I spent 60 hours on Amtrak trains with a carry-on bag and a backpack. Here are 7 things I regret not packing and 9 items I'm glad I brought.

• I traveled from New York to Miami and back in Amtrak sleeper cars. 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 odor-eliminating spray, but I regret forgetting flip-flops for the shower.

For a weeklong trip to Florida in 2021, I traveled round-trip from New York to Miami on Amtrak trains . Each ride was about 30 hours long, and my tickets included a private room with a bed, access to a bathroom, and complimentary meals.

On my way to Miami, I booked a roomette , a 20-square-foot private space with two seats across from each other, a table that folded out in between, and a bed above the seats that pulled down. The seats also pulled out into a bed. Some Roomettes also include a toilet and sink.

On my way home, I booked an Amtrak bedroom . It's twice the size of a roomette with an additional chair and a shower.

Knowing I'd be staying overnight in sleeper cars , I packed some travel essentials I thought would be helpful for sleeping, eating, working, and relaxing on a train. I tried my best to ensure my duffel bag and backpack included all the items I'd ever want to ensure a comfortable and entertaining 60 hours of travel. But I regretted leaving some items behind.

I packed a duffel bag and my camera backpack, both of which I kept with me on the trains.

I had the option to check a bag , but I decided to keep all my belongings with me throughout the trip.

Since each ride was an overnight trip, I was glad I packed a comfortable outfit separately from my clothes for the rest of my trip so they were easy to find in my bag.

I packed comfy pants and shorts since I was traveling south to warmer temperatures.

I was grateful I packed various forms of entertainment, especially some that didn't require an internet connection, which could sometimes be spotty.

I brought a Nintendo Switch , a tablet, and a book to pass the time. I made sure to download a bunch of podcast episodes to my phone in case I lost service and internet at any point during the trip.

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

Even though Amtrak sanitizes rooms between visitors, according to its website , bringing my own disinfectant gave me peace of mind and made me feel more comfortable relaxing in my rooms.

Every time I travel, I also pack some Vitamin C for an immunity boost.

This packing tip comes from my mom. She always brought some sort of immunity-boosting chewable to protect us from germs while traveling. And as Business Insider previously reported, Vitamin C can help your immune system fight off some infections.

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

I picked up these memory foam babies at T.J. Maxx for only $20. They slipped on and off very easily, which was great for leaving my room quickly with shoes on.

I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I dance pretty much all day, so I'm glad I brought a pair of headphones with me.

I took frequent dance breaks in my room, where I closed the curtains and blasted music in my ears. This, of course, required a pair of headphones.

While I danced throughout the day, I was glad I could listen to music as loudly as I wanted without bothering my neighbors.

I was especially glad I brought my odor-eliminating Poo Pourri spray with me when I saw that my Roomette's toilet was next to my seat.

In some roomettes (mine included), a side table swings open to reveal a toilet. Above, there's a folding sink and mirror.

I may have had a bigger problem with having a toilet so close to my bed, but thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri , a spray that goes in the toilet just before you poop to eliminate odors.

While my train tickets included meals, I was glad I brought my own snacks for the in-between times.

I thought many of my meals on the train were decent, but there were times, like when I tried and disliked a salmon dish, that I was thankful for this bag of trail mix with my favorite ingredient, coconut chips.

But it turns out that I also missed a few key things when packing. While I'm glad I brought a water bottle, I wish I'd brought a smaller one that would fit in Amtrak's cupholders.

An Amtrak attendant brought me disposable water bottles every few hours, but I was still glad I brought my own pre-filled water bottle.

But my bottle was too wide for the provided cupholders, which were just big enough for 12-ounce bottles. So, I wish I had brought a smaller reusable water bottle.

One thing I missed the most on this trip was medication for motion sickness. Both train rides felt as bumpy as a flight when the seat belt sign is on.

I figured this would only be temporary, but I thought the whole ride was shaky. I ended up feeling motion sickness for the majority of both trips and kicking myself for not bringing any remedies.

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.

I planned on showering during my 30-hour ride home from Miami, but I decided not to when I realized I had forgotten my flip-flops. I usually wear them in public showers , since experts told BI that it's pretty easy to pick up germs from places where many people have walked barefoot.

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. 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 and was so 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 trek, since my tickets came with beds. But I think it would have made the waking hours more comfortable.

This specific neck pillow wraps around 1.5 times, making adjusting to various long-term sitting situations easy.

While the train beds 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.

Read the original article on Business Insider