Cabins are panelled with hardwood veneers with marquetry detailing as one might expect; seating is plush with luxurious fabrics, with silk and velvet cushions and there were vintage style gilt wall lamps completing the look. Rovos Rail features elegant lounges, a dining car and an observation car. On our trip these seemed to have been allocated to the Honeymooners, so it’s worth booking ahead if you want a larger cabin. So TLE packed our Louis Vuitton with our favourite finery and got on board this 5 star hotel on wheels for a luxury land cruise of old school glamour, fine-dining and decadent extravagance! This wasn’t my first time travelling on a luxury train, and I was intrigued to see how this relatively new locomotive would be presented. Pretoria to Cape Town 11/01/21 On a short trip like this I appreciate the staff has little time to build a rapport with guests, yet there were moments when the kindness seemed very contrived. The 27 hour journey whisks guests into a bygone era of elegance, a time when the journey itself was something to be savoured, with the luxury of being looked after by a butler and indulged with excellent cuisine. The Blue Train. The Blue Train lives up to its reputation as one of the finest luxury trains in the world. I must have been caught up in the sheer decadence of the whole affair – and really that’s the best way to enjoy The Blue Train. Many of the world’s luxury trains have a historic heritage and continue to use vintage carriages. […], © 2020 - The Luxury Editor. The Blue Train, Pretoria: Consulta 406 opiniones, artículos, y 423 fotos de The Blue Train, clasificada en Tripadvisor en el N.°12 de 110 atracciones en Pretoria. 2016 will see The Blue Train re-launch its Pretoria to Hoedspruit service, making the wildlife reserves and games lodges of the Greater Krugar National Park and Sabi Sands even more accessible. Rates quoted are for a one-way journey and are subject to change without prior notification. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Blue Train Journeys convey guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside tin South Africa. After lunch the train makes a scheduled stop to visit to a historic railway community – the well-conserved 19th century Matjiesfontein. We met some interesting people over the 3 days. Transportation, Mass Transportation Systems. The suites are spacious and elegantly appointed, each with its own bathroom. It’s an indulgent and unique way to start or end a safari experience in South Africa, and undoubtedly a memorable way to take in some of the country’s exceptional scenery. https://theluxuryeditor.com/the-blue-train-south-africa-review We started our experience at Cape Town Station – like many urban transport hubs, it didn’t exactly ooze glamour, especially before eight in the morning. Train Set 2 is the weekly “schedule” train running between Pretoria and Cape Town. Welcome to the Blue Train - a luxurious South African rail experience. On our journey guests were only offered an hour’s connectivity which for a 27 hour trip seemed a little absurd, especially considering the price of the experience, although I am now advised that the service is being upgraded and provided without limits. The washroom had touches of luxury, with gold-coloured fittings, thick cotton, monogramed towels, complimentary amenities, bathrobes and slippers. The former can accommodate a maximum of 54 guests and is available for use during charters. The cabin was well-presented with personalised welcome letter, fresh flowers, fruit and complimentary mineral water. There was a knock at the cabin door; it was Angela, my dedicated Butler, seeing if I was settling in alright and wandering if I’d like a drink. However, by the end of the journey I couldn’t help but feel that the menus could have been modified slightly to better suit the obvious constraints of preparing the meal on a train. The main plates included pepper crusted springbok with a pistachio lamb cutlet; prosciutto wrapped monk fish; and seared duck breast. I reluctantly packed a tie, but that day I actually rather enjoyed dressing up for supper. Essential Info: The Blue Train is a top-level luxury experience, and prices reflect that. A glass of rosé bubbles from the award-winning South African ‘House of Krone’ seemed the appropriate way to start Brunch and I happily continued with an easy-drinking, delicious Sauvignon Blanc by boutique winery, ‘Bouchard Finlayson’. If you want to leave a gratuity, the fairest way is to leave an envelope in the Gratuity Box, which will be shared to all members including those behind the scenes. 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