Train to Budapest

I went to the Prague train station early because the Eurorail guide said I needed a reservation, and if you want a sleeper cabin you have to pay extra/reserve it anyway. I told the woman I had a Eurorail pass and she said I just needed a reservation. So I bought the sleeper space and walked around Prague for the rest of the day. Went back to the train station around 10 or 11, and got on my train and started a very interesting journey. First of all, like most people in the service industry in Europe, our 'attendant' didn't quite get the concept of service. I don't know what they call it out here, but it seems to me that unless you are at a very high-end place, the idea of service with a smile does not exist. Anyway, our attendant, who did later become more helpful, was basically one of the shadiest looking guys you could possibly imagine. We later dubbed him igor or quasimoto. He literally had chameleon eyes, by that I mean they operated individually from eachother. I got put in three person sleeper cabin with two other Ameicans from around Cincinatti. We all had Eurorail passes, but what the woman didn't tell me, and what Eurorail didn't tell them was that the overnight from Prague to Budapest went through Slovakia, which doesn't accept Eurorail passes. So as we are all trying to just get a straight answer from anyone about what we needed to do to make sure we didn't get kicked off the train in Bratislava at 3am in the rain, with no avail, we were met with answers of, "I don't know" and "moment please." By the time we could finally get some attention the train had already taken off and we were along for the ride regardless. Also, this was made more hectic by my brothers experience of being robbed on the same train route, and the fact that conductors will rip you off. So all we want to do is at least find out how much it was supposed to cost so we didn't get taken. And like I said earlier, if you saw our attendant on the street, you wouldn't let him watch your pet rock even if it was locked up. So we just kinda figured at least we were all in the same boat and worst case scenario we'd all be safe. We met another very forward woman, who apparently was much a more seasoned traveller. She some how managed to get a full cabin with a full bathroom and shower to her self. We had a few beers and she professed her love of removable showerheads and that we might not see her all trib because she had one in her cabin... NIce to meet you too. A bit later, Igor, who now that everyone was boarded and settled became a bit friendlier and helpful. This could also have been due to the fact that we tipped him for the beers though. He came buy and told us that our tickets should cost about 30 euro, and we could buy them at the station in Bratislava even though it would be the middle of the night. One of the guys in my cabin didn't quite get the concept that when people buy an overnight train they are likely trying to sleep with some peace and quiet, but he eventually settled down, and we were all able to doze off for a bit. It wasn't the best sleep ever because I basically woke up every stop wondering if now was the time to get tickets. We finally got to Bratislava and Igor was nice enough to come get us, walk us down to the ticket desk and translate for us. So all in all I could've caught the day train and spent less money for a hostel, but it wasn't the end of the world. What really struck all of us, which goes back to the lack of service, and willingness to help I've encountered in Europe, is the fact that none of the people working on the train had any idea what was going on. Or they just didn't want to tell us. But I mean, come on, are you telling me you've never encounterd this problem before on the train you work on? We just wanted to know, what are options were and whether there was a chance we would be kicked off. None of us had cash, only card, and I had travellers checks. By the way, the rumors are true, only old people use travellers checks, and they are more trouble than they are worth if you are mindful of your belonings.