You probably plan your breaks around the hotel, the food and what you’ll see once you arrive. The hours spent getting there often fade into the background as something to endure. Yet the way you travel can shape your experience tremendously. It could even be your favourite part of the experience if you do it right.
See the landscape change in real time
Flying lifts you above the detail and drops you somewhere new with little sense of how you got there. Rail travel keeps you grounded, letting you watch fields turn into foothills, then into mountains or coastline. That visual story helps your brain clock off from home more gently.
To get the most from it, choose daytime routes and a window seat so the scenery becomes part of your day rather than a blur between naps. Many travellers discover this shift through curated options such as luxury rail journeys through Europe and around the world, where the route matters as much as the destination.
Travel with space to move and breathe
Air travel often locks you into one position with little control over your comfort. Trains give you room to stretch, walk and change scenery, which keeps your body looser and your mood lighter.
You might start with a coffee in your cabin, wander to a lounge to read, then return to make up a proper bed. You can easily break up your time by changing location onboard once or twice rather than staying put for hours.
Make a lower-impact choice without sacrificing comfort
Many travellers feel torn between seeing the world and caring about it. Rail offers a practical compromise because trains produce far fewer emissions per passenger than planes on comparable routes.
You can plan this consciously by swapping short-haul flights for international rail legs and combining them with overnight services. A luxury rail journey with private cabins truly shows how sustainable choices can still feel special.
Step straight into the heart of a city
Airports tend to sit far from where life actually happens. Train stations usually place you right in the centre, close to cafés, museums and hotels. That saves money on transfers and, more importantly, time.
Build your itinerary around arrival times that let you drop bags and head out on foot, rather than losing half a day to taxis and queues.
Eat well while the world rolls by
Food can be the difference between enduring travel and enjoying it. On high-end rail services, meals arrive as part of the experience, not a distraction from it. You sit at a proper table, eat dishes inspired by the regions you pass through and watch the light change outside.
Treat dinner as you would at home on a good evening, allowing time to linger and talk as the scenery shifts beyond the glass. It’s another part of an adventure curated for your pleasure and comfort.
