I am taking the overnight train from Paris to Munich early next month. Any hints, tricks, or recommendations about the train ?

Thanks in adavance!

Have you a ticket yet? If not there is a lot to talk about about various pricing, online discounts, etc.

Is it about the train and its make-up itself, etc.

What more specific types of questions. I have taken literally hundreds of overnight trains and always enjoyed them but all are different. This one, i think a Germany ICN is one of the best.

Anyway you may find you answers in these info-laden sites about European trains - www.seat61.com - has lots on overnight train lay-outs, etc.; www.budgeteuropetravel; www.ricksteves.com

yyy

Thanks. With all of your hundreds of travels on overnight trains do you have any recomendations?

With all of your hundreds of travels on overnight trains do you have any recommendations?

Well again i am vague about what you are interested in - but one recommendation for anyone taking any night train and something conductors will constantly stress is that you should always keep the compartment door locked from the inside - with the bolt lock that even train conductors cannot open from the outside.

If you have a private compartment then you control the locking, etc. But if you ride in multi-person compartments like i do - couchettes with up to six people (mixed sex) in one compartment then IME some folks going to the loo during the night simply do not lock the door on their return.

And there is theft IME from unlcoked train compartments - especially bags laying on the floor near the door.

When i book a couchette i always try to get the very uppermost berth - there are three bunks on each side of the aisle - and way up top i think you are most secure - there is also a wide area up there for baggage, etc. But in any case always keep your valuables in a secure money belt on your person - especially when you go out during the night.

I have never been robbed on any of the zillion overnight trains i've taken but i always take proper precautions - I have witnessed several thefts however or heard to yells from adjoining compartments, etc.

Do you have specific questions - i'll try to give some more advice from my experience as well.

Note that private compartments are often much more expensive than couchettes but for some the privacy is priceless.

I had a private compartment. My suggestion is if you want coffee in the morning, book it with the conductor the night before. I didn't and so had no coffee. Have a good trip. I had a good sleep. CJ

The train from Paris to München is a City Night Line train. Sleeper passengers (not those in couchettes) get breakfast included. The attendant will ask in the evening if you want tea or coffee, and bring the breakfast in the morning, in a cardboard box.

My wife and I had a private compartment which included a cozy shower that we made use of.
Our train left from Gare de Est at 2230 so we didn't have enough time to really enjoy the compartment before going to bed.
Breakfast was coffee and pastries delivered by our conductor 30min. outside Munich.
The only thing I didn't like was the "bum's rush" we got in Munich. They seemed to be in a huge hurry to clean and get us off the train.

The only thing I didn't like was the "bum's rush" we got in Munich. They seemed to be in a huge hurry to clean and get us off the train.>

Ah yeh this seems endemic to overnight trains - zillions i have taken - the bum's rush - get a move on and at times they practically rip the bedding off before you are out of it!

In large stations track congestion may play a role but i think that after being on the train all night the crew just wants to get the heck out of there and must roll up the linen before leaving - yes an annoyance for sure.