June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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In the past, travel by rail was as much about the journey as the destination, with dress codes and five-course meals. This type of elegant train travel is making a comeback, allowing you to skip the traffic, avoid the airport, and most importantly, truly enjoy the journey between destinations.
Whether you travel across Europe or the Australian Outback, luxury train travel is not cheap. That’s why travel insurance is always a must. Look for a plan with protection for unexpected trip cancellations and interruptions, medical emergencies, baggage mishaps, and travel delays. Then, you can travel with perfect peace of mind. Get a quote.
Learn more: Why Buy Travel Insurance for Train Journeys?
The Seven Stars is so exclusive, you have to enter a lottery to win a spot on its 10-suite passenger train. Your reward is a leisurely train journey around the island of Kyushu. The train departs Fukuoka’s Hakata Station for one-night and three-night trips a few times each week.
The Seven Stars itself pays homage to local craftsmanship, with intricate kumiko woodwork and handmade ceramics. There’s an on-board tea room, an intimate bar, a salon car and the Blue Moon lounge car with huge windows and live music. Each night, a chef from one of Kyushu’s most renowned restaurants prepares a special meal.
As beautiful as it is, the Seven Stars luxury train’s main appeal is the cultural experiences it provides. Depending on the itinerary, you might visit pristine Wakimoto Beach, where sea turtles nest, or have tea in a historic samurai home in the town of Usuki.1
If you find yourself Down Under, you have the opportunity to experience an unforgettable rail journey in the heart of Australia. The Ghan sets off in Darwin and travels more than 1,800 miles to Adelaide. The four-day, three-night journey offers insight into some of the lesser seen regions of Australia, captivating travelers along the way. Stops include the Nitmiluk Gorge, an off-train excursion into Alice Springs, and an underground tour of the opal mining capital of the world, Coober Pedy.
For those seeking a more affordable luxury train experience, the Gold level includes compact sleeping cabins for one or two passengers and all-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant. On the other end of the spectrum are the ultra-luxury Australis and Aurora Suites with a curated private bar, a full bedroom, private in-suite dining, and dedicated butler service.
The Orient Express became a household name when author Agatha Christie published her signature whodunit, “Murder on the Orient Express.” (It’s since been made into a few different movies.) Today, it’s the world’s best-known luxury train, synonymous with the Golden Age of travel.
The beautifully refurbished sleeping cars date to the 1920s, and each one has a story. Sleeping Car 3309 was marooned in a snowdrift for 10 days in 1929, inspiring the events in Christie’s novel. King Carol II escaped Romania with his mistress aboard Sleeping Car 3425 in 1940. You can also book L’Observatoire Suite, a full-carriage suite designed by acclaimed artist JR to utterly delight its occupants. Inside you’ll find a free-standing tub, a miniature model of the train, and an oculus window that opens to reveal the sky.
The train also features three magnificent dining cars, and a bar car complete with a grand piano. And don’t forget the red-carpet access to some of Europe’s most loved cities including London, Paris, Venice, Berlin, Prague, and Budapest.
This glamorous 12-carriage train takes guests from Rome to various destinations in Italy, as well as special routes to and around Sicily. The trips aren’t long—just one or two nights—but every minute aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express feels special. Every car boasts exquisite fixtures inspired by ’60s and ’70s Italian design. Passengers enjoy spacious sleeping cabins, regional cuisine, live music and drinks in the lounge car, and lavish breakfasts.
Read more in La Dolce Vita Orient Express Train: Your Questions Answered
The Blue Train has been making the 900-mile journey from Cape Town to Pretoria since 1946.2 Passengers can watch vineyards, fields, and mountains roll by from an observation car, sample the extensive South African wine list, and dine on fine china while listening to musicians play live jazz or classical music.
For some, the Blue Train is one of those bucket-list trips. For others, it’s not quite the luxury train journey they expect. South Africa’s unreliable rail infrastructure, as well as incidents of vandalism, frequently cause delays. Economically, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world, according to the World Bank. “And few things scream excess more than a train with hot showers, air conditioning and an open bar crawling past settlements where many people live in shacks without running water or electricity,” wrote The New York Times bureau chief after a ride on the Blue Train.2 It’s an eye-opening experience in more ways than one.
The Gold Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer is one of the few opportunities to experience luxury train travel in North America.The carriage is enclosed by a glass dome, providing a show-stopping view. Step onto an outdoor viewing platform and breathe the fresh mountain air. On-board hosts serve drinks and narrate the journey.
Unlike other luxury trains, the Rocky Mountaineer is not a sleeper car. Instead, you spend each night in a hotel. There’s a wide variety of itineraries, each promising spectacular scenery. Take a two-day journey from Vancouver B.C. to Banff or Lake Louise that carries you through mountain passes and dramatic canyons. Or, take a longer round-trip that adds Jasper and Whistler, with plenty of time to explore.
In the world of luxury train travel, the Andean Explorer stands out. This Peruvian sleeper train doesn’t have the classic, 1920s-style look you see elsewhere. Instead, its carriages embrace modern design and Peruvian elements, such as textured leather, carved stone, hand-woven fabrics, and alpaca wool.
The one- or two-night trip on the Andean Explorer is one of the world’s highest rail journeys. It travels through the Andean grasslands between the ancient Incan capital of Cusco and the “White City” of Arequipa. One itinerary takes you to see an archaeological site called Raqch’I, the famed floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Collata Beach, and the Sumbay caves, where you can see ancient paintings. The journey ends at Arequipa, called the White City for its many buildings constructed of pale volcanic stone.
Altitude sickness is a risk, so the train offers in-cabin oxygen tanks and masks on request. There’s an on-board piano bar, another bar car with an open deck, and a spa car where you can enjoy a massage, pressure therapy, or a facial.
Here’s a general rule of thumb for travel: The more expensive the trip, the less likely it is that you’ll get a refund if you have to cancel. That’s why your travel insurance plan needs to include trip cancellation benefits, so you can be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you have to cancel your train trip for a covered reason.
It’s essential to have emergency medical and dental benefits if you’re going overseas, as well as travel delay, baggage protection, and 24-hour assistance.
For luxury train travel insurance, we recommend OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier. Both plans include all the benefits listed above, with generous maximum limits. They also include SmartBenefits® , which can give you a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered travel delay or baggage delay (up to the maximum no-receipts limit). No receipts are required — just proof of a covered delay.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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