Tipping on the sleeper trains
 

How much is one expected to tip the train person who puts down your berth?

Hi m,

Nothing.

Good question IMO and it may very well depend on whom you ask. I've taken many overnight trains in Europe and I cannot say that it is "expected" at all as Ira has mentioned.

Personally, I have been more inclined to offer a tip to the folks who work the Trenhotels than to some others, especially if they have prepared the berth after I got on the train (as opposed to its having been ready before I got on).

If you do a search here on "tipping" as well as on the web you will get a vast array of opinions about tipping in Europe.

Oh dear, it never occurred to me that I should tip the 'guy in the hall' on an overnight train. Although I've been in private cabins so no one turned my bed down. Hmmm...

A tip is not mandatory. But on our first overnight trip (from Brussels to Lugano) in a private sleeping compartment (not a couchette), we noticed some of the other European travelers tipping the attendant when they left--about 5 to 10 euros worth (but this was the year before the Euro). So we tipped about the same--he did turn down the beds in the cabin, then put them away again in the morning, served breakfast, and helped us with our luggage, etc. So that small tip didn't seem unreasonable.
However, on a trip from Germany to Milan, I did NOT tip the attendant a eurocent...he was arrogant and tried to put another person in my compartment at 1 am, despite my having paid the extra for keeping the cabin to myself. I had to insist he go check my ticket. He saw the error but didn't apologize, just huffily made up a bed in another compartment.

Sounds reasonable to me since tipping should be, IMO, all about service or lack thereof.

Thanks for guidelines. My usual method is exactly as mentioned to watch what other people are doing. But after overnight train rides I have not been at my best for sharp thinking and powers of observation!