Sad I have a Eurail pass and will be leaving for Germany next week. I wanted to make a reservation for a sleeper and there are NONE available now. I'm so disappointed Online, it does show that there are couchette bunks available. It took me a while to figure out how to look these up on www.bahn.de since I have a Eurail select pass already and don't need to buy the point to point ticket, just the reservationL I know it's possible to book the entire couchette berth but can this be done online? Would this be extremely expensive? I am confused because I believe my train pass is considered "first class" but I guess I have to select "second class" for a couchette? Are showers available on this train car or is it just a sink/toilet at the end of the hall? I don't mind booking online, but I find it a little confusing and the number I have to call is a London number so the time difference is making it difficult. I don't want this news to ruin my trip. I was so looking forward to a sleeper. Help!!!!!!

Couchette compartments have four or six berths. You can book an entire berth - the berths are just big enough for one person - but the compartment will be shared with up to five other people. Descriptions and pictures are on www.seat61.com/Germany.htm

<< to book the entire couchette berth >>

Do you mean that you want to book every couchette in the compartment? According to seat61 a 4 couchette compartment is about E30 per berth or E120 for the compartment. I think that's a crazy idea and a waste of money. Just book 1 couchette; the compartment may not be full.

There is only a toilet and sink in each train car, located at the end of the car.

<< I don't want this news to ruin my trip. I was so looking forward to a sleeper. >>

I can't believe that you would consider a trip ruined because you can't get a sleeper and have to book a couchette. I feel bad for you.

The only thing you do not want to do is book a 6 person couchette. Where in actuality all of the couchette compartments have 6 berths, they are set to be reserved as either 4 or 6. From experience, I can tell you that 4 full-sized adults is pretty tight. I can't imagine 6, unless they are kids.

dave

My night train experiences have mostly been adventures. Lots of stories to tell! I was on a night train once that was so packed people were sleeping on the floor in the corridors. It was a shock to open the door in the morning and see wall-to-wall people!

Let me clarify. I am going with a friend so there will be two of us. We were wanting to have a room to ourselves and since the online site showed none available, we were wanting to book the entire "cabin" (pay for 4 bunks). I called to reserve online today and I reserved a sleeper for 130 euros. Not sure if it was the standard cabin or the deluxe. Site showed they were not available but I got one over the phone. Adienne, it's not that it would ruin my trip, but I am the one in charge of planning the entire trip. My friend has wanted me to reserve this for a while,but I didn't know they sell out so fast so I waited. I didn't want to disappoint her. We were looking forward to our own sleeper cabin with shower though because we are also taking a night train the night before this leg of the trip and it will have been a long day. We just wanted to relax and not worry about having to "entertain" or "be entertained" by other passengers in our cabin. I am awaiting what kind of "adventures" this trip will bring!

>we were wanting to book the entire "cabin" (pay for 4 bunks)
Be aware, local Germans would call you "antisocial" and treat you as such. It's a big no-no.

"local Germans would call you antisocial"

Not sure that I would care about this.

Besides, they would call you "thoughtful" if, for example, the reason was flatulence!

You'd have to defend it against others. In the end they just would enter and stay there. You'd be very unhappy on your holiday, so don't expect that you'd be allowed to keep the place for yourself.

If I were holding four paid reservations, I would expect the conductor to sort out any interlopers.

Exactly who would be exhibiting antisocial behavior in this case? Not the reservations holder, IMO!

In this case, it's a moot point as the OP was able to book a compartment.

No, it is not allowed to make reservations for a bed you don't intend to use. If you do, they'll be voided without refund.

I was not aware that this was the case but should have been if I had thought about it.

however, why not advise the OP that this isn't allowed based on ticket regulations rather than term it "antisocial."

What you are saying makes sense as the couchette charge is a supplement to an existing ticket, unlike paying for two airplane seats for single use.

Cathinjoetown, don't put words into my mouth, an old and simple trick. "Antisocial" is a term that would be used by my fellow Germans for such a behaviour. Regulations that keep people from hitting eachother on a train are in fact good. There are things that simply can't be done without facing the consequences.
Try to queue jump in a German supermarket.

Logos,

You used the word antisocial, sorry if in every subsequent reference I did not use you entire quote.

My last post was in effect backing off but I guess you don't see it that way.