For many people, train journeys evoke a sense of being on a crammed carriage on their morning commute, or perhaps sipping on some drinks on the way to a fun day out in their nearest city.
But while many of the trains in the UK are pretty underwhelming with their dust-covered fabric seats, hop onto the continent and you’ll find a much nicer affair – although it may set you back a year’s salary.
While we may get outraged at a £200 ticket from London to Manchester, over in Italy, the world’s most expensive train journey is 100 times more expensive than that, although you’ll travel in significantly more luxury.
The Venice Simplon-Orient Express is home to some seriously luxurious cabins, with a grand suite from Paris to London costing £23,000 a night.
The train itself, which operates from March to November each year, is a collection of restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, finished with art deco details, including works by a famous glass artist, René Lalique.
The most expensive route could set you back more than £60,000 for the grand suite on a five-day trip running from Istanbul to Paris.
YouTuber Ryan Trahan decided to splash the cash on the journey to see just how nice a train journey can be but the luxury started before he’d even boarded.
He said: “This is such a fancy seat that they have people come to your hotel to greet you and take you onto a boat. That boat then takes you across the canal, where they take you to the station.”
Upon opening his door, he was met with a regal suite complete with ornate wood panelled walls, art deco fixtures and fittings and a full double bed. The suite is also fitted out with its very own lounge area and marble-clad bathroom.
According to their website, one of the biggest perks of the Grand Suite is “24-hour cabin service complemented by free-flowing champagne.”
In the dining car, he was treated with a similarly high-brow experience, with a three-course meal for lunch, and a private afternoon tea to top you up with sweet treats. Later for dinner, three more delicately plated courses, including langoustines and sea bass with caviar.
He added: “I don’t know if I managed to capture this, but this is one of the most magical days of my life.”
Getting back on the train for a second leg from Paris to Budapest, he spent his last night sipping cocktails and enjoying the onboard pianist. He added: “I’m having a great time, this doesn’t even feel like real life. It truly just feels like I’m in a movie right now.
“I’ve learnt a lot about myself from this experience. I really love trains. I want there to be more trains in America. This has to be one of the most beautiful routes in the world.”