dont take a sleeper chance !
I will spare you my story--- arrive early for your sleeper train reservation or you will have your own little story. ( I have a wife who reminds me often should I ever forget )
John
Brangwin, Wa USA 10/28/09
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I have my own couchette story I won't bore you with.
Needless to say: Overnight trains = overrated.
Not too impressed with our night train from Paris to Zurich. I'm glad I had the experience, but would not do it again.
We recently took an overnight train from Munich to Rome. We thought it was a great way to get there. We travelled first class so they offered us wine and champaign when first got on. Then in the morning they brought us a great big breakfast. We got on at 9pm slept great and arrived in Rome at 9am. We were very happy with it.
We took the overnight train from Vienna to Venice and slept fairly well--bunks were clean and not uncomfortable. A simple snack and breakfast were served and we found the staff polite. The negative issue was the toilets--not very clean. For the price of going via sleeper train, the toilets, sinks, and floors should have been clean and deodorized. Luckily we took flip flops for the jaunts to the facilities. Never travel without them.
Ah, the huge divide in travel opinion - those who can sleep comfortably on moving vehicles and those who can't even with a bed. Probably best if the former avoid looking down on the latter and the latter keep their jealousy quiet :-)
I love sleepers and find it a great way to meet people. I travel solo and usually stay in a 3 person sleeper. I have met so many fantastic people of which I still keep in touch with. Plus there are many interesting stories like the old Polish man who liked to sleep in his teeny weeny underwear with no covers on:) His wife, him and me had fun conversations without either of us understanding each other! Plus they shared some great food with me!
I count myself among those who simply can not and will never be able to sleep in anything that's moving. Some of us are just built that way I guess.
It's a blessing when driving: I'll never kill myself (or you) by nodding off behind the wheel.
It's a curse when traveling long haul: I've been awake 3 days straight, and was still not able to catch any sleep on a ferry, with a comfortable, dark, quiet place to try. Sadly, a night train, even under ideal conditions, produces the same result.
For some of us, night train = zombie the next day. I've tried that for the last time.
I have done one and slept ok, but in this day of "budget" air... I can't imagine doing it often.
Has anyone taken the trenhotel from Barcelona to Granada? If so how was it?
John, if you are comfortable with it, could you elaborate on what the problem was with your reservation? I have a feeling it was more than the "can sleep or can't sleep on train" situation.
Just want to make sure my resrvations are ok.
We took the trenhotel from Bern to Barcelona, wonderful trip. Go to sleep in Switzerland, wake up to palm trees on the Med. Nice double room, breakfast in the morning, arrive Barcelona refreshed.
We spent the day there, met up with friends, and then took the night train (in seats, sold out couchettes) back out to Nice. Too, fast, but this was 10 years ago. And the trains are even nicer now!