Riding The Rails In Europe!

There is really no better way to travel in Europe than to ride the rails. It's easy, convenient, affordable and beautiful. Plus you don't have to worry about parking, your car being stolen, damaged, parking tickets or getting lost.
My children are very comfortable riding and sleeping on trains. In fact, if you ask them, they will say they prefer the train over the bus. That's due to one horrible overnight bus ride in Thailand. If you are heading to Thailand, stick with the trains.
During our 3 week Europe trip, we travelled by train several times.

1. Berlin to Prague - 6 hours
2. Prague to Krakow, Poland - overnight
3. Krakow to Warsaw Poland - 1.5 hours

Here's how to manage it without stressing out. I follow seat61.com for all my train advice. This guy knows his trains. Trains open ticket reservations 60-90 days in advance and most trains never sell out. However, that being said if you don't have a reservation, you may end up sitting on the floor. Plus if you want an overnight sleeping car, you definitely need a reservation.
When you book your train, pay attention to whether you are booking a ticket or making a reservation. Some trains will have you pay for your overnight berth, but you still have to buy a train ticket when you arrive at the station.
That being said I was able to buy all of my train tickets or reservations online before we left the states. For a family of 5, that's one less headache.