The Globe Trotter: 15 February
Rail holidays are just the ticket if you want to see a lot in a relatively short time – and you hate flying. So take your pick from one of these wonderful trips…
Specialist holiday company Treyn’s new European And Worldwide Rail Holidays 2013 brochure features 66 tours across the UK, continental Europe and worldwide, the majority of which include rail travel, comfortable hotels, many meals, excursions and the services of a tour manager.
For example, the new Rhine Valley all-inclusive, eight-day tour, London to Remagen, from £638 per person, includes a journey on the Vulkan Express, a visit to the Remagen Peace Museum, a Rhine cruise to Boppard and an excursion to Rüdesheim, with departures on 6 April and 19 October.
Treyn also offers the nine-night Venice Lagoon & River Po cruise holiday, from £1,445 per person, with nights in Turin and a six-night cruise on MS Michelangelo, departing on 25 April. The Madrid and Barcelona trip, offers nine days from £1,298 per person, and includes a guided tour of Madrid, Toledo and Barcelona, and an excursion to Montserrat. Departures on 18 May, 15 June, 28 September, 5 and 12 October. 01904-734940, www.railholidays.com
Ffestiniog Travel’s Railways And Wartime: Northern France, is a 10- day escorted tour of venues spanning centuries, from the Bayeux Tapestry commemorating the Battle of Hastings in 1066, to the liberation of France at the end of the Second World War. Departing 1 July, it costs £1,450 per person, including ferry travel between Poole and Jersey, and Jersey and St Malo, standard-class rail travel, nine nights’ B&B, trips and welcome and farewell dinners. 01766-772030, www.ffestiniogtravel.com
Danube Express’s central European railway journey between Budapest and Prague visits five countries and six cities in three nights. Highlights include Vienna, with a tour of the City Hall, National Theatre, Hofburg Parliament and Schönbrunn Palace; and tours of Bratislava, Cracow and Wieliczka to the world’s oldest salt mines. From £2,790 per person, including three nights on the Danube Express with all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks and scheduled sightseeing. Departs 11 May, 1 June, 22 June and 28 September. 01462-441400, www.danube-express.com
The Danube Express
The dream holiday for train buffs is probably Voyages Jules Verne’s The Central Kingdom Express, 15 nights on a private train on the Trans- Siberian railway from Moscow through the heart of Russia and across Siberia into Mongolia with a change of trains at the Mongolia- China border to complete the journey to Beijing. Costing from £4,995 per person, all meals and excursions are included. Highlights are a Moscow city tour, cruise on the Volga, a Tsar’s Feast with vodka and caviar tasting. Departures on 1 June and 20 July. 0845-166 7003, www.vjv.com
Perfect Portugal Sunvil Discovery’s Portugal and Madeira brochure includes Pousadas Of The Alentejo, with seven nights in four characterful properties. Discover the beautiful parks, mountains and rugged coasts. From £594 per person, including flights and car hire. 020-8758 4722, www.sunvil.co.uk
Sorrento Spring Italy specialist Citalia is offering £170 per couple off a week in Sorrento on the beautiful Amalfi coast, departing on 22 March. The price, from £525 per person, includes BA flights from Gatwick, and bed and breakfast at the fourstar Imperial Tramontano Hotel. 0844-415 1956, www.citalia.com
Specialist holiday company Treyn’s new European And Worldwide Rail Holidays 2013 brochure features 66 tours across the UK, continental Europe and worldwide, the majority of which include rail travel, comfortable hotels, many meals, excursions and the services of a tour manager.
For example, the new Rhine Valley all-inclusive, eight-day tour, London to Remagen, from £638 per person, includes a journey on the Vulkan Express, a visit to the Remagen Peace Museum, a Rhine cruise to Boppard and an excursion to Rüdesheim, with departures on 6 April and 19 October.
Treyn also offers the nine-night Venice Lagoon & River Po cruise holiday, from £1,445 per person, with nights in Turin and a six-night cruise on MS Michelangelo, departing on 25 April. The Madrid and Barcelona trip, offers nine days from £1,298 per person, and includes a guided tour of Madrid, Toledo and Barcelona, and an excursion to Montserrat. Departures on 18 May, 15 June, 28 September, 5 and 12 October. 01904-734940, www.railholidays.com
Ffestiniog Travel’s Railways And Wartime: Northern France, is a 10- day escorted tour of venues spanning centuries, from the Bayeux Tapestry commemorating the Battle of Hastings in 1066, to the liberation of France at the end of the Second World War. Departing 1 July, it costs £1,450 per person, including ferry travel between Poole and Jersey, and Jersey and St Malo, standard-class rail travel, nine nights’ B&B, trips and welcome and farewell dinners. 01766-772030, www.ffestiniogtravel.com
Danube Express’s central European railway journey between Budapest and Prague visits five countries and six cities in three nights. Highlights include Vienna, with a tour of the City Hall, National Theatre, Hofburg Parliament and Schönbrunn Palace; and tours of Bratislava, Cracow and Wieliczka to the world’s oldest salt mines. From £2,790 per person, including three nights on the Danube Express with all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks and scheduled sightseeing. Departs 11 May, 1 June, 22 June and 28 September. 01462-441400, www.danube-express.com
The Danube ExpressThe dream holiday for train buffs is probably Voyages Jules Verne’s The Central Kingdom Express, 15 nights on a private train on the Trans- Siberian railway from Moscow through the heart of Russia and across Siberia into Mongolia with a change of trains at the Mongolia- China border to complete the journey to Beijing. Costing from £4,995 per person, all meals and excursions are included. Highlights are a Moscow city tour, cruise on the Volga, a Tsar’s Feast with vodka and caviar tasting. Departures on 1 June and 20 July. 0845-166 7003, www.vjv.com
IN OTHER NEWS...
Going Dutch Discover the art and culture of Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam on Swan Hellenic’s eight-day Golden Age Of The Dutch Waterways cruise aboard Royal Crown, departing 6 July. From £2,250 per person with flights and excursions. 0844-488 1048, www.swanhellenic.comPerfect Portugal Sunvil Discovery’s Portugal and Madeira brochure includes Pousadas Of The Alentejo, with seven nights in four characterful properties. Discover the beautiful parks, mountains and rugged coasts. From £594 per person, including flights and car hire. 020-8758 4722, www.sunvil.co.uk
Sorrento Spring Italy specialist Citalia is offering £170 per couple off a week in Sorrento on the beautiful Amalfi coast, departing on 22 March. The price, from £525 per person, includes BA flights from Gatwick, and bed and breakfast at the fourstar Imperial Tramontano Hotel. 0844-415 1956, www.citalia.com