 Overnight Trains
Night trains are very attractive to the backpackers because you save time traveling while sleeping, and since you sleep in the train you do not have pay a hostel.
Night trains are tricky, first of all if a journey begins after the 19:00 hrs, it counts only as one day on your Train Pass (Europass or Eurail), you must write down the date of the next day when boarding a train.
Night trains normally require you to pay a supplement besides your pass, in some cases reservation is compulsory and in high season is advisable.
There are several ways to sleep in a train, some are more comfortable than others, and of course some are cheaper than others, these are:
- Sleepers. This is the most fancy way of traveling. You get a first class compartment with only one or two beds, and the luxury ones include a bathroom. The price of the supplement is something between US$80 and US$140 dollars. Breakfast and a luxury dinner are included. Normally you have a key for your room, so you do not have to worry about thefts in the train. Also, you can sleep in your pijamas if you like.
- Couchettes. Couchettes are second class tickets but they are still very comfortable, you can find them in compartments of 4 or 6 beds. Beds are ok, but you must lock your luggage and sleep with your money belt on because you sleep with others and there is no lock in the compartment. The price of the supplement is around US$40 dollars. You are supposed to sleep in you day time clothes.
- Sleeperettes. If you are really on a tight budget this is your choice. Sleeperettes could require a small supplement of around US$10 dollars. They are reclining seats that become one huge bed. Each compartment is designed to carry 6 people sited, but only 4 can sleep lied on. If this is your choice, then you must be early in the train station so you can get in the train as soon as it arrives since you must get a compartment before anyone else takes them. Let me tell you that this are not very comfortable and you will not rest as good as you should. And, of course, you must sleep in you day time clothes.
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