When I was fresh out of college, my best friend and I decided to plan a three-week backpacking trip across Western Europe.
Looking at the map, we plotted the major highlights by starting in Edinburgh, where she was finishing a work-study program, then flying to Rome, where we could take advantage of the gift of Eurail passes that would whisk us to Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, and Nice, so that we could visit the Musée Chagall.
As one does when they are 22 and trying very hard to stick to the Frommer’s From $60 a Day budget we allotted ourselves, we made the brilliant decision to take an overnight train from Nice to Paris, saving us a night in a hotel or hostel and a flight.
With visions of Agatha Christie’s Orient Express, complete with fine fabrics and fancy bar cars, we boarded the train, anticipating a similar experience.
Spoiler alert: ’twas not the Orient Express!
Anna and Hilary in Italy, 2000
We were first ushered into a dark compartment that contained four large, already-snoring gentlemen who barked at us when we turned on the light. Panicked, we used our very bad French and a lot of exaggerated arm motions to beg the conductor to find us alternative arrangements.
What luck! We were placed in an empty car with “fresh” blankets and pillows (they were wrapped in plastic, and one of them had hair on it underneath the plastic, but who were we to complain?), where we could finally get some rest. Until…the party girls arrived way‑too‑early AM, literally falling into our compartment, rousing us from our slumber with eruptions of giggles.
Luckily for today’s travelers not on a $60 a day budget, there are many train experiences that provide the luxury we had hoped for, with accessibility to some of the most beautiful places in the world. Like cruise ships, travel by train offers the convenience of only unpacking once while enjoying a variety of stops at premier destinations.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is now owned and operated by Belmond and still hosts an iconic journey from Istanbul to Paris. The five-night itinerary includes three nights on board in their beautifully appointed rooms and two nights at five-star properties in Bucharest and Budapest, where guests can explore with guided tours and specialized activities.
Recently, I’ve seen an increased interest in booking the Rocky Mountaineer, a rail line that operates only during the day and stops at local hotels as it traverses the Canadian Rockies. While the tracks are the same, there are upgraded experiences that include glass cars, fine dining, and more premium accommodations.
If long journeys are not your preference, the Belmond British Pullman combines elegant décor with white-glove service on their daily routes. With a variety of offerings – from Murder Mystery Lunches to day trips to Buckingham, and signature chef dinners – it’s a great way to go back in time, even just for the day.
Sometimes, much like our original strategy, a train ride is the perfect solution to get from Point A to Point B. On a trip to the Alps, I had a lovely time leaving Italy from Tirano and arriving in Switzerland on the Bernina Express. With panoramic mountain views, we passed across glaciers and gorges, all while enjoying our brown-bag lunch of charcuterie and wine.
As you plan your next trip, take out that map and consider hopping on the rails to add some fun and a little adventure to your itinerary.
Just make sure to check out the sleeping assignments first!
Hilary is a local travel advisor and works personally with clients to plan trips around the world. She also plans and leads group trips through her family’s store, Highland Hiker. Learn more at scouttravelco.com and highlandhiker.com.
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