Journalist and author Monisha Rajesh was born in the U.K. to expat Indian parents. Although she spent two years of her childhood living in India, she wanted to return as an adult with a specific goal. “I don’t like flying, and I wanted to see the country from a tourist’s perspective,” Rajesh explains, “And I knew that the railway network went right into the nooks and crannies of the country.” So she spent $540 on a second-class, three-month pass on a trip that birthed her first book, Around India in 80 Trains. Now, seven years later, she’s expanded her rail explorations beyond India, trekking 45,000 miles around the world for her latest book, Around the World in 80 Trains (Bloomsbury Publishing, $18), which hit bookshelves on Tuesday, March 26.
Rajesh averages from 25 to 30 train trips each year, favoring China’s new high-speed trains above all others. “They’re exemplary in everything,” she explains. “Punctuality, cleanliness, service. The huge, business-class seats are like flatbeds.”
First time planning a train trip? Start here.
Seat 61 is a fantastic resource if you’re starting from scratch. The site compares the routes, with everything from pricing data to the different amenities offered on each train. It’s Google for train lovers.
If you’re overnighting on a train, plane, or ship, always pack these two things.
A silk sleeper sheet is a must-have. They pack down to the size of a tennis ball, keep you comfortable in both over- and under-heated compartments, and save you from having to sleep in a musty blanket provided by the railroad. I also have a pair of Adidas slides that fit into the side of my bag. There’s nothing worse than trying to lace up a pair of shoes in the middle of the night, when nature calls.
Her traveling MacGyver is in everyone’s kitchen cabinet.
No matter where I’m going, I always take a stash of Ziploc bags with me. They’re great at separating wet clothing (like a soggy bathing suit) or spill-prone items (like shampoo) from the rest of your belongings. The bags also serve as additional protection for valuables. During my most recent seven-month train trip, I had one dress I wore whenever I was staying at a nice hotel and kept it folded into quarters in a Ziploc bag. I keep all my paperwork, photocopies of visas—everything—in them, too.