{"id":195669,"date":"2026-04-28T16:59:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/?p=195669"},"modified":"2026-04-29T09:50:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:50:56","slug":"belmond-transforms-the-venice-simplon-orient-express-journey-into-a-literary-odyssey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/belmond-transforms-the-venice-simplon-orient-express-journey-into-a-literary-odyssey\/","title":{"rendered":"Belmond transforms the Venice Simplon-Orient Express journey into a literary odyssey"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Belmond\u2019s Venice Simplon-Orient Express, a legendary train known for its Paris-Venice route, offers its passengers an exclusive literary experience. The prestigious LVMH hotel group is thus launching \u201cWriters on the Rails,\u201d a series of short stories recounting the emotions experienced on board by renowned novelists.<\/h4>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In response to the <b>rising expectations of luxury clients regarding the experience<\/b> and the LVMH luxury group\u2019s desire to establish itself as a <b>cultural ambassador<\/b> in the vein of Louis Vuitton and its Art of Travel, the <b>Belmond group<\/b> has undoubtedly found <b>the perfect synthesis with \u201cWriters on the Rails\u201d<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This <b>series of books<\/b> is exceptional in more ways than one: <b>famous contemporary novelists<\/b> were invited to put <b>their personal experiences aboard<\/b> one of Europe\u2019s flagship <b>Slow Travel<\/b> trains, the <b>Venice Simplon-Orient Express<\/b>, down on paper.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These <b>stories of slow, contemplative travel<\/b> are <b>exclusively reserved for passengers<\/b> on this luxury train, which runs from March to December <b>between Paris and Venice<\/b>.<b> This year<\/b>, Belmond is even offering a <b>new Italian itinerary<\/b>, with the highly desirable <b>Amalfi Coast<\/b> as its destination.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Writers of Their Time<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As a <b>counterpoint to an era<\/b> marked by artificial intelligence, which prioritizes speed over reflection and screens over paper books, Belmond has chosen to highlight six writers rooted in their time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In this <b>literary journey<\/b> titled <b>\u201cWriters on The Rails\u201d<\/b>, <b>the brand thus revitalizes the cultural and narrative heritage of its legendary train.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195685\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195685\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-195685\" title=\"VSOE 23042026 01 (1)\" src=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"VSOE 23042026 01 (1)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-60x34.jpg 60w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-23042026-01-1-750x422.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195685\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a9 <\/span>Belmond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For this inaugural literary odyssey, the lineup is decidedly Anglo-Saxon yet diverse in its roots, featuring English novelist and Sunday Times #1 best-selling author <b>Elizabeth Day<\/b>; New York Times best-selling American author <b>Ottessa Moshfegh<\/b>; <b>George the Poet<\/b>, a London-born spoken-word artist and podcast creator of Ugandan origin; British author <b>Bernardine Evaristo<\/b>, winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, a Sunday Times bestseller, and international best-selling author; award-winning Chinese-American writer <b>Rebecca F. Kuang<\/b>; and British author <b>David Nicholls<\/b>, author of the best-selling novel *One Day*, which has sold millions of copies.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Through their writing, <b>each of these narrators, transformed into a literary travel guide<\/b>, must answer a simple question: what story might this experience give rise to? The result is <b>an anthology blending the experience of travel with personal emotions<\/b> evoked by the landscapes seen through the window, as well as the most intimate moments of life aboard the train.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>The Golden Age of Travel Revived<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<b>Creating memorable and unforgettable experiences<\/b>\u201d is at the heart of the Belmond Group\u2019s promise, which <b>beyond hotel services<\/b> <strong>has expanded over the years to include safaris, cruises, and train travel.<\/strong> But not just any trains: <b>palaces on rails<\/b> embodying a quest that is increasingly resonant with luxury clients, whether aspirational or truly wealthy: <b>Slow Travel<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This philosophy of <b>travel synonymous with leisurely pace, tranquility, and reflection<\/b> is <b>enhanced by a setting that is both historic and timeless<\/b>. This is the case with the <b>Venice Simplon-Orient Express<\/b>, born from the ambition of one man, <b>James B. Sherwood<\/b>\u2014himself the founder of the Belmond Group\u2014to revive \u201cThe Golden Age of Travel.\u201d He set out to do so by purchasing, in <b>1977<\/b>, at a Sotheby\u2019s auction in Monte Carlo, <b>two original Art Deco sleeper cars from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express<\/b>\u2014in other words, the European and Italian branch of the legendary Orient-Express.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195691\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195691\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-195691 size-large\" title=\"VSOE ACC SUI 116\" src=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-1024x683.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-60x40.jpg 60w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-ACC-SUI-116-750x500.jpg 750w\" alt=\"VSOE ACC SUI 116\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195691\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9\u00a0Belmond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since its <b>launch in 1982<\/b>, things have evolved significantly, and <b>the train has become even more comfortable and expanded its fleet<\/b>. To the point where guests now have access to <b>three categories of accommodations: historic cabins with distinctive decor, Suites, and Grand Suites, all meticulously renovated by the most skilled artisans<\/b>. The latter not only offer more space but also feature private bathrooms and a dedicated butler service available 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And for those <b>seeking an even more exclusive experience<\/b>, the train also features an <b>exceptional private car<\/b>. Named <b><i>the Observatory<\/i><\/b>, its interior was recently redesigned by the world-renowned artist <b>JR<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>The experience is as much a cultural one as it is a gastronomic one<\/b>, featuring <b>refined cuisine<\/b> by Michelin-starred French chef Jean Imbert in the colorful dining cars, along with <b>live performances and signature cocktails<\/b> in the famous \u201c3674\u201d Bar Car.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195689\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195689\" style=\"width: 792px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-195689 size-large\" title=\"VSOE FOOD 103\" src=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-792x1024.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-792x1024.jpg 792w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-768x993.jpg 768w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-1188x1536.jpg 1188w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-1584x2048.jpg 1584w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-60x78.jpg 60w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-750x970.jpg 750w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VSOE-FOOD-103-scaled.jpg 1980w\" alt=\"VSOE FOOD 103\" width=\"792\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195689\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9\u00a0Belmond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>To Amalfi via Pompeii<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Connecting iconic European destinations\u2014from Paris to Venice\u2014and extending the journey to Vienna, Prague, or Istanbul, the Venice Simplon-Orient Express is introducing <b>a brand-new itinerary for the 2026 season.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195687\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195687\" style=\"width: 819px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-195687 size-large\" title=\"LVMH Amalfi\" src=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-819x1024.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-60x75.jpg 60w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-480x600.jpg 480w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-750x938.jpg 750w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LVMH_Amalfi-scaled.avif 2048w\" alt=\"LVMH Amalfi\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195687\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9\u00a0Belmond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The famous luxury train is unveiling its <b>Villeggiatura by Train<\/b>, inspired by the <b>Italian tradition of seasonal summer getaways<\/b>, inaugurating a <strong>dream route connecting Paris to the Amalfi Coast via the ancient city of Pompeii.<\/strong> In this historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, travelers can take part in an exclusive tour of the Casa del Larario Regio V, normally closed to the public.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The final destination in Italy, <b>the Hotel Caruso<\/b>, an authentic 11th-century palace, the jewel of the town of Ravello (Campania) and the crowning glory of Belmond\u2019s portfolio, offers a breathtaking view of the sea and features <b>the only pool club on the Amalfi Coast<\/b>. This <b>four-day stay<\/b> includes <b>various excursions and experiences both on land and at sea<\/b>. Guests can enjoy a boat ride to Positano, take a cooking class with the hotel\u2019s chef, Armando Aristarco, or participate in a painting class.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_195682\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195682\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-195682 size-large\" title=\"Belmond Caruso Ravello\" src=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-1024x516.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-1024x516.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-768x387.jpg 768w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-1536x773.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-2048x1031.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-60x30.jpg 60w, https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Belmond_Caruso_Ravello-750x378.jpg 750w\" alt=\"Belmond Caruso Ravello\" width=\"1024\" height=\"516\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-195682\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caruso A Belmond Hotel at Ravello \u00a9 Belmond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Read also &gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/marguerite-belmonds-new-luxury-houseboat\/\">Marguerite, Belmond\u2019s New Luxury Houseboat<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Featured Photo: \u00a9 Belmond<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Belmond\u2019s Venice Simplon-Orient Express, a legendary train known for its Paris-Venice route, offers its passengers an exclusive literary experience. The prestigious LVMH hotel group is thus launching \u201cWriters on the Rails,\u201d a series of short stories recounting the emotions experienced on board by renowned novelists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":195668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% %%sep%% %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"With \u201cWriters on the Rails,\u201d Belmond transforms its slow travel experience aboard the Venice-Simplon Orient Express into a literary journey.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1964],"tags":[23858,22999,25252,23007,22970,22419,23030,25608],"class_list":["post-195669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brand-strategy","tag-client-experience","tag-hotel-and-catering","tag-italie-en","tag-khol-en","tag-lvmh-en","tag-news-en","tag-riviera-en","tag-voyage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195669"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":195700,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195669\/revisions\/195700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/luxus-plus.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}