Sleeper Car Adventure: An Overnight Train Journey from Paris to Barcelona on TGV Ouigo

Embarking on an overnight train journey from Paris to Barcelona, Spain, was an experience unlike any other. With a bunk in a shared cabin of four beds, all for less than $80, I was excited to try out the TGV Ouigo train operated by the French national railway company. While this was my first time traveling in a sleeper car in Europe, I had previously spent several hours on overnight trains in private rooms. The experience was a mix of comfort and convenience. The TGV Ouigo train offers overnight routes between France and Spain, with a top speed of 180 miles per hour. My ride cost $35 with a Eurail pass, which I bought for $450 to access most European trains for a set number of days. I arrived at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris about two hours before my 9:30 p.m. departure. The departure screens showed my train was on time, and I found my car easily. Inside the sleeper cars, I saw narrow, dimly lit corridors full of small cabins with bunk beds. My shared cabin had four bunks and a large window with a curtain. No other passengers arrived during my stay, which was nice for privacy. At 50 square feet, the cabin felt spacious compared to the 74-square-foot cabin in my previous experience. The beds were first-come, first-served, and I chose a bottom bunk since I've experienced more bumps on higher bunks on other trains. The train provided bed sheets and a pillow, which were soft and cozy. There were temperature and shared lighting controls above the curtained door to enter the room. There was an outlet and a tiny nightstand on the side of each bunk, as well as night lights above the bed. The curtains around each bunk provided much-needed privacy. Some of us watched our devices while others went right to sleep. Before bed, I used one of the two bathrooms for everyone in my sleeper car. According to TGV Ouigo's website, only private sleeper cabins come with a shower. The bed was comfortable in my opinion, and I slept soundly throughout the night despite the occasional bumpiness of the train. An attendant woke me up with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., about 30 minutes before my stop in Barcelona. I got two rolls of bread with butter, jam, and coffee to eat in my bunk. There was no café car or common area on board for passengers, but the food was sufficient for a quick breakfast. When I got off the train in Barcelona, I was refreshed and ready to explore the city.