Should you travel on sleeper trains or get on a plane and fly to your destination? An overnight train ride could be a great way to travel.
Many modern trains are made with sustainable and recycled materials, and the power is also sustainable and renewable. This is an instant advantage over flying, especially if you want your travel to be environmentally friendly, which flying is not. Airplanes still require jet fuel, which is sourced from oil, while some trains run on electricity or wind power and are much more sustainable.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using sleeper trains for your travel experiences.
Advantages
Two costs in one
Instead of paying for a plane ticket and a hotel room, you can save money by traveling and sleeping at the same time. The train is your hotel, and, in some cases, you’ll be woken up in the morning to a hot breakfast ready for you to enjoy while continuing to travel to your destination.
Keep going all night
Sure, you could take a redeye flight, but if you can’t sleep in a plane and don’t have a plane that offers sleeping quarters, you might not get any rest. When you use sleeper trains and get on the train in the evening, you’ll have a bed and full sleeping accommodations for the night, making it easy to wake rested and ready to go the next morning.
Overnight train travel can be fun
Many airplanes pack people in tight unless it’s an international flight. Trains don’t do this, and you might be surprised at the number and variety of people who travel by train overnight. This gives you the chance to move around on the train and meet some new people who might become your next new friend.
Comfort is much better on a train
You can get up and move around on an airplane, but sometimes there isn’t much room to stretch out and do this. Most trains have comfortable seats, lots of legroom, and sleeper trains have the bed and sleeping cars you want to enjoy when its time to take a break and rest. You can also get up and stretch out your legs whenever you want while on a train.
Trains avoid the airport challenges
Airplanes might be faster, but trains are more accommodating and enjoyable. Many airlines limit your baggage number and weight, and you won’t have to worry about long security lines to get on a train. Trains don’t often get canceled or delayed, which can be a serious hassle when traveling by air.
Scenic cities and bonus stops
Whether you travel on sleeper trains overnight or during the day, you can see some beautiful cities as you pass by. Many trains have stops and short layovers in the center of towns and cities, which gives you the opportunity to get off, check out a couple of things, and then get back on to enjoy a small detour on your way to your destination.
Disadvantages
Costs
Overnight travel on a train will cost more than during the day. This is due to the sleeping quarters with several cars of bunk beds and sleeping quarters. You are combining the cost of travel and a hotel into one, but it can still feel expensive to travel by sleeper train.
Quarters can be tight
The space you get in a sleeper car isn’t exactly wide and spacious. Most of the time you’re going to be assigned a bunk bed in one of the cabins, which means you might share the space with someone you don’t know. This can be a bit unnerving, but once both parties are asleep its not so bad. Still, you might want to check out the accommodations ahead of time to be prepared.
Comfort is relative
Sleeper trains are designed to be comfortable, but not everyone’s view of comfort is the same. Of course, you find this same challenge with hotel rooms and their beds. Still, if you don’t sleep well in moving vehicles or on beds that aren’t soft, you might not want to choose an overnight train ride as your method of travel.
Forget the shower
Most trains have toilets and sinks but not showers. This means you won’t get your morning shower on the train like you would in a hotel room. You can also get some meals on the train, but the menu is limited.
Traveling on sleeper trains can be a great way to go, but you’ll want to be prepared for the advantages and disadvantages of this type of travel. Will you try an overnight train ride to experience it for yourself?
