Planning A Sleeper Train Trip In Europe? Here's How To Choose The Right Seat

With the climate crisis on our doorstep, consumers are looking at more environmentally-friendly ways to traverse the globe. This led to a rise in long-haul train journeys, which impact the environment significantly less than air travel. While opting for a train instead of the plane may increase the overall length of your journey, train companies across the globe have developed ways to maximize comfort during these long ventures.

Sleeper trains, which are making a comeback, not only reduce your carbon footprint (so you can sleep easier at night) but also are a great way to save on a night's accommodation. If you're hopping around Europe for instance, this can be a great alternative to sleeping in hostels. More than this, sleeper trains are also an old-school, romantic relic of a bygone era that transform nights into part of the adventure. They are also more convenient for those traveling with small children, bikes, or pets. If you've never tried the sleeper experience, here are a few pointers to transform how you travel by train.

Your budget will of course dictate the kind of night you have on a sleeper train, so it's good to familiarize yourself with carriage classes and common train travel mistakes. On European trains, you'll often find a first-class carriage; make sure not to sit in this part of the train unless you have a corresponding ticket or you'll be penalized. In Europe, the carriage class on sleeper trains usually contains smaller compartments that have couchettes with bunks that you make yourself. First-class carriages may have pre-made beds and sometimes a wash basin. More luxurious cabins will even have private showers and toilets. It is common for women travelers to be seated together for safety, too. Regardless, most trains have their own ticket rules, so it's good to read the fine print on your ticket or follow the train signs.

This differs from train rides in the U.S., with coach seats on Amtrak trains being generally quite spacious with reclining seats and wide legroom. All a passenger needs is a blanket and/or pillow for the ultimate comfort. You can also opt for a private room with seats that convert into beds for maximum dreaming. Depending on when you travel, prices can fluctuate significantly, so booking long in advance is recommended. Of course, when sharing a cabin or carriage with others, be mindful of people sleeping by reading with a reading light and not speaking on your cell phone at night.

Trains have considerably different luggage allowances than planes and are usually not strict about weight or size, but since you'll be in close quarters with a lot of other people on a sleeper, it's better to pack light. A travel blanket, neck pillow, and towel always go the extra mile, too. Of course, hand sanitizer is recommended, as you'll be in places that have seen a lot of human bodies, and cleanliness can't always be guaranteed. An eye mask and earplugs can also help get you some shuteye on the less quiet trains. For those of you who like a midnight snack, there is usually a dining car on European and American trains. Some of these even have seating and full menus. In Asia, it's customary to see families pulling out small picnics on sleeper trains. Note that you can usually carry your own snacks onto sleeper trains, but there may not always be a table to feast on.

Since you'll likely be crossing international borders, you'll have to factor that into your sleeping plans. Expect to be woken up by authorities to have your documents and luggage checked in the middle of the night. These procedures can sometimes take quite a long time and be irritating, but it's unfortunately part of the package. It's also important to bear in mind the arrival time of your train, as some sleeper trains pull into stations much earlier than any hotel check-in time. In this case, sometimes the slower trains that arrive later are more convenient. In any case, seeing the landscape rush past your window through the dead of night and into the morning is absolutely worth the journey.