Train travel tends to be more environmentally friendly and comfortable than air travel. But the slow speeds of most North American lines can certainly be overwhelming. Sure, it's nicer and could be more comfortable, but can you really stare out the window for hours?
Here's the thing: train travel can be a truly luxurious experience if you plan your trip properly. Most commuter trains offer more comfortable seating than airlines, even in the economy compartments. That's why on most trains you'll find more legroom, better lumbar support, and most likely a dining room or cafe so you can get up, stretch your legs, and make the journey a part of your vacation.
To get the most out of your train journey and give you the first-class experience you deserve, dare we say it, we've put together some must-have picks that will completely change the way you look at rail travel. This is what to bring on board to ensure you have the ultimate luxury experience between stops.
When it comes to a comfortable train holiday, you should think about what you're going to wear.
"First, you should invest in comfortable clothing to wear while trekking," says Balaram Thapa, trekking director and travel consultant for Team Nepal. "Soft layers of breathable fabric will keep you warm while allowing you to move effortlessly when you need to load your bags or take them with you. You should also make sure the garment you choose is machine washable for added convenience while you're on the go."
Linen is a great choice for days on the go: it's lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking. It also looks more professional and groomed than traditional sportswear or casual wear. The Amazon Essentials women's classic long sleeve linen shirt is designed for a comfortable, snug fit so it doesn't get in the way of your ride. The quick-drying material is very easy to clean and hang to dry anywhere. Pair this shirt with your favorite travel pants and add it to your travel wardrobe in one of the nine colors and patterns available.
Linen is a great choice for days on the go: it's lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking. It also looks more professional and groomed than traditional sportswear or casual wear. The Amazon Essentials women's classic long sleeve linen shirt is designed for a comfortable, snug fit so it doesn't get in the way of your ride. The quick-drying material is very easy to clean and hang to dry anywhere. Pair this shirt with your favorite travel pants and add it to your travel wardrobe in one of the nine colors and patterns available.
The breathable polyester is another great option for travel days. The breathable men's Drytec Cutter & Buck is comfortable and warm, but the Drytec fabric means you don't have to worry about sweating and feeling uncomfortable on the train. The half-zip design and front shoulder seam make this option an instant hit, and the machine-washable material won't leave you with a hefty hotel cleaning bill.
The breathable polyester is another great option for travel days. The breathable men's Drytec Cutter & Buck is comfortable and warm, but the Drytec fabric means you don't have to worry about sweating and feeling uncomfortable on the train. The half-zip design and front shoulder seam make this option an instant hit, and the machine-washable material won't leave you with a hefty hotel cleaning bill.
When traveling, of any kind, sleep is essential. Thapa recommends investing in convenient accessories that will help you sleep better on the train. Think of the mattress as the amenities you get on a business class flight. Make sure you have good quality eye patches, ear plugs and neck pillows, all of which are essential for a train journey, especially at night.
The Ostrichpillow Eye Mask is one of our favorite sleep masks of 2023 thanks to its super-soft shell and blackout design. The 3D ergonomic eye mask is very comfortable and won't strain your eyes, and the anti-sleep strap won't press against the back of your head when you're sleeping tie hair up.
The Ostrichpillow Eye Mask is one of our favorite sleep masks of 2023 thanks to its super-soft shell and blackout design. The 3D ergonomic eye mask is very comfortable and won't strain your eyes, and the anti-sleep strap won't press against the back of your head when you're sleeping tie hair up.
Between train whistles and uncomfortable platform noise, train travel tends to be louder than air travel. So if you're easily distracted by background noise, be sure to bring a pair of quality noise-cancelling earplugs. Loop Quiet earplugs are designed for comfort and don't feel tight or irritating, even when you're lying on your side. Made from hypoallergenic silicone, they fit snugly to the ear to block most noise and promote a sense of relaxation.
Between train whistles and uncomfortable platform noise, train travel tends to be louder than air travel. So if you're easily distracted by background noise, be sure to bring a pair of quality noise-cancelling earplugs. Loop Quiet earplugs are designed for comfort and don't feel tight or irritating, even when you're lying on your side. Made from hypoallergenic silicone, they fit snugly to the ear to block most noise and promote a sense of relaxation.
The best thing about a first or business class flight is definitely the flat bed and the knowledge that you can get comfortable and sleep. This is where the Cabeau Travel Pillow comes into play. This neck pillow is designed to provide the right support for your head and neck so you can sleep without worrying about sleeping with your neighbors. It compresses to half its size when not in use, so you don't have to worry about carrying a full-size pillow.
The best thing about a first or business class flight is definitely the flat bed and the knowledge that you can get comfortable and sleep. This is where the Cabeau Travel Pillow comes into play. This neck pillow is designed to provide the right support for your head and neck so you can sleep without worrying about sleeping with your neighbors. It compresses to half its size when not in use, so you don't have to worry about carrying a full-size pillow.
Train journeys can be long, and the seats don't have the same inflight entertainment screens that you'll find on many airplanes. So you want to take some useful extras with you to make your trip more enjoyable.
"A laptop or tablet for watching movies, an e-reader for reading books, portable wireless speakers (if you have a private booth), or noise-cancelling headphones can help you spend your time in style and comfort," says Thapa .
Sure, you can take books with you, but if you're a very fast reader or have a train ride that's a few days away, consider an e-reader like the Amazon Kindle Oasis. The Oasis is our pick for best e-readers thanks to its soft, subdued backlight that's easy on the eyes (even on long reads) and can hold thousands of books and stories without weighing you down.
Sure, you can take books with you, but if you're a very fast reader or have a train ride that's a few days away, consider an e-reader like the Amazon Kindle Oasis. The Oasis is our pick for best e-readers thanks to its soft, subdued backlight that's easy on the eyes (even on long reads) and can hold thousands of books and stories without weighing you down.
If you want to fill your trip with the latest entertainment, we recommend planning your train journey in advance. The Google Android 11 tablet will be a good replacement for the inflight entertainment systems and won't break the bank. You should make sure to download the movies or TV shows you want to stream when the built-in Wi-Fi is unstable.
If you want to fill your trip with the latest entertainment, we recommend planning your train journey in advance. The Google Android 11 tablet will be a good replacement for the inflight entertainment systems and won't break the bank. You should make sure to download the movies or TV shows you want to stream when the built-in Wi-Fi is unstable.
On long journeys, whether by road or rail, snacks are essential. The best travel snacks will help you stay full throughout the night, especially when the food on the train is questionable.
Protein bars, mixes, and other healthy snacks can provide nutrients without leaving you feeling full or bloated. Or, if you have a stomach ache or nausea on a long flight, consider taking a device with you to help relieve those feelings.
It's much easier to get snacks on the train than on the plane, which means you can easily make sure you have an arsenal of healthy and tasty snacks to keep you going. We love the Sabra Classic Hummus Snacker Pretzel because it comes with its own sturdy pouch so the pretzels don't break inside the pouch and the hummus stays fresh for hours.
It's much easier to get snacks on the train than on the plane, which means you can easily make sure you have an arsenal of healthy and tasty snacks to keep you going. We love the Sabra Classic Hummus Snacker Pretzel because it comes with its own sturdy pouch so the pretzels don't break inside the pouch and the hummus stays fresh for hours.
Chewing ginger is popular with frequent travelers as it helps ward off nausea. It's a chewy snack made with 10 percent fresh ginger and little else, making it gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.
Chewing ginger is popular with frequent travelers as it helps ward off nausea. It's a chewy snack made with 10 percent fresh ginger and little else, making it gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.
These high-protein dinnertime oatmeal will keep you fuller for longer without feeling guilty about snacking. Available in flavors like peanut buttercup, cinnamon oatmeal and blueberry muffins, you can make a 20g protein snack with added milk.
These high-protein dinnertime oatmeal will keep you fuller for longer without feeling guilty about snacking. Available in flavors like peanut buttercup, cinnamon oatmeal and blueberry muffins, you can make a 20g protein snack with added milk.
Do you plan to take food from home with you on your train journey? We are big fans of our reusable silicone case. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, you can use it to bring home fresh fruits and vegetables or other snacks without worrying about spilling. Then when you arrive at your destination, wash it and reuse it for the return journey; They are also dishwasher, freezer, oven and microwave safe.
Do you plan to take food from home with you on your train journey? We are big fans of our reusable silicone case. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, you can use it to bring home fresh fruits and vegetables or other snacks without worrying about spilling. Then when you arrive at your destination, wash it and reuse it for the return journey; They are also dishwasher, freezer, oven and microwave safe.
Toiletries will also make you feel better after a few nights on the train.
"Be sure to pack toiletries if your train has limited launch options," says Thapa. "This includes toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and anything else you might need."
The Calpak Clear Cosmetic Case is one of our most popular cosmetic cases for a number of reasons. First off, we love that the case is completely transparent and waterproof, which comes in handy when picking something up on the go or going through airport security. It has two zipped compartments to better organize your gear and a handy top handle for easy portability. It's also available in eight colors to match your travel gear.
The Calpak Clear Cosmetic Case is one of our most popular cosmetic cases for a number of reasons. First off, we love that the case is completely transparent and waterproof, which comes in handy when picking something up on the go or going through airport security. It has two zipped compartments to better organize your gear and a handy top handle for easy portability. It's also available in eight colors to match your travel gear.
A natural, neutral alternative to deodorants and antiperspirants, Native Deodorant offers more subtle and sophisticated scents such as mint, pink lavender or unscented. It's made without aluminium, parabens, phthalates and talc, instead using only natural ingredients to keep you feeling fresh all day long.
A natural, neutral alternative to deodorants and antiperspirants, Native Deodorant offers more subtle and sophisticated scents such as mint, pink lavender or unscented. It's made without aluminium, parabens, phthalates and talc, instead using only natural ingredients to keep you feeling fresh all day long.
The Rhythm Capsule is one of our favorite travel gadgets for a reason. They are fully customizable so you can add any label you like to the top box of each capsule. Plus, you can mix and match colors to create your very own nest of capsules. What really sets them apart is the ability of their magnets to stick together and they are completely leak proof so you don't have to worry about spills during your train journey.
The Rhythm Capsule is one of our favorite travel gadgets for a reason. They are fully customizable so you can add any label you like to the top box of each capsule. Plus, you can mix and match colors to create your very own nest of capsules. What really sets them apart is the ability of their magnets to stick together and they are completely leak proof so you don't have to worry about spills during your train journey.
As with many journeys, you always want to have your documents and important things with you on the train. Keep things like your driver's license, passport, credit cards, and cash handy. Consider getting an all-in-one bag that you can just pack, lock, and take with you, rather than shoving it in your suitcase, which will likely be stashed away for most of the trip.
It doesn't take much to keep all your documents in one place, but it makes a world of difference when you need quick access to a credit card or passport. The Boacay travel document organizer is an affordable option with a zippered design, pockets and multiple pockets that allow each important document to have a home of its own.
It doesn't take much to keep all your documents in one place, but it makes a world of difference when you need quick access to a credit card or passport. The Boacay travel document organizer is an affordable option with a zippered design, pockets and multiple pockets that allow each important document to have a home of its own.
This spacious holdall has room for everything you carry with you. There are four separate pockets for multiple passports, a credit card slot, a dedicated card slot and even an outside pocket for your phone. Best of all, it can be used as a handbag with a built-in handle, or as a crossbody bag for easy access.
This spacious holdall has room for everything you carry with you. There are four separate pockets for multiple passports, a credit card slot, a dedicated card slot and even an outside pocket for your phone. Best of all, it can be used as a handbag with a built-in handle, or as a crossbody bag for easy access.
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