Man Pays $2,200 to Pretend He’s in a Tiny Hotel on a Bumpy Train for 53 Hours

KEY POINTS

•In February 2026, a Business Insider reporter took Amtrak's 53-hour California Zephyr train from Chicago to Emeryville, California.
•He reserved a $2,200 50-square-foot bedroom accommodation with full bathroom and meals included, enhancing the experience with lounge access.
•Despite initial doubts, the reporter preferred the top bunk and entertained himself through reading, video games, and countless photos.

In February 2026, an adventurous reporter shelled out $2,200 for a 50-square-foot Amtrak California Zephyr bedroom with full bathroom, powering through 53 hours from Chicago's Euro-esque Union Station to Emeryville, CA. Despite skeptical memories of a shaky 2021 top bunk, the author found the upper berth blissful after years of overnight rides—shockingly preferring the former shaky torture device. Dinner reservations were shockingly nailed down pre-boarding in Chicago’s Metropolitan lounge, setting a civilized tone for onboard hotel-level amenities like shampoo bottles hanging above the toilet-shower hybrid. Entertainment included crushing boredom with video games, excessive photos, and a regretfully packed ukulele—because who doesn’t want a small instrument comedy?