1) With a pass you can hop on any train, day or night, as long as your pass is valid in the country your in. You just have to buy the reservation if one is required on that train. You also have the options of getting a bed, if you want to pay more.

2) Go to the train station once you are in Europe. Try and book your night train reservation a week in advance if it’s a busy time of year.

3) Yes they are safe, whatever you have heard is probably wrong.

4) It’s all depends on what type of train you are on, and if you have a seat or bed.

You need to make reservations for night trains..so, you can show upto the train station a day or 2 before and just reserve your spot…I think some do it on the net too…but I never did that.

How much depends on where you are travelling. The trains are safe. How comfortable you are can depend on how many people are travelling in your night compartment….the lesser amount of beds in your cabin, the more expensive it is…now some people don’t even get cabins…they just sit in seats…which I’d find terribly uncomfortable…those are cheaper though…my memory is foggy regarding whether or not you have to pay beyond reservation fees simply for seats if you have a eurail pass (edit: ok, you don’t…nivid remembered it haha).

Luck plays a factor in how comfortable…I remember a few night trains where I was the only person in my compartment…so, I could just lock the door and lay claim to my domain haha….other times it was cool if there were only a couple people….there was this one time, this entire family was staying in my place…that was god awful…but that was the only one like that for me…that and the night train from budapest to krakow were the worst for me…the rest were comfortable.

1) You will not get much sleep on night trains.
2) Watch out for the gas!

I got plenty of sleep on most of my night trains.

I don’t like to take more than about one night train a week. You often don’t get a great night’s sleep and it’s wierd to arrive in a strange city at (or just before) morning rush hour when you can’t check into your hostel until mid afternoon.

Almost all night trains require a reservation or a supplement, so you will usually have to pay something in addition to your railpass.
Usually it’s 3 or 4 euros for a reclining seat (if the specific train has seats). It’s usually about 20 euros for a berth in a 6 bunk couchette. The fanciest roomettes on the fanciest trains can be very expensive.

If you take a direct train that leaves after 7:00 PM and arrives after midnight (no connections before midnight) then it only counts as one day on a flexi pass or select pass. You mark in arrival day on your pass.

I think a small percentage of your travel should be night trains. Its fine (if not economical) to have some night travel to, as you said, use your days for sight seeing.

I’ve seen a few postings on other topics really recommending night travel but I would not recommend a trip filled with night travel. Reason being

1) Not all people can sleep on trains. If you sleep easily in cars/moving vehicles and in smaller spaces, then this may not be an issue
2) (as others said) You are not always guaranteed a great compartment. By yourself = excellent! , sharing with large families (and I have to say, some people don’t use deoderant) = not fun.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I was actually talking about reserving a couchette I should have been more specific, but one person did let me know that would be about 20 euros extra. There are so many things to take into account while traveling through europe. We’re planning on spending about 3 days in each city and then taking a night train to the next. Since I’m only budgeting 60-65 US/day I figured the night trains would cost about as much as a cheap hostel so why not.

There are 5 of us traveling together so safety shouldn’t be an issue but I was just curious, you never know.

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3)Are trains safe? I have heard horror stories, especially regarding night trains in Italy

It’s all urban myth hogwash that plays on Anglo-Saxons’ fears of "exotic" Southern Europe. (Be ready to hear a lot of urban legends from other backpackers.) In fact, you’re the one who lives in a country with a relatively high crime rate. You’ll be traveling to a safer country.

Italy is actually one of the safest countries in the world, and it pisses me off that I actually have to say it (seriously, these urban myths are ridiculous). It’s not your fault, though.

The most serious problem you might face (like 0.001% chance) is petty theft. But, as anywhere, be careful.

Hi all,

This is a great topic as I’m also thinking of travelling by night train. I’ll be spending 2 months in Europe this summer and I need to scrimp and save anyway I can.

So my question is: what is a supplement? is that the extra money you have to pay for a bed? I’m thinking of getting a sleeperette, which I think is the reclining chair. Does that have a supplement to it?

Thank you!

Yes, the supplement is the extra amount you’ll pay as a railpass holder. Supplements are not only for couchettes on night trains, but are required on certain other trains as well.

So…is it worth it to get a sleeper? My wife and I are going on our honeymoon and thought it would be nice to not sleep with 4 other people in our room. We’re only going to have 2 overnight trains though and I’m not sure it is going to be worth it to spend $80 each just so we can get a 1st class passes and then have to pay the extra money for the sleeper. (I think I just talked myself out of it, but let me know what you think).

You guys can get a couchette w/ 3 beds…that way, at most only 1 other person is in there w/ you.

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You guys can get a couchette w/ 3 beds…that way, at most only 1 other person is in there w/ you.

good idea…i like your style. i hadn’t thought of that. any idea how much those are per night?

quote:

quote:
You guys can get a couchette w/ 3 beds…that way, at most only 1 other person is in there w/ you.

good idea…i like your style. i hadn’t thought of that. any idea how much those are per night?

They are about 20 euros per bed…so it would just be like paying for a night at a hostel….and should no one else be in your compartment, it’s all yours…and quite the deal.

I can only say one thing to this

http://www.cafepress…

You’ll be fine – in all seriousness. You should of course not doing anything stupid like leave a purse, wallet, or something else with perceived value out in a place where a thief could snatch and grab it quickly by opening your compartment and reaching in.

Have an awesome trip