5 persons in couchette to Paris-want entire room--how?

You could pay for the extra space.

Nancy has suggested the only way possible to do this, other than sheer good luck. Or you could bring an extra child.

As the couchette compartments are reserved in much the same way hostel dorm beds are, it is a reservation fee per bed. Therefore, the only guaranteed way to have the compartment to yourself is to reserve all six berths.

Make sure you first check that the compartment is a six-berth room and not a four-berth room as some couchettes are made to have four people per room.

is there a way to book a 4 berth with 5 people then?

must book entire cabin, do this at the train station.

I am just mentioning that as a precaution, but most couchettes are six-passenger ones anyways.

Check in advance, though, as I am not sure if you will end up taking a night train at all. Depending on your starting location in Germany or Switzerland, the travel time will likely only be 3.5-5 hours, so I do not know if there will be any night trains following those routes.

Strasbourg to Paris is just over 2 hours by TGV. Basel to Paris is about 3.5 hours by TGV.

elaine, am reminded by an ricksteve's story of his early europe travel. to insure he and friends had a compartment to selves they began chanting, singing and behaving as cult-like members of guru group. needless to say they had the compartment to themselves. obnoxious yet effective. not sure how it would work in bunk compartment?

Anyway, exactly how much would it cost to reserve the 6th bunk? If it is really important to you not to have a stranger in your "room", are you willing to pay for this privacy?