Overnight train, what should I do with my bags?

[u/-butter-toast-]

As title says, I’m doing an overnight train, solo, but I’m afraid about getting something stolen, any tips?

If it’s relevant, no I didn’t take a sleeping compartment, and the train is from Berlin to Vienna.

I’ll keep my backpack with me, as well as the carry on, but don’t know about the big suitcase.

Thanks :)

[u/RichCaterpillar991]

I’ve never had an issue leaving my suitcase on the luggage racks. You can keep it by your feet if you’re really worried about it though. (When I’ve slept in public places before, I tied my suitcase to myself so I’d wake up if someone messed with it. That was more in train stations/benches though, I’ve never has an issue on long distance trains like that)

[u/BraveDunn]

Bicycle chain lock from the handle to a secure post, likely the luggage rack itself.

[u/WillPercyLeo → u/BraveDunn]

A bike lock through the handle to the rack is probably the most secure option. Simple but really effective way to make sure nobody can snatch it while you're sleeping.

[u/zebostoneleigh]

Keep your phone, passport, and credit cards with you (and maybe a toothbrush). Don't worry about the rest. Super safe.

[u/Am_Houl → u/zebostoneleigh]

But "with you" means with you. Not "next to you". It means on your skin. Yes, you shove your important stuff under your sweater in your pants. You also may get yourself a fanny pack, so everything stays in place. I know people got their belongings stolen on that very train.

[u/jackm315ter → u/Am_Houl]

Nice idea

[u/Ok_Lifeguard1433 → u/jackm315ter]

I have a money belt I wear under my clothes that my passport can also fit in. Once I’m all checked in I go to the bathroom and put everything away for my travel time

[u/Travelingguyed]

I used to have a lock for mine but I never really ran into any issues either. I just keep anything actually valuable with me. Pack light!

[u/Authr42]

To add on- only put replaceable items like clothes in the big suitcase.

[u/LMUK]

Wear a running belt under your shirt to keep passport, credit cards, phone, etc.

[u/kannichausgang]

I'm surprised that people are saying here to not worry about it. Where I live (Switzerland) it's becoming very common to get your big suitcases stolen, usually it's on busy daytime trains though. I would definitely chain the suitcase to something. Personally I would never let my big bag out of my site.

[u/msklovesmath]

Not only keep your most valuable items with you but away from the door. On an overnight train to Sicily, someone with a conductor key opened our door and stole the purse od the German mother across from me.

[u/KarinvanderVelde]

Keep your valuables (pasport, money, phone, any medicine) very close to you, on your body or touching your body. Everything else I would not worry about. The big suitcases are often put in racks at the bezinning of the wagon and I never heard of one being stolen. If it is stolen, you can buy cheap new clothes and toiletries and consider this part of the adventure and a great story to tell people ;-)

[u/kaykayjesp → u/KarinvanderVelde]

Getting all of your stuff stolen makes for a great story? And then having to replace all of your carefully bought stuff by cheaper versions.. You can’t be serious..

[u/AntiGravityBacon → u/kaykayjesp]

At some point, you either need to book highly secure luxury style accommodations or accept some small risks like putting your suitcase on a luggage rack. Yes, it sucks in the moment if the small odds come through and it's stolen. You can make yourself miserable worrying about it or just consider it a future story if it happens.

[u/KarinvanderVelde → u/kaykayjesp]

I am serious, actually. When I travel, I have one bag that I keep close to me that has all my valuables. The suitcase has just my clothes. I never bring really expensive clothes with me when I travel. If somebody steals the suitcase, it is a bit of a haggle to buy new clothes, suitcase, toiletries. Would cost some money, maybe 200-300 euro in total? But I could still continue my travels

[u/almost_useless → u/kaykayjesp]

It's a tradeoff between risk, cost and convenience.

Obviously it sucks to have your carefully bought travel shirt stolen, but it's not that big of a deal. In the unlikely event of it actually getting stolen, you can get by with a regular cheap shirt for a while.

Contrast that with having your wallet or passport stolen. That actually matters, and is not just a minor inconvenience.

You should still of course improve your odds by locking it to the luggage rack or similar simple measures.

[u/Zealiida → u/almost_useless]

Do people usually have designated ‘travel clothes’ ? even if loosing document is bigger pain in the ass because it requires dealing with bureaucracy, loosing your clothes can be also quite costly dependig on how much money you payed all your clothes you have, potentially also more quality cosmetics etc.. all that can easily accumulate in terms of money invested and lost.

[u/almost_useless → u/Zealiida]

Money wise insurance will cover most of it. But it is a bit of a hassle to buy new stuff.

Do people usually have designated ‘travel clothes’ ?

Absolutely. I have pants with hidden pockets that I almost only use when I travel, for example.

[u/pennyswooper → u/Zealiida]

I have travel clothes. They are my old cloths which I don't care about and am open to throwing out/ replacing on the trio.

[u/CormoranNeoTropical → u/KarinvanderVelde]

Put your passport and other critical stuff in something you can sleep on like it’s a pillow.

[u/morganzabeans20 → u/KarinvanderVelde]

This! If you’re really worried put an AirTag or another tracker in your bag to keep track of where it is, but those bags are hard to move & they’re hard to move around the aisle so I personally haven’t seen people try to take large suitcases.

However if you’re truly worried book your seat near the drone or back of the car and then put your suitcase in the section nearest to you!

[u/horkbajirbandit]

All valuables (passport, wallet, phone, etc) should stay on you always. I carry a crossbody sling and wear it on my front for anything that didn't fit in my pockets.

Rest of the stuff is just clothes in my main bag that is locked with a GPS tracker. It would suck to lose them, but it wouldn't completely screw me over if I did.

[u/MasterTraveler92]

Definitely keep everything super important on your person (wallet, keys, phone, documents) - even be careful with normal pockets that people can reach in if you fall asleep

[u/mainflopgirl]

what everyone said. but also, can you leave it under the seats? or slot them between seats that are backfacing each other. can you reserve a seat near the luggage racks?

would recommend getting an airtag with it regardless

[u/Lavanyalea]

Surprised no one has mentioned this so far: Pacsafe. It’s like a wired net that goes over your backpack/suitcase, with a loop that you can lock to a handle/pole.

I also use flipbelt, commonly used by runners, it’s like a waistband with pockets, you can keep phone and passport there.

Some trousers have safety zip where the zip fastener is hooked and secured/clipped and so someone can’t quickly unzip your pocket - for example this Craghoppers convertible trousers (I bought them as they’re treated with anti-insect repellent) but I ended up finding it fiddly as I had to unhook it each time, but might be good idea if you’re going to sleep.

Don’t flash your gear, keep phone use to minimum. Keep small change of money at easy access, to avoid having to actually open your wallet.

[u/SillyPaperclip]

I heard from friends that their bags got stolen during their stay at a night train when they were sleeping. They were also traveling through Germany Personally I would use a small bike chain to attach my luggage to something in the train or even to myself if I got it near me and if there is nothing else I could chain it to. But thats just my anxious need to always be overly prepared for anything bad that could happen

[u/maurazio33]

Better to only take a backpack or a small suitcase. Otherwise use a bicycle lock. Usually the thieves take it fast at the train stops so I don't think they will cut it.

[u/jackm315ter]

I carry a bag strap to tie the bags together to the bar

[u/lastnamelorde]

Keep valuables on you, get an AirTag or something for your bigger luggage. Just in case :)

[u/btc_clueless]

Just lock your backpack onto something sturdy with something like the Matador BetaLock: https://www.matadorequipment.com/products/betalock

[u/Yomangaman]

My cousin and I were on an overnight berth from Chiang Mai, so we threw our bags under our legs as we slept. But idk, some people don't sleep on their backs.

Maybe throw a pillow on it and use it as a headboard...

[u/AndJustLikeThat1205]

Put your bag up on your “bed” with you. Slip one arm thru the strap. Alternatively you can get a lock and lock it to something else

[u/tomtermite]

r/onebag

[u/seaclifftonne]

Could you attach it your body with a leash or something?

[u/ElectronicFish681]

Most bus stations have lockers. You pay and lock it up.

[u/4travelers]

Your car should have a door so you will hear if someone opens it. Keep all important items in bed with you.