Back to my arrival in Vienna — I hadn’t slept because I booked a reclining seat on an overnight train from Berlin.
I could have booked a bunk in a shared cabin for the 12-hour ride, but I thought I’d save money by booking the OBB Nightjet train’s cheapest accommodation: a seat in a cabin with five other people for $40. And I thought I’d save time by traveling through the night.
With minimal legroom, a backpack for a pillow, and a windbreaker for a blanket, I stayed up stirring in my head until morning.
Once I left the train station, I went to three random hotels nearby before finding one with a room available. But to check in at 7 a.m. and leave later than the 11 a.m. check-out, I had to book the room for two nights.
Ultimately, booking a seat for an overnight ride cost me about $200 more than the train ticket. And napping all day left me with less time to explore the city.
“The quality of travel depends not only on the carriages, but also on the route,” OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider. “We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys.”
Next time, I’ll take the train line’s advice and book a bunk for overnight rides.
