Long-distance train travel can be the journey of a lifetime — so long as you avoid common mistakes. After spending 140 hours traveling nearly 4,000 miles by overnight trains, I've had some regrets.

I've taken four overnight train rides — Amtrak in the US, and Nightjet in Europe. I made mistakes on these rides that kept me from getting comfortable or making the most of my trips. I wish I brought ...

Experience a 75-hour journey in First Class on Amtrak's California Zephyr, traveling coast-to-coast from New York to San ...

From the flat plains of Illinois to the jagged peaks of the Rockies, Amtrak’s California Zephyr offers a 52-hour ...

I've booked overnight trains in the US and Europe, from an Amtrak bedroom to a Nightjet bunk. The $1,000 bedroom was a private space with a bathroom, and the $80 bunk was in a cabin for six. After ...

I spent 11 hours in a shared cabin on an overnight train from Vienna to Venice, Italy. For less than $100, I got a bunk in a room of six beds with three other people. I've traveled overnight on Amtrak ...

I've taken trains around the US, Canada, and Europe in coach and business-class seats. During my abroad trips, the seats were comfier and the bathrooms were cleaner in my opinion. Ultimately, I ...

On a Thursday morning in June, I boarded Amtrak’s California Zephyr train in Denver as it headed west on its scheduled 51-hour journey between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area. Toward the end of ...