I took Florida's Brightline train from Miami to Orlando. I had a great experience, but I wouldn't pay for it again.

• I traveled through Florida from Miami to Orlando on a Brightline train.

• I was upgraded to a premium ticket after Brightline experienced delays opening its Orlando station.

• Though I wouldn't pay to travel on this route again, I had a great experience.

Florida isn't exactly known for having a solid public-transportation system. I've been living in Florida for six years, and until recently there had been only three ways to travel from Miami to Orlando: by car, Greyhound bus, or airplane.

But now, Floridians (and any of the state's millions of annual visitors) have a new transportation option: the Brightline train.

A week after the train's first trip from Miami to Orlando, I hopped on board to see whether it was worth the hype.

Miami’s Brightline station was the cleanest train station I've been to.

When I first moved to Miami, I didn't have a car. As a result, I spent my first three years navigating the city by bus, Metromover, and Metrorail.

I'm no stranger to Miami's various train stations and bus depots, and Brightline's station was by far the cleanest and most beautiful.

Located in the historic Overtown neighborhood, Brightline's Miami station is smack-dab in the center of the city's transportation core.

I arrived via Uber, and the driver dropped me off right outside the station's main doors.

The station was meticulously decorated.

Once inside, I was impressed by how tidy and spacious the facilities were. The brand's signature yellow covered the walls, but it wasn't overwhelming when paired with warm lights.

In fact, Brightline managed to make the yellow seem sophisticated.

I didn't initially purchase a premium ticket.

When I first booked my Brightline trip, I paid for a standard ticket. But when the company experienced a series of delays in opening its Orlando station, my trip was canceled.

In addition to refunding my ticket cost, Brightline gave me a free voucher for a premium ticket when the route reopened. This was a nice surprise and made me excited to support the brand moving forward.

One of the reasons I didn't initially book a premium ticket was the price. For my Sunday-afternoon trip from Miami to Orlando, standard tickets cost about $75 each way. In comparison, premium tickets sold for anywhere from $150 to $240.

Plus, booking a round-trip flight or driving to and from Orlando in my car was cheaper than a one-way premium Brightline ticket.

Because of this, I probably wouldn't book the same fare again, but I'm incredibly grateful that I got to have the experience free.

My premium ticket came with lots of perks.

At the Miami station, premium passengers had their own lounge in the back of the mezzanine. When I entered, it felt like stepping into a stylish living room.

Couches and chairs with individual charging ports were around the room's perimeter, and a self-serve snack buffet was in the center.

The buffet was filled with various foods, including prosciutto, cheese, crackers, cookies, and sour candy. There was also a self-serve beverage station with soda, water, coffee, and alcohol.

Being a premium ticket holder also meant I got to look forward to free snacks on the train.

The boarding process was quick and smooth.

The boarding process in Miami was extremely organized. Screens were constantly updated with the time and boarding information, so I was never confused about the next step in the process.

When the escalators and elevators opened for us to head to our platform, the train was already there waiting.

Within a few minutes, we were all able to get on the train and had an on-time departure.

The trip to Orlando was quiet.

On the way to Orlando, we made stops in Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Each stop was quick, so it felt as if we were constantly making progress on our journey.

Because most passengers got off by the time we reached West Palm Beach, the trip to Orlando was quiet, and my train car was mostly empty.

Premium passengers received a complimentary meal.

Though all passengers can purchase food and drinks on board, premium ticket holders receive a complimentary lunch. I got mine around Port St. Lucie.

The meal consisted of a sandwich, tomatoes and mozzarella, fruit, and a piece of chocolate. Shortly after, we were also given a mini dessert to enjoy.

All of these perks helped to make the trip even more enjoyable and added to the premium ticket's value.

Halfway through our journey, we hit a snag.

Brightline is the only rail service that operates from South to Central Florida along the state's eastern coast. Because of this, specific infrastructure had to be designed to make the route viable.

About an hour and a half into our journey, we stopped suddenly in Port St. Lucie. We were delayed about 35 minutes, and the only information we were given was that there was a mechanical issue with the bridge.

Regardless, the attendants remained empathetic to our concerns and professional in their continued service.

For the right client, Brightline is a great way to travel.

I enjoyed my time on Brightline, but I wouldn't pay to ride it again.

The price makes it an unreasonable commuter option for travel within South Florida, even when you factor in parking prices.

The TriRail, a commuter line that connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, is a much cheaper option. Though the TriRail lacks many of Brightline's amenities, a round-trip fare will usually only cost passengers $5 to $18.

Likewise, if you're heading up to Orlando, a ticket on Brightline is more expensive than driving. Since you need a car to explore the city, I'd rather spend three or four hours driving my own car.

But if you're a train enthusiast or someone with time and money to spare, riding the Brightline from Miami to Orlando is a novel and luxurious way for Floridians to travel.

Read the original article on Insider