| Train travelling | |
|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2008 02:38 |   |
| guest01124 | Taking the overnight sleeper with 4 to a berth, if we wish to take up all the 4 sleepers to ourselves for privacy, can I buy 2 more tickets at childrens' price while only 2 adults are travelling ? Read somewhere that they have rights to occupy the 2 empty sleepers although you have the tickets for them. How is it ? Thanks. |
| Jun 29, 2008 08:26 | #1 |
 | I would imagine you would have trouble keeping empty beds free if the train was busy, even if you had tickets for them. However, buying 4 soft sleeper tickets would be more expensive than flying, so what is the purpose? Why travel on a Chinese train, to then lock yourself away in your own room? The best thing about travelling on Chinese trains is the people you meet on them. If I were you, I would go hard seat, save some money, and enjoy the atmosphere. |
| Jul 1, 2008 11:30 | #2 |
| I cannot go along with the Baron - hard seats are no fun - they are cramped and there can be a hundred unseated passengers in the carriage, even sitting on a corner of your seat, standing between your feet etc! Otherwise I agree with him enter into the spirit of it and meet the people. It varies quite a bit and you can either be ignored or have plenty of attention. The sleepers are NOT private, there are no doors. Even before 'lights out' around 10 pm, most Chinese will be sound asleep and stay that way all night. Hard (which is in fact soft) sleeper is 6 berths to a section. This is also quite reasonable. The top bunks are quite a climb and there is little space above. Bottom bunks in hard and soft classes are normally shared when the booked occupant is not lying down. So I usually prefer the middle bunks. Remember, the bunks do not fold away like European couchettes (dunno what the US style is) My guess is that the carriage gaurdian would consider your two empty berths as no shows and resell them. In any case I would suggest that it is an improper thing to do as there is a great excess of demand over supply, so don't hog two berths unnecessarily. |
| Jul 1, 2008 14:12 | #3 |
| Sorry for my mistake - I meant hard bed! Apault is right - don't ever go hard seat - it really isn't fun! |
| Jul 2, 2008 01:52 | #4 |
| GUEST01124 | I find that buying air tickets a day or 2 before departure is not much more expensive than the soft sleepers but I will be taking a risk if the I cannot get good discount flights and trains may full by the last minute. Another question on the train soft sleepers, do they provide bath or shower rooms ? |
| Jul 2, 2008 04:48 | #5 |
| I've never seen any showers, but they have wash facilities (basins). It seems to me that you are not the kind of person who will enjoy travelling in China. If you are unwilling to share a sleeping compartment with others, and expect bath and showers on a train, then maybe you won't have much fun. |
| Jul 13, 2008 20:45 | #6 |
| I highly agree with Baron! |
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