The presidential suite onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express. Courtesy of Belmond Many train companies around the world, including in the US, offer first-class, luxury experiences. Some trains' first-class options include private cabins with en-suite bathrooms. On other trains, first-class travel means getting a cushier seat, more legroom, and free food. It's been a messy year for air travel, from increasing costs to headline-making airport headaches. As rising jet fuel prices put new pressure on airfares and push up plane ticket prices, it could boost alternative modes of travel, such as train travel. Amtrak is already seeing ridership rise as flights strain travelers' already-tight budgets, Forbes reported. Rising air fares aren't the only factor pushing people to consider taking the trains, either. In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have already turned to the slow, sustainable option that trains provide —and luxury train operators have noticed, offering a growing variety of opulent experiences worldwide. These days, luxury trains offer perks far beyond the nicest airplane seats, from plush interiors in first-class cabins to free-flowing Champagne, and, in some cases, vanities decked out with designer toiletries. Most recently, Amtrak's launch of the NextGen Acela, which runs faster than the previous Acela fleet, has brought attention to elevated train travel options in the US. This boom in high-end rail experiences is fueling what travel experts have termed a new "golden age" of train travel. From hand-carved wall details to lavish spread of meals on board, here's what traveling in first-class train cabins looks like across the world. The Paris grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express The Paris Grand Suites offer guests complete privacy in a luxurious setup. Belmond The grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which travels through Italy and Western Europe, have 24-hour butler service and marble en-suite bathrooms. Guests occupying these suites are served free-flowing Champagne and can opt for private, in-cabin dining. The Istanbul suite on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express The Istanbul suite onboard the Venice-Simplon Orient Express features plush embroidered rugs, soft pillows, and interiors that remind of the Grand Bazaar in Turkey. Belmond One of the grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the Istanbul suite, which has hand-carved wall details. Passengers can dine in their sumptuous suites or venture to one of the train's four restaurants and bar cars for a gourmet meal or cocktail. The royal suites on Rovos Rail The Rovos Rail royal suite spans half a train car and features a private lounge and a Victorian-style tub. Rovos Rail The royal suite onboard Rovos Rail, which has routes throughout southern Africa, features spacious accommodations spanning half a train car. Guests have access to a private lounge area and an en-suite bathroom with a Victorian-style tub. There's also a mini-fridge stocked with beverages and snacks, as well as a host available on-call. The GoldLeaf class on the Rocky Mountaineer Guests opting for the GoldLeaf cabins have access to gourmet meals, tour guides, and a car with glass windows that offer unparalleled views of the landscape outside. Rocky Mountaineer The Rocky Mountaineer train, which travels through the Canadian Rockies, offers two classes: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. GoldLeaf is its equivalent to first class, and it includes a car with glass ceilings, offering passengers uninterrupted views of the landscape. GoldLeaf also offers sit-down, gourmet meals, outdoor viewing platforms, and service from tour guides who point out passing landmarks and wildlife. The suite cabin on the Andean Explorer Guests staying in the suite cabins on the Andean Explorer receive complete royal treatment — from private rooms and luxe interiors to 24/7 assistance. Belmond On the Andean Explorer, which travels through Peru, a stay in one of the train's suite cabins is a true first-class experience, complete with a robe and slippers, 24/7 assistance buttons, and a spacious, private room with a double bed, closet, and an en-suite bathroom. The interior, too, pays touching tribute to Peru with walls draped in linen and cozy leather seating. The presidential suite on the Eastern & Oriental Express The Eastern & Oriental Express travels through Southeast Asia. Belmond Passengers who book the presidential suite, the most luxurious cabin onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, can lounge in comfort. The ornate cabins feature an en-suite shower and restroom and are fully air-conditioned. The suite comes with a minibar and a massive picture window. At night, attendants turn the couches into beds and equip the room with bathrobes and slippers. After a good night's rest, passengers can enjoy a complimentary breakfast brought to their door. The imperial suite on the Golden Eagle The imperial suite on the Golden Eagle is decked with an in-lounge area and an easily accessible mini-bar. Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Formerly known as the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, the Golden Eagle now travels through Central Asia on the company's Silk Road collection after suspending service in Russia. Its imperial suite is the most spacious cabin on the train, with a lounge area, in-cabin dining, a private en-suite bathroom, a stocked minibar, and heated floors. The grand suites on The Britannic Explorer The grand suites on Belmond's newest luxury train, launching in July 2025, are inspired by English country gardens. Belmond/Luxury Train Club Belmond's Britannic Explorer travels from London, and guests can select from three separate routes covering Cornwall, the Lake District, and Wales. London-based studio Albion Nord designed the train's 18 cabins, including three grand suites. These suites feature a double bed, an ensuite bathroom, and a marble dining table. Guests also have access to a personal butler and a complimentary spa treatment. The suite cabins on La Dolce Vita Orient Express Guests onboard La Dolce Vita can opt for one of the 18 suites on this train, each of which, has plush furnishings, brass accents, and intricate design details. Luxury Train Club Since debuting last year, La Dolce Vita trains have traversed through 14 regions of Italy, including Sicily. One of the accommodations onboard is the suite cabins, which feature a sofa, two armchairs, a full-size bed, and a private bathroom. Guests can either opt for room service or enjoy a selection of Italian delicacies at the dining car, helmed by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. The premier class on Eurostar A premeir standard on the Eurostar e300. Forbitious/Shutterstock Eurostar travels between cities, including Amsterdam, Paris, and London. Passengers who book first class, or "premier," get a larger seat, plus a free meal and drinks. They're also allowed to bring more luggage than other travelers and have access to full-service lounges where they can grab a bite or sip cocktails ahead of their journey. The gran class on Hokuriku Shinkansen The Hokuriku Shinkansen's first-class seats resemble cozy recliners in a movie theater — but, of course, with elegant details. The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images The highest class onboard Japan's Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train is "gran class," which has automated, reclining leather seats and comes with free meals, snacks, and drinks. Passengers can also get comfortable thanks to blankets, eye masks, and slippers. The prima class on Italo For guests who prefer to travel comfortably, the prima class onboard Italo has seats with the most leg and elbow room. MARIO LAPORTA/AFP/Getty Images The Italian high-speed train, Italo, offers a "prima" car with seats with more legroom and elbowroom than cars in other classes. Passengers can also enjoy free WiFi and pay extra for exclusive lounge access at some Italian train stations. Traveling in "prima" class also includes free wine and Prosecco, as well as reclining seats. The first class on TGV When traveling on TGV's first-class car, passengers can opt for solo seats. Renfe-SNCF France's TGV train offers first-class cars with more spacious seating than its regular class. These cars have reclining seats and options to book a solo seat for peace and quiet during a long trip. First-class car on Amtrak's NextGen Acela Amtrak On the newest NextGen fleet of the Amtrak Acela, passengers can enjoy spacious seats that feature outlets in between seats. The launch coincides with the introduction of a new first-class menu designed by restaurateur Stephen Starr, which includes items like charred chicken, ricotta ravioli, and crab enchiladas, per Amtrak. The menu is available on all Acela routes. First-class seats on Fuxing First-class car on China's high-speed train, Fuxing. Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images One of China's high-speed trains, Fuxing, offers comfy seats and attendants who serve food and drinks throughout the journey. Compared with the train's second-class cars, passengers in a first-class car have seats with charging ports and ample room to relax. Darcy Schild and Elana Klein contributed to an earlier version of this article. Read the original article on Business Insider
The presidential suite onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express.Courtesy of Belmond Many train companies around the world, including in the US, offer first-class, luxury experiences. Some trains' first-class options include private cabins with en-suite bathrooms. On other trains, first-class travel means getting a cushier seat, more legroom, and free food. It's been a messy year for air travel, from increasing costs to headline-making airport headaches. As rising jet fuel prices put new pressure on airfares and push up plane ticket prices, it could boost alternative modes of travel, such as train travel. Amtrak is already seeing ridership rise as flights strain travelers' already-tight budgets, Forbes reported. Rising air fares aren't the only factor pushing people to consider taking the trains, either. In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have already turned to the slow, sustainable option that trains provide —and luxury train operators have noticed, offering a growing variety of opulent experiences worldwide. These days, luxury trains offer perks far beyond the nicest airplane seats, from plush interiors in first-class cabins to free-flowing Champagne, and, in some cases, vanities decked out with designer toiletries. Most recently, Amtrak's launch of the NextGen Acela, which runs faster than the previous Acela fleet, has brought attention to elevated train travel options in the US. This boom in high-end rail experiences is fueling what travel experts have termed a new "golden age" of train travel. From hand-carved wall details to lavish spread of meals on board, here's what traveling in first-class train cabins looks like across the world. The Paris grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express The Paris Grand Suites offer guests complete privacy in a luxurious setup.Belmond The grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which travels through Italy and Western Europe, have 24-hour butler service and marble en-suite bathrooms. Guests occupying these suites are served free-flowing Champagne and can opt for private, in-cabin dining. The Istanbul suite on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express The Istanbul suite onboard the Venice-Simplon Orient Express features plush embroidered rugs, soft pillows, and interiors that remind of the Grand Bazaar in Turkey.Belmond One of the grand suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the Istanbul suite, which has hand-carved wall details. Passengers can dine in their sumptuous suites or venture to one of the train's four restaurants and bar cars for a gourmet meal or cocktail. The royal suites on Rovos Rail The Rovos Rail royal suite spans half a train car and features a private lounge and a Victorian-style tub.Rovos Rail The royal suite onboard Rovos Rail, which has routes throughout southern Africa, features spacious accommodations spanning half a train car. Guests have access to a private lounge area and an en-suite bathroom with a Victorian-style tub. There's also a mini-fridge stocked with beverages and snacks, as well as a host available on-call. The GoldLeaf class on the Rocky Mountaineer Guests opting for the GoldLeaf cabins have access to gourmet meals, tour guides, and a car with glass windows that offer unparalleled views of the landscape outside.Rocky Mountaineer The Rocky Mountaineer train, which travels through the Canadian Rockies, offers two classes: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. GoldLeaf is its equivalent to first class, and it includes a car with glass ceilings, offering passengers uninterrupted views of the landscape. GoldLeaf also offers sit-down, gourmet meals, outdoor viewing platforms, and service from tour guides who point out passing landmarks and wildlife. The suite cabin on the Andean Explorer Guests staying in the suite cabins on the Andean Explorer receive complete royal treatment — from private rooms and luxe interiors to 24/7 assistance.Belmond On the Andean Explorer, which travels through Peru, a stay in one of the train's suite cabins is a true first-class experience, complete with a robe and slippers, 24/7 assistance buttons, and a spacious, private room with a double bed, closet, and an en-suite bathroom. The interior, too, pays touching tribute to Peru with walls draped in linen and cozy leather seating. The presidential suite on the Eastern & Oriental Express The Eastern & Oriental Express travels through Southeast Asia.Belmond Passengers who book the presidential suite, the most luxurious cabin onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, can lounge in comfort. The ornate cabins feature an en-suite shower and restroom and are fully air-conditioned. The suite comes with a minibar and a massive picture window. At night, attendants turn the couches into beds and equip the room with bathrobes and slippers. After a good night's rest, passengers can enjoy a complimentary breakfast brought to their door. The imperial suite on the Golden Eagle The imperial suite on the Golden Eagle is decked with an in-lounge area and an easily accessible mini-bar.Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Formerly known as the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, the Golden Eagle now travels through Central Asia on the company's Silk Road collection after suspending service in Russia. Its imperial suite is the most spacious cabin on the train, with a lounge area, in-cabin dining, a private en-suite bathroom, a stocked minibar, and heated floors. The grand suites on The Britannic Explorer The grand suites on Belmond's newest luxury train, launching in July 2025, are inspired by English country gardens.Belmond/Luxury Train Club Belmond's Britannic Explorer travels from London, and guests can select from three separate routes covering Cornwall, the Lake District, and Wales. London-based studio Albion Nord designed the train's 18 cabins, including three grand suites. These suites feature a double bed, an ensuite bathroom, and a marble dining table. Guests also have access to a personal butler and a complimentary spa treatment. The suite cabins on La Dolce Vita Orient Express Guests onboard La Dolce Vita can opt for one of the 18 suites on this train, each of which, has plush furnishings, brass accents, and intricate design details.Luxury Train Club Since debuting last year, La Dolce Vita trains have traversed through 14 regions of Italy, including Sicily. One of the accommodations onboard is the suite cabins, which feature a sofa, two armchairs, a full-size bed, and a private bathroom. Guests can either opt for room service or enjoy a selection of Italian delicacies at the dining car, helmed by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. The premier class on Eurostar A premeir standard on the Eurostar e300.Forbitious/Shutterstock Eurostar travels between cities, including Amsterdam, Paris, and London. Passengers who book first class, or "premier," get a larger seat, plus a free meal and drinks. They're also allowed to bring more luggage than other travelers and have access to full-service lounges where they can grab a bite or sip cocktails ahead of their journey. The gran class on Hokuriku Shinkansen The Hokuriku Shinkansen's first-class seats resemble cozy recliners in a movie theater — but, of course, with elegant details.The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images The highest class onboard Japan's Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train is "gran class," which has automated, reclining leather seats and comes with free meals, snacks, and drinks. Passengers can also get comfortable thanks to blankets, eye masks, and slippers. The prima class on Italo For guests who prefer to travel comfortably, the prima class onboard Italo has seats with the most leg and elbow room.MARIO LAPORTA/AFP/Getty Images The Italian high-speed train, Italo, offers a "prima" car with seats with more legroom and elbowroom than cars in other classes. Passengers can also enjoy free WiFi and pay extra for exclusive lounge access at some Italian train stations. Traveling in "prima" class also includes free wine and Prosecco, as well as reclining seats. The first class on TGV When traveling on TGV's first-class car, passengers can opt for solo seats.Renfe-SNCF France's TGV train offers first-class cars with more spacious seating than its regular class. These cars have reclining seats and options to book a solo seat for peace and quiet during a long trip. First-class car on Amtrak's NextGen Acela Amtrak On the newest NextGen fleet of the Amtrak Acela, passengers can enjoy spacious seats that feature outlets in between seats. The launch coincides with the introduction of a new first-class menu designed by restaurateur Stephen Starr, which includes items like charred chicken, ricotta ravioli, and crab enchiladas, per Amtrak. The menu is available on all Acela routes. First-class seats on Fuxing First-class car on China's high-speed train, Fuxing.Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images One of China's high-speed trains, Fuxing, offers comfy seats and attendants who serve food and drinks throughout the journey. Compared with the train's second-class cars, passengers in a first-class car have seats with charging ports and ample room to relax. Darcy Schild and Elana Klein contributed to an earlier version of this article. Read the original article on Business Insider
