Express travel tips

Belmond, the luxury company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), made a historic announcement this week that will delight those who love luxury European luxury train travel. The company said that in June 2024, the VSOE will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time on a three-night experience that links Paris and the Ligurian coastal resort of Portofino. Once in Portofino, guests check into the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, for two nights.

Ready to depart next Summer, the extravagant Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, will travel to the Italian Riviera for the very first time in its four-decade history, connecting Paris and Portofino. The new, annual overnight journey will see the train winding through the French countryside and along the coastline of the Mediterranean Riviera, concluding at Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, where guests will stay for two nights.

This summer, travelers can experience the Italian Riviera like never before—by arriving on Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE).

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with  The Points Guy .

It appears American Express' pilot program of a luxury vacation home rental platform is doing well enough to expand to new destinations and invite more members into the mix.

The ‘Hogwarts Express’ train - one of the most iconic rail experiences in the UK - is facing trouble down the line.

Accor said on Thursday it would appoint Gilda Perez-Alvarado as CEO of Orient Express, its luxury hotel brand, effective January 1.

In the 1990s, The Eastern & Oriental Express, a modern version of the vintage luxury trains that once snaked through Southeast Asia, took to the rails. It recreated a decidedly romantic way to travel through the jungles, cities, and riverfront towns of Singapore and Malaysia, which its sister train, the Venice Simplon Orient Express, offered in Europe.

In addition to the survey, the white paper is being created following interviews and round table discussions with experts from the association and AI sectors.  The full white paper will cover these topics in more detail, explore particular areas of concern for the industry and question whether the sector is upskilling quickly enough to meet the growing usage of AI as a technology.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is set to launch an extravagant new rail itinerary that combines riding one of the world’s most storied trains with a glamorous European ski trip.

Airport lounges, often synonymous with respite from the bustling terminals, do not typically top the list of exciting travel experiences. Yet, the American Express Centurion Lounge Network, now commemorating its 10th anniversary, has successfully infused a sense of adventure and exclusivity into this oft-overlooked aspect of travel. Through a decade of meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to providing premium experiences, these lounges have transformed mundane waiting times into opportunities for discovery and indulgence. How? Well, there are several hidden gems sprinkled throughout the various lounges that you've likely never noticed or known about before. Here are a few.

A little before 10:30 a.m., a royal blue train hummed into Platform 4 at Venice’s Santa Lucia station, coming to a halt with a hiss. More than a few passengers had expected a steam engine, surprised—if not a little disappointed—to see the modern locomotive pulling along 16 carriages almost a third of a mile. “This train is far too heavy for a steam engine; it’s been years since they used one,” said the attendant greeting guests. With bags and suit carriers already handed over to stewards, passengers walked the length of the train searching for their carriages as red carpets rolled out of the doorways like tongues cooling off.

The bright red and yellow maple leaves have started to fall in Nikko, one of Japan's most scenic but elusive destinations.

This week in Mumbai, Air India Express unveiled its brand new look on a brand new Boeing 737–8 aircraft. The message was clear: A break away from its staid image as a sleepy subsidiary no one talks about.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Demand for luxury train travel has surged in the wake of the pandemic. The leisurely pace and atmosphere of Old-World glamour that define these voyages appeal to travelers seeking time for reflection and deeper connections to the people and places encountered along the way. While Europe boasts the Orient Express, Japan’s Seven Stars in Kyushu represents the pinnacle of luxury rail travel in Asia. Newly renovated last year—and a reader favorite—the Seven Stars celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. With only 10 cabins and a maximum of 20 guests, the deluxe liner elevates the art of omotenashi (Japanese hospitality) to new heights.

Marriott International on Wednesday debuted Four Points Express by Sheraton, a midscale hotel brand aimed at Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

One of the fruits of getting on a train is that it makes me want to chat. So instead of gazing at Kent as we proceed to Paris from London, I talk to my neighbour. Martha grew up in San Francisco, studied in Oregon, and puts syrup on everything. When we part ways on the concourse of Gare du Nord – she to lunch with a friend from Wisconsin, me to amble around before continuing towards Turkey – she says the best things about the US are Taylor Swift and meatloaf. It’s good to talk.

An exciting new club is coming down the pike for Centurion Lounge fans—American Express just announced it will bring the first of its popular lounges to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.