Few journeys are as memorable as those taken by train. Watching the scenery whizz by from the comfort of a carriage is a real joy – and one that won’t cost the Earth, either. Tapping into the enduring allure of rail travel, Rocco Forte Hotels has crafted a modern-day Grand Tour taking guests on an unforgettable adventure through eight of Europe’s most storied cities.
The 16-night trip includes two nights in each city, staying at a series of lavish Rocco Forte hotels along the way. Guests will be treated to an action-packed itinerary filled with immersive cultural experiences spanning everything from a visit to the Vatican at dawn to a private art tour through Munich. While the trip can be personalized to suit different tastes, the luxury brand has shared a sample trip to give an idea of what to expect.
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Kicking off in Edinburgh, guests will spend a couple of nights at Rocco Forte’s landmark hotel, The Balmoral, before taking a first class train to London where Brown’s Hotel in the heart of Mayfair awaits.
After two days spent exploring the capital, it’s onto the Eurostar and straight to Brussels. Here, passengers will stay at the Hotel Amigo in the historic center of the city before boarding the Deutsche Bahn service to Berlin to experience the glamorous Hotel de Rome.
Other highlights from Rocco Forte’s Grand Tour include stays at Hotel Savoy – a historic property nestled between the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio in Florence – and Hotel de Russie in Rome. The trip concludes at Villa Igiea in Palermo, Sicily – an idyllic resort set within a 19th-century palazzo overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the option to spend a few days at the Verdura resort on Sicily’s west coast.
Rocco Forte Hotels and Expression Holidays 16 nights B&B from £6,800 (approx. $8,589) per person including two nights at each hotel, first class rail travel from Edinburgh to Palermo, ferry, transfer and return flights to Palermo.
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