Our very own Guy Saunders was recently asked to discuss all things ‘leadership’ on the latest episode of The Leaders Council podcast. Listen to Guy discuss COVID-19, what kind of leader he is, and how the business is looking forward post coronavirus with climate change playing a big role in customers choosing rail journeys as… Read more »
So you’ve got 48 hours in Venice and want to get as much in as possible? Here’s what we think you need to have on any ‘must see and do’ list for your visit. Venice is the capital of Northern Italy’s Veneto region. Built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the… 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Vienna is a delightfully graceful and elegant city with some of the most spectacular palaces
Nestled on the coast of Northern Ireland is a natural wonder so phenomenal it is
London and Paris two of the most iconic cities in the world, known for their
