Train Travel with your child: Our Favorite Mode of Transportation (exclusive book preview)

We love traveling by train, especially long distance. If we had to pick our favorite mode of getting around, we’d pick train travel in a heartbeat. We find it to be far more comfortable than plane, bus, or even car rides; there’s more space to get up and walk around, and no turbulence you have to deal with! Most trains get you where you need to go pretty fast, yet there’s also ample opportunity to look out your window and take in the scenery.

Trains are also easier than planes; you don’t have to show up hours in advance, you don’t have to go through rigorous security procedures, and the train station itself is typically easy to navigate. What’s more, we’ve found that train stations usually have great local food and shopping options, either inside or right around them.

Waiting in Zurich station for our train to Lucerne

One more perk: Most train stations are right in the heart of the city—so they tend to be more accessible than airports.

And it’s not just that trains are great in general; they are wonderful for families, in particular. Take the seating arrangements. Sometimes you can get a whole cabin just for you and your loved ones—a great way to travel with both privacy and comfort. And even if you don’t get a cabin, you can get seats that face one another, often clustered around a table.

Aarav makes a friend in the train from Warnemunde back to Berlin

Let’s not forget that most kids really love trains—it’s easier for them to walk around, and they don’t have to be buckled in, as they would in a plane or an automobile. And because trains are a little louder, you can feel alright bringing some noisier toys on board. Trains will have a lot more options for you to get your child food and drinks, too—including on-train restaurants you can access as needed.

To get the most out of your long-distance train travel—especially when you have a toddler in tow—we have a few simple tips.

Tips for Taking Your Child on a Train

Now, with all that said, traveling by train does invite some strategic considerations, especially for parents of younger kids.

First, some booking advice: Make sure you actually get a seat for your child. Some trains will offer you a free ticket for your child, but not an actual seat. Trust us: You’ll want the seat, as it gives your child some space of their own, and it allows the entire family to be more comfortable. (In some countries—particularly India—you actually can’t book a seat for kids under five; what we did was, ah, fudge his birthday a bit. We paid for the seat, so it seems like a victimless crime.)

Getting ready to travel via train in India

Some trains have entire cars that are designated as “quiet” cars. You probably want to avoid these, as kids are not known for being reliably quiet.

A lot of trains offer first- and economy-class seating, and the price difference is usually significantly less than it is on planes. You may end up paying 30 percent more for your first-class upgrade, and we think it’s totally worth it. For one thing, first-class tends to have way fewer people—so there’s more room for your child to run around. And in second-class, you can’t always reserve seats; to make sure you have a good arrangement for you and your family, first-class is the safer choice.

Traveling in the train from Beijing to Shanghai

Want more tips on traveling on a train? Download our book today.

Thank you for reading our article! We have provided a preview of what you’ll get in our book, How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind). You’ll get more tips on train travel and so much more!

0 0 votes
Article Rating

Ready to embark on an adventure with your kids?

Subscribe to our newsletter AND get a free sample copy of our entire book, How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lucille J. Croft
Lucille J. Croft
5 years ago

Some trains will offer you a free ticket for your child, but not an actual seat. Its reality!!