There’s something very satisfying about the efficiency of overnight travel. In the best of
conditions, you make your journey and arrive awake, refreshed, and at your destination.
But how well you sleep depends a lot on how you travel.
Here’s my list of overnight travel options, from worst to first:
Driving All Night: In my carefree youth I once drove all night from Chicago to NYC.
Tired and wired (on a LOT of coffee), I encountered no traffic and made really good
time, but arrived exhausted. Not a good option… and probably not safe.
Sleeping In The Airport: This one doesn’t really count, as you’re not really traveling.
And those not-so-comfy chairs at the gate don’t really allow much sleep.
The good news is that many airports (ATL, DFW , JFK) now offer Minute Suites with
daybeds and showers. You can book them for an hour ($48) or for an eight-hour
overnight ($175).
Sleeping On the Plane: It’s not by chance that overnight flights are called “red eyes”.
Sure, flying overnight is fast, but if you’re sitting in coach on a crowded plane, good luck
with any shut-eye. This is why I hate flying to Europe. You arrive jet lagged, in a different
time zone and anxious to just sleep, not go sight-seeing.
Now, if you’re in Business Class, rest is possible… at a price. And if money is no object,
there are ultra-luxe accommodations like on Air France’s La Premiere , a private suite
ten-feet square with three-star gourmet meals curated by Michelin-starred chefs, served
on porcelain with Christofle cutlery… and a full bed. Roundtrip fare JFK-Paris, about
$20,000.
Taking The Bus: “Riding the dog” (Greyhound) is not my idea of fun anytime, but there
are some private companies re-thinking bus travel with much comfier accommodations.
In Texas, Vonlane offers “luxury motor coaches” with Business Class seating. Similar
service between NYC and DC is offered by private carriers, but not on the overnights.
Travel By Ship: Alas, not many options here, aside from cruising or crossing the
Atlantic. But in the old days, there were steamboats plying the waters between Hartford
and New York City. As I wrote a few months back , the 14-18 hour journey had both
“deck class” and cabin class accommodations.
Travel By Train: Not surprising that this is my favorite option. But as with flying, if
you’re stuck in coach class your slumber may be less than optional. Amtrak offers
bedrooms… from Roomettes to Bedroom Suites… but they’re always booked weeks in
advance and are far too expensive.
There are several start-ups looking to offer much nicer (and affordable) sleeping cars,
like Dreamstar which hopes to launch next year between San Francisco and LA. And
Lunatrain , running NYC to Atlanta and Chicago.
We’ll have to see if either company is successful in its launch, modeled after the highly
popular NightJet train service you’ll find throughout Europe. Even in Japan, the country
that launched true high-speed rail 50 years ago, there are sleeper trains offering
everything from cabins to tatami mats.
So, as you plan your summer travels, check out these options. You’ll save on hotel
rooms and maybe have an adventure!
Jim Cameron is founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. The views he expresses in his “Talking Transportation” column are his alone. Jim Cameron is also the Program Director of Darien TV79, his town’s cable TV station, as well as serving on Darien’s Board of Ethics and Blight Review Board. In his spare time, he’s an avid train spotter.
