Packing is hard. Especially when you’re traveling somewhere new and are unsure what conditions to expect. In our series “The Trip List,” we ask frequent travelers how to prepare for journeys that benefit from a bit of know-how, from African safaris to Alaskan cruises.
One of the main advantages of train travel over flying is the comparative lack of luggage restrictions, but that doesn’t mean you should overpack — especially not for multi-leg journeys. “If you have only ten minutes to change trains and your train was already five minutes late, then you’ll have to run between platforms,” says Thibault Constant of the YouTube channel Simply Railway. “So travel light.” Square footage will be limited anyway, even in private sleeper cabins. “There’s not enough space to open up a big hard suitcase,” says Emily Dean of the YouTube travel channel Jordan and Emily.
Unless you’re lucky enough to be traveling on a private luxury train like the Orient Express (where lobster is served in the dining car) or the British Pullman (which features interiors designed by Wes Anderson), most long-distance train journeys are casual affairs. “Dress comfortably,” says Jeb Brooks of the travel channel Greener Grass. The most scenic routes through mountains and deserts are guaranteed to involve temperature changes, so layering is key.
In terms of route planning, all of the rail enthusiasts I spoke with for this guide recommended taking Amtrak’s California Zephyr between San Francisco and Chicago. Other highly-praised Amtrak itineraries include the Empire Builder from Chicago to Glacier National Park (“a good first trip,” says Brooks) and the Silver Meteor from New York to Miami during winter. There are endless options abroad, but Constant says you can’t do better than Switzerland: “The trains are always on time and go to really wild places.”
Luggage
Mark Smith, founder of legendary online train travel guide The Man From Seat 61, has been using a discontinued version of this convertible Eagle Creek duffel for the past 15 years. It can either be worn as a backpack (useful when encountering railway station stairs) or rolled along on its two sturdy recessed wheels. Smith cautions against four-wheel spinner suitcases for long-haul European train journeys: “Those may be wonderful on the airport tarmac, but they will not survive five minutes on cobblestones being pulled between stations and hotels.”
You could also just forget the wheels altogether and use a standard carry-on backpack. Travel YouTuber Jeremy Larsen of T1DWanderer says that a rectangular one (like Cotopaxi’s Allpa) is ideal for cramming into one of Amtrak’s roomettes.
When Brooks travels by train, he takes a small duffel bag that can be squished into whatever spare space is available. “Even on the most comfortable train on planet earth, your compartment is going to be small,” he says. “The magic of these accommodations is that they’re designed to be efficient, like a tiny house. If you throw another piece in there you’re messing up the space.”
Shoes and clothing
“The California Zephyr goes through desert at night, so bring a hoodie or fleece,” advises travel blogger Sojourner White. Indeed a fleece is advisable even traveling in humid places like Thailand, where trains will “blast air conditioning” says Dean.
When traveling light, it’s ideal to pack clothing that can serve multiple purposes. “In a private room in winter, the day’s long-sleeve undershirt and long underpants can act as pajamas at night,” says Larsen, who notes that even heated trains can get chilly.
Smith’s favorite train-travel pants are these Craghopper trousers, which he says are more lightweight and comfortable than jeans. He likes that they have zipper pockets to keep valuables more secure.
Amtrak sleeper roomettes do come with their own (small, cramped) showers, for which flip-flops or shower shoes are a packing essential, says White. “They provide towels, so you don’t have to worry about that,” she adds.
White also likes to bring her slippers from home. “It’s a comfort thing,” she says. Dean recommends packing a cozy item like your favorite pajama shirt or pair of socks: “It puts you into a regular nighttime routine.”
Bedding and sleep accessories
Most sleeper trains provide sheets, blankets, and pillows, but during wintertime White suggests packing an additional travel blanket just to be on the safe side.
Brooks brings his own pillow from home when traveling on Amtrak trains. “Their bedding is tired,” he says. And so might you be the next morning if you rely on it.
A common complaint on sleeper trains is that the window curtains or blinds don’t block light very well. So a blackout sleep mask is a good idea, says Dean.
Many train fans, myself included, find their rocking motions and whistling sounds surprisingly conducive to sleep. “But when things get too noisy I just play music on my phone with earbuds,” says Larsen. Noise-canceling ones are obviously ideal.
If you’re not one to fall asleep listening to music, just pop in a pair of earplugs. Dean likes these Loops because they’re unobtrusive for side-sleeping.
Toiletries
With standing room at a premium, definitely bring a hanging toiletry bag if you’re planning on showering, says White.
Although toiletries can be provided on sleeper trains, you might want to bring your own in order to make the experience more comfortable and familiar, suggests Larsen. These are our favorite refillable toiletry bottles, but it’s also worth noting that trains don’t have the liquids restrictions that planes do, so you’re free to bring your full-sized stuff.
And Smith always packs a small bottle of hand sanitizer for cleaning his hands without having to rely on washbasins.
Entertainment and tech
The most common Amtrak complaint is that its roomettes have just one power outlet. “So particularly if you’re a couple or a family, bring a power strip,” says Brooks.
A portable charger was also mentioned as an essential by all the train experts I spoke with. Larsen likes this Strategist-approved Anker one that’s also a wall adapter for laptops and other USB-C and USB-A devices. “It saves room because I don’t need multiple chargers for all my gear,” he says.
On Amtrak’s long-distance trains, “the Wi-Fi is really not a thing,” says White. So she carries this portable hot spot with her if she needs to get work done. Even on fancier trains that do advertise good wifi, the bandwidth “will not be good enough to post a photograph,” warns Smith, so plan ahead and buy more data if that’s a priority.
Brooks likes to listen to audiobooks on train rides because they allow him to look out the window and enjoy the views while also staying entertained over long stretches of time.
Train travel can also be a very social experience, so “a pack of cards goes a long way,” he adds.
Other useful items
Because Amtrak trains are known for their rattling door handles and tray tables, it’s “surprisingly common to see bedrooms that have been fitted out with custom duct tape jobs,” says Brooks. Tape can also be used to keep window blinds and curtains closed for extra darkness at night.
Light sleepers might also consider bringing an extra towel or cloth to dampen sound, especially in coaches that happen to be located closer to the train engine. “Even the Amtrak cloths that they provide can be shoved under a door,” says Brooks.
Long-distance train travel simply isn’t as glamorous as cinema would have us believe, but you can add a touch of class by bringing your own glass drinking vessel, suggests Smith. Similarly, I like to bring along a metal spork instead of relying on flimsy disposable ones.
If you’re booking more than seven train rides in Europe in a short space of time, it’s worth purchasing a Eurail pass, says Constant. “You still do have to plan your journey a bit ahead and make a seat reservation on many trains, but it’s good value.” Just note that there’ll be extra fees on top when booking night trains.
And when planning a rail journey with multiple legs in Europe, Smith says that a physical map will always be better than a journey-planning phone app: “They allow you to sanity-check things and see how the railways are laid out.”
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