The Orient Express and a Return to the Joy of the Journey
- Kristin Chambers
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Some travel experiences are iconic long before you ever step into them. The Orient Express is one of those rare examples. It is a name that carries history, romance and a sense of nostalgia that people immediately recognize, even if they have never experienced it themselves.
The original Orient Express route launched in the late 1800s, connecting Western Europe to the East, most famously Paris to Constantinople. In the 1920s and 30s, the carriages were redesigned in an Art Deco style, with marquetry wood panels, Lalique glass and polished brass details that came to define the golden age of rail travel. While Belmond famously revived the Venice Simplon Orient Express in the 1980s, ACCOR has taken the brand in a new direction with a full lifestyle vision. Today, Orient Express is no longer just about the train. It is an interconnected world that includes hotels, rail journeys and luxury sailing vessels, with additional launches planned for 2026 and 2027.
The first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva Roma, opened in 2025 and became my home both before and after the journey. A second property, Orient Express Venezia, is set to open in Spring 2026. What struck me immediately is how seamlessly the hotel and train relate to one another. La Minerva feels like an extension of the train, and the train feels like an extension of the hotel. Designed by Hugo Toro, the interiors thoughtfully blend Art Deco references with Roman classicism through rich marbles, dark lacquered woods, brushed brass and bronze accents, and soft leathers and velvets. After spending four nights at La Minerva, it felt clear that the integrity and spirit of the Orient Express had been carefully honored rather than reinvented.
On the day of embarkation, the team at La Minerva escorted us to Rome Ostiense station. We arrived through a private entrance operated exclusively by Orient Express, and it immediately felt like stepping into a five star hotel lobby rather than a train station. There was live music, Champagne flowing, and familiar faces from La Minerva greeting us by name. Even the formal presentation of our embarkation ticket felt considered, delivered in a style reminiscent of the 1920s.
When I boarded Orient Express La Dolce Vita, I arrived with a sense of expectation, and somehow it still surprised me.
This was not simply a journey from Rome into Tuscany and Montalcino on the Taste of Tuscan Vineyards itinerary. It was an experience that reminded me why certain forms of travel never lose their magic. The pace is slower, the atmosphere more intentional, and the entire environment invites you to be present in a way modern travel rarely allows.
It also felt deeply aligned with what many travelers are seeking right now. People are craving meaning, beauty, care and connection. They want to feel rooted in a place rather than rushed through it. The Orient Express achieves this effortlessly.
Why Rail Revival Is About More Than Trains
There is a lot of talk about a rail revival, but I think the renewed interest speaks to something deeper. For many travelers, it is not about the train itself. It is about restoring the idea that the journey can be one of the best parts of the experience.
People want room to breathe. They want to notice the world as it passes by. They want hospitality that feels sincere and thoughtful rather than transactional. They want to feel something again.
There is also a sense of nostalgia at play here. Not a wish to return to another era, but a desire for the values that once defined travel: ceremony, anticipation, craftsmanship and a pace that allows for connection. Travelers want spaces that feel graceful rather than overwhelming and experiences that feel considered rather than hurried.
My Time on the Orient Express
The Orient Express expresses all of this clearly from the moment you arrive at La Minerva, the new hotel tucked behind the Pantheon. It feels warm, elegant and genuinely welcoming. Breakfast on the rooftop, espresso under the glass dome and sunlight filling the lobby all set the tone for what is to come.
At Rome Ostiense, the atmosphere shifts again. There is live music, champagne and a sense that everyone is stepping into something special. Guests dress for the moment not because it is required, but because the environment naturally invites a sense of ceremony. It feels refreshing to begin a trip this way.
When the train arrives, the beauty of it is immediate. Polished wood, soft lighting and interiors that honor its heritage without feeling dated. Onboard, everything is purposeful. The cabins are comfortable and warm. The dining experience feels regional and relaxed. The service is kind and attentive without being performative. The entire rhythm encourages you to slow down without ever feeling bored or still.
As we moved north, Tuscany unfolded through wide windows in long stretches of vineyards, hills and winding roads. Experiencing a place like this, with no rush and no noise, felt surprisingly restorative. The simplicity became part of the luxury.
A private Brunello tasting in Montalcino added another layer. We visited a family estate that produces the top wine in Italy and viewed an incredible private art collection. It felt personal and generous. It was not a tour. It was an invitation, which is the essence of true hospitality.
When we returned to the train, the experience continued exactly where it left off. It all felt seamless, natural and genuinely memorable.
Why This Experience Stays With You
The reason this journey stays with you is simple. It gives something back that fast travel often takes away. It gives space. It gives presence. It gives room for connection. And it reminds you that luxury is not always about adding more. Often it is about removing the noise so the beauty of the moment can come through.
Travelers are not seeking busier itineraries. They want meaning. They want connection. They want to feel a sense of arrival long before they reach the destination.
A Direction for Luxury Travel
If this experience reflects anything about the future, it is this. Travelers want time. They want intention. They want to feel close to the craft of hospitality. They want experiences that feel thoughtful and human. And yes, they want a touch of nostalgia, not for the past itself, but for the qualities that once made travel feel meaningful.
Travel at this pace stays with you. Long after the train stops, the feeling remains.
Thank you to the team at Accor for a truly special experience. I will be back.
