Planning a luxury getaway for 2021? If you’re looking forward to enjoying five-star travel to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations once again, then you might perhaps be looking forward to planning your next trip. But despite the imminent lifting of travel restrictions here in the UK, elsewhere, the idea of flying might perhaps feel a little less attractive than it once did, leaving you in something of a quandary about how best to travel this year.
The good news is, you no longer have to travel by air to reach those top-of-your-list locations, with an exciting line-up of new luxury train journeys now taking you just about anywhere you want to go. Not only that, but they’ll pamper you to within an inch of your life every step of the way, spoiling you with champagne, lavish dinners and impeccable service from the moment you board until you disembark at your final destination.
A great alternative to a cruise, weekend away or even just a memorable day trip for a special occasion, luxury train journeys are becoming increasingly popular, having first been made popular by the famous Orient Express back in 1919. Although it hasn’t itself been in service since 1977, it has inspired in its wake a whole new era of high-end over-land travel by train, with five-star services such as Belmond and Northern Bell offering up all manner of lavish getaways – whether for a week, or just a day.
The possibilities these days, it seems, are endless – and leading top-end train travel provider LuxuryTrainTickets has reported a surge in searches for trips to all corners of Europe in recent years, and beyond. As an authorised ticketing agent for Belmond, Northern Belle and other luxury providers, the company is partnered with many of the largest and most luxurious train operators in the world, allowing visitors to its site to browse all available journeys at once, in one convenient place. And with an endless list of destinations to choose from, your lavish adventure could take you just about anywhere of your choosing – from the South of France to South East Asia.
Beyond borders
From UK day trips to lengthier global jaunts, as the world opens up again later this year it’s the perfect opportunity to try out this alternative way to travel. And if you’re worried about where you’ll get your eight hours of rest each night, then don’t be – because luxury sleeper trains have got all bases covered, offering up the atmosphere and service you’d expect from a five-star hotel, all whilst on the move.
LuxuryTrainTickets has recently added a whole host of new journeys to its site for 2021, with some particularly exciting and sophisticated tours of Europe set to star in this year’s lineup. As part of the 2021 European Grand Tour, the iconic Venice Simplon Orient Express has added new boarding points to its schedule to make it more accessible, with new journeys set to kick off from the summer. Now set to take in the likes of Rome – the Eternal City, as well as Florence, Geneva, Brussels and Amsterdam, passengers will enjoy travel within some of the most spectacular 1920s carriages, with their every desire gladly met by staff along the way. Bookings come complete with a champagne welcome reception, 24-hour steward service and all meals – all of which are of course prepared by experienced on board chefs, and to the very highest of standards.
The new routes mark the beginning of an exciting new era for luxury train travel, with more and more of the affluent opting to hop on board in place of their usual jet-setting trips in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint and make the most of the numerous destinations and breathtaking views they’ll see along the way.
Global luxury
Of course, if you’re eager to go a little further afield than the continent, then with LuxuryTrainTrickets, the world is truly your oyster, so there’s no need to limit yourself whatsoever. In fact, some of the most thrilling journeys will even take you as far as South East Asia, with an impressive range of different routes and schedules to choose from.
The Eastern and Oriental Express will take you from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok in style, offering up an exploration of the exotic East on board one of the most modern trains of the bunch. Guests are treated to two nights of luxury as they meander along the River Kwai, pausing for a visit to the War Museum and a local Malaysian village along the way. With a choice of excursions, it’s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the region’s culture while you travel – something you certainly couldn’t do part way through a flight.
Of course, if you’d rather put off travelling quite so far afield until next year, then there are also a plethora of options to choose from right here on home soil – from a leisurely jaunt to Edinburgh on board the Northern Bell, which departs on various dates from northern UK stations and will take you on a memorable day trip to the Scottish capital, to a short, sweet and classic murder mystery lunch, departing from London Victoria on board the British Pullman, which will allow you to step into a fleeting yet fun role as a character from an Agatha Christie novel, luxury guaranteed.
Five-star freedom
If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy your luxury getaway in 2021, then opting for an opulent journey across the UK, Europe or beyond might just change the way you plan your sight-seeing trips forever. Here at LLM, we’re excited to see where the next train will take us. All aboard!
All imagery used in this article credit: Belmond
