These are modern roosm, complete with sound system and airconditioning. Featuring power sockets for your essentials. Plenty of bottled water by your bedside and a butler. This could be a hotel, and in a way it is. It’s a sleeper train that combines the convenience of transportation with the comforts of a place to sleep overnight.

Experiencing different places and getting there using interesting means is all part of the adventure. Fascinating aspects of international travel do not only revolve around airplanes. Where rapid air transport is effective, the queues, regulations, restrictions, and security can be boring. Finding your way in foreign places awakens the senses and has been known to inspire as much as it informs. If this is your first blog post following us, check out the rest here.

Traveling by train in Europe is a safe, convenient and comfortable option. You can save a fair bit of money going from Prague to Budapest by train. It saves hotel money, saves transport money, getting to the station well within the city saves you time, not waiting in lines, not having your dignity compromised at security, no stamping of passports is all very refreshing.

Upon arrival, we are greeted by the steward handing us a hotel-style lock card and shown to the cabin with a brief explanation of the location of facilities and where he’ll be spending his time. It’s been some time since we were last on a train but recall it was somewhat more rudimentary. This feels more like a hotel on wheels, what with the carpeting and curtaining. The steward will have our passports processed during the night so we won’t be woken up at the border to Hungary either,

The night train takes under eleven hours from Prague via Bratislava to Budapest. The sleeper cars feature bunk beds and a washbasin or toilet depending on your personal and price preferences. We opted for bunk beds with a washbasin. At the end of the corridors, toilets and shower facilities can also be found. Complete with amenities. Find out more here.

Leaving Prague on a night train at 22.00 made it possible to explore Prague for a full day without the rush of making it to the airport in time and the additional waiting, boarding, etc. Prague’s central station was just a 10 minute Uber ride from Botel Matylda.

After breakfast, we’ll be arriving directly in the city of Budapest in the early morning and having a full day to explore.

In addition to our choice of transport being a logical and economical one, it’s also turned out to be “not as bad” to the environment. With all the low-cost airline offers has come a lot more travel by air. There is increasing resentment against voyagers travelling by air. So much so, that they have resorted to publicly voicing their opinions. “flightshame“ is no longer confined to Sweden thought it was born there. Activists and scientists who study the climate, as well as regular travellers elsewhere are all on board. The United Kingdom, Germany, and even the US to some degree are experiencing flightshame. Many citizens of these countries are cutting back on flying and generally promoting trains or other means of transport as a way to reduce carbon footprints. They tout Figures of emission savings against flying as high as 70 – 90%.

Moving through the night on rails while the noise and vibration of the train become rhythmic and soothing, the motion and consistent sound are rather relaxing. Word of caution: if you suffer from nausea/car sickness etc… trains may affect you. #justsaying.