A hallmark of luxury travel in the roaring 1920s, the Orient Express was a muse for writers and the place to be seen for Europe’s grandest aristocrats.
Carving its own niche in history, it was aboard the Orient Express that First World War armistice papers and France’s surrender to Nazi Germany, in the Second World War, were both signed.
Popularity waned during the austerity of the post-war years, although a pared-down service operated until 1977.
Then came a fresh approach: using classically-restored original carriages, the reimagined Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) launched in the 1980s, deliberately designed to transport passengers back to the golden age of train travel.
Kenneth Branagh’s recent film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express can only have helped to thrust this cinematic mode of traversing Europe back into the limelight.
The cabins
Choose from single or double cabins, or a cabin suite. The sumptuous spaces are relatively small, compared to a similarly priced hotel bedroom, but perfectly formed.
Plush seating, available during daylight hours, converts into beds come the night. Each cabin has its own washbasin, but those looking for extra privacy should opt for one of the Grand Suites, which include new ensuite bathrooms.
Food and drink
Feasting in the train’s historic dining cars – Côte D’Azur, Etoile du Nord and L’Oriental – is a highlight. Features include intricate marquetry, Art Deco iconography and gorgeous René Lalique glass panels.
The food, crafted by executive chef Christian Bodiguel, is inspired by the route and is served with expertly paired wines. Seasonal ingredients are of paramount importance and might include tender, marinated lamb or broiled lobster.
When to make sure you're looking out of the window instead of reading a book
The Alpine stretch of the Venice to London route boasts breathtaking scenery as the train snakes through the delightful Dolomites and into Austria.
Continuing west, take in the elevated Arlberg Pass, studded with tall pines and chaletstyle homes, and the snowcapped peaks of Liechtenstein.
Elegant Resorts offers one night in the Belmond Hotel Cipriani, including breakfast, and one night aboard the VSOE, on a full-board basis, from £2,740 per person, based on two people sharing. Includes one-way economy flight to Venice, transfers and UK airport lounge passes. www.elegantresorts.co.uk
Credit: Alamy
Six audiobooks for Christmas, from Dickens to the latest Booker Prize winner
For book lovers who never get the time to read, audiobooks can make a great present. We've picked out five
The enduring appeal of Agatha Christie
It’s a year of anniversaries for fans of Agatha Christie but what’s behind her enduring appeal?
A gorgeous country house for sale with a Cluedo-style secret door
This beautiful place in Northamptonshire has some wonderfully exotic features – most notably behind an initially ordinary-looking bookcase in the
-
Belmont House: The 'jewel in Kent’s celebrated crown', created by a decorated soldier who was sent to prison and premature death by false accusationsBelmont House in Kent is a Georgian creation rich in military associations, now run by a trust. Steven Brindle looks at its history and the remarkable architect responsible for its design; photographs by Will Pryce for Country Life.
-
Splendid isolation overlooking one of Britain's tiniest towns, with a Thomas the Tank Engine-style railwayIn the hills away to the east of Welshpool you'll find Mount House, on the outskirts of the town of Llanfair Caereinion. Penny Churchill investigates.
-
The new rat-pack: the Gen-Z team saving shearwaters and killing invasive species on a remote island in the Irish seaMeet the twenty-somethings trading clubbing and pub quizzes for bird ringing and hard graft on the Calf of Man.
-
Western Europe's oldest capital wears its ancient history and rich heritage lightly: The Country Life guide to Lisbon, PortugalLong-time Lisbon resident Mary Lussiana reveals where to stay, what to eat and what to do in the Portuguese capital.
-
Behind-the-scenes at the French film festival you’ve likely never heard ofThe annual Deauville American Film Festival is a French-American institution.
-
Flying helicopters, rampaging elephants and painting Ronnie Wood: Hannah Shergold on the Country Life PodcastThe artist — and former Army helicopter pilot — Hannah Shergold joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast.
-
Can you keep a Secret? This new resort in a remote part of the Maldives boasts the big marine five and the world’s first moving villaRobinson Crusoe-style over-water villas? Check. Slides that spiral down from rooftop stargazing decks to the reef below? Check. Country Life's travel editor checks into Soneva Secret.
-
Books: In the Footsteps of the Great Artists and the Life and Work of Sir Lawrence WeaverMichael Prodger looks at Nick Trend's art-themed Italian travelogue, while John Goodall enjoys the biography of one of his predecessors in the role of architectural editor for Country Life.
-
The Gallivant review: The Camber Sands retreat with show-stopping seafood and a penchant for happinessThe coastal hotel in Rye, East Sussex, is utterly unique and almost faultless, but is seamlessly eclipsed by the real showstopper, its Anglo-French restaurant, Harry’s.
-
Five years, 10,400 miles and a boatload of stories: Mark Ashley-Miller on the Country Life PodcastMark Ashley-Miller, the man who sailed to every harbour in Britain and Ireland, joins the Country Life Podcast.
