Traveling by train can be a slow process, but if you use your train as a hotel room, you can save both time and money. But before you do that, there are some things you need to know.

There are some obvious benefits to traveling long-distance on an overnight train.

You avoid paying for a hotel room, and you won’t miss out on a day of sightseeing.

In fact, taking overnight trains through Europe is practically a rite of passage, especially for budget travelers who choose the cheaper reclining seats or couchettes.

The biggest drawback, of course, is that you won’t get a great night’s sleep.

So plan the following day accordingly since you may be more tired than you expect.

Another negative, whether you’re in regular seating or a sleeper car, is that you may share a space with strangers.

Keep valuables like your passport and cash on your person.

Lock up your luggage, and then take it a step further—use a small cable lock to secure your bags to the luggage rack or seat.

And remember—sleeper compartments are co-ed.

So look for other travelers you feel comfortable bunking with, and make sure to communicate the importance of keeping your compartment locked at all times.

For more, visit our Train Travel section.

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