But this was my first time on a sleeper train in Europe — and my first time in an accommodation shared with other guests.
Since I wanted to maximize my time exploring during the day, I thought an overnight train would be the best way to travel through Europe. And at $40, it was the cheapest overnight train ride I've ever booked. But ultimately, the ride was too uncomfortable to sleep, and I arrived in Vienna feeling too exhausted to explore.
To get from Berlin to Vienna in 12 hours, I took the Austrian Federal Railway's OBB Nightjet train.
A Nightjet train stopped at a station.
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The rail line operates overnight routes between Austria, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, and it goes as fast as 143 miles per hour, according to the company's website.
Nightjet trains have sleeper cars with seating carriages and bunks of three, four, or six.
I booked the former, which are cabins with six regular assigned seats that deeply recline. Some routes have private cabins, but mine didn't.
"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider.
However, I was surprised to find ample luggage space on two rows of storage racks above the seats.
I wanted to charge my phone, but I only saw two outlets next to the window in my carriage. I had to communicate with other passengers to take turns using them.
Outlets in use in the train car.
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An OBB Nightjet rep told BI that new cars that began running in 2023 have more outlets.
Even though my ticket didn't include a meal, I checked the menu to see what was available for purchase.
The OBB Nightjet menu.
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I thought it had a wide selection with snacks, pasta, and wraps.
Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food and used one of the two shared bathrooms in the car to brush my teeth. The bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.
A bathroom in the author's train car.
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"Toilets are always cleaned when the trip starts," OBB Nightjet said in a statement to BI. "In addition, our staff is doing regular checks during the night."
Back in my room, someone had turned the lights off. I tried to fall asleep but found it impossible with the constant bumps on the ride and so many people around me.
The author stays awake on her journey to Vienna.
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I hardly had any personal space.
I reclined my seat all the way, but I thought the gap between the back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable.
The author's seat at bedtime.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I didn't see any pillows or sheets provided for guests, either.
The rep for OBB Nightjet told BI that pillows and sheets are only provided for guests in the bunk-style sleeping cars because the seating carriage is not recommended for long-haul trips.
Although seats were assigned, I noticed other passengers moving around the car to find less crowded rooms. I followed suit.
The author finds a less crowded room on the train.
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I ended up switching to a different cabin with only two other people.
But I knew that someone boarding at one of the many overnight stops could kick me out at any time if I switched to a seat assigned to them.
The door to the cabin that the author switched to.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
Even in a less-crowded cabin, I couldn't get comfortable on such a bumpy journey or with the knowledge that someone might wake me up to move.
I ended up staying awake until the morning.
Views out the window in the early hours of the morning.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
My train arrived in Vienna at 7 a.m., and I was so exhausted that I ran around town looking for any hotel that would take me in so early in the morning.
Splurging on a hotel room upon arrival for a few hours of sleep made me feel like the cheapest ticket on an overnight train ultimately wasn't worth it.