Art at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna
Vienna is a delightfully graceful and elegant city with some of the most spectacular palaces
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For your trip of a lifetime embark on the classic journey from Paris through the Alps to the renaissance city of Florence.
Your holiday includes:
Your adventure begins at London St. Pancras, where you travel by First Class rail to Paris and before boarding the world-famous Venice Simplon Orient Express, with its distinctive blue and gold carriages.
Your own personal steward is on hand to attend to you throughout your Venice Simplon Orient Express holiday.
Take the time to settle in to your comfortable private compartment, relax and admire the elaborate flourishes and spectacular marquetry of this elegant train, before dressing for dinner.
Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail before making your way to one of the magnificent restaurant cars, where you will be served a delicious four-course dinner, prepared by skilled French chefs.
Following dinner you may wish to enjoy a drink in the bar car, listening to the sound of the baby grand piano.
By now your compartment has been transformed into a cosy bedroom, which you can retire to whenever you are ready.
Breakfast is served in your compartment this morning at a time to suit you; be sure to admire the stunning views of the Swiss Alps as you start the day.
You may wish to continue gazing out at the incredible scenery from your compartment, or perhaps spend the morning chatting to fellow guests over coffee.
Later you enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch served in another of the beautiful restaurant cars. Perhaps visit the on-board boutique to purchase souvenirs, while away the hours in conversation or take it easy in your compartment and admire the superb views of Lake Lucerne and Lake Como.
Afternoon tea is served in your compartment during the journey, then all too soon it is time to disembark as the train arrives at the Unique city of Florence.
On arrival at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station stroll to the charming, highly-rated and family-run Hotel Rapallo (4 star) around 1 kilometre from the station and your hotel for the next three nights.
*Please note other hotels are available if you prefer, according to your preferences and budget.
The Hotel Rapallo is a charming, elegant hotel with all modern comforts in its tastefully furnished rooms.
The hotel is centrally located enabling you to visit all of Florence’s world-renowned attractions.
Immerse yourself in the culture of Italy’s renaissance capital with visits to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio or the celebrated Duomo.
Enjoy the culinary delights of the city or venture further afield to explore the beauty of Tuscany in Siena with its lovely shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and UNESCO world heritage medieval centre. Perhaps journey westwards to Pisa to marvel at the world-famous leaning tower or stunning Lucca, its medieval heart is an ideal size for discovery on foot.
Whether you prefer the more rural appeal of the Chianti district it is good to know that all these attractive options are easily accessible by train.
You could even visit the eternal city of Rome – barely more than an hour and a half away by train.
This morning head to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Here you are re-united with the rest of the world as join the Eurostar Italia service for the First Class rail journey to Milan.
In Milan you change trains and bid farewell to Italy as you connect with the Euro City service for the journey into Switzerland.
You travel through the undulating Swiss countryside to attractive lakeside city of Zurich. It is a short walk (600 yards) to your overnight hotel, the comfortable, welcoming and highly-rated Hotel Glockenhof (4 star).
Here you spend tonight at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior), a charming belle époque hotel ideally located right next to the station.
Take a stroll alongside sparkling Lake Geneva and discover the attractions of Montreux.
After breakfast why not make a whistle-stop tour of Zurich.
Most of the city’s sights lie within the compact area on either side of the River Limmat, between the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and Lake Zurich.
The churches and burgher houses of the Old Town are clustered here, as are the elegant shops along Bahnhofstrasse. The baroque Rathaus (Town Hall), Zurich’s most impressive churches – the Grossmünster, Fraumünster – and the city’s oldest, St Peterskirche (its clock face is the largest in Europe), all lie within a short distance of the River Limmat, near the point where it opens onto the lake.
Then make your way back to Zurich station to board the TGV towards Paris where you board the Eurostar for the comfortable journey in Standard Premier Class from Paris back to London.
Let the train take the strain as you stretch out and savour the light meal and drinks included in your Standard Premier service.
At 186mph the landscape is a blur at times, though memories abide as you return to London St.Pancras International and the final leg of your journey home.
Travel in a private compartment, attended by Cabin Stewards throughout your journey, where you are assured of attentive yet discreet service.
Each compartment has its own original washbasin cabinet with hot and cold water, and at night-time becomes a comfortable bedroom, complete with soft towels and crisp linen.
Your double compartment converts in moments from daytime seating to a comfortable bedroom. A private lounge during the day with a banquette sofa, footstool and small table, it is transformed to night configuration with an upper and lower bed.
A washbasin with hot and cold water is enclosed in a cabinet and towels and toiletries are provided.
You may wish to upgrade your twin/double cabin on board the Venice Simplon Orient Express to a cabin suite.
Formed of two interconnecting double cabins, the cabin suite offers additional comfort and extra space.
By day, guests can stretch out and relax with two lounges, and by night a choice of bed configurations are available depending on your preferences.
The cabin suite is available from an additional £2,350 per person (based on two people travelling together), depending on departure date – please contact us for more details.
Why not make your journey of a lifetime on the world’s most famous train even more special, by travelling in one of just three exclusive Grand Suites?
Each luxurious suite is beautifully appointed with its own individual theme, and comes with its own private bathroom, double bed and spacious living area. Other additional touches are also included.
Grand Suites are available from an additional £4,495 per person (based on two people travelling together), depending on departure date – please contact us for more details.
For information and booking:
Tel: 01347 825292 or email info@planetrail.co.uk
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