I haven't done a fast five for a bit. I've been doing a lot of traveling and had a lot to say, but I was getting behind and had a lot of notes, so I thought I'd throw a fast five out there for some ideas. This week, it's all about the trains!
I've rather randomly picked out five truly famous luxury trains and their itineraries to discuss.
1. The Belmond Royal Scotsman. These trains are in no particular order and they are not all the same. The Royal Scotsman is a luxury train with several journeys you can book to get a look at the rugged and beautiful country of Scotland without giving up comfort to do it.
Sometimes, it's not that easy to figure out an itinerary on your own, and that can be particularly tough if you only have that one chance to see the best of an entire country. Train travel is one of my favorite ways to get around and I've taken a lot of trains. I've never taken a luxury train, but honestly hope to one day.
The Belmond Royal Scotsman has several different choices from tours that revolve around gourmet food to wilderness journeys and even journeys that focus on castles or historic cities. It's an amazing way to get a look at a country like Scotland. The train is historic and has you living in the lap of luxury. The comfort is highly regarded, the views are fantastic according to the guests and the locations the tours visit are carefully chosen by experts on what to and not to see in Scotland. You'll enjoy the country, not have to pack and unpack along the way and live in the lap of luxury while you travel.
2. Known as one of the most luxurious train excursions in the world, the Maharaja's Express is the premiere way to experience India. Have you always wanted to see the Taj Mahal? Rajasthan? Jaipur? It's all part of the journey on this train.
This train hails back to the British Pullman days and you'll feel like you've stepped back in time and are traveling with the royal family. Every detail is made perfect for the passengers. The staff do everything they can to give you an entertaining experience while you glide through India and experience the history of one of the more amazing places in the world.
India is a crowded country, and it's difficult to just find your way around. This is one of those times where taking a tour can really pay off.
3. The Canadian. This is a once in a lifetime journey. This trip takes you all the way across one of the biggest countries in the world. Canada! There will be multiple stops along this approximately week long journey. The best part is that you'll be living in luxury while the engineers and staff take care of everything.
Not only will you have your own cabin, dining facilities, lounges and so forth, but the Canadian Railway has some of the best observation cars in the world. The view is amazing, because it's Canada, and you'll have the perfect seats to watch it from.
4. The Ghan. Have you ever thought about seeing Australia by train? Well, they have a number of luxury excursions, but the Ghan goes right through the heart of the country. Being in the outback can sound dangerous and scary, but on the Ghan, you'll be riding in the lap of luxury the whole way and the staff can worry about the details.
There are several different lengths of excursions for this train alone, so you can choose how much of the country you visit and how long your journey is. As with most luxury trains, the train cars are antique and there are various options for accommodations. The Ghan has everything from dining to observation, lounge and even the occasional art exhibit on board.
5. The Al-Andalus. No one does it quite like the Europeans and no one does anything quite like Spain. This train has excursions that are both by bus during some days and by train the rest of the trip. You will get to see some of Southern Spain that isn't easy to see. I tried it once and the whole thing fell through. I probably should have taken the train.
You'll meet up in Seville, go to Grenada, Ronda and so much more. You'll see some of the most amazing scenery and history in the world. Spain has been inhabited by so many different peoples from Moors, to Romans, to the current group of Spaniards. Each and every history is represented and this trip will show you some amazing things without all the hassle of trying to plan a trip through southern Spain.
So, if you don't mind spending the money, because there's not a trip here that books for less than $6,000; it's something to keep in mind. Most of the trips have excursions included, meals included, lodging included and so much more. The Al-Andalus has both train and bus excursions as part of their core tours. The Belmond Royal Scotsman has a spa on board. They each have their specialty. They each show you a portion of the countries where they operate that you can't really see any other way. I mean, would you really just rent a car and drive through the outback of Australia?
I don't spend a lot of money on travel most of the time, but remember, travel is also about the experience. Train travel whether it's Metro North or the Maharaja's Express is almost entirely about the experience. And face it, seeing the royal provinces of India is way better than seeing Greens Farms along Metro North. It's all about the experience and with a train, you get a historic experience, great food, comfortable accommodations and tour guides. It's something that you probably won't do more than once, but that one time could be great. So, consider what you get for the price you pay, think about the hassle and worry you won't have, book a great trip and enjoy!
https://eltrenalandalus.com/en/
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/scotland/belmond-royal-scotsman/
https://www.maharajaexpress.co.uk/?https%3A%2F%2Fwww_maharajaexpress_co_uk%2F&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjww5u2BhDeARIsALBuLnOLElbBB6NiUwMZsRI-vu1myikHglO6pV67TcNHPbKPXKKbg2y2eIgaAnpTEALw_wcB
https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/the-ghan/
https://canadiantrainvacations.com/trips/cross-country-train-trip
https://www.irtsociety.com/trains/
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/bus-train/worlds-most-luxurious-trains
https://www.railbookers.com/blog/a-guide-to-7-of-the-worlds-best-luxury-train-rides
https://theluxurytraintravelcompany.com/worlds-most-luxurious-trains/
