The best of Italy with five-star service and luxury

La Dolce Vita

EUROPE’S FINEST FIRST CLASS
AMALFI COAST  |  ROME  |  FLORENCE  |  VENICE

9-night individual luxury rail vacation
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Exclusive premium first-class rail travel
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Historic five-star hotels
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VIP arrival and departure with private guides and drivers
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Privately guided city walks with local insiders
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Only £4200*
*per person when two travelling together

Dolce-vita-map

So, you thought that the romance and luxury of the Orient-Express belonged to a long-lost past? Then behold modern Europe’s most stunning first-class cabin and savour personal service with lunch and wine served at your seat. You find it onboard Italy’s flagship high-speed train, and we can think of no finer way to experience Italy. Especially when you also travel with Silver Tray’s personal service, with private guides, drivers, and local insiders in every city. This perfect journey takes to from the Amalfi Coast to Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Venice. In grand style every step of the way.

21st century luxury rail travel

If they built the Orient-Express today, it would look like this

You have probably dreamt about booking a trip in a beautifully restored Orient–Express train with mahogany and tuxedoed waiters. We certainly enjoyed experiencing how the posh set travelled a century ago. If only travelling were that comfortable and romantic today, right? Well, it can be.

Around Europe, a handful of modern, high-speed trains deliver what we think is fair to describe as the 21stCentury–Orient–Express. Here you find a level of comfort and service above and beyond anything you have ever imagined possible on a regular train today. One thing we savour is that these are not tourist trains but designed for business executives and discerning, well-heeled travellers. Just like the original Orient-Express was a real train on an important route for Victorian and Edwardian versions of very similar demographics. Similarly, these new trains do not have mahogany or tuxedoed waiters, because they are authentically of their time. We rather like that.

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You could call this
an Orient-Express 
for the 21st century
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While there are several of these services around Europe, we think one of the very best is to be found in Italy. Therefore, we have crafted a 21st Century–Orient–Express vacation to some of Italy’s finest cities.

You travel in Executive Class on the Frecciarossa (‘red arrow’) high-speed flagship of Italian Railways. The exclusive premium first-class cabin is limited to just ten passengers who are welcomed by a steward and shown to their exorbitantly wide and comfortable leather seat. The seating configuration is an extravagant one+one set-up, and your seat can swivel 180 degrees. You are treated to a welcome drink, followed by a meal with wine served at your seat. Since you travel at speeds up to 300 km/h, you always arrive at your destination with plenty of time to go exploring.

When you disembark the train, Silver Tray ensures that the romance of travel continues all the way to your classic five-star hotel. Your personal Silver Tray guide welcomes you the moment you disembark and escorts you to a waiting chauffeured car. Once you are checked in, she will invite you on a private city walk and give you a personal and authentic introduction to her city.

A couple of days later, as you leave for the next destination, your private guide and driver will escort you all the way to your train. This departure service with a private escort is unique to Silver Tray’s premium first level.

You begin your vacation by flying into Naples, where a chauffeured car will drive you to your classic luxury hotel in Ravello, with stunning views of the Amalfi Coast from the hotel’s terrace. From here, you travel in Executive Class to Rome, Florence, and Venice, always staying in historic hotels with top-level service and perfect locations (such as: Right on the Canal Grande in Venice, or with a bird’s-eye view of Pantheon’s ancient dome in Rome).

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Savour your trip down
the Canal Grande
in your very own
water taxi
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In Venice, your chauffeured transfer is by a private water taxi that awaits you as you descend the stairs from the Santa Lucia railway station to the Canal Grande. This is also how you make your final, magical trip on this vacation to the airport across the lagoon.

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Day 1
Arrive from London to the Amalfi Coast

You arrive at Naples airport on your included flight from London, where a private driver will be waiting to drive you to your five-star hotel in Ravello on the Amalfi Coast. Here, a local insider will welcome you and invite you on a privately guided city walk.

Included flight from London
Chauffeured car to Ravello
Privately guided city walk with local insider
Day 2 & 3
Amalfi Coast

There are few more beautiful or romantic spots in all of Europe than the Amalfi Coast.  Picturesque villages cling to the steep mountainsides above the Mediterranean Sea, hidden beaches are nestled in small coves amongst the rocks, lemon trees deliver the flavour to the refreshing glass of Limoncello you’ll enjoy together with the setting sun over the Mediterranean.

The Amalfi Coast has enchanted visitors since antiquity with its stunning scenery and fabled villages like Ravello, Amalfi and Positano. If you want to go all-in on La Dolce Vita, you can certainly do so at the many fine restaurants and other hotspots. But you can also leave the crowds behind and head for one of Europe’s most scenic hike, a long but technically easy balcony trail high above the sea with stunning views of the coast, the villages, and the island of Capri. You will discover that its exalted name, The Path of the Gods, is actually well-deserved.

 

Italy's most romantic towns
Stunning scenery
Day 4
Amalfi Coast – Rome

You are driven from your hotel to the railway station courtesy of your private chauffeur and guide, who will escort you through the station to your train. Here, a steward will greet you, as you board the Executive Class wagon on the Frecciarossa high-speed train.

This exclusive premium first-class cabin is limited to just ten passengers, seated in a one+one configuration. Your leather seat is an extremely spacious and comfortable armchair that can swivel 180 degrees. You are treated to a welcome drink, followed by a meal with wine served at your seat.

When you arrive, your private Silver Tray guide awaits you on the platform and escorts you to the chauffeured car. Once you are checked-in at the luxurious and classic hotel, your guide will invite you on a privately guided city walk where she will give you a personal and insider’s introduction to her city.

Premium first-class with exclusive ambiance and personal service
Included lunch and wine served at your seat
VIP departure and arrival service with private guide and driver
Privately guided city walk with local insider
Day 5
Rome

For over a millennium, Rome controlled the destiny of the known world. Even though an incredible number of the ancient palaces, churches, and monuments still survive, Rome no longer feels like a mighty capital, but rather as one of the most charming cities in Europe. 2000 years after the glory days of Imperial Rome, all the intrigue and megalomania has somehow transmogrified into the very essence of beauty and romance. History is funny that way.

Equally surprisingly, Rome is eminently walkable. The city centre is quite compact, and with the famously ferocious traffic relegated to the main thoroughfares, you’ll find most of the ancient streets quiet and relaxed.

Meander for miles all day, then retire to a delicious trattoria and manage to ruin the calorie count anyway. About that dinner: These days, trendy Romans flock to the local restaurants around the old meat market in Testaccio, a 20th century neighbourhood south of the historic centre. With few tourists, and fewer tourist traps, this is where you’ll find informal restaurants with often superb Italian cooking.

 

Once the centre of the world. Now just utterly romantic.
Hidden treasure: The local restaurants in the Testaccio neighbourhood.
Day 6
Rome – Florence

You are driven from your hotel to the railway station courtesy of your private chauffeur and guide, who will escort you through the station to your train. Here, a steward will greet you, as you board the Executive Class wagon on the Frecciarossa high-speed train.

This exclusive premium first-class cabin is limited to just ten passengers, seated in a one+one configuration. Your leather seat is an extremely spacious and comfortable armchair that can swivel 180 degrees. You are treated to a welcome drink, followed by a meal with wine served at your seat.

When you arrive, your private Silver Tray guide awaits you on the platform and escorts you to the chauffeured car. Once you are checked-in at the luxurious and classic hotel, your guide will invite you on a privately guided city walk where she will give you a personal and insider’s introduction to her city.

Premium first-class with exclusive ambiance and personal service
Included lunch and wine served at your seat
VIP departure and arrival service with private guide and driver
Privately guided city walk with local insider
Day 7
Florence

Looking very much as it did back in the 15th century, Florence is one of Europe’s greatest art cities, packed with awe-inspiring masterpieces. Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio. They are all here, in what was the most creative city in the world back in the day, the cradle of the Renaissance. You do not even have to venture into a museum to enjoy all of Florence’s beauty, because you are immersed in it: The historic centre is nothing but elegant palaces, candle-lit chapels, fresco-decorated churches, and marble basilicas, all crowded around achingly romantic squares.

Steeped in Renaissance art and architecture it may be, but Florence is also a living city with fine restaurants, cosy wine bars, and an active cultural scene with classical music and contemporary art.

When the sun sets, seemingly every romantic couple make their way to Piazzale Michelangelo, set above the south bank of the Arno and famous for its views over Florence. But leave the crowds behind and climb a little further up the hill to the beautiful Romanesque church of San Miniato. From her steps, the sunset over Florence is even more stunning, and also serenely peaceful.

 

One of Europe's greatest art cities
Fine Italian dining and cosy wine bars
Romantic sunsets with views of Florence
Day 8
Florence – Venice

You are driven from your hotel to the railway station courtesy of your private chauffeur and guide, who will escort you through the station to your train. Here, a steward will greet you, as you board the Executive Class wagon on the Frecciarossa high-speed train.

This exclusive premium first-class cabin is limited to just ten passengers, seated in a one+one configuration. Your leather seat is an extremely spacious and comfortable armchair that can swivel 180 degrees. You are treated to a welcome drink, followed by a meal with wine served at your seat.

When you arrive at Venice’s Santa Lucia railway station, your private Silver Tray guide awaits you on the platform and escorts you down the steps to the Canal Grande and your private water taxi. Savour the trip down the bustling canals as you are treated to what must be one of the world’s most romantic transfers.

Once you are checked-in your the luxurious and classic hotel, your guide will invite you on a privately guided city walk where she will give you a personal and insider’s introduction to Venice.

Premium first-class travel in exclusive car with personal service
Included lunch and wine served at your seat
VIP departure and arrival service, including transfer by water taxi
Privately guided city walk with local insider
Day 9
Venice

Maybe she’s no longer rich or powerful, but Venice remains a dazzling beauty. A floating city built on 117 small islands, with hundreds of canals and bridges, and a labyrinth of tiny alleys that even your Google Map cannot quite figure out, this is a metropolis unlike any you have ever seen.

 As soon as you walk down the stairs in front of the Saint Lucia train station, you are immersed in the beauty and magic that is Venice: Right in front of you beckons the Grand Canal, with a waiting private water taxi ready to sail you past palaces and churches to the landing place of your hotel.

 St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal all command awe. But true enchantment awaits when you choose a less travelled alley and dare get lost in the beautiful and authentic living quarters of the city. Turn a corner, and suddenly an architectural treasure or a small square with a local wine bar reveals itself. Whenever this happens, seize the day – because chances are, you’ll never manage to find it again.

117 islands. 100s of canals and bridges.
Ditch the map. Just get lost in the maze.
Day 10
Fly from Venice back to London

Only in Venice is a transfer to the airport magical. Your private water taxi awaits you right in front of the hotel. First, it will allow you a final close-up view of Venice as your driver navigates his way through several narrow canals, but soon your sleek vessel emerges into the lagoon and speeds up as it travels on a watery highway (marked by wooden poles) to the Marco Polo Airport’s dedicated piers.

VIP transfer to the airport with private water taxi across the lagoon

Your trains

Silver Tray has curated Europe's best trains and finest routes for you. See a few of the trains you will experience on this journey.

Frecciarossa Executive

This exclusive premium first-class cabin is limited to just ten passengers, seated in a one+one configuration. Your leather seat is an extremely spacious and comfortable armchair that can swivel 180 degrees. You are treated to a welcome drink, followed by a meal with wine served at your seat.

Four-star boutique hotels

Stay in charming, comfortable and centrally located four-star boutique hotels carefully curated by Silver Tray. Breakfast is included, as are transfers between the train station and the hotel.

Your Silver Tray service includes

Premium first-class rail travel

+ Travel in Executive Class on direct Frecciarossa high-speed trains.
+ Personal service with lunch and wine served at your seat
+ Flights from London to Naples and Venice to London

Five-star hotels

+ Stay at historic and perfectly located five-star hotels.
+ Breakfast included

Private city walks

+ Two-hour city walks by local insiders.
+ Fully customizable experiences
+ Insider advice about local restaurants and hidden gems

VIP arrival and departure service

+ Private guide waiting at your train car upon arrival
+ Private transfer to hotel
+ Similar guide and chauffeur service from hotels to train stations

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