Private rail cars with luxurious amenities are now available on select Amtrak routes. When you think of traveling across the U.S. by train, the word “luxury” isn’t usually part of the conversation.

I spent 60 hours on Amtrak trains between NYC and Miami, 15 on one from Denver to Salt Lake City, and 53 hours on the longest train ride in the US.

There's an undeniable romance to the sleeper train. Falling asleep in one country and waking up in another — it's the kind of experience that seems to belong on the pages of a decades-old novel. And ...

As a frequent Amtrak passenger who bought the USA Rail Pass, I think it provides a great value. Still, there are a few things I wish I knew beforehand.