Night Train from Budapest to Brasov A Realistic Travel Experience

Hello fellow travelers. Mark here with Walter's World and today we're taking a train, the night train from here in Budapest all the way to Brasov, Romania. So we leave about 7:10 tonight and we're supposed to get in right before 9:00 in the morning. So we'll see how it goes, but I thought I'd show you what it was like to take the night train from Budapest to Romania so you have an idea of what to expect if you're going to take it because the romance of the night train might not just be quite as romantic as you think it's going to be. We're going to find out. But we're waiting to see what line we're on. So let's find out. Oh, we booked a four-bed cabin. So for the four of us all this trip together, so we'll see what we get. So fingers crossed.

So the fun starts right away. We see our track number, so we're track number one. However, there's all this Hungarian going by in red which made me worried. Basically all it is the last or wagon is not in use and wagon 425 is not going to be on there. Luckily, we're wagon 423. So the first part was a little exciting. So we're all off to track number one. See how it goes.

So to use up the rest of our foreigns, we went and got a few snacks for our trip, some water, some crackers, and some other little doohickeys so we can find some on there. I want to guess there's probably a restaurant car or something on the train, but better safe than sorry. Always pick up some snacks before you take the night trains. Tell you that one right now. I've learned the hard way. I've also learned the good way. One thing I will say when you're taking the night train, don't think it's always going to be on the same normal tracks as the other trains. Make sure you look and see because you might be taking a night

train that goes to a normal destination that goes to the normal stop. However, the night train sometimes are sitting there longer to get everything hooked up. So they might be on a different track or a different part of the train station. So give yourself plenty of time if you're taking that night train. So we made it to track one and yes, it is going to Brasov. Actually, look, this is Bucuresti Nord. We're going there and Brasov is one of the stops. So now it's time to get on the train. Of course, our wagon is the very, very last wagon or almost very last wagon down there. So it's been a bit of a walk from where we kind of go to get to where we're going. So just be aware of that. So give yourself some time. Be there

early and oh, look, restaurant car. We got the 423. Now we just got to go find our seats and look, I see Brasov on there. Here we go. This is our cabin. We are four people and here's one, two beds and the other beds are these down here. Um it's really hot. I'm hoping that some of this is air conditioning. There's little buttons up here. I'm just going to see if it's possible to Sorry about that. Not when it's not started. Okay. Well, [snorts] let's hope it starts soon cuz I'm going to sweat to death.

I call dibs on Mark not on top. That's right. I think that from there to there might kill her and him. And I'm not offended because I wouldn't want me up there either because I would turn anyone into a squished grape. My sweetheart. And we like Sandra, so we don't want anything to happen to her. So Liam can sleep on the bottom. So we got our bags in underneath the seats. We got our backpacks here, too. That's one of the things you don't take on night trains. Do not bring the big suitcases. This can't be the big mega suitcases. There just isn't room for them. Um luckily we have a four room with only four bunks. There could be six bunks in there, but there's only four in this

one. So we have a bit more room, but otherwise you're going to be using your suitcase as a pillow probably when you're going to be there. So do be aware of that. Limited space on these. And wow, if it's summertime, it's hot when you first get on. Okay, we're all on board. All our stuff's on board. Getting ready about to leave. People are still coming on, which is nice. It's not totally packed. So that's cool. I see that the tickets I did get were the first class one. That's why we got four and only four in our cabin. Some ones further down have six in the cabin. So there is that. What happens is that

middle the middle one isn't there in the four bed. The six bed one basically the seat back folds up and makes a the fifth and sixth bed. So good choice getting the only four in a room. So the ladder is an important thing. So the ladder you notice is outside the door right here. However, it might be inside already when you're there and you don't want to sit in those crowded seats without with that ladder in the way the whole night and the whole day. So what you want to do is come put it outside so you can have it here. Cuz then it'll hook up on this little like barrier here so you don't fall off.

Now I will warn you, these things go down. So if you're up there thinking it'll be funny, I have seen people literally put this down and then they fall down to there. It is a long way and it can hurt a lot. So just be aware of that. Also, you'll notice that this is this isn't for luggage. This is for somebody to sleep. And this is for somebody to sleep. So where you're putting your bags is actually underneath here. And basically if you slide it in, it'll only take in carry si- carry-on size bags. So if you got those really big huge backpacks or

you got those really big suitcases, might not fit there and you're going to have to be using your, you know, suitcase basically as your pillow on your seat. So do be aware of that. However, there is one little extra spot up here up above where the heating and cooling elements are kind of are. There is some space up there to put some of your suitcases, so that could be an option. And if you're trying to figure out how to get that middle row to go up, you notice these little latches here? That's what it lays on. I don't care what anyone says, this train is filthy.

Get out. Seriously wiping it. That almost splatters. So gross. That's the handle dirt. Can you see that? I don't know if that's showing up on the camera, but We are on our way and we left on time. So I think that's a good sign. So fingers crossed everything goes well. And hopefully it gets a little bit cooler in here because I'm still dripping. All right, here's our toilet for the next 14 hours. So we got they have some extra stuff here and it's at least not gross yet and so uh yeah, at least we got something. So fingers crossed we don't have to use it too much, but we'll see how it houses at the end of the trip if it's still this nice. We'll see. So Liam, what's your first impression of the night train?

It's hot. Yep. Jocelyn? It's hot. It's dirty. Uh I am really grateful that there are like clean linens in plastic. I'll feel a lot better when we get those on and hopefully when the air kicks up a bit. So my first impression, yes, it is very hot. However, I've taken the night train many times before. I've actually taken this train before and uh I'll be honest with you, I think this is the same train I took the first time 20 years ago. It feels the same way. Um the uh the guy keeps closing the window outside cuz I think it's for the air condition to start working, hopefully theoretically. Um but yeah, no, this is kind of a typical night train that I've been on over the years. The super

hot when you first get on like dripping sweat when you're there and it's not just kind of a chubby guy with a beard. This is like my wife is doing the same thing, too, and she's not a chubby guy with a beard, I don't think. You just called me a chubby guy with a beard. I said you're not a chubby guy with a beard. So uh yeah, so it's a little warm. However, I will say getting the first class where it's only four gives us plenty of room, so that's very nice. I've seen some of the other rooms where it's six in there and I can tell it's going to be a little bit snugly later. Um so that is one thing that it was it wasn't that much more to do this. That's why it's always a good idea to book your tickets way in advance

cuz you book it in advance, you get like the discounts on those tickets. So definitely do that so you can lose you a lot of times. You can get like first class train tickets for the price of second class if you're buying like a month or so out. Like we bought these, I don't know, like six weeks ago. So it was very nice. So we're a couple hours in and it's starting to cool down in here. So that's much more enjoyable. Otherwise, we're just kind of chilling out playing video games. Jocelyn's reading. Sandra's snacking away on some for hidden plane snacks and I'm writing videos. So it's going good so far.

Well, it's like a giant pillow sham or like a duvet cover. I mean, does it go over the whole thing? No. It could be your duvet cover for your blanket big blanket. But I don't think we're going to need that. It's way too hot for that. And No hospital corners on this. And I put the duvet cover. It was a duvet cover. Um I'm about done on the bottom. But quite frankly, I'm pretty okay having like a double layer of protection between me and this. So the thing, um top sheet and here is a pillowcase and the pillows look, um I'm not touching it. It's fresh as a daisy, right? I am I have a blanket that I travel with, like a little light one. That's too many uses, pillow.

The end. I'm in the gutter. You want me to get up there and do it? Let's do this. Hold the thing for her, Liam. Hold the ladder for her, Liam. It's okay. No, it's not cuz it about fell back on you. Yes, for this foot. Maybe some of us want to use those blankets, Miss Prissy. You want to use that blanket? No, but I would have probably put the thing on pillow. Well, there's two more pillows on the side. Well, what if Caleb what if Liam and Sandra want to use one? Ow. Damn, that's inch wide.

Arm between this and that. That felt fantastic. Give me this. I got to say I'm really glad we're not doing this with strangers. Somebody's blood brother would be somebody's stranger. You're right there. There's her butt. Don't do that. Oh, Sandra can have a lower one. It's all right. Do you want these pillows? Hey, can I throw these? Yes, I don't want The Actually, we probably should have been putting them underneath everything to make this softer. So Jocelyn is going to use the blanket as a comfort extra comfortable underneath the thingy.

Well, it might make it a little softer. For our little Liam. Stop stains on that. Hand me the thing right now, please. What stains? It's not It's actually It's more like a bleach mark. Uh like it looks like bleach got spilled on it, not anything really gross, but So, um my suggestion for putting the beds together is don't wait too long. You might want to do it while you still got some daylight because this light isn't super awesome. Um it's hot, as we've said 35 times in this video. So, I've taken uh the comforters and put them on the underneath side and then the duvet thing

just set it on top and then we've got a top sheet. I don't think anyone's going to use a sheet. It's that hot. Um and it's warmer up here. So, if there are people who are cool with being hot, um they might want to sleep up upstairs. And Liam's heading up. Night, baby. Sleep well. Don't let bed bugs bite. So, how's it feel up there, Liam? I don't want to be up here. Oh, that had to hurt. So, we're going to go to the restaurant car, which was open earlier. It just had like had snacks and stuff, but now it's actually chain closed, so we can't go through. So, uh

I guess no snacks or drinks on this ride. So, remember what I said, if you watch our don'ts of night trains, um don't forget to bring some snacks and drinks. Luckily, we have a few things, so we're okay, but yeah, it's locked. So, we did find a lock for the door. This is the lock right here. Just get the door shut, turn it, we're locked in. So, uh now we're Liam's up there, and Jocelyn's bed's here, Sandra's is up there. Now I just got to make mine and uh we'll try to get some sleep as we sweat still a little bit. See, I'm getting a little still a little glistening. So, a little over 2 hours in and the bathroom next to our place over here is actually broken. Somebody used it, it

did not flush, and it's just all there. So, like I said, use the bathroom before you go on a night train. Um hopefully one of the bathrooms at the other end or in the cars this way that are not locked that we can have hopefully get into has a bathroom that does work. Um also with the heat and everything, not everyone is feeling very well. So, you have that like hotness especially up top. Like up top, it is like an extra 10° maybe or more up there. So, it is a very uncomfortable thing. So, uh so far Haha, we're doing well. What do you say, babe? Awesome Super awesome. Great. So, this is the real life of taking the night train sometimes. It is not uh the romantic, you know, Orient Express thing that you've seen. So, I just wanted

to give you a heads-up for that. So, so far we're a few hours in, 2 or 3 hours in, I don't know, somewhere there and Free. So, yeah. So, I'll give you a heads-up for that. Not going to lie, not feeling very romantic old world Europe vibes on this. Just feeling like a hot train ride in the dark. Hi. What do you want me to talk about? I don't know. So, we're crossing into Romania right now. We are. We're crossing into Romania and it is quarter to 10.

Um quarter to 10. So, how long have we been on this? Like 3 hours. You got 3 hours. in and a half, maybe. Uh and it's finally a decent temperature. I don't know how it is above. Uh we'll find that out in a minute. Is it okay up there? Awesome. It's Um and that from our southern people, our person. So, it's all right. Um we did find a bathroom on the next car down that was acceptable. I mean, it flushed. It works, so that's acceptable on this I guess. So, uh the next train down also is hot, nice sir, like a lot nicer. They only have rooms for two or three. So, I mean, I guess what you get. You don't get upset, right? So, also uh Sandra and I decided to change into more comfortable clothes.

We actually before we left Budapest, we had um the these little We had nightgowns. Not nightgowns, they're dresses, actually. And I just left them and in my easy access bag so that I could quick switch um and just be a little bit more comfortable than, you know, sleeping in the clothes I've worn all day. So, that's kind of a nice hint maybe for a night train. Make it a little bit better. And now what I know now, I would definitely next time, since there's four of us, I would get two rooms with two beds each, so we each have the little bit nicer stuff. I mean, this is just the six-person room that just has a couple of beds taken out of the middle.

Um but it's still fine, but yeah, those two- and three-bedroom ones are a wee bit nicer. And that's the thing is that when you take night trains, sometimes you're in a chair, sometimes you're in a seat, sometimes you're in a bed, sometimes you have a nicer thing. So, really pays to like, you know, find everything you can. When I looked online, it was like there's a six, a four, a three, a two. And the thing is there's four of us, so I want us all to be together, so we're all together, and that's what's important. Even though we could be a lot more comfortable if we're two twos. So, we're sitting here on the Romania side of the border, just uh waiting for things to go. When we were on the Hungarian side, it seemed like they

touched part of the train, just like, you know, some of these night trains that you switch, they go different directions, they need uncoupled. Uh you want to be careful, you make sure you're in the right spot so you don't get lost and go in the wrong city. So, make sure you're in the right seat. Um but we're over here in Romania, just waiting to get going again. So, uh the air conditioning has come back on, so I know the engines are ready to go. So, uh fingers crossed, we'll be moving here in a little bit. Want to say something? Uh it's a lot cooler up here after like 4 hours on the train, it's finally cool enough to sleep up top. So, there's that. And um I'm 5' 4" and I fit wonderfully. But if you're 5' like 7", you'll just barely fit.

Hey, Jocelyn. Hey, what? Hi. What you doing? Nothing. Just uh missing you. Oh, you're videoing. I had my glasses on. I couldn't see it. Thanks. Yeah, your glasses are Oh, that's right. For sure. They're for reading. Yes. So, we're ready for going to bed. We'll see how it goes. Liam's almost out. But, you know, the rocking of the train is actually really nice and um I think that's going to put me to sleep. I am not using pillow up here. I am just got a blanket of my own. That's going to be my pillow. I'll be fine. So, as I don't want to kill anyone and have it crash down on things, I'm sure it actually hold me up there if I was up there, but I still feel weird doing that. I'm I'm down on

here. I'm going to actually get one of the pillows and put it in the thing, so I will actually have a pillow here to get a little more comfortable. Um but yeah, but I'm working on videos to do some stuff. Uh the light you could actually switch light with the big overhead light, then they have like a sleeping light, which is a little bit less, which is kind of nice. And you feel all the lights off, too. So, uh yeah. But, uh yeah, time to get going. Oh, there was no border checks or they didn't at least come by and check your passports because both Hungary and Romania are in Schengen, so there's

really no border checks anymore. I mean, sometimes they can. I don't want to say don't like hide your passport or something or do hide your passport, but you might want to know where it is just in case because they still have the right to ask. Uh so, something to kind of think about. Anyway, but no stamps. But, we're now in Romania on our way through. And uh not much to see out there in the dark, though, sadly. Actually, it's pretty cool to go through the mountains. When I did this three or four, you see really cool mountain shots if it's a light enough when you go through. So, I am 5' 11" and 3/4 and for me to sleep to have my head here, I have my legs bent. Uh just so you know, so it doesn't quite uh work for 6-ft people.

But, uh I can curl up in a little ball. I'll give you that. So, now hopefully we'll sleep that way. So, there's the normal light. Now, she's going to turn on the other one. And there's the reading light. And you can turn it all the way off. Watch. Boom. There you go. And there still are stops throughout the night where people getting on and off, so it's not like it's a direct train.

These night trains usually have a lot of stops. Uh just so you're aware of that. So, uh yeah. So, if you're a light sleeper, expect all those stops to wake you up a little bit. But, you could see other people running at the train about 2:00 in the morning. So, yeah, that's one of those things those night trains can be uh if you're going to grab them not in one of the main cities, you could be getting on the train at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. So, just FYI. Well, sleeping on the train must do okay cuz we're about a half hour away from where we're supposed to get there. And everybody's still zonked out. So, I guess the rocking of the train was helpful for the sleep we had.

Um a lot of stops during the night. just randomly just like you have with night trains, but yeah. On the way here, though, slept like well, I didn't sleep very much, but everyone else is sleeping pretty good. But, uh yeah, we got about a half hour left. So, uh not the most comfortable sleep. My back and my arm and my shoulder are hurt, but it is what it is. So, uh we got to get our stuff ready and uh hopefully we'll get there on time. A little chaotic, but the restaurant's open again, so I got a couple croissants, a couple sodas. So, uh yeah, we're almost there. Half hour away.

Welcome in. They cleaned the bathroom. It's working again. So, I got to give it some very good job getting it clean. It's uh screwed shut, by the way. So, we're now about 20 minutes out. I'm enjoying my 7-day croissant. A Miranda for breakfast. Um honestly, most of everybody slept. I got a few hours of sleep in, too. So, we're just enjoying the view of the rural Romania with the mountains in the background. So, um yeah. I missed the really cool misty dark disc cuz I was actually asleep, but uh yeah, and my back hurt just like hell. But, at least I slept a little bit, so there is that.

I won't lie to you, though, my back is in third level of hell. So, not the most comfortable bed. But, some people slept well. I slept pretty well. I didn't It took me a long time to fall asleep. Um and once we kind of figured out that we had to have the curtains open for the air to actually rise up a little bit, um I slept fairly good. I'm not super comfortable. I got a crank in my neck and um I just performed the most magnificent act of hovering over that toilet that I have ever done in my life while train is moving. And I feel grosser than I ever have in my life. But, it's all right. We slept. I mean, it was

an adventure. I'm glad we did it. In the end, it is far better than sitting in a chair all night. It's not the greatest thing in the world, but it's definitely better than sitting upright all night long. Well, the conductor just came by and told us that it's our stop next. So, we're ready to rock and roll. Well, it's time to get off the train. It's been an interesting ride. We got here. It was better than sitting, that's for sure. But, it was just like the ride I took 20 years ago on the same train.

Well, we made it to Brașov. We're here. No worse for the wear. They're working on the uh station right now, but uh we made it here. Now, we got to figure out how to get over to the other side and I get a taxi to our stand, but uh yeah. Better than the uh seats uh having a bed. Yeah, a little back, but my back's stretched out now, so I'm feeling okay. But, we are here. We made it. Overall, would I recommend it? Sure. Why not? For a night train, if you want to take it over here, I would definitely not do the second class one where you have the seats. I would definitely pay up, but if you can get that two- or three- seater thing, that would be really, really nice. But, uh hope this helps you

understand what it's like to take the night train from Budapest to Brașov or basically if you're going to Bucharest, you have that one. And hopefully you enjoyed our video. Uh if you want to learn more, we have the do's and don'ts of going on the night trains as well and some of the unwritten rules of trains in Europe to help you travel better. Bye from here in Brașov, Romania. Hey. And we are only 20 minutes late. So, uh I'll take that for a 14-hour night train and only being 20 minutes late. Pretty good job. Uh pretty good job.