Overnight train info?
 

I know less than nothing about overnight train travel in Europe so all info is welcome. Planning stages of a trip for family of four and ideally we would go from US to Germany than to Italy. What do I need to know about booking a train from Munich to Rome as an overnight? With just four of us is that a full compartment? Which train operators should I look at and what should I know before booking? Thanks in advance!!!!

Is there a reason you want to do over night trains? Many routes have been eliminated - mostly because of competition from the very extensive budget airline network. A lot of the few remaining routes are a real hassle because of the need to change trains in the middle of the night/wee small hours.

Trains in Europe are great -- most overnight trains, not so much. There are a few good night trains - but not many.

For the most part those long trains will end up more expensive than a flight plus a budget hotel. If you're willing to try and sleep on those trains even the most basic hotel will seem like luxury.

Often those trains leave in the evening. What will you do with your luggage all day long? Luggage storage costs money that could go towards that hotel room. They arrive early. What will you do for hours before your check in?

From what I remember a four person compartment is a premium one. The normal ones tend to be six.

Honestly the main reason to take these trains is if you're moving house and can't deal with the airline baggage rules. But if you pack light fly like a bird.

>>cost of hotel room if we can accomplish the journey with just the cost of overnight train. No other reason than that<<

Then a train is not the way to go . . . Sleeper compartments are expensive.

>>Trying to avoid the time spent in airports <<

Which is better, a little time spent in an airport vs. a sleepless night for some or all of you? For a longer distance journey - transfers to/from the Airport and advance check in/security would be faster than a train.

I have taken a lot of night trains over the years. They have varied from good to disastrous (but only a few of those). Mostly I have slept well.

When I want to know about a particular night train I check seat61.com. It says the Munich to Rome train is fine, and the four-person couchettes are 69 euro/person. See: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Munich.htm#Munich-Italy and scroll down. There is info on buying tickets on that site, and info on night trains here: https://www.seat61.com/sleepers.htm

Major train stations have left luggage facilities. Hotels will hold your luggage after a night train, just as they will after a night flight.

Sleeper compartments are, usually, expensive. Couchettes are not. For a random date in September I see air fares from Munich to Rome starting at 60 euro/person. That means that the couchette for four people would only cost 36 euro more than the flight, and that was the cost of the flight before any add-ons and before getting to/from airports.

I'm seeing Vueling flights starting at €45 but not every day. 90 minute flight.

Like Thursdaysd, I have had good experiences on nights trains; plus my children love them. As long as you know it is not luxurious, it is a fun experience. The website the man in the seat61.com is a goldmine.

Hi capecod73,

I'm another one who loves taking night trains -- it's an opportunity to travel in a unique way that can't be duplicated. It's an old-fashioned way to go, and so may add some interesting memories for you and your family.

I started taking night trains in the 1960s, when I was 13, travelling with my sister from Switzerland to Spain. Since then I've taken a number of them, between Munich and Paris (discontinued now, to my sorrow) and Munich and Orvieto.

I'd suggest you treat this as an adventure, not simply a means of transport that ought to be seamless and easy. Buy some snacks and maybe some wine, and when you're in your cabin, turn off the lights, open the curtains, and enjoy watching the towns and lights slip by your window. It's a lovely way to go, imo.

Have fun as you plan!

s

@janisj - bit surprised to see you keen on a plane over the night train. You are often warning people about how long it takes to change location and suggesting they do it less often. Taking a night train is a good way round that. Train stations are almost always in the middle of town (for some reason Taiwan put its high speed line outside, but that is rare), while airports are usually a ways outside. Then, you only need to get to the station 10 or 15 minutes ahead of departure instead of one or two hours. I once timed how long it took me to get from my hotel in London to my hotel in Nice - a two hour flight consumed eight hours. Admittedly the flight left an hour late, but then my recent flight from Glasgow to Jersey on the same airline left two hours late.

True, you need to give some thought to being homeless for twentyfour hours, but you'll be spending a chunk of that on the train. Luggage stays in the hotel or goes to left luggage at the station. Sometimes you have access to a lounge in the station, but if not, big stations often have pay showers. If I'm somewhere hot, e.g. Madrid, I save the air conditioned museums for the last day, coupled with time in a park and meals. Museums work equally well for rainy days. What I will admit is that back-to-back night trains are a bad idea! (I only did that once, in India, no less!)

Besides being more environmentally friendly, night trains give you considerably more space. Sleepers and couchettes aren't big, but they are a lot bigger than an economy class seat on a plane. Finally, a night train is an experience, an opportunity to make the journey an important part of the trip. One or two of mine have been memorable for the wrong reasons, but the Munich-Rome train looks good.

@Traveler-Nick - Besides only being available four days a week, and only once on those days, the Vueling flight's cheapest fare does not include seat assignment or a checked bag. Adding those costs around 20 USD extra.

>>@janisj - bit surprised to see you keen on a plane over the night train. You are often warning people about how long it takes to change location and suggesting they do it less often. <<

Just to clarify - I love trains and usually prefer them to flying. It is just that sometimes flying makes sense. If they mostly want the adventure -- absolutely go for it. But from the OP's post he seems to think it would be more convenient and save money, Not necessarily so on either count.

A private compartment will cost more than a budget hotel and arriving in a new city very early AM and having to check the bags, return to get the bags later in the day. But as long as they understand the logistics -- then sure. I just think they should also consider flying.

Look at www.bahn.de/en for Munich to Rome night trains - run by Austrian Railways - such trains are not for everyone - especially those with a noise/sleep problem as there is always noise from inside and outside the train -especially when trains stop in stations and PAs can be loud. But otherwise yes just book the whole 4 couchettes and one compartment. Yes, www.seat61.com is a font of stuff about trains - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and rickseves.com.

https://www.nightjet.com/en/
https://www.thello.com/en/paris-venice/

But from the OP's post he seems to think it would be more convenient and save money, Not necessarily so on either count.>

But it will save most of a day - important to you.

@neckervd - why are you providing a link for Paris-Venice for someone who wants to travel Munich-Rome?

I have only done three overnight train trips but I loved them all. Twice was between Switzerland and Venice, and once Venice to Paris (thru Milan). I wouldn't want to do them more than once a week, but they worked fantastic for my needs. I booked a private compartment each time, twice solo, once with one friend.

Different trains have different couchette and cabin configurations. Whether you can find a 4-person one on your particular routes, I don't know. But I am chiming in to not poo-poo the idea. I think it could be fun for your family to try at least one time.

@suze - If you read my post #12 you will see that I did a test booking, and just as seat61.com said, there are four person couchettes on the Munich-Rome route.

Cool that you enjoyed the train trips!

thursdaysd~ That's great & thank you for helping them by doing the research.

And sorry, no I did not read all the replies since I knew my experience was very limited. I only got as far as #2 with janisj trying to talk them out of doing this when I chimed in here at the bottom. Because each of the times I tried it were trips I am truly glad I got to experience. Way more exciting than going thru another few airports!

>> I only got as far as #2 with janisj trying to talk them out of doing this<<

Then you probably should have read farther. I later posted that if they wanted to do it for and adventure to go for it . . . and that I generally prefer trains to flying.