The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the train that invented indulgence and starred in an Agatha Christie mystery. So anyone serious about luxury train travel has to tick this one off the list. In 1887 the Orient-Express made its first trip from Paris to Istanbul and most of the carriages are from the original stock, hence the fact that the cabins don't all have ensuites despite their opulent decor. Passengers tend to get over that and dress for excess, as befits the train's legendary status, and the liveried staff are suitably obsequious. The train now visits many parts of Europe (including a leg from London to Paris but the original route to Istanbul via Venice is still the classic journey to take.

The Luxury Travel Bible also loves weekend and day trips aboard the historic British Pullman another O&E train.