European night trains can be like rolling hotels

Overnight trains can be a practical and distinctly European way to travel — leaving one city in the evening and delivering you to your destination by morning.

On board this German City Night Line train, the service is excellent, and my private cabin has a comfortable bed and a washbasin, with a clean bathroom and shower just down the hall. There's a dining car with a restaurant and a bustling bar. It's like a rolling hotel.

Traveling via overnight train can also be a trip-ruiner, leaving you tired, grouchy and swearing to fly next time. You have to do some homework before you book. Night trains generally offer an array of accommodations, ranging from airplane-style seats to luxury first-class cabins with private showers. If you don't mind sleeping with strangers, couchettes can be an affordable and at least somewhat comfortable option. These cabins consist of seats that convert into bunk beds, often with about six per compartment.

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