More than just a day out

Why I love the “work” days that don’t feel like work

Some days at work are a little more special than others… and this was definitely one of them.

I headed to Chester for lunch with Belmond at The Lounge at Chef’s Table, where I joined Pascal Dayrolle, General Manager of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, along with Manisha Rathod and Dominique Fitzhugh.

These events are a really important part of what I do. They give me the opportunity to meet the people behind the experiences, ask questions, learn what’s new and, most importantly, build the knowledge I can bring back to my clients.

And this time, the focus was on some truly iconic train journeys.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

There’s something about the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that just hooks your imagination.

The photographs are beautiful, but they really don’t do the train justice. The vibrant colours, sumptuous interiors and proper old-school classy glamour make it something special.

One remark from the day really stuck with me:

“You don’t go on the Orient Express to sleep! Go to a hotel!”

And it makes perfect sense when you think about it. The Orient Express isn’t simply about getting from A to B.

The journey is the experience.

There are three beautifully designed dining cars, each offering a different dining experience, with two dining sittings. Then there’s the Bar Carriage — the social hub of the train and a big part of the atmosphere on board.

There’s the glamour, of course, but also a real sense of fun… and apparently, some very classy karaoke! Who knew?

Iconic Istanbul

One of the journeys we talked about was Iconic Istanbul, with just two journeys in each direction each year.

This is a wonderful example of what makes the Orient Express so distinctive: a timeless journey, memorable dining, beautiful surroundings and the experience of travelling through Europe aboard one of the world’s most famous trains.

It’s certainly one to dream about!

Villégiature by Train

Belmond is also offering a series of Villégiature by Train journeys in 2027, combining the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with some of Belmond’s iconic hotels.

The planned itineraries include:

⚜️ Paris to Caruso, Amalfi Coast – 22 April 2027

⚜️ Paris to Splendido, Portofino – 24 May 2027

⚜️ Paris to Cipriani, Venice – 20 June 2027

⚜️ Paris to Villa San Michele, Florence – 4 September 2027

A Paris to Monaco journey is also being considered.

I love the idea of combining the journey itself with a stay at one of these beautiful destinations, making the travel experience just as much a part of the holiday as the hotel.

Meet Celia

We also heard about Celia, the newest carriage in the British Pullman fleet, designed by Baz Luhrmann.

Set within an original 1932 Pullman carriage, Celia features its own cocktail bar, lounge, dining and entertainment area. Available for exclusive hire for up to 12 guests, it offers the most intimate and cinematic way to experience one of Britain’s most iconic trains.

With private dining and the option to build the day around excursions and special experiences, it’s about much more than simply taking a train journey.

And for anyone planning something really special, imagine having the whole carriage to yourselves!

Whether it’s seeing in the New Year on board, celebrating a retirement, gathering your favourite people for a pre-wedding celebration or marking another milestone occasion, it could be a truly memorable way to celebrate.

Now that really would be a WOW moment!

Why these days out of the office matter

I always feel very lucky and grateful to be invited to events like this.

Yes, they’re enjoyable — I’m not going to pretend they aren’t! But they’re also about learning, asking questions and building relationships with the people who know these experiences inside out.

When a client comes to me with their “I’ve always wanted to…”, I want to be able to talk to them from a position of knowledge and give them honest advice about what the experience is really like.

Not just what it says in a brochure.

Because the more I learn, the better I can help you find the right experience for you.

And that’s why I love these “work” days that don’t always feel like work. 💛