The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 58

the irt society's best-loVed railway journeys®

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
& Belmond British Pullman
Venice-Prague-Paris-London

B

ig news! The world's most
famous - and historic -
luxury train, the Venice
Simplon-Orient-Express
(VSOE), has tiptoed into the 21st
century. The train is now fully
air-conditioned and offers plush
"Grand Suites" with double beds,
private sitting room and tiled,
compact shower, sink and toilet.
If you're a purist, don't swoon.
Cabin windows still open, and
the VSOE retains its 1920s-30s
feel. It's still the world's most
authentic luxury train.
Why take it? When you see it
standing in the station, sparkling in its navy and gold livery
and snowy white roof, it takes
your breath away. "It was just
fabulous," said IRT guests K. &
K. Palmer, of Australia. "The chef
treated us to an extra course of
wonderful foie gras when we
complimented him... Thanks
for one of the best, if not the
best, trips ever." The spirit and
beauty of the train, the high level
of service throughout, and the
five-star level of the food and
wine envelop one in a giddy,
joyful aura. The train accommodates up to 190 passengers;
on special journeys it takes about
100 persons.
Sleeping CarS
A Grand Suite is the way to
go - if you can afford it and if
it's not sold out (there are only
three.). Each is named after
a VSOE destination: "Paris",
"Venice" and "Istanbul." In addition to the toilet, shower, sink,
and double bed, you'll enjoy a
separate living area including a
table, chair and sofa that can fold
out for a child or a small adult.
You'll also enjoy the services of
a private butler, free-flowing
champagne, private transfers and
private dining, if you wish.

Double cabins, meanwhile,
have Pullman-style beds (one
up, one- down) that fold into a
comfortable sofa during the day.
A sink enclosed in a lovely vanity
fits into the corner. All amenities are supplied. Itineraries are
designed to dodge the reality
that there are no showers in the
rest of the train. Do what Agatha
Christie did: Stop at fabulous
hotels along the way.
For couples, we recommend
booking a cabin suite (two
double cabins connected by a
private door to make 72 square
feet). This way, each gets double
the space, plus his/her own lower
bed, window and sink.
Note to singles: Most trips
have no supplement, but the
train has only five solo cabins.
Dining & lounge CarS
There are three gorgeous
dining cars: one with marquetry;
another with Chinese lacquered
walls with brightly colored
animals; and a third with Lalique
crystal insets. The management
of the dining cars is superb. For
starters, a maitre d' visits you
during the day to reserve your
table; seatings are staggered, allowing the staff to properly welcome and serve each diner. The
dining is five-star both in food
quality/variety and service.
The lounge car is decorated
in the Art Nouveau style. Fresh
flowers adorn the tables, and a
pianist entertains in the evening.
It's a perfect place to read Le
Monde by day; enjoy cocktails
before dinner and a nightcap.
Spend time in the bar car,
number 3674. The cocktail and
caviar menu includes delicacies
such as Alverta Royal caviar.
Soak in the beauty. This train
caused two of our guests to burst
into tears. "It was so beautiful."

Steven Abrams

Owen Hardy

58
58 || FOR
Visit our
DATES,
website
PRICES:
for dates,
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
prices, more tours * www.irtsociety.com
* (800) 478-4881
* (800) 478-4881,
* TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
u.s. & canada; (502) 897-1725, elsewhere * tourdesk@irtsociety.com
https://www.irtsociety.com/journey/vsoe-venice-prague-paris-london/
The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018

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