Holidays on sleeper train help

[Ralphinesonvoice]

My husband is turning 50 next year and he would have loved going on the orient express but as it is completely out of my budget I need to find something else. Does it even exist can you go on holiday and sleep entirely in a train ? Thank you

The orient express do day trips or the Caledonian sleeper is a lovely trip to scotland

There's two.

London to Scotland and London to Penzance.

You can travel overnight on trains in Europe.

The most comfortable would be en suite compartments.

This page on Seat 61 is a good start https://www.seat61.com/sleepers.htm#:~:text=There's%20a%20washbasin%2C%20towels%20%26%20toiletries,room%20with%20private%20shower%20%26%20toilet.

Ffestiniog Travel have a good reputation for rail holidays.
https://www.ffestiniogtravel.com/

You could arrange your own itinerary or ask a travel agent like Ffestiniog to arrange one. You would be changing from one train to another, though, rather than spending several days on one train. And I'm not sure how much sleep you'd get spending every night on sleeper trains.

I took the Stockholm to Narvik service a few years ago and it was glorious: it was high summer and so we got to watch the boreal forests roll past under midnight sun. Would thoroughly recommend - both Stockholm and Narvik themselves are lovely destinations to explore a bit at either end. And the trip was actually very reasonably priced.

I’ve also taken the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok and would do it again in a heartbeat; but it’s a full ten day commitment and probably not currently an option - hopefully one for a few years’ time.

The sleeper services between London and Penzance / Edinburgh are more functional than holiday, you don’t get to see a great deal. But they are lots of fun just for the experience. I remember the first time, DH and I took the train to Penzance with a couple of friends, and we were given adjoining cabins. We said that it was all a bit like being in an immersive theatre experience, it was like all the other people were a cast, put on for our entertainment!

The Orient Express is obviously an expensive "experience", and normal sleepers are nothing like it.

However, if you're looking for the travel experience, rather than the luxury experience, there are plenty of choices around Europe.

As mentioned, Maninseat61 is the place to look. I'd look at the Nightjet options - https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm

Obviously, there are different levels, and you can splash out on a "Deluxe sleeper with toilet & shower" which might offer a hint of luxury.

I'd suggest a route that goes through the Alps, Munich or Vienna to Rome or Venice perhaps. Then you can have a look out of the windows when you're going through the mountains. And then you have a couple of days at the destination either end. There are even options for sleeper routes to and from Munich or Venice.

I've done Paris to Florence, albeit quite some time ago. It's really fun and can be done cheaply if you book long in advance. That Stockholm one above sounds amazing!

The one I've always wanted to do is the Blue Mountains railway - 4 days from Sydney to Perth, but suspect that would be budget breaker for this trip for you in terms of getting there in the first place.

Look up the Bernina Express - highly recommend!

Unfortunately, there are no Sleepers from Paris to Italy anymore. I've done Paris to Venice and Rome to Paris, and would recommend, but they've stopped those routes.

Ds did some in Europe when he went interailing last year & being a train buff has done the Caledonian sleeper & the Night Riviera, the British ones are on YouTube if you want to have a look.