Premium class plane tickets, luxury destinations, five-star hotel suites, lavish dinners with exotic dishes and indulgence in perfectly aged beverages – These are the some of the things that instantly strike you when you talk about luxury travel, right? Now replace a plane with a train and what are the immediate thoughts that pop into the mind? Is it that of a journey that is loud, dirty and inconvenient? Now picture luxury with a train.

With so many types of travel agencies offering luxury rail travel packages across the US these days, each emphasizing on the several advantages and amenities offered by them to woo the customers, it becomes very important to know some tips that will help you to make maximum benefit and have the best experience out of the travel. Some handy tips for luxury train travel are listed below.

Packing lean and light is the key

Dress comfortably and add multiple layers to your dress so that the layers can be pulled off and on as needed. This will avoid unnecessary baggage and avoid having to keep vigil over a lot of luggage.

Utilize the onboard amenities to the fullest

Most of the luxury rail packages offer several amenities like room service, dining car with/without private chef and steward etc. for having an enjoyable travel experience at all-inclusive rates. Some trains even offer luxurious facilities like lounges, wine tastings, movie theaters, kitchens, granite or stainless-steel showers and sinks, fine wood fixtures, double-decker sight-seer cars with outside view facing seats etc. Hence, one must take advantage of these facilities on board to enhance their comfort and overall experience of the journey.

Know your exact travel period

Most tour operators offering luxury train travel in the US run on specific routes or conduct a particular package deal only on limited specific dates due to reasons like special festivals in the route, particular season, weather conditions, etc. Ensure that you are well aware of these facts before signing up for a travel deal on what you are getting for what you are paying and what are the dates of your travel and details of reaching your departure destination.

Choose your budget wisely

The prices quoted by several charter rail companies will be based on the client’s needs. You can decide the mileage you wish to cover or negotiate group rates based on the number of guests traveling together and mileage covered, amenities required, number of stops. Hence, it is important to know that you are not paying unnecessarily for what you will not need during your journey.

Choose the type of travel that is most appropriate

Certain day rides with lounge, bar or a conference facility can be opted for if your intention is just to have a luxurious business meet without really being bothered about the scenery or the route. If your intention is to visit sightseeing places or enjoy the scenery, take a day ride that traverses through beautiful route and has a viewing glass-framed window seats. If you wish to travel by the night, then choose a package that has onboard accommodations with rooms. If you want to stay over at any desired destinations, then opt for packages that have hotels meals and local sightseeing included.

Historic trains offer another experience altogether. Heritage trains have been restored closer to their earlier splendor and these rides are more like time travel into history when traveling on the train was considered as an epitome of luxury. Such trains offer a peek into history with defined routes that were popular with the older generations with respect to information about ancient tribes or famous Americans for example.