The journey doesn’t have to be a drain on the holiday! With luxury transportation experiences, hopping from place to place can be the highlight.
Going away on holiday and exploring new parts of the world is always a thrill! But many of us have found ourselves standing in an airport, waiting for a flight, wishing for the ability to teleport to our destination. Travelling is often the worst part of going away, but what if you could make it another part of the amazing experience of your holiday? Below we explore some transport options which make the journey just as good as the destination.
Luxury rail travel
Rail travel isn’t all strikes and cancellations! Multi-day rail journeys on sleeper trains allow you to relax and watch the world go by from your own cabin. Perhaps the most famous name in luxury long distance rail travel is the Orient Express.
The Orient Express is a long-distance passenger train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits that operated until 2009. The train travelled the length of Europe, travelling mostly Paris to Istanbul. The service has a reputation for luxury and is high profile enough to have featured in dozens of pieces of media, including Dracula, the James Bond classic From Russia, With Love, and of course, Agatha Christie’s famous Murder on the Orient Express.
Those who want to experience this famous journey themselves are in luck, because as of next year, the routes will be re-opening courtesy of Accor. The service will invite travellers to experience the legendary journey aboard 17 original Orient Express cars dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, adorned with exceptional décor – a set of cars formerly known as the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express, reimagined by architect Maxime d’Angeac.
The suites will allow you to forget you’re even on a train. During the day, the sofa and settee invite you to relax and enjoy the views. When it’s time for “the Great Transformation” (also known as the passage to the “night” room configuration), a 2 x 1.40m bed invites travellers for a night of deep sleep. Discreet and surprisingly comfortable, the bathroom with sliding doors is adorned with marble and the toilets and dressing room complete the beautiful layout.
The Orient Express route famously terminates in Istanbul, a vibrant city full of dazzling sights. Not to be missed is the celebrated Blue Mosque, an easily spotted iconic feature of the city’s skyline, which is worth getting a closer look at. While you’re in the city, don’t forget to freshen up on your haggling skills at the Grand Bazaar, before heading a bit further afield to the ruins of Troy.
Cruises
Cruises are the epitome of a loaded travel experience. With cruise ships containing every amenity most hotels have, and often quite a lot more, you’ll barely even notice you’re on the move.
While it’s true that many cruises start off with a flight to sunnier climes, that doesn’t always have to be the case. Luxury cruises can be connected around the UK.
With a plethora of things to do, cruise ships from large providers such as Royal Caribbean are more like floating cities than vehicles. From skydiving simulators, to dodgems, to the sea’s largest viewing platform, even on days without a stop scheduled, you’ll be far from bored.
Not to mention a huge variety of food and drink, entertainment and casinos available for the evenings. Most cruise ships have a large range of restaurants available, so no need to worry about eating the same thing every day! You might even spot some familiar high street favourites on occasion.
Heading out from Southampton can see you on a nine night getaway to Rome, exploring La Coruna, Málaga, Barcelona, and Marseille along the way, before finally reaching the Eternal City. While you’re there make sure to check out some of the city’s famous sights such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s Basilica, or for a darker look at the city’s history, the Castel Sant’Angelo.