win a trip on the orient express 2022

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Win the Train Ride of a Lifetime on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

June 16, 2022 eric gamble.

Oscar Wilde once said, “If art is to have a special train, the critic must keep some seats reserved on it.”

And you might wonder what constitutes a special train? Is it a jolly joyride from one city over to the next? Or would you much rather think a special train takes you more along the lines of a magical journey through Scotland ?

I would choose the latter because if I’m going on a train ride, I would want it to be an incredible experience!

But those incredible experiences and magical journeys add up, don’t they? Not everyone can afford luxurious ‘special’ train rides presently, especially with how gas prices are shooting up and the costs of goods for simple household staples.

So, what do you do if it is on your bucket list to ride on your own special train to go on your magical journey? Well, for one lucky person, getting that train ride of a lifetime could be as easy as winning one!

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Win the Trip of a Lifetime on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

If you could travel by air, road, or track, which would you pick? I would pick by track as well because it’s not every day you see the countryside from a train’s perspective. It’s much different from a highway laid out before you or fluffy clouds around what you can see from a 1×1 window. A train ride itself is an experience everyone should do at least once in their life.

And this is exactly why the latest giveaway from Omaze is truly incredible. When you enter the Win the Trip of a Lifetime on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express contest , you’ll t ravel on the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train from Paris to Venice and back, while enjoying those majestic views including the Italian Dolomites! You may even be able to pop into a Paris Speakeasy while you’re there!

On top of that, you’ll be pampered by your own personal butler, the sounds of your resident pianist and the culinary indulgence of world-class cuisine! Now it really doesn’t get much better than that…or does it?

Yes! Yes, it does! Because not only do you get your special train ride of a lifetime and personal butlers with classy music and flavorful dishes, but you’ll also be spending two nights on the VSOE and six nights at 5-star hotels in Paris and Venice, with time to still explore the culture and the world-class charm surrounding it, like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and pasting your eyes on the gorgeous architecture surrounding the City of Water.

The flights and 5-star hotels are included in your trip too!

Calling all fans of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie! Here’s your perfect bucket list dream contest!

What if you already went on your magical train ride of a lifetime?

Even though Omaze covers the entire itinerary of the VSOE, you may have already gone on a train ride that was equally glorious as this one. Or perhaps you have an aversion to an entire city of water. Maybe you can’t swim?

That’s ok! Because Omaze has a backup plan for you. Omaze offers you the option to choose a cash prize instead of $30,000! You’ll be able to go on any magical train ride with this cash prize money!

Who does this help?

You got me. You must know me too well at this point. This contest is special because it helps the International Medical Corps with services and support to care for the dozens of countries dealing with strife, disease, and conflict.

One of the areas that will be benefiting will be Ukraine since they’ve become a desperate humanitarian crisis. Ukraine’s current situation is one of turmoil and conflict. Many people in these broken communities are in desperate need of medical and mental health assistance, and there are teams of people working to help them. This contest helps to support those teams by providing funding for medical and mental health services.

It also helps to raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine and the needs of those who are living in affect ed communities. By entering this contest, you are directly helping to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you for your support!

Where do I enter to WIN?

Are you ready to enter to win the train ride of a lifetime and lap up the luxury of quintessential France? Let’s do it! All you have to do is Click Here to Enter to Win ! That’s it – simple as can be. But this contest is timely so make sure you enter before July 9, which is when this contest will close. The winner will be announced around July 27, 2022.

Just simply click the button below and go from there! By the way, here’s an extra perk for you – make sure you also enter Promo code: AFF50 for 50 extra entries into this contest !

Need my address?

So, is it on your bucket list to win this trip of a lifetime on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express ? Or will you take the $30,000 cash payout to chase other items on your bucket list? Either way, what a wonderful way to support the medical support of those helping struggling countries dealing with disaster and conflict. If you do win, be sure you send us a postcard from the City of Water!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Favorite Bucket List Board!

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The The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: 13 Things You Need to Know Before Riding this European Train

You’ve seen it in films and read about it in fiction and non-fiction books. It is a larger than life concept that is a mystery to most that haven’t quite had the means over the last 100 years to take a trip within this curious vessel. Yet, the Orient Express conjures images of Hollywood starlets and covert spies as they travel for pleasure and to get to their next mission or film set.

Today, the vintage concepts have been reinvented with careful attention from designers and craftsmen to keep the originality from the Orient express of the 1920’s and 30’s. This endeavor is literally woven into the fabric of this iconic train. You can take a short trip on this train to realize the essence of what it is all about or you can schedule a grand affair and spend tens of thousands on the trip of a lifetime. Whatever itinerary you book, on thing is certain. You will never take another trip quite like it.

• 1 Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still running?
• 2 Where does the Venice Simplon Orient-Express leave from and go?
• 3 How long does the Orient-Express take?
• 4 Does the Orient-Express go through the tunnel?
• 5 Do you get your own bathroom on the Orient-Express?
• 6 Are the drinks free on the Orient Express?
• 7 How do you shower on the Orient Express?
• 8 What are the amenities offered on the Orient Express?
• 9 Can you have dinner on the Orient Express?
• 10 What do you wear on the Orient Express?
• 11.0.1 Twin Room
• 11.0.2 Grand Suite
• 12 How much does the Orient Express cost?
• 13 Is the Orient Express worth it?

Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still running?

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is still running and has been since its inception in 1929. Routes and carriages have changed over the years to reflect passenger’s changing needs in comfort. However, the classic 1920’s and 30’s feel and decor has been preserved and restored and lovingly cared for by craftsmen at the top of their field. This gives the traveler a trip that will feel very much as it did during The Golden Age of Travel.

Luxurious amenities were popular with wealthy tourists, dignitaries ad even spies from its inception. Today, anyone that has the means can enjoy a ride on the Orient Express and experience the grandeur of this work of art upon the rails.

Where does the Venice Simplon Orient-Express leave from and go?

The Orient Express can start in London, where you will leave from Victoria Station. From here, you will stop in Paris where you can disembark or continue on to Verona or Venice. However, you can also start your trip in Venice and travel to Prague, Vienna and Budapest and back to Paris or London. There are many itineraries in which to choose when traveling on the Orient Express.

Occasionally there are even routes that run from Krakow, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Stockholm and sometimes even Istanbul. These are only scheduled a few times a year, so make sure you do your homework and book the right trip.

How long does the Orient-Express take?

This all depends on your route. The most popular route, however, is the route from London to Venice. This route will take two days, with one night spent on board the train. You can also take a return trip that can give you four days on board.

Does the Orient-Express go through the tunnel?

The Orient Express’s itineraries take you across the English Channel in order to continue its journey in Europe. However, the train itself does not cross into the tunnel. The train carriages are right at 100 years old, therefore the train can not cross the English Channel by tunnel. Travelers will take a coach and onto a shuttle. When passengers have completed the tunnel, they will then load onto the Orient Express once more.

Do you get your own bathroom on the Orient-Express?

Each cabin has a vanity compete with sink and mirror. However, unless you book a grand suite, you will need to use a shared bathroom located at the end of each carriage. To preserve the historical feel of the cabins a toilet and shower could not be included in Twin and Cabin Suites.

Are the drinks free on the Orient Express?

Drinks are free on the Orient Express. In fact, wine parings have recently been introduced with lunch and diner service while on board. Complimentary tea, coffee, sodas and water are also included with your service. There is a bar car ‘3674’ that also has anything you may desire outside of what is offered with your package.

How do you shower on the Orient Express?

Unfortunately, there are no showers for the Twin and Cabin Suites on board the Orient Express. However, if you book a Grand Suite you will enjoy your own en suite amenities including a toilet, shower and vanity.

What are the amenities offered on the Orient Express?

Amenities abound on the Orient Express. Porters and attendants are there for your every whim. Lavish chef inspired dinners, lunches and even mid-night brunches are served between times in your decadent room designed with period art deco decor. Visits to the Bar Car ‘3674’ will give you time to converse with other passengers as you sip on your favorite cocktail and request a number from the pianist.

Can you have dinner on the Orient Express?

Not only is dinner served on the Orient Express, but a host of lunches, teas and champagne brunches and receptions. You will receive the best five star service and cuisine on the Orient Express. The chefs aboard the Orient Express ensure that only the finest regional, seasonal ingredients are used from the areas in which you will be exploring. A sample menu might include: Pumpkin soup, Filet of beef with boletus and wine reduction sauce, Lobster vol-au-vent with white pudding and spinach, a selection of fine cheeses and Pear Belle-Helene for dessert.

What do you wear on the Orient Express?

Overdressing is not a concern when you are a passenger on the Orient Express. In fact, you could wear a tux or a jeweled evening dress and you would be in good company at dinner. During the day smart attire will do. No jeans, t-shirts or flip-flops. Have fun with your clothing and even consider donning clothing form the era of The Golden Age or Travel as if you are in character.

What are the rooms like on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express?

There are three classes of rooms on board the train. Each is luxurious and befitting to adorn the name of the Orient Express.

By day this elegant room with all you need is a quiet respite from visiting with other travelers and eating with friends. The opulent varnished woodwork of the era welcomes you to rest and relax. By night the comfortable seating converts to a bed complete with fresh linens.

Double Cabin

Have your choice of a double bed or two twin beds, a private en suite marble vanity room complete with complimentary kimono and slippers.

Grand Suite

The Grand Suite includes a decadent living quarter, bedroom area and en suite marble bathroom complete with shower and toilet. You will also enjoy 24-hour butler service, free-flowing champagne and private in-room dining.

How much does the Orient Express cost?

There are so many various itineraries in which to choose on the Orient Express. Choose one that match your desires and budget. Journeys start at $5,600 per person for a twin cabin and can reach as high as $14,400 per person if you book the Grand Suite. The most expensive booking is the Paris to Vienna Return with the Grand Suite. This trip will cost $30,800 per person and will take four days of luxurious travel in a round trip itinerary.

There are certainly other cheaper trains in Europe like the Caledonian Sleeper train , but this train is considered top of the line.

Is the Orient Express worth it?

If you are looking to go on a grand trip that will be the highlight of all trips ever taken, the Venice Simplon Orient-Express is the one to go on. You can backpack across Europe, drive the landscape or fly from one destination to another. Yet, the most unique and unforgettable experience will always be on a train. Taking the Orient Express will most definitely be worth every effort you have taken for this trip of a lifetime.

Wendy Edwards

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11 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Going on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Tips on how to pack, when to eat, and what else to expect on the european rail trip of a lifetime..

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The remodeled carriages on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express were all built in the early 20th century.

Courtesy of Belmond

For a lot of people, a journey on an antique luxury train such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is a dream come true, even if they’ve never read or seen Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express . The ride is an opportunity to return to the golden age of train travel, when passengers handed off their steamer trunks to white-gloved stewards and dined on porcelain plates.

Each itinerary has its own rewards, and indeed, every night is different depending on where you’re going and who you’re with. Here’s what I learned during my own train journey from Venice through Vienna to London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with Belmond.

There are several routes—research the itinerary that’s right for you

The original Orient Express ran between Paris and Istanbul, with stops in Hungary and Romania, but on Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there are nearly two dozen journeys you can take. A five-night itinerary from Paris to Istanbul is offered only a few times in the spring and summer and includes three nights on the train. The 2024 dates are May 31 to June 5 (Paris to Istanbul), June 7 to June 12 (Istanbul to Paris), August 23 to August 30 (Paris to Istanbul), and August 30 to September 4 (Istanbul to Paris).

At other times, trips include stops in such cities as Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Verona, Amsterdam, Florence, Rome, Brussels, and Innsbruck.

Left: Gardens at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani; Right: Laundry hangs above a street in Venice.

Photos by Sara Button

Note that if your itinerary includes London (which many do), you’ll actually take a bus through the Chunnel before picking up a train on the other side. Passengers ride another Belmond train, the British Pullman, in England and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe.

Knowing what I know now from riding from Venice to London with the Chunnel interruption at the end of the trip, I would do my itinerary in reverse to experience more of a crescendo: Start in London with a stay at Belmond’s stylish Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea, ride on the Pullman, then take the more luxurious VSOE to Venice. To top it all off? A night at the dreamy Belmond Hotel Cipriani on the Venetian island of Giudecca.

As you book, think about how much time you want to spend on the train and how the journey itself will unfold. If you board in the afternoon and get off again early the next morning, you’ll miss more of the scenery via train and may not get to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch—but you’ll have more time in your final destination.

If you board in the morning and arrive at your destination late the next night, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the VSOE, but be prepared for a lot of sitting around. My favorite leg of the trip was when I had about 24 hours riding rather than rushing to disembark on time.

Staff of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express lines up to greet guests as they board the train.

Photo by Sara Button

There’s no such thing as too dressy . . .

Guests are informed of the dress code in advance of the trip. Jeans and tennis shoes are not acceptable daywear, and formal attire is requested for dinner. It’s no joke. I saw folks dressed in tuxedos and floor-length ballgowns and wearing antique jewelry. My advice? Embrace it. I was a bit intimidated by the idea of dressing up. But it turned out to be fun, almost like putting on a costume.

. . . but don’t panic if you’re not a fashionista

During the day, I wore a couple of simple linen dresses; for dinners, I brought two cocktail dresses. The train is a great opportunity to recycle wedding party attire you thought you’d never wear again or to check out the vintage section of a thrift shop. Services like Rent the Runway let you wear fancy clothes without having to buy them.

All that being said, try to fit everything in an overnight bag and a carry-on suitcase . The train compartments are authentically small, with only narrow overhead luggage racks and a couple of hangers for long garments. Large suitcases will be put into the train’s storage, and you won’t have access to them during the ride. I was fine fitting my beloved Osprey Meridian carry-on (sans day pack) and a Steve Madden weekender bag in my compartment.

(Though the Meridian is no longer available, the Osprey Fairview wheeled travel pack is similar.)

Take in the details

Riding on the VSOE truly is like being inside a time capsule; each car was built between 1926 and 1949 and has been meticulously restored. One of the most celebrated design moments onboard is the intricate glass windows in the dining car, designed by René Lalique in a Côte d’Azur style in 1929. The Grand Suites , meanwhile, are a masterclass in art deco style with hand-beaded embroidery, rich color palettes across plush fabrics, and special design elements inspired by Orient Express destinations like Paris, Istanbul, and Vienna. To step into one of the historic cabins is to be instantly transported to the 1920s.

Read the placards that describe each carriage’s history (car 3544 was reportedly used as a wartime brothel), track down car 3309 to admire the art deco marquetry panels by lauded French designer René Prou, and make time to admire such details as the painted flowers adorning your ceramic wash basin.

The bar car 3674 was refurbished in 2016; guests socialize here until late into the night.

Unplug . . .

It’s a lot easier to enjoy the views, get to know fellow passengers, or write postcards (anything posted from the train itself will get a special Venice Simplon-Orient-Express stamp) when you’re not looking at your phone.

. . . but don’t forget to take some photos

There are so many magical elements on the VSOE, it’s hard to keep track. I took plenty of pictures of the train, but once I got home I realized that I only had a couple photos of myself. As a solo traveler , I wish I had asked fellow riders to help me document the occasion. I had gotten dressed up after all, and sometimes a selfie just won’t cut it.

Be prepared to eat—A LOT

Most overnight itineraries include afternoon tea, dinner, and breakfast or brunch the next day. When I boarded in Venice, I was welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine, then served afternoon tea with five different sweets. Only a couple hours later, there were snacks for cocktail hour, and supper was a four-course meal.

Decide if you’re an early bird or a night owl

There are two dinner seatings on the VSOE: one around 7 p.m., the other around 9 p.m. The maître d’ will note your seating preference in the afternoon and will also ask if you’re open to sitting with other travelers.

Eat early and you’ll have more time to digest all five courses before going to bed. Eat late and you’ll have to wait until the first shift finishes up in the dining cars.

The resident pianist plays in the bar car from 6 p.m. to midnight nightly, sometimes longer if passengers are still enjoying themselves later than that. Either way, there’s plenty of time for drinks before or after dinner—the bar car doesn’t close until the last guest has left.

Because of my route, I was able to try dinner at both times and personally, I ended up liking the later seating more; there was a bigger gap between afternoon tea and dinner, and I felt like I had even more time to make friends in the bar car before heading to the meal seating than during the earlier seating.

Breakfast aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express includes fresh fruit, pastries, tea or coffee, and juice.

Manage your expectations

Yes, a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the trip of a lifetime. But you’re still riding an antique train. Unless you’ve booked one of the six grand suites , you’ll have to use the toilet at the end of each car. Twin cabins have bunk beds; if you’re traveling with someone else, your compartment will be, well, intimate. There is an option to book a double cabin, which adjoins two singles that can be combined as a double bed allowing for more space. As comfortable as the beds may be, there will be some jolts and bumps during the night. If the clacking of the tracks will keep you awake, bring earplugs.

Grand Suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express have a double bed and en suite toilets.

Meet your fellow passengers

Many different types of travelers ride on the VSOE. I met couples, a mother-daughter duo, a family with two young children, former college roommates, and another solo female traveler. Some were Agatha Christie buffs, others wanted to bask in the atmosphere. Those looking for a bit of serenity could relax in the comfort of their cabin and dine alone or with only their traveling companions. Others could dine with strangers or chat in the bar car. Striking up a conversation is easy—just start with, “What brought you on the train?”

This article originally appeared online in 2019; it was most recently updated on October 13, 2023, to include current information.

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I Rode One of the World's Most Luxurious Overnight Trains Through Italy — Here's What It's Like on Board

With food by chef Jean Imbert, a swish bar cart, and newly redone cabins, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, just keeps getting better.

Courtesy of Belmond

Sometime between the exquisite herb-stuffed guinea fowl and the pear compote lathered in whipped zabaglione, the carefully attuned ears of the servers in the sumptuous emerald L’Etoile du Nord dining car pricked up. Whatever they were doing — refilling flutes of Champagne, crumbing tablecloths with silver spoons — they froze, as one extravagantly mustachioed member of the impeccably tailored waitstaff came marching down the narrow aisle. “Hold the glasses!” he called out. “Hold the glasses!”

The rest of the servers echoed Italian Hodor, and my fellow passengers and I gripped our drinks, not knowing why. The brakes squeaked, and the train jerked, making any untethered china and crystal chatter like winter teeth. It wasn’t murder on the Orient Express, but maybe a minor heart attack.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train

• The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has a posh dining car with food by Jean Imbert, known for his Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris.
• The train runs overnight journeys between European capitals, including trips from Venice to Brussels; Paris to Prague; Rome to Paris; and more.
• The famed train, which inspired Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," now has newly redesigned cabins, as of June 2023.

This literal bump in the road on my overnight October journey from Venice to Brussels on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train was jarring not because there was any danger involved — except maybe a chipped glass or two — but because the onboard experience otherwise unfurls so seamlessly, with such cinematic choreography and élan, you forget you’re in the real world and not a period picture. As VSEO manager Pascal Deyrolle tells his team at the beginning of the season, “We are not in the railway business, we are not in hospitality. We are in show business.”

And I am in the literary business, a postwar novelist riding out Prohibition in Paris. Marco, s’il vous plaît, un autre Champagne. I returned to the lovely lunch (Michelin star collector Jean Imbert designs the onboard menus) as the waitstaff returned to pouring and crumbing and being extravagantly mustachioed, and Lake Garda filled the windows with big pools of blue.

The Orient Express history is storied and about as complicated as Agatha Christie’s titular whodunit. Save for some wartime interruptions, the OG OE’s iconic Paris-to-Istanbul journey ran from 1883 to 1977. In 1982, The New York Times wrote of the line’s resurrection under hotelier James Sherwood, “with service three times a week between London, Paris and Venice [...] and for part of the trip the cars will use Orient Express rolling stock from the 1920’s, all meticulously restored to Art Deco splendor.” The train became the launching pad for Sherwood’s Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd., which changed names to Belmond in 2014 (the train was allowed to keep the OE surname), which was then purchased by LVMH in 2018. Meanwhile, Accor purchased the Orient Express name in 2022 and will debut Rome-to-Palermo trips on Orient Express La Dolce Vita next year, as well as a transcontinental service on the future Orient Express in 2025.

Deyrolle, who started on the VSOE in 1992 as a cabin steward, has seen the recent ascendance of train travel from inside the industry: “COVID-19 accelerated the need and want for a more sustainable way of traveling, and you’re getting a lot more players coming into the market.” Next year, Belmond brings back its Singapore roundtrip on the Eastern & Oriental Express , and Dreamstar Lines plans to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles with the first overnight service between the cities since 1968. In 2025, a team that includes veterans of Eurorail and Mama Shelter will debut Midnight Trains , billed as a “hotel on rails” running from Paris to 10 European cities.

On the VSOE, the low-stress logistics of getting from A to B are great, but I came for the in-between. It’s 24 to 36 hours of immersive theater whose curtain goes up as soon as you see the staff gathered alongside the gleaming, brass-trimmed navy train. Parked there in Venice’s Santa Lucia Station (and later, each time the train paused during the journey), folks on the platform going about the daily doldrums of life lit up. Eyes wide, phones raised to get a shot of the myth on wheels. My fellow passengers, too. They lined up to have their photos taken with the staff outside the train in Venice, like Disney tots waiting to meet Princess Elsa. “The guests, no matter how big they’ve made it in the world, how famous they are, how important they are, when they see the train standing at the platform, they are kids,” Deyrolle said. How many brands rent that kind of space in the Western subconscious?

My Swiss steward, Melissa, a Belmond veteran, met me at the door to my carriage and whisked me on board and into my suite, one of eight that were fully renovated in June 2023 by in-house designer Marianne Khan. The landscapes the VSOE traverses inspire four different designs: the forest, the countryside, the mountains, and (my cabin) the lakes, expressed in saturated blue fabric trimmed with white and gold. A silver bucket of Veuve Clicquot, caviar-beaded canapés, and an overflowing bowl of plums, rambutans, grapes, and other fruits awaited on the white-clothed table, and the mirrored built-in bar came stocked with still and sparkling water, Mariage Frères teas, and branded Orient Express stationery and postcards.

Melissa poured Champagne and introduced my second steward, Thibault, who talked about the suite’s woodwork and marquetry the way people talk about their children, tracing the swooping lanes of rosewood and mother-of-pearl across the interior shutters, which fold open to reveal a window into the hall. A grander version of the same art deco pattern curls up the wall behind the royal blue sofa, giving the effect of a headboard once the​​ stewards convert the couch into a double bed while you’re at dinner. “See the blue here?” Thibault pointed to the swooping arcs of periwinkle wood, then detailed the specific dying process used so the oak absorbs the color while its whorls of grain remain intact.

After lunch in L’Etoile du Nord (one of three dining cars on board) and late-afternoon coffee served by Melissa and Thibault in the suite, it was time to dress for dinner. The preposterousness of putting on a gown or tux — the VSOE has a strict dress code — to eat in a vehicle careening across the countryside at 100 miles per hour is precisely why it’s so romantic. “We are all on stage, we all wear a costume,” Deyrolle said. “Our guests wear a costume, and they play a part in the play.”

After drinks set to live piano in the swanky Bar Car 3674, dinner unfolded in the ivory-and-gold L’Oriental dining car among painted cranes and macaws perching on black-lacquer wall panels. Like the waiters, we felt the brakes before we heard them and held our cups and bottles close. “Hold the glasses,” we called to one another casually, across our cocktails and the tableside cheese tray. Talented actors, we’d learned our lines in record time.

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On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, All the Train's a Stage

Martini in hand and pursuing another, I stumble to the bar—not because I’m drunk but because the bar itself is moving. I’m on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe; specifically, in Bar Car 3674, swathed in sapphire velvet and buzzing with passengers in their black-tie best for cocktail hour. Outside, the landscape unfurls gradually, the industrial tableaus of France ’s heartland fading into fields baking under the summer sun. Golden hour has hit; onboard, cufflinks and jewels catch the light and shine. There’s a mirthful sparkle to the crowd, guests and crew alike, made even more apparent by our close quarters on the train. As I sidle past a woman in a sequined dress, our crystal coupes meet by chance in a delicate clink . She and I exchange introductions and share a proper toast: We’re finally here.

Here is the inaugural journey of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE, for short) from Paris to Portofino, christened “ Two Legends Meet .” For this new itinerary, to become an annual summer affair, passengers spend one night aboard the iconic train as it rolls southward through the French countryside and along the Italian Riviera, and check in for a two-night stay at the princely Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino . This is the first time the VSOE is traveling to the Ligurian coast, and the occasion is well-commemorated onboard. Earlier that afternoon, I was presented an array of souvenirs, among them an amenity kit decorated with artwork of both the Eiffel Tower and Portofino Bay; inside were a schedule-slash-scrapbook outlining the long weekend plus a Kodak instant camera. We’re here to make memories.

With historic cabins and plush suites, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express stands at the pinnacle of luxury rail travel.

The historic train carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are color-coded; the navy blue cars are the sleeper cars.

The train’s other fine touches, I was pleased to learn, are not exclusive to our trip, but staples of many other VSOE routes: the phalanx of white-gloved stewards who escorted me and my luggage to the handsome navy-and-cream carriages parked at Gare de l’Est; the elegant afternoon tea service and chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot waiting for me in my cabin; the gleaming all-day bar captained by good-time ragazzi who cajoled me into a third espresso martini; and the baby grand piano where musicians Luigi de Gasperi and Filippo Cuomo Ulloa set the evening’s playful mood, serenading us with standards from the great American, French, and Italian songbooks, inviting one and all to join in.

At luxury hotels bolted into the ground, I’ve come to expect these crossed t’s and dotted i’s, sometimes so baseline as to be boring. But the five-star service aboard this sumptuous auberge on wheels, the novelty and literal ride of it, can make even the most worldly travelers feel giddy. (As I explored the sleeper cars, I overheard a passenger: “Caviar! On a train!”) It’s a very slick production, executed with aplomb by the train’s staff, 47 people strong and stylish in their azure blue livery. All the stewards I met were uniformly friendly, game for anything: Simone practiced his Filipino with me as I fumbled my Italian with him; Vanessa expertly directed me in an Instagram video before we departed Paris. “Lean outside the train,” she said. “We have to get the shot!”

Assigned to my carriage was Eduardo, a chipper Venetian who explained the features of my cabin—the plush couchette that becomes a bed; the wash basin stocked with fragrant Officine Universelle Buly toiletries—and penciled into his notebook when I’d like my wake-up call (a knock on my door) and oat milk cappuccino in the morning. For cocktail hour, I changed into my tuxedo and Eduardo greeted me, “Buona sera, Mr. Bond.” He took my photo using the Kodak instant camera. The crew fluently speaks the universal language of good vibes.

Bar Car 3674, swathed in sapphire velvet, is the heart of the train, buzzing with passengers in their black-tie best for cocktail hour.

As part of the VSOE’s “Two Legends Meet” itinerary, guests check into a two-night stay at the princely Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino.

I finish a fourth martini just as I’m called to L’Etoile du Nord, one of the train’s three dining cars, for supper at 9:30 p.m. (After all, this is France .) The night’s fabulously fishy Franco-Italian menu is inspired by the itinerary, composed by Paris-based star chef Jean Imbert , who has been the VSOE’s culinary maestro since 2022. He’s onboard tonight too, traveling with everyone else to Splendido, where he’ll conduct the gala dinner that will welcome us to Italy. Also spotted, in the bar car: the French artist and photographer JR who is designing the interiors of L’Observatoire , a to-be-unveiled private carriage joining the rake in 2025 as the train’s latest upgrade. However, while feasting on plump langoustine and delicate sea bass, washing it all down with more Champagne as our chariot rollicks past the lights of Dijon and Avignon twinkling in the inky night, I think to myself, It can’t get better than this.

After dessert and coffee, we all pile back into Bar Car 3674, the train’s thrumming heart. The mingling and revelry wears on into the wee hours. To the tune of much laughter, the piano, and percussive cocktail shakers, I meet an array of characters from the world over: a very merry couple from South Dakota , on their second journey aboard the VSOE in two months; a patriarch celebrating his and his twin’s 70th birthday, with the whole clan from Las Vegas in tow; a German wedding and events planner on a scouting trip for clients, who asks me, winking, “Do you love your job too?”

The glee is plastered onto my face, I know. My cheeks hurt from grinning. I have dreamed of riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for years. From what I gather, many others onboard can say the same. Maybe that’s the source of that mirthful sparkle I spotted earlier. Gratitude glitters. At nearly three in the morning, as the musicians and barmen reprise “O Sole Mio,” I return to my compartment. I fall into bed, still smiling, and wake up to a knock on my door and the smell of buttery croissants. The dream continues.

Life onboard the VSOE is a very slick production, executed with aplomb by the train’s staff, 47 people strong, all polished and friendly, ready to show you a good time.

“This is a dream of mine too,” says Pascal Deyrolle, the general manager of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, as we discuss what it took to make “Two Legends Meet”—the equipment, the timetables, the permits, the stars that had to align. Tall and gregarious, Deyrolle is onboard to ensure the inaugural journey to Portofino goes smoothly, taking notes for a fine-tuned follow-up next year (a finer guardian of the VSOE, they have yet to invent; he began his three-decade career with Belmond as a steward on the train).

But Deyrolle is also here to simply enjoy it. He pushed for this new route during its development, he explains, having sentimental attachments to both Splendido and the night trains he took in his youth, traveling to the South of France with his family in the summertime. That kind of slow travel, he says, disconnecting from the whirl of daily life and reconnecting with loved ones, moves us to appreciate the little things we experience on our journeys, whether simpler or finer. “C’est la douceur de vivre,” he says, the sweetness of living—that’s what you find on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

As we chat over pre-lunch espressos, the train crosses the border between France and Italy and makes a maintenance stop in the town of Ventimiglia. Travelers at the station, walking to their high-speed rides, stop to admire and photograph the VSOE. We’re part of the museum, I say to Deyrolle, and he agrees. This train becomes a part of you, just as much as you become a part of it. To be on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, he says, is to take part in a 24-hour play. Everyone fulfills a role, whether as staff or guest, knowingly or not. We’re all passengers, dressing the part, bringing to life what feels like a golden era of rail travel . After all, what is luxury travel if not a bit of immersive theatre?

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, pastries and coffee for breakfast are served in each guest’s private cabin.

Menus onboard are designed by Paris-based culinary star Jean Imbert, who was appointed the train’s chef in 2022.

But every play must end, and so does the curtain fall when we pull into the two-platform station in Santa Margherita Ligure, salt-washed and sun-kissed on the Ligurian coast . There’s a sting to leaving our beloved train, but what a salve Splendido is, adorned with hot-pink azaleas on every balcony, granting postcard views of Portofino Bay , glimmering and viridian, looking just as it did in the 1960s when the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner first checked into this seaside hideaway. The rooms have been updated since then though, and a floor-by-floor renovation led by designer Martin Brudnizki is ongoing, to be completed by the following summer season. The redesigned pool glimmers with new tile, color-matched to the sea, and the terrace restaurant is a perfect spot as ever, serving up trofie al pesto and spritzes on its unbeatable perch high on the hill.

And yet, throughout the weekend in Portofino, I find myself standing still once or twice to imagine the ground moving, gently rumbling, beneath my feet. I smile when I do. In my heart and dreams, at least, I remain on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. I have a feeling I won’t disembark for a very long time.

What to know before you go

The inaugural journey of Paris to Portofino: Two Legends Meet took place this year, on June 20 to 23. The trip for 2025 is in the works . For a similarly Franco-Italian affair, there are overnight journeys from Paris to either Rome, Florence, Venice, or Verona with availability for the rest of the year; the reversed itineraries are also offered, traveling from those Italian cities to the French capital. On August 23 , the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express departs from Paris and makes its way to Istanbul for its signature five-night journey, with overnight accommodations in Budapest and Bucharest. The same itinerary in reverse, Istanbul to Paris, departs on August 30 .

The service

On the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there are three tiers of accommodations. The historic cabins ( from £3,530 / approx. $4,500 per person ) have daytime couchettes that become nighttime beds, and a personal washbasin; shared restrooms are located at the end of each sleeper carriage. The suites ( from £7,260 / approx. $9,255 per person ) offer more space, with sofas that become either a double bed or twin beds, a sitting area, and a small bathroom equipped with a toilet and a shower cubicle. The Grand Suites ( from £10,165 / approx. $12,959 per person ) are at the zenith of indulgence, offering everything the suites do, plus 24-hour butler service, free-flowing Champagne, the option for private in-cabin dining, and spacious marble en-suites bathrooms.

Best time to travel

Any time is the best time to travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Its journeys are scheduled from March to December annually. With various routes, origins, and termini tied to the seasons, you’d do well to pick not only a journey that works with your schedule, but also destinations that suit your tastes and interests. With stops at cultural capitals throughout Europe like Paris, Vienna, Prague, and Venice—and even Amsterdam and London—the options are plentiful. See the full schedule of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express here .

What to pack

For the one-night journeys on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, guests are permitted to keep in their cabins only one small suitcase and a bag per person. Think of it like a carry-on bag and a personal item when boarding a plane. Your larger items (big suitcases, trunks, ski gear, etc.) are checked into the luggage car and inaccessible during the trip, so be sure to keep all your essentials like medication, valuables, and travel documents with you. As far as the onboard dress code goes, “smart daywear” is the watchword . For dinner, black tie is not a requirement but certainly the norm.

What comes after

Depending on your destination, you can always extend the la douceur de vivre by checking into one of Belmond’s hotels, like the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Villa San Michele in Florence, and of course Splendido in Portofino. Transfers are covered by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Prices start from £7,920 / approx. $10,100 per person based on two guests sharing a Historic Cabin on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and a Garden View Room at Splendido. The price includes an overnight journey on the train, two nights at the hotel and breakfast each day, a bespoke dinner by Chef Jean Imbert at La Terrazza, and transfers in Paris and Portofino. For more information, visit belmond.com .

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Prices

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices

Explore the latest Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices for all journeys available across Europe. Sister train to the original Orient Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most luxurious trains in the world and the closest you can get to riding the legendary train famous for being featured in many novels and films. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices start from £2,920/$3,600/€3,450 per person for a Twin Cabin, and £8,400/$10,350/€9,800 per person for a Grand Suite. The price includes all meals onboard, usually consisting of a four-course dinner, continental breakfast and three-course brunch or lunch, steward service and champagne reception on arrival. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express prices below are per person based on two sharing a cabin. There is an additional charge for single occupancy of any cabin. Please note that prices do fluctuate with demand and as the train becomes closer to being fully-booked. Any of these journeys can be booked with a 25% deposit , for more information please contact us .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Sister to the famous Orient Express, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most luxurious trains in the world. Made up of 17 authentic and beautifully restored 1920s carriages, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express takes passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, when luxury train journeys were at their most popular and favoured by the wealthy. During the 1920s there were actually three trains making up the Orient Express service. The Orient Express as everyone knows from novels and films, the Alberg Orient Express and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Taking a different Orient Express Route to the more famous 'Orient Express', the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express headed south from from Paris to Venice via the Simplon Tunnel. Today the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the closest anyone can get to experiencing what the epitome of luxury train travel is like. Offering a wealth of journeys across Europe, including a once-a-year special journey from Paris to Istanbul following the famous cross-continental route the original Orient Express took, a journey onboard the VSOE is one that will leave lasting memories as you experience the very best of luxury rail travel.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Cabins

The Venice Simplon Orient Express Cabins are available in three different sizes: Twin Cabins, Cabin Suites and Grand Suites . A Twin Cabin is converted from a cosy lounge during the day to a bedroom at night by the stewards while you are at dinner, while the other two are large enough to include a separate sleeping area to the lounge. A Twin Cabin is only available with bunks, however many passengers opt to explore the train during the day and simply using their cabin to store luggage and to sleep. A Cabin Suite is twice the size of a Twin Cabin and is essentially made up of two interconnecting Twin Cabins; one with space for sleeping and the other as a lounge. The Grand Suites are much larger and much more ornate. There are only six Grand Suites onboard, however each is named after a destination the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express visits and each has it's own unique décor. Grand Suites also benefit from having their own en-suites as well as dedicated steward and free-flowing champagne. There are a limited number of single cabins available only by request. Passengers are able to choose sole occupancy of any cabin type at additional expense.

Grand Suites

Double Suites

Twin Suites

Historic Cabins

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Venice Simplon Orient Express

London to venice on the orient express 2023, our signature journey.

1st class rail & 4 Star Accommodation in Venice & Montreux

5 nights / 6 days inc. 3 nights in venice & 1 night in montreux, unique journey aboard the venice simplon orient express, the magnificent orient express to venice & first class return rail travel.

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Specialists in luxury rail holidays, tailor-made just for you, orient express, holiday highlights.

• Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
• Scenic rail journey through the Alps & Dolomites - Brenner Pass
• Stunning Montreux
• Incomparable Venice
• St. Mark's Square
• Rialto Bridge & Grand Canal
• Doges Palace & St. Mark's Basilica

The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Offers a unique travel experience..

Take a Venice Simplon Orient Express 2023 Holiday – travel on the famous Venice Simplon Orient Express from London to Venice with our Signature Journey for 2023

For your trip of a lifetime embark from London on this classic Orient Express journey through the alps to the magical city of Venice.

Late availability – Book now to travel on the Venice Simplon Orient Express in 2022

We are pleased to advise that there is late availability for Venice Simplon Orient Express in 2022. 

We would advise enquiring as to availability & prices as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

London to Venice on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Your holiday includes:

• Rail travel in ultimate style on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from London to Venice with all meals included and overnight accommodation in a private sleeping compartment.
• 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in a double room at the Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente (4 star) in Venice
• 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a deluxe lake view double room at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior) in Montreux
• First Class rail travel for your return journey from Venice to London
• A private taxi transfer in Paris, and private water taxi transfers between the station and your hotel in Venice
• A saving of £500 can be applied if you chose to fly back to the UK following your journey on the Orient Express

Your Orient Express Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 – depart from london aboard the venice simplon orient express.

Your adventure begins at London Victoria, where you join the gleaming carriages of the Belmond British Pullman.

Your steward will show you to your reserved seat; sit back and enjoy Brunch served with Bellini as you travel through the Kentish countryside to Folkestone.

Here you are escorted by uniformed staff via coach to Cheriton to board the Euro tunnel train to France. Enjoy a glass of English sparkling wine as you make the crossing.

On the other side of the Channel in Calais you board 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.

Day 2 – The Venice Simplon Orient Express signature journey through the Swiss Alps to Venice

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 crosses the Venetian Lagoon and arrives at Venice Santa Lucia station.

Here a water taxi transfers you to your hotel for the next three nights. The Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente* (4 star) is an attractive, welcoming hotel located in a quiet area just 15 minutes from the Rialto Bridge with its friendly service, elegant and comfortable rooms.

*Please note other hotels are available if you prefer, according to your preferences and budget.

Days 3 & 4 – At leisure in Venice

Enjoy two full days in Venice; make the most of the time to experience the uniqueness of this incredible city. 

You may decide to visit St. Mark’s Square, the Doges Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica or explore the market and shops in and around the Rialto Bridge. 

Perhaps wander through the hidden campi (squares) and over the countless bridges which link the criss-cross of canals, or take to the water on a romantic gondola to see a different side of Venice.

Day 5 – Venice to Montreux through the Swiss Alps by First Class Rail

This morning your private water taxi transfer takes you back to Venice Santa Lucia 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.

This train takes you into the Alps on the spectacular journey through the Simplon Pass and on to the pretty lakeside town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.

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.

Day 6 – Montreux to London – Homeward bound

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast overlooking the sparkling lake, you have more time to perhaps visit the beautiful Château de Chillon, one of the best-preserved castles in all of Europe.

Later you return to the station and take the train to Lausanne, where you connect with the high-speed service to Paris. Watch the rolling hills flash past or reminisce on the wonders of the past few days.

On arrival in the French capital, your private transfer takes you across the city to the Gare du Nord where you join the Eurostar 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.

Please note this holiday is also available in reverse, where you travel to Venice by First Class rail, returning to London on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. Please get in touch for more details.

Further information

On board the orient-express.

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.

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS AND UPGRADES

Travel in a cabin suite on the orient express.

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.

Travel in a Grand Suite on the Orient Express

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.

Enjoying a great location in an area exclusively reserved for local Venetians, the Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente (4 star) offers an attractive and calm setting from which to enjoy and explore this most evocative of cities. 

Named after Turkish tradesmen, “mori”, who for centuries lived in this beautiful palace, the hotel offers guests contemporary accommodation equipped with air conditioning, mini-bar, hair dryer, direct-dial telephone, satellite television, radio, safe, and internet access. 

The hotel benefits from a tastefully decorated breakfast room, bar and reading room. 

You can relax amidst the exotic atmosphere of the hotel’s furnishings which hark back to the times of oriental merchants, and traders, plying their trade on the “Silk Route” which had Venice as its main port. 

Located about 10 minutes’ walk from the Rialto Bridge, the Ai Mori d’Oriente offers visitors a fascinating insight into the real Venice as well as easy access to charming restaurants frequented by locals rather than tourists.

Other hotels are available, at a supplement. Please contact us for more information.

For information and booking: Tel: 01347 825292 or email [email protected]

Orient Express questions?

If you have a specific Venice Simplon-Orient Express question – why not review our Venice Simplon Orient Express FAQs here  ?  

FURTHER INFORMATION

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Matador Original Series

The dreamy new orient express train is straight out of the 1920s.

T he Orient Express is arguably the most famous and luxurious train service in the world. Developed in 1883 and made famous by Agatha Christie in her 1930s novel Murder on the Orient Express , the Orient Express can still be experienced today. And, starting in 2026, a new Orient Express train will be able to offer more passengers the chance to ride the most iconic rail route in the world: Paris to Istanbul.

What is the Orient Express?

The Orient Express never was a single train, it was rail service that ran multiple routes around Europe, including the legendary journey from Paris to Istanbul. The service was discontinued in 1977.

The Orient Express was relaunched in 1982 under the name of Venice Simplon-Orient-Express which today is owned by Belmond, a travel company that operates multiple luxury trains, cruises, hotels, and more.

The Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express consists of one train made of meticulously restored and redecorated 1920s and 1930s blue carriages. The Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express operates throughout mainland Europe and occasionally runs the legendary route from Paris to Istanbul.

But there is another Orient Express. This one is a luxury travel brand made up of trains, hotels, and sailing yachts that is owned by hospitality company Accor. There are two luxury trains run by the Orient Express brand: La Dolce Vita Orient Express which only operates in Italy, and The Orient Express train currently being redesigned for a launch in 2026.

The redesign of the Orient Express

Photos: Maxime D’angeac and Martin Darzacq

The Orient Express (part of Accor), currently being revamped by French architect Maxime d’Angeac, will consist of 18 blue carriages, 17 of which are original Orient Express cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

Within those 18 cars, there will be 32 suites, one presidential suite, one restaurant, and one bar, all of which are being reimagined by d’Angeac who is drawing inspiration from the 1920s and the original design.

The restaurant, a suite, and a suite bathroom on board the new Orient Express train. Photos: Maxime D’angeac and Martin Darzacq

“For this mythical train whose name raises only dreams and fantasies, it was not a question of copying and pasting the original Orient-Express, but rather to recreate the atmosphere of an exceptional train that would convey the same spirit, in a 21st century version,” d’Angeac’s website explains.

In order to keep the spirit of the 1920s alive and to honor the work of the original artists who decorated the carriages with their exceptional woodwork, glassware, marquetry, and more, d’Angeac is using noble materials (mahogany, crystal, velvet, silk, etc.) and fine craftsmanship.

From the corridors to the bar car to the suites and the restaurant, every details has been thought out to make this new Orient Express train a modern one perfectly disguised as an original.

The bar car reimagined by Maxime d’Angeac. Photo: Maxime D’angeac and Martin Darzacq

The bar car will be one of the most atmospheric spaces on the train. The gorgeous green velvet scalloped seat will bring comfort to the passengers while they enjoy a nightcap under unique flower-like ceiling lamps designed by French luxury glassmaker Lalique, whose work also appeared in the original carriages.

The Presidential Suite will also feature decorative glasswork by Lalique, as well as magnificent woodwork, stained-glass windows, textured walls and ceiling, and a fireplace to create a cozy yet sumptuous space.

One the many technical challenges of redesigning a luxury sleeper train is to make the most of the tight space. On his Instagram , d’Angeac explains how he worked at creating a suite that can easily be transformed from a comfortable sitting room during the day into an opulent bedroom at night in just 2.5 minutes by one person only.

The reimagined Orient Express was scheduled to be launched in 2025 but is now delayed to 2026. If the renderings are accurate, however, it will be very much worth the wait.

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what you'll do

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express runs once a year from France to Turkey—and you’ve scored a golden ticket to climb aboard! This is much more than a trip across Europe. The restored 1920s carriages will also transport you back to the Golden Age of Travel. You and a friend will embark on this classic journey starting in Paris and traveling along the original route to Istanbul. You’ll pass through France, Switzerland and Austria while taking in the stunning scenery from your cabin. As the rail voyage continues, you’ll enjoy private guided tours in Hungary, explore castles in Romania and savor the beautiful countryside of Bulgaria. And don’t forget the daily gourmet meals of local specialties. Between nights in your elegant cabin (complete with personal steward service) and grand European hotels, this will truly be the experience of a lifetime. Flights and accommodations are on us.

No donation or payment is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes.

who you'll help

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) began as an annual camping trip bringing together a few dozen formerly incarcerated young people with positive mentors to offer encouragement, guidance and resources. Today, ARC has grown into a support and advocacy network of more than 450 members, and hundreds of volunteer mentors and allies, committed to helping one another through reentry and advocating for a fairer criminal justice system. Your generosity will help ARC provide its membership with mentorship, mental health services, supportive housing, access to jobs and education, and opportunities to advocate for criminal justice reform.

stuff our lawyers want you to read

Winners: You (“Winner”) + 1 (“Guest”) 

Sweepstakes Start Date: July 7, 2020

Deadline to Enter: October 8, 2020 at 11:59pm PT

Winner Announced: On or around October 28, 2020

Approximate Retail Value: $46,000

Timing: August 20-26, 2021

Location: Paris, France

Budapest, Hungary

Bucharest, Romania

Istanbul, Turkey

Sponsor: Omaze, Inc. (“Sponsor”)

Designated Grantee: The Anti-Recidivism Coalition ("Designated Grantee")

All donations made in connection with a fundraising campaign are paid to Charities Aid Foundation of America (“CAFA”), an IRS-recognized, U.S. public charity whose mission is to make giving internationally and domestically safe, easy and effective for U.S. donors. CAFA prequalifies each Designated Grantee as an eligible recipient of CAFA grants. At the end of each fundraising campaign, so long as the Designated Grantee  continues to qualify as an eligible recipient of CAFA grants, CAFA will make a grant to the Designated Grantee  of the net proceeds of the fundraising campaign.*

Prize Provider: Omaze, Inc. ("Prize Provider")

Grand Prize Details: Winner and Guest will receive tickets on the 2021 Paris to Istanbul annual journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Flights and hotel stay in Paris and Istanbul included.

All third party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This sweepstake is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated in any way with Belmond.

Age to Enter: You must be at least 18 years old to win. 

Ineligible Countries: Winners must not be residents of Belgium, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Italy, North Korea, Singapore, Sudan, Syria or Thailand.

Eligibility Notes: 

Guest must be of legal age of majority in his/her jurisdiction of residence (and at least 18), unless Winner is the parent / legal guardian of Guest.  No individual younger than 5 years of age may be a Guest. In addition to Winner requirements (detailed below), Guest must complete and return a publicity and liability release prior to departure. If a Guest is a minor, then the Winner must execute and return all required documents on behalf of such minor child.

If Winner and/or Guest reside outside the country where experience will take place, Winner and/or Guest must have current, valid passports, and be able to travel to the experience location(s). If they are unable to travel to the experience location(s), they will forfeit the prize. In certain countries, local rules and laws may restrict or prohibit the award of certain prizes or impose additional restrictions on participation. Entry is subject to all local laws. See our Sweepstakes Official Rules for more details. Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, Designated Grantee , or Prize Provider, and members of their immediate families and households, are not eligible to win.

Individuals may not receive more than one grand prize within the same 18 month period. Individuals may not receive more than one minor prize within the same sweepstakes.

How to Enter: Visit Omaze.com to utilize any of our methods of entry. See our Sweepstakes Official Rules for more details. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries held.

Winner Confirmation Process:

Within 10 business days of campaign close, we’ll use an automated random drawing process to draw a potential winner(s) for that campaign. A confirmation process, which may include a background check, will then take place to ensure the potential winner meets the legal standards required. Winner and, if applicable, their guest(s) agree to cooperate fully with Omaze in Omaze conducting any background check(s), which includes providing information requested by Omaze including, but not limited to, full legal names and addresses. If the Prize includes meeting a celebrity, meeting a public figure, or attending a special event and any background check indicates, in Omaze’s sole discretion, that the potential winner or the potential winner’s guest(s) pose a danger to or may harm the reputation of any person or entity involved in the sweepstakes, Omaze may disqualify said winner and move on to the next randomly drawn potential winner. Pending a positive outcome of the confirmation process, an Omaze representative will notify the potential winner via email and/or phone. The potential winner must respond within the time period designated in the notification, or Omaze may move on to another randomly drawn potential winner. Before confirming a potential winner as the winner, Omaze may require the potential winner to confirm their eligibility. Once that’s done, the potential winner and guest(s) must execute and return all required documents within the time frame specified by Omaze. If you do not execute and return all required documents within the time frame specified by Omaze, you will forfeit the Prize and Omaze will move on to another randomly drawn potential winner.

Travel companions are also required to sign a liability/publicity release prior to issuance of tickets. Additionally, travel companions/guests of the winner may be subject to a background check, which may impact their ability to participate in the Prize.

NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR CONTRIBUTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contributing will not improve chances of winning. Void where prohibited. 

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SUPPLEMENTAL SWEEPSTAKES AS OF 08/04/2020

NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Donating will not improve chances of winning. Void where prohibited.

Omaze is conducting a supplemental sweepstakes for the Win a Trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & Travel from Paris to Istanbul campaign (“Supplemental Promotion”). Entrants can receive entries into the Supplemental Promotion.

SUPPLEMENTAL PROMOTION OFFICIAL RULES

THE SUPPLEMENTAL SWEEPSTAKES IS SPONSORED BY OMAZE. 

1. DRAWINGS STRUCTURE: 

a. The Supplemental Promotion begins at 9:00 a.m. PT on August 4, 2020 and ends on August 7, 2020 at 9:00 am PT (“Supplemental Promotion Period”).  Sponsor’s method of timekeeping is the official time clock for the Supplemental Promotion.

b. During the Supplemental Promotion Period, Sponsor will conduct a total of one (1) random drawing (the “Supplemental Drawing”). The Supplemental Drawing shall take place on the schedule described below (the “Supplemental Drawing Date”) for the prizes described below (each a “Prize”).

c. All Entries submitted during the Supplemental Promotion Period will be entered into the Drawing.

Supplemental Prize (full details below):

One supplemental winner will receive a Louis Vuitton Travel Set including a Monogram Canvas Keepall Bandouliere 50, Monogram Canvas Neverfull MM, and Monogram Canvas Cosmetic Pouch GM.

The supplemental sweepstakes prize is a minor prize

All third party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. “Louis Vuitton” is a registered trademark of LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER, Inc. This sweepstake is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated in any way with LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER or their affiliates.  

ARV of Supplemental Prize:

Supplemental Drawing Date:

August 10, 2020

Winner Announcement Date:

October 28, 2020

Location of Supplemental Drawing:

Los Angeles, CA

2. ELIGIBILITY: Winner(s) must not be residents of Belgium, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Italy, North Korea, Singapore, Sudan, Syria or Thailand. Winner(s) must be at least 18 years old. 

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL PRIZE:   One (1) Supplemental Prize consisting of one (1)  Louis Vuitton Travel Set including a Monogram Canvas Keepall Bandouliere 50, Monogram Canvas Neverfull MM, and Monogram Canvas Cosmetic Pouch GM. The total ARV of the Prize is USD $4,085. Conditional winners will be chosen through a random selection process by Sponsor. A verification process will take place during which conditional Winners will be required to sign paperwork re-confirming their eligibility and their ability to participate. Sponsor may also perform background checks, at its discretion, before an official Winner is announced.

Fundraising Transparency

This Experience is part of a fundraising campaign for Charities Aid Foundation America (“CAF America”), which is a globally recognized United States 501(c)(3) public charity (Federal Tax ID # 43-1634280). CAF America retains exclusive control over all donations raised in this Experience.

(a) How it works: Omaze and CAF America work together to offer incredible Experiences, like this one. You don’t have to donate to enter, but if you do, 100% of your donation goes to CAF America, who then distributes the donations, minus the Experience fees and costs, to the nonprofit(s) identified on the experience page (the “Designated Grantee(s)”). Our model allows CAF America and the non-profit grantees to spend less time worrying about raising funds and instead focus their energy on doing awesome work.

(b) Where your donation goes: For Omaze Owned Experiences, like this one, 15% of the total donations goes to the Designated Grantee(s) via a grant from CAF America. (If there are multiple Designated Grantees, then this amount is equally distributed to each). CAF America retains a small percentage of the total donations (less than 1%) to cover its own operating costs. Omaze uses the remaining amount to pay for the Experience costs, such as Prize costs, payment processing fees, and advertising to awesome people like you, and to cover our operating costs of providing and maintaining the technology and team that makes this all happen. Owned Experiences have higher costs associated with prizing and promotion, which is why a larger percentage goes to Experience costs.

(c) Designated Grantee Eligibility: Before every Experience, CAF America confirms the Designated Grantee(s) as eligible to receive grants. In the rare case where, after the launch of an Experience but before distribution of the donations, a Designated Grantee fails to maintain eligibility (per CAF America’s grant-making policies and/or applicable laws), then CAF America may (i) withhold distribution of the donations until the Designated Grantee is eligible or (ii) reassign the donations to another nonprofit that supports a similar cause. If CAF America reassigns the donations to an alternate organization, the Experience page will be updated to identify what entity(ies) received the grant(s).

(d) When will the Designated Grantee get the money? Omaze sends 100% of donations from this Experience to CAF America within 2 business days of Omaze’s receipt of the donation. The speed at which CAF America distributes the donations to the Designated Grantee(s) depends on the classification of the Experience and can be anywhere from 2 weeks after Omaze received your donation to 90 days from the close of the Experience. In circumstances where a Designated Grantee fails to maintain eligibility to receive grants, the above grant distribution timeframes may be impacted.

For Experiences where the grant amount is a percentage of total donations (e.g., Premiere and Owned Experiences), CAF America will distribute the donations via multiple grants throughout the duration of the Experience, usually within 10-15 business days following CAF America’s receipt of donations from Omaze. 

For Experiences where the grant amount is a percentage of Adjusted Donations (total donations minus Experience costs), CAF America will distribute donations after reconciliation of all Experience costs (usually within 15-90 days following the close of the Experience).