The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (or as it is usually called, just the Orient Express) is something familiar to many of us through popular culture. We know this train from books, movies and other sources and we generally associate it with both luxury and mystery. It is a train which has a place in the popular imagination, and this is still definitely a luxurious way to travel through Europe.
The idea of luxury train travel has been with us for some time, with George Pullman creating trains with amenities and luxuries for travel in the UK and Georges Nagelmackers in Europe. By the mid 19th century, luxury travel by rail was available for affluent travellers with parlours for lounging and comfortable sleeping accommodation.
The first run of the Orient Express would travel from Paris to Giurgi, in Romania, with stops in Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest. Even at that early date, the train had an impressive reputation for taking Western European travellers to exotic places, and by the turn of the century, the route was extended to Istanbul through the use of the Simplon Tunnel.
The early decades of the 20th Century were good ones for this luxury train; but the beginning of WWII shut down the Orient Express for a time. Following the war, the Orient Express resumed operation but with air travel becoming increasingly common, its days were numbered and the Orient Express made its final Paris to Istanbul run in 1977.
The Orient Express has found new life in recent years. Two of the Orient Express carriages were purchased at auction and 16 million dollars were invested in acquiring and restoring the 35 cars of the train.
It runs today and taking a trip in this historic train is for many one of the most romantic and historic trips that they will ever take. You can enjoy a truly international experience as you take the train to all of the cities that the train once travelled to. While the cities have changed, the loving recreation of the train allows you to step back in time.
You’ll meet your personal steward as you board the train and be taken to your compartment. The meals on board are extraordinary; they are made by some of the finest chefs of France using fresh local ingredients purchased at each stop along the way and you won’t lack for ambiance thanks to the three well-appointed dining cars.
You can choose a single or a double compartment and if you need some extra room, combine two cabins into a single area with a sleeping compartment and a lounge complete with sofa.
Why simply dream about the romantic luxury of the Orient Express when you could be living it and experiencing it yourself?
Jeff Paulett is a partner of Luxury Trains. Visit their site for more information regarding the Venice Simplon Orient Express