other, which is Nightjet's version of standard coach seating.

During my leg of the journey, three travelers were already there when I boarded, and two others arrived within the first few hours. Right away, I thought the room was cramped and lacked enough legroom for each traveler.

The seat appeared slightly wider than a typical train coach seat, with two cushions. It also reclined, though not fully. I reclined mine as much as possible, but I thought the gap between the seat back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable.

When I tried to sleep, I found it impossible with the constant bumps on the ride and so many people around. I ended up staying up until the morning and regretted traveling overnight. 

"The quality of travel depends not only on the carriages but also on the route," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to BI. "We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys."

While some influencers might like this type of travel, I'll stick to daytime routes next time if I can't sleep flat on a bed in a private room. 

Because I had so much trouble sleeping on both overnight train rides, I often arrived in a new city feeling depleted instead of excited and ready to start exploring.

When I got to Vienna at 7 a.m. after a sleepless night in the seating carriage, I was so exhausted that I looked for any hotel that would take me in so early in the morning. I thought this made the overnight ride ultimately not worth the time saved since I didn't do anything when I arrived other than sleep.

When I got off the train in Venice, I had enough energy to explore since I got some sleep in the bunk, but I still felt fatigued, and it took away from how much I could enjoy that first day.

As a result, my first day in both cities felt disappointing, and my plan to save time and energy backfired. I couldn't help thinking I wasted two days that could have been spent feeling more appreciative of the city surrounding me had I gotten enough rest. 

On travel days, I had to carry my backpack for long periods. I wore it on the go to catch my train. When I arrived in a new city, I had to keep it on my back until I could check into my accommodation. And then, I'd repeat the entire process when I checked out before catching a train to my next destination.

Each day, after wearing my backpack while walking for extended periods, my muscles felt incredibly sore.

In these moments, I was surprised to find myself questioning if a backpack really is more convenient than a carry-on suitcase. Sure, a carry-on suitcase is larger and often needs to be wheeled around, but after lugging around my backpack all day, I felt it would have been easier and better for my body. Plus, I'd be able to pack more.

In most photos of backpackers I see on Instagram, it looks like they're completely alone in a dramatic scene, whether it's a scenic landscape or a major tourist attraction.

However, even though I visited during the shoulder season, this was not the case. From Rome to Zurich, I trudged through places that were overrun with tourists.

Throughout my trip, I stood on tippy toes to see popular historic sites above rows of heads obscuring my view. Even getting just one photo of myself at tourist hot spots, like the Colosseum in Rome, felt nearly impossible. And since I'm 5-foot-3, I found it hard to see over the heads and smartphones of the people around me. 

I also wasn't used to the weight and size of my backpack, which made it challenging to get around. In crowded spaces, I kept forgetting that the backpack made me about a third larger than I typically am. I bumped into people with my pack in busy streets and train stations before realizing I needed to reconsider how I was taking up space. 

Next time I plan a trip to Europe, I'll visit in the offseason for fewer crowds.

While there were a handful of hardships, backpacking in Europe was also full of good surprises.

For example, I initially thought seeing so many new places in a short time would make them blend together in my mind, but each city felt genuinely unique and left me with distinct memories. And without my backpack, I probably wouldn't have been able to travel to as many places in one trip.

I'll never forget how alive Berlin felt with its lush pockets of greenery, dramatic murals, and street performers, or how Vienna's garden mazes and fairy tale architecture made me feel like royalty — even with a turtle shell on my back. 

Ultimately, I thought the good surprises outweighed the bad, so I would definitely backpack in Europe again. But next time, I'll avoid shared accommodations, overnight rides, and the busy season. 

The roughly 50-mile area, including Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper, Provo, and Lehi, among other towns, is home to over 1,000 tech companies.

Saul Andrade, BambooHR's senior events manager, told Business Insider he's lived in Utah for about 30 years and has spent the past decade living in the Silicon Slopes. Driving to Salt Lake City as a kid, he said the area was mostly farmland before the boom.

"Nowadays, when my wife and I drive by, we look over, and we just cannot believe how much it's grown," Andrade said. "There was a time when we got pumpkins at this farm. There's no farm now — not even a trace of the farm. It's all living accommodations and complexes."

Mark Overdevest, a Sotheby's real-estate agent, moved to the Wasatch Front in 2004 when "property values were very low."

"It seemed like a great place to invest," he told BI. "And to have access to such great skiing, I just felt like it was too good to be true."

Over the years, he's seen many modern luxury homes with glass and steel architectural designs pop up in Salt Lake City as residents have moved in from California, Texas, and Illinois.

When Michelle Ercanbrack, a lifelong Utah resident who has spent her entire career working in tech, found out that Salt Lake City would be hosting the 2002 Olympics, she remembers her grandma saying, "The secret's out," in reference to Utah's beautiful landscapes and world-class skiing getting global attention.

In 2009, Adobe purchased the Utah tech startup Omniture for $1.8 billion and built a campus in Lehi, which opened three years later.

Ercanbrack said that a company as well-known as Adobe was a big deal for Utah.

"The Omniture acquisition was the tipping point in my mind for when the tech space, the innovation space, and overall the economy of Utah began to shift," she told BI. "That showed an investment in our state and in the potential innovation of the people that lived here."

To Ercanbrack, the Adobe campus is "the heart of the Silicon Slopes." She added, "Everything is congregated or radiated around it."

Utah drew tech giants with its tax incentives for businesses. In 2020, the state loosened its licensing regulations, making it one of the easiest states to launch a new business in.

Companies including Google, PayPal, Overstock.com, and Goldman Sachs, among others, now have a footprint in the Silicon Slopes.

The pandemic furthered Utah's growth as more Silicon Valley tech companies moved to the state.

"Remote work opened up a lot of opportunities for people to move around, but also, the pandemic was when a lot of economies were struggling, and Utah's economy remained exceptionally resilient," Ercanbrack said. "So people were willing to relocate for jobs."

Overdevest said the wealthy have gotten wealthier since then.

"Their wealth has just ballooned with the pandemic," he said, adding that many of his clients in Salt Lake City are young techies and entrepreneurs.

In 2024, WalletHub ranked Utah's work environment the best in the country.

After touring a modern tech office building in Draper, which sits between Salt Lake City and Lehi, it was easy to see why.

"I think Draper is such a growing location because it's right between those two major business hubs," Ercanbrack said. "It connects Lehi to what's happening in Salt Lake."

In 2020, Pluralsight built the corporate campus, which houses several other tech companies.

Pluralsight rents out a portion of the building to BambooHR. I toured offices for both companies, which offer hybrid work environments for their employees.

From a coffee shop and soda fountains to premade meals and restaurants with cooked-to-order food, there was no shortage of breakfast and lunch options for employees.

Employees can order on an app or use one of the smart tablets set up in the café area.

"The common area is a great place to mingle with some of your coworkers that you may not see because they work on a different floor or people from the other companies," Andrade said. "I get to network and create new connections."

Pluralsight product marketer Austin Bagley agreed.

"It's fun to be in a place where it's vibrant, it's bright, and I can talk to people," Bagley said.

All the employees I spoke with described Utah as an active place and said they feel like their campus reflects and supports that lifestyle.

Bagley said that he bought a bike after joining Pluralsight to ride the nearby trails with other employees in the summers.

Bagley has been at Pluralsight for six years and said the new office has a different feel than their old one.

"The first office was similar but a lot smaller," Bagley said. "It felt like every day, you'd walk in, and there'd be less space from desks and things getting crammed in."

Bagely said in this new building, he gets to enjoy the open-concept floor plan.

"It makes it a little bit more of a community versus just hanging out in the office all day by yourself," he said, adding that he likes having the option of moving from his desk to comfy couches around the office.

Employees book blocks of time for the rooms. At Pluralsight, room availability varies, Bagley said.

"I have a number of colleagues here, but I also have people on my team in Florida and Pennsylvania, and so a lot of the work we do is still remote," he said. "This office will go from being fairly quiet to then having weeks where you can't find any meeting room because we have a lot of people who travel and spend time here on-site."

From pool and shuffleboard to arcade games and ping-pong tables, there was plenty to take a break within these two offices.

BambooHR was especially impressive with its golf simulator.

"Sometimes you see amenities in an office, and they just sit there like show and tell," Bagley said. "I'm impressed that people here actually use it."

"The first thing that strikes me about Pluralsight is how collaborative it is," Bagley said.

At most jobs, Bagley said he's talked to co-workers across two to three different functions within the company. At Pluralsight, he said he communicates between 15 to 20.

"You get to connect to a lot of different people and understand a lot of different contexts that move the work forward," he said, adding that an additional perk is "you end up becoming friends with a lot more people."

Andrade, who goes in most days of the workweek, said he, too, appreciates the workplace environment at BambooHR.

"The flexibility where you can work remote and then come into the office and be able to build those relationships with some of your coworkers doesn't compare to working remotely full-time," he said. "And doing it in a beautiful building in a centralized location makes it even better."

Ercanbrack and Overdevest both think the Silicon Slopes will continue to grow.

"Just driving along the interstate, you'll see the amount of building that's happening — and a lot of it is housing," Ercanbrack said. "The amount of apartments and condos has been significant, and it's been needed because, like everywhere else, there's an entire generation of millennials that need a place to live."

Ercanbrack remains hopeful that although growth has caused housing costs to skyrocket — in 2022, ABC4 Utah reported that housing was 200% more expensive than in 2000 — Utah will still be a great place to live and work.

"I just have this sense that communities are like plants — they're either growing or dying," she said. "And I'm grateful to live in a place that is experiencing such growth."

A step up from sitting in coach, where you get a seat among other passengers, a roomette is a private space with a door and blinds to cover up the windows. Inside, I found two beds, two chairs, a table and a toilet.

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. The roomette sleeps up to two adults.

Bedrooms are around 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed. Like the roomette, they sleep a maximum of two adults with two bunks.

The bedroom had a couch, an additional chair, a shower, and an enclosed bathroom.

Having a private space was the most important thing to me on this long train journey, and both rooms offered that.

Both rooms also had some clever storage hacks, like a table that pulled out between the chairs.

You could select this option in either room. So, if you're bothered by the train's bumpiness during the day, as I was, I recommend sleeping on the bottom bunk in either accommodation.

As someone who deals with travel anxiety, I found 30 hours on a train to be overwhelming.

But staying in a bedroom made me feel more comfortable than staying in a roomette. The bedroom offered ample space to stretch out and move about, which made all the difference to me.

Frankly, I don't feel comfortable sitting for 30 hours.

To pass the time, get moving, and feel more at home, I took frequent dance breaks in my bedroom, where I closed the curtains and blasted music in my earbuds.

This felt freeing and satisfying, and if I wanted to, I think I could have even done some yoga poses, body-weight exercises, or practiced my karate moves.

Having room to lounge in the bedroom made me feel more relaxed throughout my journey.

After staying in a roomette with a toilet for the first half of my trip to Miami, I was moved to another room without a toilet for the remainder due to the availability of roomettes when I booked my ticket. I had access to a bathroom at the end of the sleeper car.

While traveling home in a bedroom, I appreciated that the toilet was separated from the rest of the room by a door.

I also thought the bedroom had a nicer vanity with three mirrors facing each other, which made it easier to wash my face in the morning.

However, with two seats and no privacy curtain around the toilet in the roomette, I was grateful to be a solo traveler.

The bedroom upgraded my 30-hour journey from anxiety-inducing to comfy and homey.

The bedroom is especially worth the splurge for those traveling with a buddy since there's more room to stretch out.

Before spending the night in a bedroom from Miami to New York City, I spent 30 hours on an Amtrak train traveling to Florida in a roomette — a 20-square-foot private cabin.

The bedroom accommodation is a step up from a roomette on long-distance Amtrak trains. It offers even more space, as well as a private bathroom.

After experiencing cramped seating arrangements on previous Amtrak rides, the bedroom was a luxury. Instead of having just two seats facing each other as I did in the roomette, it was nice to have a big couch where I could stretch out my legs and put my feet up. That same couch transformed into a bed in the evenings.

There was an additional chair on the left, too, which could be folded up and stowed away.

The bedroom also had a table that pulled out from the wall between two of the three seats, which made working from the rails more efficient.

I usually love unpacking upon arrival in my accommodations. The more I unpack while traveling, the more at home I feel.

Since I was only on the train for one night, I didn't use the closet — but it would have come in handy for storing jackets if I were traveling at a cooler time of the year.

Having storage spaces around the room made it easier to keep it tidy, which I've found essential in maintaining order in a tiny space.

The bedroom had a three-panel vanity mirror, a sink, and towels, making washing my face or brushing my teeth convenient. I joked that the setup was nicer than my bathroom at home.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face before bed and again the next morning, just like I would on any regular day at home. Feeling clean makes me more comfortable while traveling.

While I try to pack light, I always make room for my electric toothbrush, so having an outlet next to the mirror was great for keeping it charged.

This cabinet allowed me to unpack the way I would in a hotel room and easily see my items as needed. The cabinet snapped shut, so everything stayed in place as the train moved.

The roomette from my previous train ride included a small sink, leaving no room to unpack like this. The bedroom's vanity felt like an upgraded — and very welcome — amenity.

The room also had fluffy towels, as if I were in a hotel, not on a train.

Having my own bathroom was a game changer for me as a train traveler. It allowed me to unpack and made me feel like I was being exposed to fewer germs. Plus, I never had to wait for my turn. I couldn't find a downside to a private bathroom for 30 hours of travel.

Hooks on the bathroom door could hold towels and clothing items. There were two large towels on a shelf above the toilet. Then, of course, there was my sink with vanity mirrors in the room.

This was traveling as it should be.

The bedroom had other neat features, like a button to call an attendant for anything I needed and handy controls for the lights. There was a night setting and reading lamps in addition to the overhead light.

A dial controlled the volume of the speaker, where an attendant would make announcements about where the train was stopping.

I could also control the temperature in my room, as I had in the roomette on a previous trip. Picking my ideal temperature made me feel so much more comfortable on a 30-hour journey. Dealing with sweat or shivers would have made the trip feel much longer.

In the evenings, Amtrak offers turndown service. An attendant will come to your room and set up your bed.

When the attendant came into my room at about 8 p.m., they asked me whether I wanted to sleep on the top or bottom bunk. Since I tried the top bunk in the roomette, I went with the bottom bunk on this trip.

When I entered the room again, my first thought was that the bed looked bigger than the one I slept in on my way to Miami.

The bed and sheets were surprisingly soft, and I was happy to have more room to spread out as I slept.

The outlet I used for my electric toothbrush came in handy once again when I was ready for bed. I plugged in my phone to charge, propped it up on the vanity, and watched my favorite TV shows.

Watching my go-to shows relaxed me before I fell asleep.

Another key feature was the air vent above the bed. I prefer to keep the room cool for sleeping, so I pointed the air vent toward my face as I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I felt much more rested than I ever had on a train. I believe it was thanks to the bigger, more comfortable bed — and my privacy.

The bottom bunk felt less bumpy than my previous ride on the top bunk, so I recommend opting for the bottom bunk on overnight trips.

In the future, I'll definitely splurge on a bedroom booking on an Amtrak train. The privacy, space, and better sleep are so worth it.

I booked a tiny, private roomette for $500 on my trip from New York City to Miami and reserved a $1,000 bedroom accommodation, the next step up after a roomette, on my way back. 

The bedrooms are at least 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed. They can sleep up to two adults.

As someone who deals with travel anxiety, I found 30 hours on a train to be overwhelming, especially since, at the time, I had only taken one other overnight train. The constant motion of the train didn't help, either. In fact, I ended up feeling a little queasy.

But staying in a bedroom made me feel more comfortable than staying in a roomette, a cheaper accommodation that's about half the size. I thought the bedroom offered ample space to stretch out and move about, which made all the difference to me.

I think I could comfortably do a 30-hour train journey again, as long as I book a bedroom. And to make it more affordable, I'd book with a friend to split the cost and have some company next time. 

I arrived at Miami Amtrak Station at 11 a.m., 50 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart. The building's interior reminded me of a Greyhound bus station.

I sat in the only waiting area I could find until it was time to board.

For double the price of a roomette, the accommodation I booked for my previous train trip, the bedroom accommodation also offered double the space.

Right away, I knew this trip would be more pleasant than my ride to Miami since I had more room to stretch out. 

The table reminded me of storage hacks I'd expect to find in a tiny home. I used it to hold my laptop while working and appreciated that I could simply fold it out of the way when it was time to relax. 

Beneath the sink, there was a trash can and a place to hold tissues. 

To the right of the mirror was a cabinet where I could store my toiletries and other personal items. This feature allowed me to unpack a little, the way I would in a hotel room. Placing my toiletries on the cabinet shelves made me feel more at home.

I didn't use the closet, but I think it would have come in handy for storing jackets if I were traveling at a cooler time of the year.

On the bathroom door were hooks to hold towels and clothing items. On a shelf above the toilet were two towels for drying yourself off after a shower.

I appreciated that the toilet was separated from the rest of the room by a door, and I think this is a great amenity if you're traveling with others.

I could also adjust the volume of the overhead speaker, through which train stops were announced, which I found particularly helpful.

This came in handy when I wanted to get off the train for a minute and stretch my legs. Thanks to the overhead speaker volume control, I always knew when the next stop would be and how long we had at each station.

The bedroom also had handy controls for night, reading, and ceiling lights.

I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I take dance breaks throughout the day.

Shutting the curtains gave me a moment of privacy to just be my goofy self. This helped me keep moving, too, which I found to be essential for surviving a 30-hour train ride.

Having room to stretch out made me feel more relaxed throughout my journey. I appreciated that the couch was long enough to lie down on.

Thanks to all the work I had to do, the first chunk of my trip home went by pretty quickly. 

I decided to lie down on my belly and look outside the window for a bit.

During my trip home, I saw forests, towns, and factories outside my window. This made me think about how traveling by train gives you a railroad view of the country that can't be replicated in a car or on a flight.

My meals came with the ticket, and I could pick from five items. Since I enjoyed the braised beef short rib dish on my trip to Miami, I decided to get it again on my way home. 

Since I have an electric toothbrush, it was nice to be able to charge it using the outlets in the bathroom. 

My first thought when I entered the room again after receiving bedside service was that the bed looked bigger than the one I slept in on my way to Miami in a roomette.

The bed and sheets were comfortable, and I was happy to have more room to sleep.

I was able to use the foldout table for my bedside belongings, though.

There might have been outlets on the other side of the bed, too, but I wasn't able to find them. 

I thought I'd stay up and watch TV for a while, but my body was telling me to just pass out.

So I decided to lie down and watch "The Office" until I drifted off to sleep.

The ride was bumpy through the night, but being on the lower bed felt grounding, and I didn't feel as if I was going to fall off the bed at any point. Although it wasn't a perfect night's sleep, I definitely slept better than I did in the roomette.

I woke up to the sun peering through my window feeling somewhat rested. 

I was excited to take a shower after having been on the train for nearly 24 hours, but the shower appeared too grimy to feel comfortable, and I wished I packed flip-flops.

Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, but according to its website, it sanitizes rooms between visitors.

I usually wear flip-flops in public showers to avoid collecting germs.

Since I forgot them, I decided that not showering would be better.

While I was washing my face, I noticed how nice it was to have three mirrors next to one another. It was easy to see the spots I missed after washing the soap off my face. 

For breakfast, I went to the dining car and got the continental option. For lunch, I decided to try a different entrée from the braised beef short ribs I had the night before.

I chose a chicken fettuccine dish with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes, and I thought it was decent. 

The breakfast included a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and a blueberry muffin. I had the choice of maple and brown sugar or apple cinnamon for the oatmeal.

This meal was the most filling I had on the whole trip, and if they served it all day, I'd probably have it for every meal.

To pass the time, I looked at my phone and played Nintendo while relaxing on the bed. 

It was a Saturday, so staying in bed felt right.

I think because my bed was gone and I thought the journey's end should be near, the final hours of my train ride felt as though they dragged on.

When we arrived in New York around 7 p.m., slightly later than scheduled, I realized I had never been more grateful to be home.

But I was also appreciative of the room and privacy I had getting there. 

I arrived at 6:45 a.m. for my 7:15 a.m. train. Amtrak suggests arriving a few minutes before your departure.

Business-class passengers may enter for a $50 fee.

I'd been in this lounge while traveling in first class and thought that while there was a variety of complimentary drinks and snacks, it wasn't worth $50.

I instead went to the main waiting area for all passengers with a train ticket that day.

I found it crowded on a Sunday morning, but after a few minutes of standing around, I grabbed a seat.

As a business-class ticket holder, I didn't receive priority boarding, so I waited in line with business and coach passengers. 

Since the chairs looked larger than those in coach, I thought they'd be comfy and plush. However, once I sat down, I thought they felt stiffer than expected.

But at least it reclined slightly, like on most trains I've taken. 

An Amtrak representative told Business Insider that the business-class seats are about 20 inches wide with 42 inches of legroom.

I was able to rest my laptop and phone on it in front of me, which made it easier to pass the time. I also had an outlet for charging devices.

I got a Diet Coke and brought my own snacks, but a café car was also available to all passengers to purchase meals, drinks, and snacks.

To get my complimentary drink, I had to go to the café car.

I was expecting a nicer restroom in business class, but I didn't think it differed from the lavatories I've experienced in other train classes. 

Aside from bigger seats and a free drink, business class didn't feel very different from coach to me. Next time, I'll save my money and ride economy.

"We are constantly evaluating ways to improve the customer experience, including further differentiating the classes of service across the network," an Amtrak representative said in a statement to BI.

The independently owned hospitality company also has locations in Idaho, California, Arizona, and Wyoming.

There are four tiers of rooms. The lowest is a 700-square-foot premier room with a sectioned-off sitting area.

The second tier is an 880-square-foot executive suite with a living room.

A 1,000-square-foot kitchenette suite is the third tier, and the top tier is a 2,4000-square-foot presidential suite with two bathrooms, a whirlpool tub made of Italian marble, and a full kitchen, breakfast bar, and dining room.

The Grand America Hotel aims to be an American-sized, European-esque hotel. And I think it delivered.

The spaces were decorated with Italian marble floors and glass chandeliers, as well as French cherry-wood furniture and classic antiques.

The hotel reminded me of the lavish cars on the iconic luxury sleeper train I rode from Paris to Venice in 2023 — the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

I booked an executive suite with a base rate of $340 a night, though BI received a media rate for the one-night stay.

Knowing the room's rate, I was astonished when I stepped inside. The accommodation was on par with luxury hotels I've booked that cost $1,000 a night.

I entered a spacious hallway leading to a large living room with a workspace. To the right was the bedroom, which had a king-sized bed. Both rooms had floor-to-ceiling windows framing the downtown Salt Lake City skyline and the hotel gardens below.

The bathroom was coated in Italian marble, with a shower and separate soaking tub. I found Grand America-branded luxury toiletries on the counter and in the shower. The lotion smelled so good that I asked for a couple more to bring home.

My tour started in the lobby, where I learned the wood paneling was sourced from West Africa.

A representative also told me that the marble flooring was bookended and matched by hand to create a geometric pattern.

In true European spirit, the Lobby Lounge has a daily afternoon tea service with snacks and live music from harpists.

For cocktail hour, guests should check out the Gibson Lounge on the same floor.

The Shops at The Grand is a collection of high-end boutiques inside the hotel selling clothing, accessories, snacks, toiletries, and other essentials.

The most surprising store was JouJou, a vibrant and whimsical toy store that felt like a child's wonderland.

The 20,000-square-foot Grand Spa welcomed guests with a grand lobby area. It had a water feature and retail items from popular athleticwear brands like Lululemon.

The representative said that visiting NBA players often exercise in the fitness center, which is open 24 hours a day.

Upon entering, the indoor pool area was calming. Natural light poured into the white, cave-like room through carved archways, and cozy nooks framed the main pool.

Bonne Vie is a coffee shop that serves local brews, French baked goods, and in-house ice cream.

Laurel Brasserie & Bar is a European-style bistro.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a large menu that includes pasta, pizza, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.

The hotel can host up to 3,000 attendees at a time with three ballrooms, 20 meeting rooms, and a 35,000-square-foot courtyard for outdoor events.

The 24,000-square-foot suite felt like a luxury apartment. The living room was bright and spacious, with a striking marble fireplace and a wealth of seating.

Despite its large size, the two-bathroom suite only sleeps two. But guests can host their friends and family with a full kitchen and a dining room that seats eight people.

And it's an ideal pick for travelers like me who want to experience luxury on a budget.

I flew from my home in NYC to Denver and boarded a 15-hour Amtrak train to Salt Lake City.

It wasn't my first overnight Amtrak train ride. In 2021, I took a 30-hour ride from NYC to Miami. The biggest difference between these two rides was the views.

In 2021, I had decent views of the East Coast, from towns to shorelines. But the sights between Colorado and Utah were on another level. I rode through Rocky Mountain National Park and watched the snow-capped forest landscape transition into red rocks and canyons as the train made its way to my destination.

My train trip to Miami was on an Amtrak Viewliner, a one-story train. My recent Amtrak trip to Salt Lake City was on a Superliner, a double-decker train.

On board, I was surprised and excited to find a communal car on the top floor designated for sightseeing since the Viewliner did not have one. The car had two rows of windows and an array of seating options, such as booths and swivel chairs.

Most major cities I visit have an array of luxury accommodations, so when booking my trip to Salt Lake City, I was dumbfounded when I only found a couple of five-star hotels.

I selected the Grand America Hotel — the city's first five-star hotel built in 2001 to serve the 2002 Olympics.

Since its opening, the hotel has been known for hosting A-listers. While hotel representatives declined to reveal any celebrity guest names, a representative of Grand America told BI that they have hosted visiting NBA teams.

The Grand America Hotel was also listed in the top 40 hotels in the world in CN Traveler's 2024 Reader's Choice Awards.

I spent one night in an executive suite with a king-sized bed. The room has a base rate of $340, though Business Insider received a media rate for the one-night stay.

The hotel was as lavish as many I've booked in the $500-$1,000-a-night price range. My room was 880 square feet, with a living room, a bedroom, and a Juliet balcony. I appreciated the spacious marble bathroom and thick, cozy robes with satin lining hanging in the walk-in closet.

Since Salt Lake City is the metropolis of the Silicon Slopes, I expected most of the tech scene to be there. However, I found that the nearby suburb of Draper has created a booming tech community. I visited a large building that served as offices and a coworking space for several companies, giving techies the chance to network daily.

I got private tours of two companies inside the building — Bamboo HR and Pluralsight. The offices were modern and sleek, with intentional color palettes and cozy seats, as I'd expect from any tech office.

But work aside, these spaces had activities for breaks that would make it hard for me to get back to my tasks — pickleball, rentable bikes for trail riding accessible from the property, and, most surprising to me, an indoor golf simulator projected onto a movie theater-sized screen.

In most wealthy towns I visit, the luxury housing is spread out on the outskirts of town, away from the public eye.

That's the case for most of Park City, too.

However, in the downtown area, I spotted many modern and high-end homes layered among older houses on hilltops overlooking the streets. I thought it would be nice to live in a luxury mansion in a walkable neighborhood.

I knew Park City was known for skiing, but I didn't expect to see an active ski lift nearly at arm's length while strolling through the downtown area.

It made sense when I learned that this part of Park City sits between two major ski hubs — Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort.

Finding a public bathroom in New York City often becomes an unwanted adventure. I've even left hangouts early to go home.

So, I didn't expect to see a vibrant sign pointing to one in downtown Park City. I didn't go inside, but all the public restrooms in Park City I saw on Google Maps had five-star ratings.

I also found lit, electric firepits surrounded by benches in courtyards between stores and restaurants.

From Park City's unexpected amenities to Salt Lake City's affordable luxury stays, these unexpected delights made me certain I'll return to the Silicon Slopes.

Shooting Star's history dates back to the 1930s when the Resor family created Snake River Ranch, now known as the largest working cattle ranch in Jackson Hole.

Shooting Star owner and operator John Resor transformed a section of the ranch into an exclusive golf course, club, and residential community. It was a $130 million project.

Roughly 22 miles from the town of Jackson, Shooting Star is sandwiched between Snake River Ranch and Jackson Hole Resort.

When I toured the property, I thought the clubhouse looked like a luxury ranch. The expansive building overlooked the golf course and a 25-meter lap pool.

I spotted realistic paintings of cattle at Snake River Ranch and an animal skull on the foyer walls.

I also noticed a range of natural textures, from the wood floors and ceiling moldings to the leather seats in front of the large stone fireplace.

I'm no golfer, but it was instantly clear why Golf Digest ranked this a top 100 course in the US.

The 250-acre course looked dynamic, with aspen and evergreen trees dotting hills parted by ponds and streams. It was designed by Tom Fazio, who also designed Donald Trump's golf clubs in Westchester, New York, and Pine Hill, New Jersey, as well as multiple courses at the exclusive Vintage Club in Indian Wells, California, where Bill Gates purchased a home for $12.5 million in 1999.

The golf course blended in so seamlessly with its surroundings that I thought it was a naturally occurring landscape, but the land was actually reformed with a design goal of making each hole unique.

According to a Shooting Star brochure, the process included moving 2 million cubic yards of dirt, planting more than 2,500 trees, and carving out 50 acres of lakes.

For a handful of PGA pros, including the golf club's director Ben Polland, Shooting Star is more than a home course — it's a day job.

According to Jackson Hole Sotheby's International Realty, most of these homes didn't hit the market. However, the most expensive available listing is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom lodge for nearly $14 million.

In the winter, Shooting Star becomes a skier's haven, and the Alpine Barn is the hub.

Inside, there were nearly 200 lockers. During ski season, the barn shows movies and serves complimentary food. A shuttle takes skiers to the nearby Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to hit the slopes, but there's also a track around the course's perimeter for a short run.

The 2,400-square-foot facility had smart cardio equipment with large screens overlooking the swimming pool and barn. A handful of workout studios offered classes like yoga and pilates.

Outside, there were also tennis and pickleball courts.

I stepped into one of the six treatment rooms and thought it felt serene.

Limestone and wood moldings texturized the walls. There was a fireplace, cozy seating, and two treatment beds.

Natural light poured in from the window at the back of the room. There was a gigantic stainless steel tub in front of it. I thought bathing in there with a view of the course and surrounding Tetons would be a dream.

I spotted glass jars containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, hair ties, eye drops, and over-the-counter pain and allergy medication.

The dining room had a wood-burning fire pit inside. Out on the patio, members could dine right next to the golf course.

The property feels vast, so seeing it all planned out on one table helped me better understand the course and development.

I left with a sense of what it might be like to be a member of such an exclusive club in an epic location.

Amtrak's Superliner is a two-story train fleet that runs on routes west of Chicago and New Orleans, including the California Zephyr. The cars are roughly 30 to 50 years old, and Amtrak plans to replace this fleet and others in the 2030s, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told Business Insider.

For now, the train line is investing $28 million into interior renovations on long-distance trains, including new carpets, LED lighting, and a seating makeover in coach, communal, and sleeper cars.

Roughly 76% of the Superliner sleeper cars have been updated, and the rest are scheduled to be completed in 2025.

I was lucky enough to ride in a newly refreshed Superliner.

A roomette accommodation is a step above coach seating and a step below a bedroom, which is twice as large and includes a full private bathroom. Two steps above, a bedroom suite joins two bedrooms, providing four beds and two bathrooms with showers.

The train also has family bedrooms, which sleep two adults and two kids, and accessible bedrooms with two bunks.

My ticket also included access to a first-class attendant who took meal reservations, offered turndown service, and fielded questions and requests.

I skipped the coach passenger line to board, stepped onto the train, and placed my luggage in a shared storage space where each passenger was allowed two suitcases.

Then, I walked down a short hallway to my room, which had a sliding door that locked from the inside.

The roomette sleeps up to two people. During the day, the room was set up with two seats, which reclined to form the lower bunk. The upper bunk could be pulled down to reveal the cot.

Next to one of the chairs, there was a shelf below a tall mirror. There were multiple hooks around the room that I used for jackets and accessories.

I could tell the seats were new. They were wide and cushy with no signs of wear. But just to make sure, I asked Magliari how a passenger could tell if they were in an updated sleeper car.

"Doing away with the blue fabric is the biggest giveaway," he said. "If you see gray, vinyl seating, then you know that you are in a fresh room."

Magliari added that the new seat cushions and upholstery provide more lumbar support than the older models.

There were lighting, speaker volume, and temperature controls, as well as one outlet and a call button for the attendant.

There were cupholders on either side of the table — each holding a complimentary water bottle. However, the holders were too shallow to contain the bottles when the train shook, causing them to fall over during turbulent stretches.

"The cupholder size is a challenge we've faced. Beverage shapes and sizes change over time," Magliari told BI, alluding to the rise of brands expanding circumference like Stanley and Yeti.

Inside the closet, I found some hangers and fresh linens.

My booking didn't include a private bathroom. The shower and three of the bathrooms were on the first floor. I never had to wait in line to use the restroom, and I noticed they had been cleaned since my last visit a couple of times during the ride.

After dinner in the dining car, I reclined both seats to be flat, forming the bottom bunk. The bed was wider and more comfortable than most train bunks I've slept on. The pillows were thick and fluffy, and the plush blanket had a luxurious feel.

A 23-square-foot room may seem small, but the wide, comfy seats, impressive space-saving hacks, and views outside the expansive window made it feel large.

The stateroom decks comprised long hallways lined with identical blue doors, so my magnet made it easier to find my cabin.

The cruise ship's WiFi wasn't strong enough for me to stream videos.

I enjoyed a few beach days during my cruise, so sunscreen was essential. And I was sure to pack a reef safe brand since I was visiting multiple beaches.

Aloe vera typically soothes and cools my burns, so next time, I'll pack some in case I forget to apply sunscreen.

An excursion guide at one of the ports informed me that some beaches in the Caribbean, like Tulum, Mexico, don't allow sunscreen in the ocean to protect wildlife.

As other cruisers snorkeled with phones in hand, I realized I was missing an opportunity to capture ocean life.

I don't typically wear my sun hat — especially not in my home city, New York — so the cruise was the perfect occasion to pull it out of my closet.

Mornings and evenings on the ship's top decks were so windy that I had to leave my hat in my room to avoid chasing it around.

I ended up wearing my sweater every day during the Caribbean cruise.

In hindsight, I should have packed a couple more pairs of pants. Sweatpants would have been especially useful at night on the outdoor decks.

I was often chilly at night in my sweater alone.

On my cruise, Royal Caribbean's laundry service charged for each article of clothing — $4 a shirt, $9 a dress, and $2 per pair of underwear.

I packed two pairs of shoes: sneakers for walking and waterproof sandals for the beach and pools.

A small pack was handy during port stops and while exploring the ship.

Ship time is the time zone that cruise ships adhere to even when docked at ports in different time zones.

My ship stopped in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, CocoCay.

I packed vitamins to support my immune system since I was coming in contact with many people.

I always pack Dramamine on my trips to avoid motion sickness.

It was especially loud since I was at the front of the ship, where seasoned cruisers said movement on ships feels the strongest.

Next time, I'll come prepared.

My ocean-view stateroom was a step above interior staterooms with no windows, a category below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below a stateroom suite.

I thought Central Park was the most relaxing outdoor deck on the ship — and often, the least crowded. So I enjoyed being close by.

Right away, I thought the cabin made great use of a small space.

I'm always looking for more sustainable ways to travel, so I appreciated the energy-saving system.

I used the desk to eat meals and sort daily flyers about the goings-on.

The desk drawers were mostly empty, save for a hair dryer, which I didn't use.

I found a rack of hangers, shelving, and a small safe inside each closet. I thought it was plenty of space for a weeklong journey.

In the bathroom, there were two glasses, a bar of soap, and a two-in-one hair and body wash.

The trash can and toilet paper were situated under the counter to save space.

At the top of the shower, a pullout clothing line was useful for drying my bathing suits.

Sometimes, the towels were folded creatively to look like animals.

All Royal Caribbean cabins come with this configuration so that they may be separated for additional guests. I often woke up in the crevice.

Skinny nightstands on either side of the bed held lamps, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

The window had an electronic shade that could be opened during the day for grand views and closed when I was ready to sleep.

And watching the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea from the comfort of my room was the best part.

The Airbnb was part of a tiny home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany, called Slube. The company designs minimal concrete "Slubes" for up to two people.

There are three types of Slubes: Basic, which is one story; Home, which is two stories; and Tower, which adds a rooftop terrace. I booked a Home Slube.

At 16 feet tall, the tiny home with two floors was 106 square feet.

When I arrived by train from the airport in Berlin, I didn't see any employees on the property.

I was confused at first, but then I checked my email. I had a message from Slube informing me I'd be staying in room five and could check in by myself.

The sitting area had a foldout table. When I wasn't using it, I could push it into the wall to save space.

Across from a foldout table was a bench with two seat cushions instead of a couch.

Beneath the benches, there was enough space for me to store luggage.

There were hooks and storage cubbies above the bench, so I stored all of my clothing and toiletries on the first floor.

In the back right corner of the sitting area, there was a nook of built-in shelves storing a small coffee machine, a hair dryer, and a few dishes.

There was a curtain separating the shower head and sink from the toilet and storage space.

The first-floor windows had a film over most of the glass, which allowed me to let natural light in without sacrificing my privacy.

I thought it was easy to climb but could be challenging for some.

There was a latched gate at the top of the ladder, which I imagine was built to keep people safe from falling.

Knowing I was securely fastened into the bed area made falling sleeping easier.

A comfy, full-size bed covered the floor space. The pillows had the ideal ratio of fluff to firmness for my neck and head.

Before bed, I watched some of my favorite shows.

It had easily accessible outlets, a pocket for the TV remote, and more space for my electronics and water bottle.

It had a black-out curtain for privacy and early morning light.

I controlled the lights and temperature of each story from my phone.

While I can't stick a second story into my own rental, the European tiny home still gave me inspiration for how I could make better use of my space, starting with vertical storage hacks.

After my first overnight Amtrak trip, I learned that the train line has a loyalty program that rewards passengers two points for every $1 spent. Points may be used for tickets, hotels, shopping, and dining, and it's free to join.

If I'd signed up, I would have earned 3,000 points toward my next Amtrak adventure. I missed out that time, but I recently joined the program following my Denver to Salt Lake City journey.

When I booked my first overnight Amtrak ride, I didn't check if my ticket included access to the Metropolitan Lounge at NYC's Penn Station, where I departed.

The Metropolitan Lounge is a quiet waiting area that's free for Amtrak customers in first-class and sleeper cabins. It has comfortable seats and free snacks and drinks.

Since I didn't realize my ticket included access to the lounge, I waited in the seating area for all passengers and was less comfortable than I could have been.

That first ride taught me that overnight trains are very bumpy, and I felt sick for most of it.

For all my overnight rides since, I haven't forgotten to pack my medicine.

I chose to sleep in the top bunk on my first overnight train. I thought it would be more fun, but it made the ride feel even bumpier.

On every overnight ride since, I've opted for the bottom bunk over the top and have found that I sleep better that way.

Amtrak sleeper trains have a variety of accommodations, from regular seats to private rooms.

I traveled from NYC to Miami in a $500 roomette, a 20-square-foot enclosed private space with a foldout table, two chairs that fold out into beds, and an additional bed that pulls down from the ceiling.

On my way back to NYC, I spent 30 hours in the next level up, a bedroom accommodation. It cost $1,000 for twice as much space as the roomette, with a private bathroom.

After these rides, I thought the roomette felt cramped and realized that spending twice as much money for double the space in the bedroom was worth it.

Some of the sleeper trains I've taken in Europe did not have private accommodations like Amtrak. Instead, they had shared cabins, and I learned that some were more comfortable than others.

For example, two Nightjet routes I booked offered regular assigned seats in enclosed seating carriages of six or shared sleeper cars with bunks of four or six. I tried both.

For my ride from Berlin to Vienna, I booked a $40 regular seat inside a seating carriage with six seats facing each other.

The seats didn't recline enough to be fully flat, and the small space felt like a tight squeeze for six people with limited legroom. I didn't sleep at all.

"The quality of travel depends not only on the carriages but also on the route," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider. "We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys."

A few days later, I slept in a bunk inside a shared sleeping cabin for up to six people when traveling from Vienna to Venice for $84.

I still felt cramped in the 74-square-foot space, but having a lie-flat bed made sleeping a bit easier. I thought it was worth the higher price tag.

A year later, I traveled back to Europe to try out Nightjet's new overnight fleet with private cabins. I booked a room for myself from Venice to Vienna for $200. The added price for space and privacy made it worth the price tag.

My first two overnight Amtrak rides between NYC and Miami had WiFi on board. So when I got to my Amtrak train in Denver for my ride to Salt Lake City, I was surprised to find this route didn't include WiFi.

In hindsight, I should have checked if I'd have an internet connection before boarding. Had I known I wouldn't, I'd have downloaded some TV shows and movies for the journey.

While overnight train rides can feel exhausting, I think avoiding these mistakes in the future will make me feel cozier on my next sleeper train adventure.

Red carpets welcome all guests on their overnight journeys, complete with lavishly decorated vintage carriages, fine-dining restaurants, and jaw-dropping views of passing scenery.

However, only the grand suites offer guests luxurious amenities such as private showers and around-the-clock butler services.

Over the past few years, Belmond has seen a spike in demand for its trains. Franklin told BI that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has become especially popular, with bookings growing 10% from 2023 to 2024.

The train's flashy grand suites have concurrently piqued the interest of wealthy travelers — according to Franklin, they're often the first accommodations to be booked. And for good reason.

The accommodations, first introduced in 2018, each have a unique design inspired by a city on the train's routes.

For example, the Venice, Italy-themed suite fuses Italian Baroque and Renaissance designs. Venetian furniture, vintage glass light fixtures, and a marriage of silk and woven fabrics fill the room with a historic Italian ambiance. The headboard combines arches and sharp edges, a nod to the country's Renaissance castles.

Similarly, the Budapest suite features Gothic and Ottoman architectural styles, with ornate marquetry and embroidered silk-patterned furniture. The tall, curved headboard recalls the cathedrals and mosques of the Ottoman Empire.

Most of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express accommodations have shared restrooms without access to a shower.

But there's no need to share in the grand suites — the private bathrooms all have a rainfall showerhead, a glass-blown sink, and heated marble flooring.

The train has three restaurant cars. Guests staying in these high-end accommodations can instead dine in the privacy of their suite and unwind.

Staying in the luxurious moving hotel room also includes welcome caviar, 24-hour butler service, and bottomless Champagne.

Travelers are increasingly spending big for unique, high-end vacations.

To capitalize on this, Belmond added two grand suites to its Scottish train, the Royal Scotsman, in 2024.

The new accommodations were "exceptionally well-received," Franklin said — so much so that the company is now building more to debut in 2025.