live42day

Just did this a couple of weeks ago. Booked an overnight sleeper from Prague to Krakow in a second class double sleeper. We were very happy with it. I booked it on line with the czech rail site, or you can buy at the station depending on what month you are travelling it should not be a problem. We have been booking trains one day ahead now and not an issue. This trip for us has been cumbersome to plan on the go as well. Webistes are not easy to understand sometimes.

mattian

Live42day...what are the differences between 1st and 2nd class sleepers? Also can we book with Czech rail if we are starting in Krakow?

live42day

Some of the trains dont have first class sleepers. We just did a first class day train from Sighasoria to Brasov, Romania, and I did not see a huge difference.
The overnight train from Budapest to Romania had private double sleepers with bunk beds, which is what we had, and you could have three in them if you wanted but we bought the cabin for only two. They also had cabins with two beds on the bottom which would have been nice but for the extra money my husband said he would climb to the top.
The czech train was okay in second class. Each car has their own conductor who makes sure you wake up on time and brings you coffee and croisants. You can lock them from the inside so they are very secure. The bathrooms always leave a bit to be desired, but hopefully you dont need it too much.

we found the czech rail site the best one for information and booking. What month are you travelling?

live42day

I see you are travelling in June/July. You wont be able to book on the czech site until a month ahead of time.
BTW We loved Prague, could have stayed longer in Krakow and Budapest was nice but not our favorite of the three.

PalenQ

Live42day...what are the differences between 1st and 2nd class sleepers? Also can we book with Czech rail if we are starting in Krakow?>

If the train has first-class sleepers and some like live42day says do not - but in general first class sleepers are in the Sleeping Car and are private compartments - singles, doubles and triples - usually booked up by one party but at times you may be able to share with a stranger - but anyway private compartments - 2nd class sleepers are usually in the Couchette Wagon and have three berths on each side of the caompartment - strangers and sexes put in together - a big difference for many.

But couchettes are usually much cheaper than private compartments. Some trains have first-class couchettes with 4 people in a compartment vs the six in 2nd class.

live42day

What you are describing PalenQ is what we had, a private compartment with two beds in the sleeper car. There were a couple of sleeper cars on this run. . The train between Prague and Krakow did not have first class on the overnight, only second class. My ticket says second class sleeper compartment, double. I saw the compartments with six beds in them, the couchettes .
Not what we wanted to do. I was quite happy with what we had.
We kept trying to book first class but not many trains had them at the times we wanted to travel unfortunately.

HelenJ

Great info here on trains. Hope you don't mind me asking a question.

We are looking to book a double sleeper compartment on overnight train Krakow to Budapest early January.

From photos & info I have seen it looks like there is only a wash basin in the compartment. Is there a ( shared) shower as well as toilet in each carriage?

PalenQ

Typically no - only wash basins and a common toilet at the ends of the cars but rarely any shower!

live42day

Yes, only a washbasin which is covered by a table top when not in use. The bathrooms on some trains were better than others. There would be 2 to 4 bathrooms in each car, but more often than not only one per car would be unlocked. In one of the newer cars they had a shower in the bathroom and in our car there was a seperate shower room as well but that was the Budapest to Romania train. The Prague to Krakow train did not have any showers.
Frankly, for just an overnight I would not want to have a shower in the train anyhow. It would be difficult to do with all the rocking back and forth and not sure how clean they were.
We just waited until we checked into our hotels.

HelenJ

Thanks PalenQ and live42day.

This train is the only part of our trip I am hesitant about booking - but being able to visualise the carriage makes it not so daunting!!

PalenQ

If you are reluctant to book online call Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com and pay a bit more but have him see what bookings thru Rail Europe would cost - if not much more do it thru him - whom I have bought railpasses from for years - he will answer all questions expertly IME without obligation - tell you exactly what is available on that train. If much cheaper book on that country's railway site even though you cannot ask questions of that, obviously.

HelenJ

Thanks PalenQ.
I will look at contacting budgeteuropetravel.

mattian

May I assume, that with a stopover in Bratislava for the day, there are lockers for the luggage at the station?

live42day

I saw left luggage rooms at all the stations

PalenQ

Having lockers does not always mean they all will be empty - I've seen in some German stations rows and rows of luggage lockers all full - can't 100% count on them but in Bratislava'a main station (older one in the town center) there is also a manual left-luggage in that case - you pay by the bag there versus whatever can fit in a lcoker.