I've spent 154 hours on Amtrak trains in 5 different classes, from coach to bedrooms. The best deal was a premium cabin.

The reporter has sampled five Amtrak booking types — coach, business class, first class, roomettes, and bedrooms.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider I've spent enough time on Amtrak trains to know that more expensive doesn't always mean better.

And the best deal isn't always the cheapest.

I figured out which upgrade is most worth it.

I travel by train every chance I get.

Over the past five years, I've spent roughly 154 hours crisscrossing the US on Amtrak trains , and each time, I've had a different experience.

I've lounged on a couch in a private bedroom with a full bathroom, transformed two seats into a bunk in a 20-square-foot cabin called a roomette, and received complimentary meals in the dining car on overnight trains .

I've also saved money in coach and upgraded to business and first class on shorter rides.

In total, I've sampled five different booking types on 10 trains from the Northeast to the Southwest.

One premium seat offers the best value for the upgrade.

I spent $50 on a four-hour ride in coach, the most basic seating car.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider In May 2025, I took the Amtrak Cascades train from Vancouver , British Columbia , to Seattle.

For the four-hour ride, I rode in coach, where seating was first-come, first-served.

Coach has the smallest seat of all the classes, but it's still pretty big and comfy, especially compared to a basic economy flight .