From Copenhagen we are heading towards Amsterdam, and given that 15 hours of travel separate us from our goal, well, we opted for a night ride because it is surely worthy to watch the beautiful scenery out the window, but we’re not crazy…!
Strictly speaking, this is our last train ride (in fact, from Amsterdam to London we will go by bus, as it was terribly cheaper compared to the expensive train that connects London to the mainland) .
I was a bit worried about this night ride: I have to start saying that NO NIGHT TRAIN IS INCLUDED IN THE INTERRAIL TICKET. Unfortunately, you always have to reserve a spot and pay, and it’s also kind of expensive, at least with the trains Bahn, german line that connects the whole Northern Europe.
The good news is that you will pay only a supplement, which price is very variable (and believe me, you do not want to pay the full price! it is above a hundred euros).
Our options were:
-€ 12 to book the chair, then no bed and the prospect of 15 hours very long …
-Approximately € 24 for the couchette in 6 places , surely more comfortable but probably terribly crowded…
-About 30 € for couchette with 4 beds, definitely interesting for having a little more privacy (and space!).
As for the solutions of higher category I don’t even remember the price, because I eliminated that possibility since the first time I saw the it: it rose above one hundred, and did not seem to be a good idea to spend that much. Given that a night train does “save” a night at the hotel, prices between € 20 and €40 may be acceptable, but above it seems to me exaggerated.
I will not conceal the effort to make this choice. Each option had its pros and cons: saving money and getting the chair meant to arrive in Amsterdam more tired than ever. Paying more still meant to be sleeping with 4 or 2 more strangers in a space where you can touch the bed in front of you, and the idea was a bit uncomfortable…
In the end, however, we opted for this option (6 beds) because we have discovered one thing … a very useful thing …especially for girls!
WOMEN, LISTEN! Take advantage of your privileged status on a couple of things in this male-dominated world, and ask for a woman-only couchette! It’s in your rights. If you are a bit luky like us, you will be moved to a new one just for you. Obviously, it is more convenient for them to give you an empty couchette rather than make sure that there are no males in your, right? It’s easier. Convenient, is not it? So we found ourselves in a couchette for 6 people, in 2! I am sitting comfortably on the seats below (a long bench for 3 people or so, the back of which, however, turns itself into the first floor of a bunk bed consisting of 3 floors), while my traveling companion already sleeps in her bed on the top floor. Unfortunately the space is cramped and I struggled to make a decent picture, but this is what tonight we will call “home”.
And here you have the bed on the top floor, done in the best way possible given that to put on the sheets you must find a way to make them go under your own knees …!
A suggestion: if you are very tall you may consider another accommodation, or you’ll find yourself with your feets out the bed. I’m 1.73m and I barely stay completely in!
Soon I’m going to test it, and in the next post I will assign a rating to the quality of sleep. Up to now we appreciated the trick of the female only room, and the level of privacy is excellent!
One final caution, interrailers … the dining car on our train was not particularly expensive, but I recommend also to bring something from home. Lots of junk food, maybe a beer, and the trip will go better!
Good night everyone … I continue to hurtle towards the Netherlands in a dream.