Considering a trip to Europe this year? Belmond has announced a myriad of updates aboard its trains, river vessels and hotels. Here’s what you need to know…
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will debut three new Grand Suites for the 2020 season, which begins on March 21 with a one-night journey from Venice to London. Each suite—Vienna, Prague and Budapest—is inspired by cities that the train travels through. Guests traveling in one of the Grand Suites will enjoy private transfers to and from the train and hotels and a personal 24-hour cabin steward available for all onboard services.
On another train, Belmond British Pullman is offering four new journeys this summer to several of Britain’s top events, like the Royal Ascot, Guards Polo Club’s Royal Windsor Cup Final, Glyndebourne and Glorious Goodwood. Step aboard the Art Deco day-train for a Bellini brunch on the outbound journey, entrance tickets to the event and a two-course dinner with champagne on the return to London.
Foodies can now dine at a different Michelin-starred restaurant every day during a six-night sailing from Burgundy to Lyon. The trip aboard the six-cabin Belmond Napoleon departs August 9, 2020. The restaurants range from one to three stars, and highlights include dinner at George Blanc, which has held three Michelin stars since 1981, as well as the famed black truffle soup at Restaurant Paul Bocuse in Lyon.
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire is encouraging budding culinary enthusiasts to join Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc’s Cookery School for half- or full-day cooking courses. The junior master chefs can also race through the gardens on a treasure hunt, design their own vegetable patch and become pen pals with Bear Blanc, the hotel’s teddy bear chef.
Celebrity florist Simon Lycett, whose star-studded client list includes Elton John, The Royal Family and the National Gallery, will lead master classes in both floral art and cocktail infusions at the world-famous flower festival at Belmond Reid’s Palace. The two-day event in Madeira kicks off May 8, 2020. Aspiring florists will enjoy daily access to the festival, an afternoon tea for two that is designed by Simon and a guided walk through the hotel gardens where Simon will share his olfactory knowledge.
This story originally appeared on www.luxurytraveladvisor.com.
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