I have always wanted to book a sleeper on a train. We will be traveling from Vienna to Venice and this would be the perfect time to do so. We would book the newer private cabins with toilet and shower etc. in the cabin. With all of the stops involved, does anyone really get to sleep? Any opinions??

Yes, but never for anything like the whole of the journey.

Which said, I've never come off a night in a sleeper feeling as zonked as I do after a night on a plane.

Venice-Paris for example has left me feeling better even than business class on a flight with no time zone changes like London-Cape Town.

I can guarantee you, you sleep a lot more than if you were sitting up in a seat. Boy that's miserable! But not near as well as in your own bed. I always found it kind of fun.

I'm sure today's night trains are better, but the old ones were hot and stuffy and I couldn't get over the layers of clothing the locals had on...it was stifling...mix that with the odors of non-deodorant-using travelers, camembert/limburger/garlic...there was still something special about it. I even miss the clackety-clack-clack of the tracks that today's quieter trains don't make.

Bottle of wine with a nice dinner before you board the train, a nightcap from a minature bottle and "Good Morning Venice - no problem

Hi K,

When are you going?

Crossing the Alps in the Spring is a beautiful ride in the day time.

The 12:57 will get you over the Alps before dark.

I love overnight trains. The sounds and motion put me right to sleep, especially after a few glasses of wine. I also love spending a full day in one place and waking up somewhere completely different and having the whole day in front of me.

That said, I can pretty much sleep anywhere so I'm not sure my experience is typical. YMMV.

Hi KatGio,

I took two overnight trains on my last trip in Jan 07 and really enjoyed both of them. I'd do it again in a minute.

The first one was the deluxe with private shower & toilet, and I believe that's the way to go. It's a lovely and enjoyable way to travel. I fell right to sleep.

s

We are planning to do the same overnight train next fall. Two questions: what is the cost and where do you store luggage?

E190 for a single sleeper with toilet and shower.
E150 for a double sleeper with toilet and shower.
Booked in advance at www.oebb.at, the Austrian rail site, discount fares can be as low as the following:
E139 for a single sleeper (no shower)
E109 for a double sleeper (no shower)
E79 for a triple sleeper (no shower)
E59 for a bunk in a four-person couchette
E49 for a bunk in a six-person couchette

As long as it's a private 2-person only cabin, I sleep OK. KatGio, It just depends on what kind of sleeper you are normally? I have never slept on a plane but do fine on an overnight train. I sometimes use earplugs and &/or take a sleep medication.

Thank you for all of your thoughts and suggestions. I think that we will try to get reservations . After some health issues, my motto now is "Go for it!"

OTOH, VIE-VCE, about 1 hour flight.....

Do they stop you for border crossings? This drove me nuts in E. Europe.

Hi CC,

If you are traveling between Schengen countries, they don't have passport control.

>Do they stop you for border crossings? This drove me nuts in E. Europe.

No, they don´t wake you up between Schengen countries - you give your passport to the conductor and if questions arise s/he will show your passport to the border police. (The no-control regime only means there are no systematic checks, but some random ones still often take place)

If you've always wanted to do one, then go for it. I've taken many overnight trains in Europe (except for one couchette experience in 1982, always by private sleeper), including trains to Vienna, but I don't sleep well on them. And there have usually been at least a couple of security checks (once with guards and dogs coming into my compartment at 5 am!) even within the Schengen zone and even if the train attendant has your passport. Depends on what's going on at the moment, security wise.
That said, I would side with Ira...take the day train ride (if you have the time). A beautiful trip.

It must be many years since passengers on overnight trains were woken at borders in western Europe. I've used overnight trains between France and Italy since the 1970s and the procedure was to hand your passport to the attendant in the evening and get it back in the morning. The police and customs officers are entitled to wake anybody at borders, but this is extremely rare. The night trains between Paris and Italy both go via Switzerland, so you still have to leave your passport with the attendant because Switzerland is not a Schengen country.
Whether you get much sleep on a night train depends on so many factors. I've got used to it but obviously a first-time overnight traveller might not find it so easy. The carriages with a toilet and shower in the compartment are likely to be modern so should be more comfortable.

I think overnight train journeys are among the best travel experiences that Europe has to offer. Throughout the continent. Have a look at the following article, which happily evokes the spirit of night train travel, with lots of practical tips (including some notes by Ben Haines who is a regular contributor here):
http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/articl...rticles_id=291

Geoff, I've been woken by security within (Schengen) country borders in 2005 and 2006, not many years ago. If there's a security alert for any reason, they'll come through.

Please e mail me if you would like a copy of my notes on getting the best from sleepers

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]