Going on vacation to Austria by the night train

This is a non-fictional story, however, the characters are fictional.

It's an extremely warm summer evening at a nearly deserted Utrecht Central. A warm breeze blows on my face. Next to me sits my eight-year-old son Daniel with a visibly overheated head, yet cheerfully humming. Lizzy and Lisa, my ten-year-old twins, are also cheerful. My wife Elise isn't bothered at all by the heat at the station. We have absolutely no reason to worry because we're waiting for the night train to board for a holiday in the picturesque Königsleiten in Austria. Since the train doesn't depart until 7:00 p.m., Elise and I have had the whole day to make preparations and entertain the kids before we board the night train. So, we're completely stress-free!

After another five minutes of standing at the station, the train arrives. We settle into our compartment and realize how nice it is to have our own private space. Especially since we're traveling with three kids who absolutely can't wait to be in Austria.

The inspiration to travel by train to Königsleiten actually came from my employer. He has been traveling by train to his favorite destinations in the Alps for years and always finds it enjoyable. Following his recommendation, Elise and I booked our trip online. We could choose between a carriage with seating accommodation including access to a washroom and toilet, a sleeper carriage with washroom and toilet, breakfast, and bedding, or a sleeping carriage with its own shower and toilet, à la carte breakfast, a blanket, pillow, and wake-up service. We ultimately chose a sleeper carriage. This turned out to be more affordable for two adults and three children than flying, and we have much more space than in, for example, a car. The fact that the train is cheaper than the plane was not the only reason for us to travel to Austria this way. The idea also appealed to us because of its sustainability. We believe it's important to gradually become more environmentally conscious, and since we're not walking or biking all the way to Austria as a family, traveling by train is the best and most environmentally friendly option.

Back to the journey... As the train travels through the now dark landscape, we as a family enjoy the atmosphere on board. We play games like 'Guess Who?' and 'I Spy', watch the lights of the passing towns, and listen to the children's favorite music. At 11:00 p.m., it's bedtime for everyone. The next morning, we wake up as the first rays of sun gently shine through the curtain into our eyes. A glance at the clock reveals it's almost 7:00 a.m. This means we only have about two hours left on the train. About 30 minutes before we reach Jenbach, there's a knock on the door of our compartment; it's the lady from the breakfast service! Together, we enjoy our breakfast and the last minutes of our trip.

Upon arrival in Jenbach, from where we continue to Königsleiten, we're greeted by the warm Austrian morning air. Even the snow-capped peaks, even in summer, welcome us in the distance. The only downside is that we have to take a taxi from Jenbach to Königsleiten. This taxi ride takes about an hour and is quite pricey. However, we quickly forget the inconvenience of the extra transport when we arrive in Königsleiten.

We check into our chalet and enjoy the rest of the week on a beautiful summer vacation! The memory of the train journey is often brought up by one of our children throughout the week. They see the trip as one of the highlights of their adventure. Upon returning home to the Netherlands, we conclude that as a family, we've not only conquered the mountains but also that the journey there can be just as unforgettable as the destination itself!

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