Ticket price: $8500: luxury train will depart from Paris to Italy in summer
In June 2024, Belmond will launch an exciting new route from Paris to Portofino. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) will travel to the Italian Riviera for the first time.
For two days, passengers will travel through France, enjoying the picturesque scenery of the Mediterranean Riviera, before arriving at the esteemed Splendido Hotel in Portofino. This first trip is a historic event for the train, and the company intends to make it an annual route," writes News Bytes.
Route and schedule details
Departing from Paris at 15:00, the train will pass through Dijon, Lyon and Avignon in France before crossing the Côte d'Azur and entering Italy.
The journey will end in Santa Margherita Ligure, the gateway city to Portofino, at 13:00 the next day, where guests will stay at the Splendido Hotel for two nights.
However, train tickets are one-way. Passengers must take a regional train to Genoa and Milan and then continue their journey to Paris on the Frecciarossa high-speed train.
The train has eight new suites
The three-day journey, costing about $8,525 (over Rs. 7 lakh) per person, promises luxury with a menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert and live music from a local pianist or swing band in the evening.
The train also features eight new suites that debuted in 2023, offering different cabin categories for travelers, including historic cabins, suites with marble bathrooms, and six luxurious grand suites inspired by cities such as Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest.
Three diningcars, live music and cocktails
After check-in, passengers can gather in the 3674 bar car to enjoy expertly crafted cocktails and live piano music performed by a local pianist.
During the journey, three dining cars - Côte d'Azur, Vostochny and Severny - will offer a fresh summer menu complemented by carefully selected wines from the train's extensive collection.
The next morning, guests will enjoy a continental breakfast in their cabins, followed by a special brunch.
SplendidoLuxuryHotel: movie screening and open-air restaurant
Travelers will be accommodated at the Splendido Hotel. This is a 16th-century monastery overlooking the famous Portofino harbor.
On Friday evening, guests will be offered a five-course tasting menu from Chef Imbert, followed by cocktails. On Saturday, they will enjoy a private outdoor movie screening in Portofino's famous Piazzetta Square.
The hotel also offers newly renovated rooms, a saltwater pool and two resident restaurants: the newly opened Splendido Grill and the iconic open-air restaurant La Terrazza.
