First time traveler to Europe. Debating on whether to take the night train from Munich-Venice. Would like to hear experiences from others who have taken it (postive/negative). Is it safe/clean? 2 women traveling alone...

Haven't taken that route, but have taken night trains from Paris to Munich, Im sure they are much the same. Safe and clean. Make sure you get a 2-person sleeper, unless you want to share a 6-person couchette compartment with strangers.

No sleepers are available on this train. Only couchettes and regular seats...

I've found that you typically don't get much sleep due to the frequent stops. We even went to the trouble of 'buying' the entire sleeper but were unable to overcome the clanging bells & stopping every 25 minutes. I would try something else or take massive ear-plugs & multiple eye coverings.

'Buying the whole sleeper' is very egoistic. Many people are unable to get a good night's sleep becuase there are not enough couchettes to go around. And reservations only hold if there are people actually using the seats/couchettes, so anyone could have insisted they use the other beds. I would have.

I'm not sure why you say sleepers are not available on this train. This euraide page has them listed:<BR><BR>http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e/t0289mun.htm

Perhaps you misunderstood or we are talking about 2 different subjects. I had tickets for all 6 berths so you would have been unable to use the berths that I had paid for. It was merely an effort on our part to try & get some uninterrupted sleep. It has nothing to do w/being egotistical. No matter, that was not possible on this particular train. My experience in 'sharing' sleepers w/others has often times led to no sleep @ all & the space is limited @ best.

I am planning to take this same train in October. Too early to make reservations, but we are planning to book a "T1 double", which is apparently a 2 person sleeping compartment. More that a couchette, but we think it is worth it for the privacy... no worries about other people making noise, etc. Planning on earplugs and sleep masks to help us sleep.<BR><BR>Anne