I spent 60 hours on Amtrak trains with a backpack and carry-on bag. I'm glad I packed 7 items, but I wish I'd had 7 more.

• I traveled from New York to Miami and back on overnight Amtrak trains. Each ride was 30 hours.
• For 60 hours of train travel, I brought a carry-on duffel bag and my camera backpack.
• I was glad I brought some comfortable shoes, but I regret forgetting flip-flops for the shower.

Since each ride was overnight, I was glad I packed a comfortable outfit separately from the rest of my clothes.

I always keep a disinfecting spray with me to make sure the surfaces I use are clean.

One of the most important items I brought was my comfiest pair of shoes — they feel like pillows under your feet.

I tried to make the train feel like home. At home, I dance pretty much every day, so I’m thankful I brought a pair of headphones.

On my way home, I stayed in a bedroom with a private shower. I would have used it, but I forgot my flip-flops to keep my feet safe from germs.

Since there weren’t many visible outlets in the rooms, I wished I had packed a couple of outlet splitters to charge more than a few devices at a time.

I only saw a couple of sets of outlets in the rooms. I brought a lot of electronics on this trip: two cameras, one laptop, one Nintendo Switch, one phone, and one pair of Bluetooth headphones. With several devices to plug in, I should have brought an outlet splitter or two. 

For the same reason, my portable charging battery would have come in handy had I remembered to bring it.

I could have sworn I packed this, so I was disappointed when I wanted to use it.

I usually bring my neck pillow when I fly, but I didn’t think to take it on my Amtrak trip since my tickets included beds. It would have made the waking hours more comfortable.

This neck pillow wraps around one and a half times, making it easy to adjust to various long-term sitting situations. 

While the train bunks and blankets were much more comfortable than I expected, the pillows weren’t as cushy as the ones I had at home. So I wish I’d brought my own.

The bed on the Amtrak was firm and slightly cushy on top, just the way I like a bed. But when I was drifting off to sleep each night, I thought of my fluffy, dense, soft pillows at home.