night travel by train

If you rent a compartment, or a bunk in a compartment, your door locks from the inside. For extra security, clip your bag (which will be on a shelf probably at your head or feet) to your clothing. The biggest rap against night trains, and it is legitimate, is that it's not always so easy to sleep on them. So you may arrive a bit short on sleep, or you may not. Ear plugs recommended.

Thank you, Adam, for your reply. We would get a compartment for each couple. The fact that it locks from the inside would certainly add to a sense of security. I guess I should look into the number of stops. That would be disruptive to sleep, even with ear plugs. Thanks again.

We did the Salz-Venice night train in 2010. Our first time ever doing overnight. I only recall one stop probably in the early morning. One gripe (my husband and I had a private compartment for 2) - the teeny tiny pillows. I need lots of fluff/support - had I known, I would have looked for a cheap pillow in Salz and left it on the train. My other problem - I think the train left at like 12:30 in the morning, so we ended up hanging at McD's for 2 hours (the station was undergoing renos at the time.) But when we went to get on the train about 10 min ahead, of course it was waiting. Maybe it had been there for a half hour or so (hiding out at McD's we didn't know; also, it was late Sept, so we wanted to be inside, hence, McD's) so we may have been able to get on and settle in earlier.

Nicole, thanks for those details. I appreciate it. That EARLY departure time does require some extra consideration.

Security and safety are not really a concern on overnight trains anymore. Your cabin locks and you are given a key card for it, very much like a hotel room. Sleeping on the other hand can be a major issue. The beds are small, not comfy and cramped. It can be hot. It can be very noisy. The train rattling around can disrupt sleep (I actually sleep better at stops since everything is still). I'm not trying to tell you "don't do it," but just a warning that for most people, the next day is a drag from lack of sleep.

En 237 leaves Salzburg Hbf at 01:34 and arrives at Venezia Santa Lucia at 08:33. It makes nine stops along the way.

Tim and Douglas, thank you, thank you, both. I so appreciate the feedback. Your input on sleeping comfort and number of stops is so important to weigh. With your input, along with some of our thoughts, we have pretty much decided to look into other alternatives: perhaps renting a car since there are 4 of us.

The first-class private sleeper compartments are much more comfortable than the couchette bunks cabins. They typically have excellent air conditioning, real beds, lots of storage room, and often a sink and sometimes shower/toilet.

If you rent a car, you will pay a stiff fee for picking it up in one country and dropping it off in another. You might consider staying overnight in Salzburg and taking a train/bus combination in the morning (Salzburg to Villach by train and Villach to Venice by a well-appointed highway bus operated by Austrian Rail). Depart at 08:12 and arrive at 14:25. If you book well in advance (up to 90 days allowed) on oebb.at, you can get a discount fare as low as €29.00.

Michael, thank you for the details on the first class compartment. As first time European travelers, all this information is so helpful. We do read guidebooks but there is nothing like personal comments.

Thank you, Tim, for the suggestion regarding spending the night in Salzburg. We thought about that as well. In fact, bus travel, as we read about it, sounds rather inviting. Our problem is that we are on a tight schedule. We come out of our hike on August 27th and originally hoped to make it to Venice that evening. We would then go on to Florence where we have reservations for Aug. 29th and 30th. Logistically, it makes the most sense to take the night train, giving us some time in Salzburg and also more time in Venice. But if we arrived dog tired, it wouldn't add to the enjoyment of the day. Oh my, oh my. decisions. decisions. All the more reason to be grateful for the feedback of travelers like you.

Carefully consider how easy/difficult it is for you and your party to sleep in moving vehicles with constant vibration and very loud noises. Some people nod off and manage sleep with little difficulty. Others find it impossible to sleep even for a moment, and arrive exhausted. Admittedly, I'm a light sleeper, but have found after several attempts at night trains (under absolutely perfect conditions: good ear plugs, eye shade, pillows, blankets, a private sleeper compartment all to me and my wife alone) that for me, a night train = complete misery for three days as I recover from my 48 hour zombie shuffle. Never again.

Nothing will wake you up faster then Venice - nothing like walking out of the train stn at 8:30 in the morning and the sight that greets your eyes...sigh...(BTW - I love Venice - it is my fav, been there 3 times since 2008 and would squeeze it into every trip if I could). I try not to let sleepiness grab hold. I would think after hiking you'd be pretty tired so maybe you'll just pass out on the train anyway. Or take an afternoon siesta after orienting yourself in Venice. The crowds can be an assault on the senses...we've always been there mid-late Sept when the summer crowds were less - but it was still crazy. I'd actually get off the beaten track in the mid-afternoon/early evening to get away from the crowds. And our last trip there, I was up with the birds at 6:30am - I cannot recommend that more if you can drag yourself up that early - nothing like seeing the Rialto Bridge and ST Marks Sq with only a handful of people. You can stand on the bridge facing the bridge of sighs without worried about getting knocked off. See the grand canal with NO TRAFFIC!

After your hike can you get to Schladming a little before 12:00? If you're willing to skip Salzburg, you can travel Schladming - Schwarzach-St Veit - Villach - Venezia Tronchetto, departing at 12:10 and arriving at 18:25.

I actually love the night trains. I think they are great fun. My husband and I have no problem sleeping, moving or at a station, and my husband is not a heavy sleeper by any means. I consider train travel to be part of the adventure. I would recommend trying one at least once. That's the only way you will know.

Another big fan of night train! The 1st class cabins are the way to go - especially if you can get a hotel train with full en-suite. Dinner in the dining car is also a great experience. I agree - try it one time and see for yourself.

Wray and Christi, did you ever read The Man in Seat 61's great account of his trip with his wife on the Venice Simplon Orient Express? Includes photos of their sleeper compartment. Very lush! http://www.seat61.com/Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express.htm#.Uc7MZqa9LCQ

Since you are of two minds, you may wish to make this decision on specific practical grounds. On the one hand, if you have been hiking you may sleep very soundly. On the other hand even if you do sleep soundly you will do so only for at most 7 hours, the duration of your trip. Also on the other hand, there appears to be only one direct night train from Salzberg, leaving at 1:30 in the morning. This may add to the soundness of your sleep (since you will be very much in need of same), but do you want to spend the wee hours waiting for your train? The alternative to a night train is a day train. So weigh (1) the chance that you will have a day in Venice in which you feel tired versus the certainty of not being in Venice at all, or only for the afternoon and evening of the day in question, but rather on a train.

Thank you, everyone!!!! I have been away from my email for the weekend so have not responded individually to your very thoughtful suggestions and experiences. I am so grateful to hear the various perspectives. Granted it would be easier to make a decision if everyone were of the same mind, but, alas, that is not the case. Of course, this does add to the adventure!! and I am so grateful for all the information. You are all wonderful.

Hi, I take night trains but no sleeper or couchette, just a compartment seat or better still, the armchair seat (Ruhesessel), no problems. Admittedly, I've not done your route so I can't help you there. Whether you can sleep on the night train or not, they do fill up and sell out, depending on the routes and destinations esp. in the summer on week-ends.

The sell-out information is good to remember. I certainly don't want to string this decision out until they are sold out and the choice is moot.