I spent 11 hours sharing a cabin with 3 strangers on a sleeper train in Europe. 6 surprises made me regret it.

• I booked a shared sleeper cabin on an overnight train from Austria to Italy in October 2022.
• I thought a sleeper train would be the best way to make the most of my time while exploring Europe.
• A few surprises along the way, such as a lack of privacy and a restless night, changed my mind.

When I arrived at the Vienna train station, I paid $10 to access the OBB Lounge. I was surprised that it was empty aside from me — a stark contrast to the crowded station where I couldn’t find a seat.

When I went to the bathroom to wash up and change around 10:30 p.m., the top-bunk passenger had just arrived and was still awake. But at around 2 a.m., I found myself lying awake with a full bladder because I didn’t want to disturb her. Eventually, I couldn’t hold it anymore and reluctantly woke her up. 

It was a tad awkward, and I felt bad for disrupting her sleep. The whole experience made me think I may have preferred the top bunk anyway. I’d rather have someone wake me than wake someone else up.

I thought I’d get a decent night of rest since I had a lie-flat bed, but I struggled to fall asleep.

Since I had a lie-flat bed, sheets, and a pillow provided by the train, I thought I’d be able to sleep soundly. But when bedtime came around, I was surprised to find the bed and bedding didn’t matter much.

I found the bunk uncomfortable. I only got a couple of hours of sleep and woke up several times during the night due to other travelers entering and exiting the room or the train’s bumpiness. For most of the night, I watched TV on my iPad since I had such a hard time sleeping.

“Offering our passengers a high level of travel comfort is an important concern for us,” a representative for OBB Nightjet told Business Insider.

The statement continued, “We are constantly working on improvements to our product and also take into account the requirements of our customers.”

In 2023, Nightjet upgraded its overnight trains with more spacious shared sleeper cabins and new bunks.

When I arrived in Venice, I realized I had been wrong about my expectations for a shared sleeper cabin.

I got off the train in Venice feeling exhausted from the lack of sleep. I thought it made my first day in the city less enjoyable, which was perhaps the most surprising element of my ride since the entire reason I booked this train was to feel rested.

These surprises taught me that a shared cabin on an overnight train isn’t the right choice for me.

A year after my trip, I booked another overnight ride in a Nightjet private cabin. It was worth the upgrade.

I learned my lesson during that shared cabin ride. So, when I went back to Europe in November 2023, I booked the train line’s top-tier accommodation for an overnight trip from Venice to Vienna — a private cabin. 

It was worth the $200 price tag for a private 30-square-foot space with a vanity, a wash basin, and storage. I slept like a baby. 

From now on, I’ll only book private cabins for overnight train rides.