Take a journey on the luxurious ‘Palace on Wheels’ and revel in the wonder of this magnificent rail holiday. This exquisite train takes you on a unique trip of a lifetime discovering the diverse landscapes and cultures of Rajasthan in India. This exquisite seven-night adventure takes you through the extraordinary countryside of mystical India, visiting… Read more »
Did you know Strasbourg is just over five hours from London – and simply beautiful… Air travel can be an exhausting ordeal at the best of times, and with the security checks, passport control & luggage recovery all making for a veritable medley of queueing, disappointment and delays, we’re all looking for a less stressful,… Read more »
Montreux is a charming town in Switzerland that sits between Lake Geneva with its shimmering blue water and the magnificent snow topped mountains of the Alps. Montreux is a truly special place. Being in the Alps, as you can imagine, there is spectacular scenery to behold (forgive us if we mention the word ‘scenery’ more… Read more »
If you’re looking for a unique blend of adventure, activity and travel with the absolute luxury of first class food, wine and accommodation, then this trip aboard the Royal Scotsman is perfect for you. Departing from Edinburgh Waverley station the Belmond Royal Scotsman begins its Highland journey. Meandering through Stirling, Gleneagles and Perth and onto… Read more »
Our illustrious leader, Guy Saunders is soon to be taking part in the Castle Howard Super Sprint Triathlon on 22nd July 2017 – his first ever! You can sponsor Guy by visiting his sponsorship page, and here’s what Guy has to say about his forthcoming challenge: “I am taking part in the Castle Howard Triathlon… Read more »
Venice… No city in the world can compare to the mystifying beauty of Venice. Situated in Northern Italy this unique, romantic floating city consists of more than one hundred small islands linked by bridges in a shallow lagoon. With beautiful Venetian architecture, a fairy-tale atmosphere and sumptuous helpings of charm to behold, it’s no wonder the… Read more »
Book A Trip On The Orient Express ~ Through Planet Rail (of course…)! So you’re considering booking a trip on the Orient Express? Though it will be on the Venice Simplon Orient Express as the traditional Orient Express is technically retired at the time of writing. There are many vendors out there selling a wide range… Read more »
How much is it to travel on the Orient Express? Orient Express Cost Uncovered. “How much does the Orient Express Cost?” A great question we often get asked is ‘How much is the Orient Express?’ So, how much does the Orient Express cost? Well, again, we should highlight that the “Orient Express” doesn’t technically… Read more »
Where Does The Orient Express Go? One of the most frequently asked questions we get asked is “where does the Orient Express go?” This is a little bit complicated so we had better start at the beginning… The ‘Orient Express’ was a regular scheduled train service which ceased to operate in 2009. The train often… Read more »
October 10, 2014 I had requested some free time this morning. As it was damp again we decided to check out the pool. And what a treat the pool here is. It is dark with mood lighting and gentle music, the floor of the pool is like sand with starfish and shell embedded into it… Read more »
October 9, 2014 When we looked at our grand old hotel on the lake Maggiore front yesterday I said to Mel that I wanted the room on the top floor on the right hand corner. It just looked such a perfect room… so imagine my surprise when we opened the door and it was that… Read more »
October 7 2014 Yesterday was one of my favourite days of this holiday. Feeling better, we went out for a walk before we took the taxi to the station. We went to the nearby church of Santa Maria del Popolo and managed a look round inside before the 8am mass started. It is extremely ornate… Read more »
October 4, 2014 It was quite sad sitting on our little balcony overlooking the Bay of Naples yesterday – our last day in Sorrento. Although the area is so commercialised and busy we both loved the views and especially the Amalfi coast. It’s an absolute must for anyone interested in beautiful sea vistas! Although we… Read more »
October 2 2014 I have heard and read a great deal about the Amalfi coast road but absolutely nothing prepared me for the spectacle that we saw yesterday. We took one of the red hop-on-hop-off buses from Sorrento (so busy we could not get on the first but were given priority slips for the following… Read more »
October 1, 2014 I know that the UK has been getting brilliant weather as well – but it doesn’t seem at all like October. Yesterday we went up for breakfast for the first time and we were staggered at both the array of breakfast food and the amazing views from the room. Up on the… Read more »
September 27, 2014 We arrived in Florence tired but truly excited and trundled through the streets to our hotel. When we got to the square it was in it took a while to locate it as many hotels don’t have big signs. I could almost taste the gin and tonic as we walked in and… Read more »
With Mothering Sunday soon upon us we thought what a great time to have a look at how we can help you celebrate this special day here at Planet Rail. If you would like to spoil your mother with something a little different this Mother’s Day, we have a fantastic fine dining experience on board… Read more »
Venice Simplon Orient Express to Berlin in 2017. Visit Berlin On the Legendary Venice Simplon Orient Express Berlin is a wonderful city that is bursting with cultural delights and rich in history. Soak up the extraordinary atmosphere of this unique city with a luxury London to Berlin trip on board the legendary Venice Simplon Orient… Read more »
Happy New Year and welcome to 2017. We thought we’d start the year with a post to introduce you to some fantastic days out to in the UK that celebrate our iconic railways right here in Blighty. We are lucky to have such fascinating history in this country,… Read more »
A Festive Adventure: Cologne’s Christmas Markets by First Class Rail Hot mulled wine, twinkling fairy lights, bustling stalls and the scent of roasted chestnuts… There’s nothing quite like a Christmas Market. Whether you’re a festive fanatic who starts the Christmas shopping in summer, or a self-proclaimed Scrooge who refuses to acknowledge the ‘C’ word… Read more »
Explore the Netherlands & Belgium by First Class Rail Discover three of Europe’s most iconic cities in a seven day break with Planet Rail, transporting you to Bruges, Amsterdam and Brussels in the comfort of First Class train travel. The journey begins in London, where you board the Eurostar and settle down in Standard Premier… Read more »
We’ve shared some of the most iconic rail journey videos here to give a flavour of some of the adventures we can help you to experience in 2017 Do you want to know what it’s really like to experience and Orient Express Holiday? Perhaps you’re curious to know what the Belmond British Pullman is like inside? Or… Read more »
Italy by rail There’s no place quite like Italy… It is Europe’s hub of art, history and culture. The Land of Love, and our affectionately named ‘Boot’. Discover Italy by Rail Italy by rail – sitting snug in the heart of Southern Europe, nestled beneath France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, its peninsula kicks out… Read more »
Switzerland By Rail September 2016 At Planet Rail, it’s not just our customers who believe we offer an award-winning combination of excellent service and wonderful holidays with carefully chosen itineraries, rail routes and hotels. It’s not just our customers who choose a Planet Rail holiday but our staff do too! When planning her recent holiday,… Read more »
We always ask our travellers to feed back to us on their holidays and love to hear how their trips went. So we’ve taken a few of our most recent pieces of feedback and think you’ll find them interesting – we think they give a really good picture of what one of our favourite and most popular Orient… Read more »
September 26,2014 It’s a nice early start again for the short walk to the station to catch the Bernina Express. It was easily the coldest it has been so far but very sunny and all our worries about the weather in Switzerland have been well and truly quashed. We had read during our research, that… Read more »
India’s Palace on Wheels: As the seventh largest and second most populous country in the world, India is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Occupying 3.2 million square kilometres of Planet Earth’s largest continent, India consists of three major zones – the mesmerizing Himalayas, the lush Indus-Ganga and the ancient Deccan plateau. Its impressive… Read more »
The Trans-Siberian Express: a unique rail travel experience. For more than 100 years the Trans-Siberian Railway has connected west and east Russia, its network branching off into Mongolia, China and North Korea. Construction commenced in the late 1800s, under the supervision of Russian ministers who were personally appointed by Tsar Alexander III. In 1916, the… Read more »
Discover the delights of north Spain aboard the Transcantábrico, one of the world’s finest tourist trains. Climb up the picturesque mountains, wind through the lush valleys and stream past the glorious coastlines of the country’s northern region, punctuating your journey with visits to Spanish gems including Palencia, Bilbao and Gijon. El Transcantábrico Clasico offers a week-long train… Read more »
September 25 2014 I have to say I have been overwhelmingly impressed with people we have met throughout Switzerland. They have all been so efficient and pleasant and how easy they make it for us by speaking English – the knock on effect of this is how guilty it makes me feel for not speaking… Read more »
The Grand Tour of Italy – Discover Italy by Train: An Authentic Italian Experience by First Class Rail There’s something extra special about Italy. Tucked beneath France, Switzerland and Austria, Italy’s infamous boot extends into seas of southern Europe, its Mediterranean coastline extending across an impressive 7,600km. Playing host to some of the most beautiful… Read more »
An African Adventure Aboard the Pride of Africa – Planet Rail Straddling 1.2 million square kilometres across the southernmost tip of Africa, South Africa is the world’s 25th largest country. It is a place of beauty and wealth, where the weather is warm and spirits are warmer. Over the last twelve years SA has undergone… Read more »
Spain by Rail: a mosaic of cultures Perhaps a predictable choice for the British holidaymaker, Spain remains at the top of the chart for sunny getaways, and Spain by rail is fast becoming one of the best ways to explore this vibrant country. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the most visited countries in… Read more »
The Belmond Royal Scotsman is the Caledonian answer to the Orient Express. This luxurious cruise train offers a variety of Highland holidays, ranging between two and seven night tours aboard. Travelling from the capital’s Waverley Station, the Royal Scotsman winds its way north through stunning scenery, passing glens, skirting lochs, and following miles and miles… Read more »
Explore and Indulge in Europe’s Imperial Cities By Train Our Imperial Cities holiday is a unique experience, combining the pleasures and treasures of central Europe with luxury rail travel. This outstanding train journey highlights the Habsburg cities of Prague, Budapest and Vienna – not forgetting the German gems of Berlin and Nuremberg to commence and… Read more »
September 24, 2014 Blue Skies and altitude sickness Yesterday it was blue sky all the way for us as we took the train up Jungfrau. We had reserved our seats for this part of the train holiday – which was a good thing as even though this is off season it was very busy. So… Read more »
September 23, 2014 What a sunrise in Wengen! After only a few hours’ sleep, here I am waiting for sunrise and for the view outside our window to open its delights for me. Already I can see the mist tumbling down the sides of the ravine like an amazing waterfall. It looks as if it… Read more »
September 22, 2014 In search of snow Our train holiday continues and we’ve just sat down on the train from Geneva to Bern – the IR2523 – after an easy transfer from our hotel by tram and a quick cup of coffee at the station. The trams here in Geneva are especially efficient in our… Read more »
September 21 2014 In Geneva’s Parks and Tapas We enjoyed an over-priced lunch in a beautiful setting by the Lake, followed by a walk in the Botanics which were nice but not a patch on those in Edinburgh. We were also surprised to see no sign of a cuckoo clock, but in true Swiss style… Read more »
September 20 2014 Paris We are incredibly excited this morning, waking up and remembering instantly that we’re going to be travelling to Switzerland today – I’ve always wanted to visit the country, so why the heck has it taken me sixty-two years to do it? It is, after all, right on our doorstep. There was… Read more »
September 19, 2014 Edinburgh Waverley Station Having been up all night watching the results of the big vote (The Sottish Referendum on Independence) we arrive at Edinburgh Waverley station tired but relieved and ready to start our much anticipated train holiday. It would have been sad to go away and to think that everything would… Read more »
At Planet Rail we know that a rail holiday taking in the sights and senses of a multitude of cultures and countries is a wonderful thing, and we’re always happy to share as many of our own thoughts and experiences as possible with new travellers. However… …Sometimes, a more personal view is a valuable… Read more »
Train holidays have always had a certain romance about them, and they’re currently enjoying a renaissance in their popularity. With this in mind we thought we’d share our hand-picked top 5 train journeys for 2016 – so if you’re looking for a unique holiday with a loved one this year, and want the luxurious surroundings… Read more »
If you are still thinking about holidays for this year or fancy a luxury short break, why not take advantage of one of our fabulous train holiday special offers? Below are details of a great deal on our tailor-made holiday to Venice on the Legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, as well as some excellent discounts on day… Read more »
We are delighted to let you know that Planet Rail has once again been shortlisted in the British Travel Awards. This year we are proud to have been nominated in a 2nd category, the “Best Holiday Company for Customer Service” The British Travel Awards are the most prestigious of their kind in the travel industry. So we are… Read more »
As the leaves turn brown, the clocks go back and the nights draw in, if you are looking for a Winter escape by rail, we hope that you will find inspiration from our suggestions below.As you know all of our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted to suit your individual requirements, so please feel free… Read more »
Planet Rail is delighted to offer two new winter cruises with AmaWaterways, combining First Class rail travel with some of Europe’s best river cruises. The 7 night wine themed Seine River Cruise to Paris & Normandy on board the 5 star AmaLegro on 20th November 2014 – Prices from £1,799 per person. The 7 night… Read more »
With its pristine serenity there are few more relaxing destinations in Europe than Lake Garda. But there is much more to a tailor made Planet Rail itinerary than the famous lake. The railway journey traverses some of Europe’s finest scenery, winding through two different sections of the Alps and revealing the mountains in all their… Read more »
With its captivating waterways and charming atmosphere, Venice has been attracting visitors for 600 years. Built on a lagoon, Venice remains remarkably unchanged and authentic. For over 150 years visitors have been making the romantic rail journey here, and since 1919 Venice was the end point on the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Rail Line. It seems… Read more »
This autumn, Virgin Trains have launched the UK’s first ever high speed book signings, which will take place on their West Coast route. A whole range of well-known authors have already been confirmed including Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo, British writer Joanna Trollope and comedian turned author Ruby Wax. The dates and specific train routes… Read more »
We are honoured to be shortlisted in the ‘Best Holidays by Train Company’ category in The British Travel Awards, the most prestigious awards in the travel industry. Voting closes on the 30th September so you don’t have long to make your vote count. It is simple and quick to place your vote and we… Read more »
We can’t wait for our next Planet Rail holiday to begin. We have a group departing this Thursday 12th September, to scenic Switzerland via the fantastic Glacier Express! We thought it would be nice to share with you all some of the sights we will be treated to on our train holiday. Our first class… Read more »
At Planet Rail we are proud to add some brand new exciting destinations to our range of luxury rail holidays, to the imperial cities of Prague, Budapest and Vienna in Central Europe. Our Imperial Cities holiday is an eleven night holiday encompassing Prague, Budapest and Vienna with overnight stays in Munich and Nuremberg. Prague with… Read more »
Rail travel emits ten times less CO2 (carbon dioxide) compared to flying to the same destination. Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to global warming, traveling by an alternative form of transport such as by rail is one way in which we can reduce our individual carbon footprint and limit the impact our… Read more »
July marks a special occasion for train lovers, the 3rd of July marked the 75th anniversary of the beloved LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard steam train. A truly outstanding Yorkshire classic, built in Doncaster back in 1938. The Mallard is historically significant because it is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives… Read more »
If you have ever met someone off a train, arrived at a busy station or simply sat and people-watched from a station café, then you would probably agree that rail is the most romantic way to travel. So what more romantic journey could you undertake than a rail holiday to Venice? As soon as you… Read more »
The British Travel Awards are the most prestigious awards in the travel industry, so we are thrilled to be shortlisted in the ‘Best Holidays by Train Company’ category. Voting is simple, easy, and every vote counts. We are urging anyone who may have travelled with us, anytime from 2008 onwards to please vote. If you… Read more »
To celebrate our 5th anniversary we are offering an exclusive free room upgrade to a deluxe lake view twin or double room during our Glacier Express and Scenic Switzerland escorted holiday.The upgrade to a deluxe room is available for 2 or more customers who book this fully-escorted tour departing on the 12th September 2013. The… Read more »
While we have been blessed with some glorious British sunshine over the past few weeks, for many of us our thoughts turn to this year’s summer holiday. If you aren’t a fan of flying or choose not to fly for environmental reasons there are still plenty of holiday options. In this post we will be… Read more »
Book by Friday 24th May for a free cabin upgrade on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. At Planet Rail we are offering you a 5 night and 6 day – trip of a lifetime on the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for just £2,795 per person including a free cabin upgrade. The upgrade alone which is to a cabin suite… Read more »
Rail holidays make for the perfect honeymoon. If you are looking for something a little bit special for your honeymoon, why not consider a honeymoon by train? Here’s our top 5 fabulous rail holidays for a honeymoon with a difference: 1. Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels Eurostar whisks you in first class style from London to… Read more »
There is something about the glamour and history of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that lends itself to the imagination like no other train journey – from James Bond in ‘From Russia With Love’ to Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’, films and novels have attempted to capture the romance and mystery of the world’s most… Read more »
“Enjoy your romantic honeymoon!” are words many of us will have heard, or even shouted as we wave off the newly-weds. But what do we mean by ‘romantic’, what images does this conjure? Is it sun, beaches and palm trees or unique and captivating cities? Is it magical and picturesque scenery, mountain peaks and sparkling… Read more »
Planet Rail is delighted to introduce a new range of Cruise by Rail holidays, combining First Class rail travel with some of Europe’s best river, canal and ocean cruises. Please check our Cruise by Rail section for exciting new cruise itineraries and destinations which will be added in the coming weeks. Read more »
