Train Travel Hack: Why You Should Wear Your Pajamas to the Station

Seasoned travel blogger Elena Liseykina has a simple piece of advice for anyone boarding a Russian passenger train: get dressed at home. In a recent post for her 'Travels with a Camera' blog on Yandex Zen, she argues that the scramble to change in a cramped compartment or a bathroom queue is a trip's first unnecessary stress.

'Trust my experience,' Liseykina writes, 'there is nothing worse than digging for pajamas in your suitcase when the entire carriage is already asleep!' She recommends ditching jeans for comfortable fleece tracksuits or leggings from the outset.

Her practical tips extend beyond wardrobe. She suggests bringing a power strip or a long charging cable, as outlets are often scarce. To prevent items from flying during sudden stops, secure phones, books, and bottles in a horizontal position or stow them. For security, she advises using a bicycle lock to fasten luggage to the bed frame.

Liseykina also highlights the 'sweet spot' for comfort and safety: seats 13 through 28 in the center of the carriage. This area experiences less shaking, is quieter, stays warmer in winter, and is safest during emergency braking. For privacy in open-plan carriages, she recommends specially designed curtains or even a simple bedsheet.

The blogger is known for her frank travel assessments. In a previous post, she labeled several Russian cities, including Sochi, as places she 'would not advise visiting in spring,' calling the Black Sea resort a 'king of May disappointments.'