Travel Blogger Reveals Why She Ditched Flying For Sleeper Trains

With climate change and travelers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint, train travel has come back in a big way. Whether it’s high-speed trains, scenic trains, or comfortable sleeper trains, many people have changed the way they travel. Meanwhile, Francesca Brooking, a 30-year-old travel blogger from Dunstable, England shares many of her adventures online through her TikTok account, @littlelosttravel. However, what has particularly gained attention are her sleeper train videos, which have gained more than 100,000 views. Francesca spoke to Omio about her experiences.

Travel blogger skips planes for sleeper trains

Omio is an online travel comparison and booking website based in Berlin, Germany. Recently, the company spoke exclusively to Francesca Brooking to find out why she has switched to sleeper trains. Francesca went on to share where she has traveled with sleeper trains so far and what she loves about the experience, saying:

I’ve traveled on two sleeper trains in the UK. I have been on the Caledonian Sleeper twice to get to Scotland, going from London to Inverness one time and London to Fort William the other. I’ve also taken the Night Riviera from London to Penzance in Cornwall, which was another great experience.

Traveling to the Scottish Highlands

Francesca said that there was never a dull moment, as on the journey she got to watch dawn break over the countryside, which she said was “pretty spectacular.” Moreover, she said that this is something you would never be able to fully experience when flying.

Brooking said that on her journey to the Scottish Highlands, she saw the sun shining on the misty fields, which made everything glow with golden light. As the train traveled further north, she could see snow-dusted mountains in the distance, while the train passed lochs, rivers, and vast moors.

@littlelosttravel

Would you travel from London to Cornwall on the Night Riviera Sleeper train? #uktravel #traintravel #paddington #penzance #cornwall #cornwalltiktok #nightriviera #sleepertrain #visitengland

♬ inside out theme – Santiago Melo

Brooking added:

You get a much better sense of the diverse landscape when travelling by train, and you pass by some iconic places. It’s also great for wildlife spotting in the early morning. Looking out the window, I saw deer, rabbits, foxes, pheasants, and other birds, so there certainly wasn’t a dull moment!

No queues or security lines

Meanwhile, when travelers fly to their destination, they face long queues and security lines. Francesca decided to avoid all that and spend more time enjoying her vacation. Opting to travel via a sleeper train did just that and became part of her vacation.

Moreover, as Francesca was traveling in the UK, she wanted to do a no-fly vacation, while maximizing her days. Traveling by sleeper train was more convenient than flying, as she could save time and money that would have been spent on a hotel.

For the seat on the Caledonian Sleeper one way, I paid £55 ($69) which is pretty decent. I probably saved around £100 ($125) in comparison to taking the train to Edinburgh, staying the night, and then continuing my journey the next day.

Sleeper train travel is an experience

For Brooking, traveling with sleeper trains is also about the novelty of the experience. She said they don’t get you to your destination in the quickest time. However, they are part of the experience of the trip rather than a way to get from A to B. She added:

The great thing about sleeper trains is you don’t need to worry about liquid allowances or whether or not your carry-on bag will fit under your seat or overhead bin. There are luggage restrictions, but they’re not as strict, so it’s a far more relaxing experience!

Meanwhile, Francesca told Omio that sleeper trains are the best for traveling long distances. She said the more time you spend on board, the longer you have to put your head down and relax. The travel blogger added that a journey of up to eight hours or more is ideal. It gives you enough time to get settled and into bed, and then get dressed and have breakfast the next morning before disembarking at your destination. However, if the journey is seven hours or less, she recommends taking the day train instead, while enjoying the views along the way.

‘Planning ahead for a smooth journey’

As with anything, the earlier you are, the more stress-free your experience. Francesca recommends getting to the station at least 45 minutes or an hour before the train leaves to give time to get settled and checked in. She added:

In most cases, you will be allowed to board around 30-45 minutes before departure, which is great if you’re keen to get your head down as soon as possible.

Brooking also suggested booking your train tickets in advance and trying to aim for outside peak season for the best prices.

Where can you travel via sleeper trains in the UK and Europe?

International travelers visiting the UK or Europe have many sleeper trains to choose from. The UK reportedly has some fantastic night train options, including the Caledonian Sleeper that Francesca traveled on. According to Omio, this sleeper train service runs six nights a week and serves Scottish cities like Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.

However, Omio notes that travelers can also travel overnight from London to Penzance with Great Western. The spokesperson added:

When it comes to European trips, the company ÖBB offers its Nightjet service between destinations in Austria to other major cities in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France, with its latest night train running between Paris and Berlin. In Italy, the train provider Trenitalia has its Intercity Notte, which travels across the entire length of Italy. It also offers Euronight, which can take customers between Italy and other countries such as Germany and Austria.

These are just some of the amazing sleeper train routes available in the UK and Europe, and with the continuing rise of conscious travel and as sleeper trains continue to expand, we are excited to see how this unique way of travel continues to grow.

Readers can learn more about sleeper trains in the UK and Europe on Omio’s website here.