A luxury train journey through Central Europe

Gary King views Central Europe from Budapest to Istanbul from a luxury compartment on the Danube Express.

As I recline, chilled glass of wine in hand, the undulating rhythm of the train rumbles gently up through the soft upholstery. The ever-changing vista, framed neatly by the large window, is soothingly tranquil, while I feel cocooned by the warm tones of the wood panelling that adorns my compartment. I think I must have died and gone to travel heaven. The Danube Express has this effect.

Three days after leaving Budapest en route to Istanbul, I’ve slipped back in time to an era when the travelling was part of the experience rather than an inconvenient necessity.

My air-conditioned deluxe compartment has an en-suite bathroom with a shower and toilet, and at night the seats are transformed into two low beds, with a little spotlight to read by.

This small miracle occurs while I’m at dinner, performed by the carriage attendant who is constantly on call to bring me drinks on demand and tea in the morning. Like I said, travel bliss.

Since leaving Budapest, I’ve taken in the spectacular Puszta horse show in Lajosmizse, visited the delightful city of Kecskemét and had a walking tour of Sighişoara in Romania, rumoured to be the birthplace of Dracula. I’ve also been to Bran Castle in Braşov, a fabulous, pointy-towered, 14th-century building in the heart of Transylvania that was purportedly once the home of the legendary vampire.

Lunch and dinner are served in the wonderfully atmospheric restaurant car on crisp white linen with the tasty Central European-style fare freshly prepared on board.

The train accommodates a maximum of just 50 and because there is no dress code, the atmosphere is one of relaxed informality with gentle banter between a crowd of varied ages and backgrounds.

The beauty of a luxury hotel on wheels is that you wake up in a different location every day, feeling completely refreshed after a good night’s sleep.

The sightseeing is eagerly anticipated and the itinerary has been designed to give a true taste of the regions through which you travel. Another highlight, for example, is the ancient city of Veliko Turnovo in Bulgaria, which nestles in a fabulous mountain setting on the steep banks of the River Yantra.

The train’s lounge car is a joy to behold. Where else could you sip aperitifs, chatting casually to fellow travellers while a pianist tickles the ivories against a backdrop of beautiful scenery as it passes by outside? It’s the social hub of the train where guests congregate to swap stories.

This is just one of several deeply appealling train journeys organised by Danube Express on its private train.

I fall into my bed on my final night on board, knowing that in the morning I’ll be waking up in one of the most vibrant, vivacious and exciting cities on the planet — Istanbul. My only thought?

I really don’t want to get off.

Factfile

Danube Express (0845 862 1798; www.danube-express.com) offers a four-day Transylvanian Danube Express Journey for £2,790pp in Deluxe Twin compartment or £3,990pp in Deluxe Single. Departures May9&30,June20, September 5 & 19, all 2012.

Other journeys available include The Polish Explorer, The Bosphorus to the Baltic, The Istanbul Loop and The Transylvanian, Istanbul to Budapest.

For lots more holiday ideas and a full list of members, visit www.aito.com

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/aito/8737476/A-luxury-train-journey-through-Central-Europe.html

via A luxury train journey through Central Europe – Telegraph.