Rail vacation tips

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Rail vacation tips

Survival tips

Robert Kidd, director of our leading Scottish railway vacations supplier, McKinlay Kidd gives great rail vacation tips: “My top survival tip is to pack light, because you are getting on and off trains, and carrying your own luggage. We do meet guests at each station, of course, but you need to be able to get your bag off a train and onto the platform. So two huge suitcases can become stressful and take away from your enjoyment of the trip. It’s only a week long, so you don’t need lots anyway. Some people do this as part of a longer UK trip, and then they store their extra luggage in Edinburgh or somewhere”.

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Food tips

Robert Kidd: “Sadly the food and drink on the trains in Scotland are not great, so it is always good to bring your own snacks. Especially if you like fruit and healthy snacks. You can usually get tea, coffee and water, but extra snacks in your bag is a good idea. The food in Scotland itself, however, is superb”.

Tips on fellow travelers

Rachel Wasser, Innovation Manager with our railway vacation expert supplier, G Adventures, offers great rail vacation tips: “My main piece of advice is to explore. Don’t lock yourself in your cabin and just emerge at the next destination. Wander the train, hang out in the dining car – some of my best stories are from meeting friendly locals in the dining car. Mostly, just enjoy the ride!”

Packing tips

Rachel Wasser: "Pack a quick dry face towel for the trains as it helps to stay feeling fresh. A head torch is useful for finding your way around or reading in bed. Slip on sandals are great for wandering around. Earplugs and toilet paper are essential! Pack everything you will need for the journey in a day pack so you can stow your large luggage somewhere out of sight and you won't have to dig around for anything. Bring lots of books and playing cards. I also have an abundance of plastic bags I collected along the way for trash, tissue paper, etc. You'll be surprised at how quickly your cabin can fill up! A reusable mug and camping cutlery are also must-haves. Most trains provide boiled water so pick up some hot chocolate packets, instant mashed potatoes or pot noodles and you're good to go."

Overnight tips

Khanh Dinh is a group leader on our supplier Intrepid Travel’s Reunification Express in Vietnam vacation: “We take overnight trains three times on this trip. So if you don't like that, this is not the trip for you. They give you clean bed sheets, pillows, blankets, and it's air conditioned as well. But it doesn't mean it's always clean, the toilets may be dirty. I also remind my group that they can buy sleeping sheets at the local market, it's easy to find. They can also bring their own big bottles of water so they can brush their teeth and use it during the night. I also remind them to bring toilet paper as well. And the train is quite noisy, so bring earplugs with you.”

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Rail vacation tips from our travelers

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful rail vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.

...Chat to as many people as you can! Don't be scared of buying food on the platform... it is so worth it!

- Heidi Hosgood

"My most memorable experience was traveling by bike on Inis Mór. No real plans on the island. We just biked around and stopped at anything we found interesting. Great relaxing day. I'd recommend going to some of the local pubs, like Garavn's in Galway. Sit at the bar, and have a chat with some of the locals. Much of Ireland has rapidly changed in the last 10-15 years, and a great way to understand that is to hear how from the locals. Belfast has some of the best restaurants I've ever been to at such a reasonable price. Both the Barking Dog and the Ginger house do not disappoint." - Michael Worthley on our tailor made Ireland vacation by train

"Take warm clothes if you are going in the autumn and a mug and spoon for the train. Learn some Russian before you go and take maps of the train journey as these are a great way to start conversations." - Sally Foote on our Trans-Mongolian Express vacation

"Travel with elasticated waistbands, the food is plentiful and very good." - Anne Feeley on our Scotland Luxury Rail Vacation.

I'd recommend going to some of the local pubs, like Garavn's in Galway. Sit at the bar, and have a chat with some of the locals.

- Michael Worthley

"Go with an open mind... chat to as many people as you can on the train! Take cards and make sure you buy some vodka before you get on as you won't have another chance. I think it is the people that make it, so chat to as many people as you can! Don't be scared of buying food on the platform... it is so worth it!" - Heidi Hosgood

"Take cleaning wipes, a sheet, sleeping bag, black out mask and earplugs for the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue. Not essential but does aid sleep!" - Hilary Sibley

"Read your guidebook in advance - sometimes it was hard keeping all the info from the guides straight and we got lots of different versions of what stuff was/ meant etc. Be prepared to carry luggage up and down steps a lot and lift it up and down from high racks on the trains. The hotels were very very basic. No hot water in Fez a lot of the time. Food can be pretty samey - especially the breakfasts - lots and lots and lots of bread!" - Miriam O'Keeffe on our Moorish Spain to Marrakech by rail vacation

More about Railway

Railway vacations travel guide

The journey is often more exciting than the destination - and never is that more apparent than on a railway vacation.

Railway vacation highlights

Take a look at our interactive map, below, to see our railway vacation highlights around the world.

Rail vacation types

There are opportunities for you to dip in and out of this style of travel depending on how hardcore you want to go.

Classic railway journeys

There are some destinations that make you think of classic train journeys - the most famous being Siberia and India, where spending several days rattling along the rails is as quintessential an experience as you can imagine.

Rail vacation FAQs

Browse through our Rail vacations FAQs to learn more about how these trips work - from stopping time in each place to group vs.

West Highland Line in Scotland

One of the world’s most splendid railway journeys, The West Highland Line takes you through mountains, moors and marine marvels, between Glasgow and Mallaig on the west coast.

Trans Siberian Railway

Trans Siberian Railway tours are one of the most authentic ways to explore all of Russia.

Japanese Bullet Train Shinkansen

Although nicknamed 'bullet', which is kind of apt due to the shape and speed, Japan's Shinkansen trains provide peace, safety and comfort for passengers traveling north, south and west in Japan.

India circuit by railway

It takes six weeks to do the most spectacular circuit of India by rail.

The Maharajahs Express, Rajasthan

Take a ride on a train that you won’t want to get off although it would be a shame to miss out on Agra’s Taj Mahal and Jaipur’s Amber Fort, as you’re passing.

The Kyle Line in Scotland

The Kyle Line is otherwise known as the Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness Line and takes you coast to coast between the Kyle on the west coast and Inverness on the northeast.

Responsible train vacations

Responsible train vacations are pretty much a given: you're embracing slow travel, stepping outside of the multinational resorts and in some cases, cutting down on domestic flights.