I booked private cabins on overnight trains in Europe and the US. The more expensive ride was a better deal.
Two years later, I booked a private cabin on a Nightjet train traveling through Europe for the first time.For $200, the train took me 269 miles from Italy to Austria. The private cabin is the train's top-tier accommodation — two steps above a reclining seat and one step above a shared cabin with strangers — both of which I'd experienced before.Although the ride was $300 cheaper than my Amtrak one, it's worth noting that my US ride took me much farther than the European one.
The roughly 20-square-foot room had two seats situated across from each other and a pullout table with foldout leaves to save space. The cabin also had two wide windows, which brought in plenty of natural light throughout the day.It was a pretty sweet workspace, in my opinion. I spent my time editing photos on my laptop and looking out the window at the passing scenery.At night, stewards came by to transform my room for sleep. The two chairs pull out to make a bottom bunk, and a top bunk pulls down from the ceiling.
Inside my cabin, there were three beds — one top bunk, one in the middle, and one bottom bunk — as well as a wash basin, and a vanity.I've found that trains feel less shaky closer to the ground, so I went with the bottom bunk.The room locked from the inside for safety, and I used a key card to get in and out of the cabin.
On one side of the roomette, there was a mirror. Below it, a small sink pulled out. There was no toilet in the room, so I used a shared bathroom at the end of the train car.I appreciated that I was able to brush my teeth and wash my face from the comfort of my cabin, but I wished the sink area was larger.
Meanwhile, the European cabin had a spacious wash-up area. Private cabins are the only Nightjet accommodations that include a sink and vanity.The vanity had a wash basin inside, as well as racks to store toiletries. Beneath the vanity, there was a built-in trash can.There was no toilet in the room, but passengers had access to a shared bathroom with a shower at the end of the train car.
The roomette beds were stiff, but the blankets were soft. No train bunk measures up to a real bed, in my experience. But while a little stiff, I found the Amtrak bunk comfortable enough to rest in. The blankets were thin but soft to the touch.
The European bunk was slightly more comfortable. The bed felt more comfortable than a typical train bed thanks to a thick comforter. On the wall next to the bed, I spotted conveniently placed cupholders and a small storage net.
In the morning, I got a balanced breakfast on the Amtrak train. On both trains, my ticket included breakfast in the morning. It's worth noting that the Amtrak train also served complimentary lunch and dinner due to the length of the ride.In the US, I had a big breakfast that made me feel ready for the day, including an egg sandwich, yogurt, oatmeal, a muffin, and a beverage.
My breakfast on the European train was less fulfilling. Thanks to the private space and cozy comforter, I slept well in my cabin.In the morning, a train attendant brought a tray of coffee, yogurt, hard rolls, and condiments like butter, Nutella, and fruit preserves.It was a nice way to end the journey, and I felt far more rested and refreshed than I would had I slept in a shared cabin.
While the European ride was cheaper, I thought the US ride had better value. I ultimately found that the US trip was a better deal than the European one. The Amtrak traveled much farther, included more meals, and had a room designed for day and night travel.At the same time, I still think the cabin in Europe was worth the price. And I'll miss the spacious room, vanity, bunk, and welcome gifts Nightjet provided on my next Amtrak ride.
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