Night train

My understanding is that the rail pass would cover the actual train ticket part, you'd have to pay extra for any sleeping accommodations..

Yes, you pay separately for a bed, with prices depending on the number of people in the compartment. See http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/night-trains. And of course, a single-country German Pass doesn't cover night train travel within a neighbor country.

If the train is completely within Germany, then you can buy seat reservations or couchette or sleeper reservations on the DB site. Start to buy a night train ticket, then follow the link to "book only extra charge." See night train routes. For international night trains, you must book at a train station or through a US agent like Rail Europe, which you can do at the same time that you buy the pass.

You can buy German Passes on our web site or at a German train station, but I don't recommend buying passes from DB online. Some have to be mailed to you and there also is in issue with trying to enter more than one traveler name when buying passes from DB.

Hi,

If your starting point and terminus are in Germany and that route is covered by a night train, the rail pass covers it. But reservations for a seat or sleeping accommodations are mandatory and extra, they aren't included in the price of the pass. The cheapest way to go by night train is just reserve a seat. If you don't, just hop on and find an unreserved seat, (still possible but not advisable), the train controller will ask to see the reservation for that seat, while you show the Pass, failing which you'll pay right then and there, ca. 20 Euro in Germany.