Orient Express to return to Italy in 2023 with new luxury trains and a hotel
Dear Readers, Orient Express to return to Italy in 2023
Happy New 2022!
We decided to start the 2022 New Year with some great and interesting news.
ORIENT EXPRESS LA DOLCE VITA
A trip aboard the Orient Express across Europe in the past was the height of luxury travel. Unfortunately, those days are gone with the popularity of high-speed rail and the decreasing fares for air travel. Orient Express to return to Italy in 2023
Here’s some good news for fans of luxury rail travel: The Orient Express will return in 2023.
This new initiative, known as the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, will feature six trains that connect 14 regions, including three international destinations, including Paris, Istanbul, and Split, Croatia. The itinerary even includes a stay at the Orient Express Hotel in Rome, which will be open in 2024, as part of one of the itineraries.
The project resulted from a collaboration between Arsenal S.p.A. and Orient Express, part of the Accor Group.
“We consider it an immense privilege to re-launch the historic Orient Express brand for passionate and discerning travellers,” Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, said in a statement. “These trains offer a new vision of luxury travel that is beyond our imagination.”
The Past
Entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers launched the original Orient Express in 1883. The train initially operated twice-weekly departures from Paris and stopped in Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest before ending in Varna on the Black Sea. Over the Black Sea, a steamer carried travellers to Istanbul.
With the help of notable books and movies, the luxury train also became a cultural icon. For example, Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express got inspired by the Orient Express being stuck in snow for several days near Istanbul in 1929.
Ian Fleming’s novel and movie with the same name from Russia with Love prominently features the Orient Express.
Return with Rejoicing
Trains will travel along around 16000 km of railway lines, of which 7000 are historical and not electrified. According to the route, passengers will see alpine mountains, sandy beaches in southern Italy, and cities like Milan, Florence & Venice.
The train itself may well be the highlight of every trip. Accor Group explains that the concept for the new La Dolce Vita trains pays homage to the “La Dolce Vita” period in Italy during the 1960s.
The trains in the design of Italian architecture and design studio Dimorestudio to “embody the Italian art of living with all its beautiful traditions” in a contemporary style. There will be 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, and one Honor Suite on each train, as well as a restaurant.
In addition to award-winning Italian wines and exclusive haute cuisine, travellers will enjoy five-star service. With the opportunity to “savour the beauty and excellence of ‘Made in Italy’ through award-winning Italian chefs and sommeliers,” the company explains. Travellers will also have the opportunity to relax and enjoy refreshments in the executive lounge before departure.
Dreaming
We found this to be so dreamy and magical. Looking forward to the date when the routes are mapped and announced and tickets will be available for sale. The company expects to start running the Italian courses first before travelling around Europe.
So keep on Dreaming. Italy is very close to Switzerland, and it may be pretty convenient to try such a new and luxurious way to spoil yourself.
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Photo by Matteo Vistocco on Unsplash
