The latest "Express" to offer luxury European travel at a more leisurely pace

Tuesday, 30th September 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

The Orient Express may conjure nostalgic images of the glamour and finesse of a bygone age but the reality would have been somewhat different. Think cramped living quarters, no proper washrooms and (gasp of horror) single glazed windows.

Suddenly the sumptuous romantic vision isn't looking quite so rosy. Of course, the comfort factor has risen a bit since the 1930s but while it may have been the ultimate in train travel for the 20th century, the 21st sees it facing some serious competition.

The brand new Danube Express is now taking bookings for 2009 and offers not only classic destinations such as Istanbul, Prague, and Budapest, but also boasts real comfort. The sleeper carriages are two and a half times bigger than any other European train, and all have en-suite shower rooms and air conditioning while the dining car offers freshly cooked food made form locally sourced ingredients so luxury doesn't mean missing out on authenticity.

Train travel has had something of a renaissance in recent years, the idea of crossing the continent at a more relaxed speed whilst not having to worry about notching up the air miles, appealing to old and young alike.

And with holidays named "The Istanbul Oddyssey", "The Bosphorous Voyager", and "The Bohemian", it looks like the nostalgia will remain firmly intact too.

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