iSunny
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 15 years ago
Hello people.
Me and my two friends are planning to go on Interrail next summer. We thought that it would be cheap to sleep some nights, not every night, in night trains. Depending on how much do they cost, we travel on normal trains with no sleeping berth, just the seats.
So does this make any sense and is it safe? I know there's always a risk, especially when you are asleep. So give me some tips to improve the safety!
We are 15-16 years old girls.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
Do you already have an idea where you are going? Talking about night trains in general there is to say that most of them require a compulsory reservation even if you are just traveling in regular 2nd class seated accomodation.
You can find a list of trains requiring a reservation [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u] - or browse the country topics in the forum, there you will find most overnight connections listed in detail.
If you behave normal there shouldn't be any troubles with personal safety, in doubt you can always ask the conductor to assist you. Theft can be a problem in some areas (Sud Expresso, trains in Italy and SE Europe are often considered to be more dangerous but that's moreorless an old prejudice). Keep your important personal belongings at your body at all times (ticket, passport, some cash) to be on the safe side. Sleeper and couchette compartments on night trains can be locked from the inside what adds to your personal feel of security. Take a padlock with you to attach your backpacks to the seats or rack in the compartments.
From my personal experience: If you're traveling with an extra small rucksack for daytrips but the important stuff inside put the laces around your wrist and use the rucksack as a pillow. Same applies if you're traveling with expensive camera gear (like I do). When you're sleeping on a station or somthing similar put your backpacks close to the walls (in a corner) and sleep in front of them - also put the laces around your wrist.
However, I've been traveling Europe several times and I had never any bad experience. :)
Don't hesitate to ask further; if you want to support the work here at the forum and website, buy your tickets at [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] . :D
Flo 8)
iSunny
Traveller
5 comments
We are going to gather up someday and make some proper planning. We live in Finland so we start from there and then we will probably go through Sweden and Denmark to the Central, Western and Southern Europe. Not going to the Eastern Europe.
Thank you very much for the information flow!
akesonen
Traveller
1 comments
sleeping in night trains is okay-) We have made similar trip last summer. From Finland to Sweden and further through Germany to Holland...In a night train we have meet with the girl from Amsterdam, she was very hospitable and she has invited us to spend a night at her flat in Amsterdam. It was magnificent experience. Don't be afraid of night trains. Hyvää matka teille =)
iSunny
Traveller
5 comments
[quote]sleeping in night trains is okay-) We have made similar trip last summer. From Finland to Sweden and further through Germany to Holland...In a night train we have meet with the girl from Amsterdam, she was very hospitable and she has invited us to spend a night at her flat in Amsterdam. It was magnificent experience. Don't be afraid of night trains. Hyvää matka teille =)[/quote]
Kiitos!