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Forget about searching questionable websites for a cheap hotel in Europe.
There is both a gap and a new adventure waiting for you!
In Europe, the approach of “killing two birds with one stone” applies, as sleeping car trains have become a trendy means of transport.
Why waste your money on a hotel when your hotel can get you to your destination?
That’s like going home to take a nap when you can sleep in the back seat of an Uber.
Okay, not quite, but still…sleeper trains are becoming increasingly popular, especially in places like Europe where so many great cities are connected.
The newest exciting European sleeper trainoperated by European Sleeper, is scheduled to start operations this winter.
No sleep until Brussels
Save yourself the night and night time until you arrive in Brussels, as you have at least 15 hours of driving time ahead of you to rest.
For whatever reason, Belgium is often overlooked as a top holiday destination in Europe, despite being in close proximity to some of the continent’s most famous cities – Paris and Amsterdam.
As underrated as it may be, this city is actually an ideal starting point for the adventure of a lifetime, connecting you to one of Europe’s most famous destinations: the amazing, romantic city of Venice.
First you have to come here.
Although it may be a blank slate for many, there are numerous direct flights from the USA between the Belgian airline Brussels Airlines and the more popular airlines United and Delta.
According to FlightConnections, these 4 US cities currently fly nonstop to Brussels:
- Newark (EWR)
- New York City Airport (JFK)
- Chicago (ORD)
- Washington DC (IAD)
Next stop: Cologne
Germany is one of those countries that never tires of exploring, from bustling cities like Berlin to the fairytale castles of Baden-Württemberg.
In this case, however, you’ll be coming via Cologne on an epic trip to Venice, unless you just want to take a quick nap on the train.
The new sleeper train is scheduled to leave Brussels at 5 p.m. and travel overnight to Cologne, where it will arrive in time for bedtime at 11 p.m.
You wake up in the wonderful city of Munich, arrive at 7:00 am and continue your journey.
Overall, 9 cities with the grand finale in Venice. You will pass a beautiful route full of other canal-lined cities such as Utrecht, the winter wonderland of Innsbruck and another Italian gem, Verona.
Should I stay or go?
Listen, don’t hate the player…hate the game.
As great as this itinerary sounds, there are a few notable “Karens” on the list, and if we were in 2019, this would be a bright green light.
Unfortunately, the bright red lights shine in more ways than one. It’s well documented that Amsterdam hasn’t exactly rolled out a red carpet for tourists this year.
The same goes for Venice, with its concerns about overtourism and annoying entrance fees.
But hey, there are still some other really cool cities left to visit.
There are dozens of famous Italian destinations that will fascinate you. And it’s not just limited to Venice.
In the Netherlands, however, Amsterdam is in the spotlight.
Travelers should know that there are many other fairytale cities with picturesque canals and two of them – Rotterdam and Utrecht – are on this route.
And best of all: both welcome tourists with open arms.
There are numerous ways to reach this Dutch secret beyond the sleeper train, so the real question is whether this particular train is the right one for you.
There is probably no need to get on unless you feel like doing the whole trip, unless you want to explore Germany or Austria, which is about half the distance of the trip.
If it’s any consolation, you’ll arrive just in time for Venice’s famous Carnival festivities.
Launch date and prices
Tickets are expected to be available in the next few weeks 1 SeptemberFor more details, please visit the official European Sleeper website.
The original start date was set to February 5, 2025, and the seasonal service ends in March 2025, so tickets will probably sell out in a flash!
Departures occur twice a week, with conflicting reports of 15-hour and 20-hour journeys.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other company. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the companies mentioned in the post.
