Are overnight-train couchettes safe?
 

I'm considering taking an overnight train from Nice to Venice, and I sleep pretty deeply, but I'm worried about thieves. Should I be? There will be two of us.

I guess it depends on the type of sleeper you get. I just recently took an overnight train from Venice to Paris. We had a "double" sleeper where there were only the two of us in the cabin. We could lock the door while we we slept (the attendent kept our passports so we wouldn't have to wake up when we crossed the border). I have never taken a couchette, so I couldn't say.

You'll get a great deal of useful information on this subject if you go to the Rick Steves website (www.ricksteves.com) and then go to the "grafitti wall" where there is a section devoted to train travel.

Another resource is www.seat61.com

You have to understand the couchette "situation" which can mean as many as six "bunks" stacked in a compartment. Many will tell you to sleep IN your clothes with your valuables on your person for safety. The stories about robberies on European trains involving everything from possible assault to the use of anesthetic gasses putting passengers to sleep are legion.

You need to read up on this before you make a decision. Sometimes, it is definitely "worth it" to go in First Class (as described in a post above) sleeping accommodations (whether Rick Steves agress or not!) if for nothing else than piece of mind.

I assume you are aware that this particular rail route may require taking a bus from Nice to Ventimiglia unless the Monte Carlo tunnel has been re-opened.

Sorry...that should read PEACE of mind <G>.

I took the same route 3 yrs ago. Lucky I had the presence of mind to put my cash + travellers cheques in a pouch under my blouse. Our bags were opened; even my camera was removed from one bag and tossed under the bunk (they were obviously only interested in cash). What was puzzling was that we all slept through it and woke up only when the train attendant came around to tell us to check our things!

> ..rail route may require taking a bus from Nice to Ventimiglia unless the Monte Carlo tunnel has been re-opened.

Good news! Obviously the tunnel is open now. I took a train Nice to Ventimiglia and return last Monday, 01 Nov. No tranfer by bus.

Another resource is the note on getting the best from sleepers and couchettes at http://www.geocities.com/rexbickers/...ghttrains.htm/.

I sleep in pyjamas, with valuables in a packet inside a dirty shirt in a big suitcase.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable says that the Monte Carlo tunnel is open again, and yiu take no bus.

Pikas: puzzling indeed. I take it that somebody had left the compartment door unlocked, or had used only the lock and not the bolt ?

[email protected]

You are "safe" in that you will not be murdered in your bed. However, you wil be sleeping in a semi-public space - likely with at least some strangers. So your choices are to

1) stay up all night
2)hide any valuables upon your person where they can;t be taken without awakening you
3) take your chances - and no complaints if you lose anything

IMHO sleeping on a train - except in a private locked compartment - is foolhardy.

My wife and I did the private 1st class compartment from Rome to Nice overnight. Not much sleep, we locked our door but at every stop people would get on and jiggle door knobs to try and find an unlocked sleeper. They were trying to use the 1st class without paying or looking to steal something. Either way it woke us up frequently and the vacuum effect in and out of tunnels kept us awake also, not to mention the sliding in the bunk as you go around the mountains.
It was a unique experience but I would never do it again.

We took the overnight train from Venice to Munich in May and had no problems. Met a few very nice people, and slept with our money pouches on. It was a great way to save time on a long train ride. If you get thirsty at night, take water with you since there is none on the train

Night trains are safe if you lock the compartment door from the inside. Yes there have been a slew of publicized roberries in couchettes but this was more a problem before locks were fitted on the inside of the doors. But if everyone in the compartment doesn't lock the door when they go to the loo at night thieves could come in. I've taken dozens of couchettes in recent years and have never had a problem, but i try to keep sure the door is locked. Couchettes i took last summer had two locks on the inside, including a bolt lock. Conductors often implore people to use the locks. When chosing a berth ask for the high one (you have lower, middle and high to chose from among the two stacks of 3 bunks on each side of the aisle); there is much more room for luggage up there and thieves hands unlikely to stray up there. Stories of gassing, etc. were rife several years ago but havn't heard of lately - maybe due to measures trains have taken. There is an attendant with the sleeping and couchette cars who is supposed to monitor who's coming on at each stop and make sure they have a ticket for that car. Night trains can be utilitarian and even fun in my experience. You are usually in within decent europeans; often mixed sex of all ages. Don't rule out night trains from fear!

I would pay the extra for a 2-person private sleeper cabin. I know I would not be able to sleep sharing a compartment with 4 other strangers (i.e., couchette). The private cabins are great because you can bring on a picnic dinner (the bottom bed folds up so you have a couch to sit on). We brought on lovely food, some beer and wine, and had a quiet, relaxing evening talking and reading, watching out the window, before going to bed.

For me it is an issue of privacy, not safety that decided to pay the extra for a cabin.

Conductors on couchettes and sleepers sell bottled water (and beer and wine), but it is cheaper bought in a supermarket.

[email protected]

While travelling with my daughter this summer we took an overnight from Rome to Paris in what our tickets described as a "couchette" ... we had asked for a private sleeping car for two but as the trains were quite full we were told that we wuld have to take whatever was available .... we expected a car with as many as six bunks but were pleasently suprosed to find ourselves alone in a car that could (but didn't) sleep three. We had a peaceful night with no incidents at all ... would suggest you be specific in your accommodation request and ask for a private car.