It’s a si from us.
There’s no denying that luxury train travel is having a moment. Belmond’s Venice-Simplon-Orient Express has been traversing Europe and Southeast Asia and will be taking on the Italian Riviera this year. But if you miss out on a spot on the exclusive Italian route, you’ll get a second chance next year, when Accor’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express hits the rails.
While the names may be quite similar, Accor’s La Dolce Vita Orient Express is unrelated to Belmond’s Venice-Simplon-Orient Express. Accor’s train offering is an actual relaunch of the 150-year-old rail marque and will travel around Italy, exclusively, across nine seasonal itineraries.
Come 2025, passengers will be able to board the historical carriages from Rome Ostiense station and travel through Venice, Portofino, Montalcino and more. The luxurious experience will begin when you get to the train station where the La Dolce Vita lounge awaits.
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Naturally, the luxury continues once the whistle is blown and your journey begins. On board, there are 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites as well as a restaurant, lounge and bar. Milanese architecture firm, Dimorestudio, has called on the 1960s when it comes to design to revive the joie de vivre of the era.
The deluxe cabins include a private bathroom and when it’s time to hit the hay the staff aboard will transform the sofa into a plush bed. Suites are a little roomier and include a bed, sofa, two armchairs, a table and a private bathroom.
Dining on the Orient Express will be an Italian affair in the dining car. Breakfast will feature Sicilian brioche, regional jams, fresh fruit and regional coffee. Come dinner embroidered white tablecloth tables will be adorned with vintage silverware and Italian dinnerware. Exceptionally fresh dishes including sea urchin coral, truffles and more will be paired with sommelier-selected wines from the Italian regions visited on your trip. Bellissimo!
Tickets go on sale April 24, though they won’t come cheap. A one-night itinerary starts at €3,500 (AUD 5,327) per person in a deluxe cabin, rising to €4,700 (AUD 7,153) per person in a suite.
For more information or to book, visit orient-express.com
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