20 Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Long Train Ride

If you’ve had your fill of airport travel for a while, why not consider taking the train? Since it may add a few additional days to your itinerary, it may not be practical. 

But, if it’s at all possible, you’ll find a smoother, more relaxing, sometimes decadent method of travel that delivers every time. As you’re getting ready to take the chance on this lovely alternative, here are ten things to keep in mind while making arrangements. 

1. Not Packing Lightly

Even in the most luxurious cabins, say, aboard the Oriental Express, you’re still looking at a compact space. While one of the perks of train travel is not being limited to a mere three ounces, don’t take that as an invitation to go all in; you’ll end up feeling quite cramped in your quarters. 

Beyond that, you’re sure to have to travel up and down stairs, potentially through tunnels, and move quickly when boarding the train. You’d really be setting yourself up for a terrible time if you were weighed down the whole time. 

On long train rides, you can check baggage, also like a plane ride. Take a look at their requirements for number of bags and weight limits; you may feel more at ease checking your luggage with everything you need for your destination and just reserving a few items for the actual train journey. 

2. Not Dressing Comfortably

While it’s possible you might meet someone who resembles Johnny Depp from his performance in Murder on the Orient Express, you still want to dress comfortably. 

In a moment, we’ll discuss how you have to be able to move quickly and nimbly. The right Johnny Depp will love you in your skinny jeans, Banana Republic t-shirt, and ballet flats just as much as that A-line skirt, blouse, and Mary Janes. 

It’s best to dress comfortably so you can move quickly throughout the station and the train and sit comfortably for several hours at a time. 

3. Not Layering

In addition to being comfortable, you also want to dress in layers so you can adjust to the changing temperatures on board a train. For example, you may feel a bit warm when you first sit down – perhaps from all the moving about. 

Then, once you settle in, you may cool down a little bit and want to be able to put your light jacket or sweater back on. If you booked a cabin for an overnight journey, the temperature may vary again. Layering will be key to help you find that perfect temperature. 

4. Not Packing Your Chargers

While you should only take one or two pairs of shoes, not four, there’s one area you don’t want to skimp: electronics. By now, most train lines have plenty of outlets to charge our laptops, tablets, and cell phones on the go. But don’t expect that. 

Instead, free yourself from the worry of hoping you’ll land in a seat close to an outlet and invest in one or two charging banks. Many reputable brands on Amazon, like Anker, have charging banks for all your appliances—many of which will support your devices for a few days before needing to be recharged.