10 September 2009

Luxury Rail Tours - The Ultimate Way to Travel

Rail is one of the best ways to see the world - enabling the traveller to sit back in comfort, enjoy delicious cuisine, wine and company, while viewing the world's most magnificent scenery. A luxury rail tour allows the traveller to witness some of the wildest and most beautiful places on earth from the comfort and convenience of an air-conditioned carriage.

For the ultimate in luxury travel experiences, here are a few of the world's most stunning trains.

The Royal Scotsman

To step aboard The Royal Scotsman is to step into a different world. The Royal Scotsman evokes the nostalgia of a bygone era; the romantic age of travel when the journey was as important as the destination.

This train provides an effortless way to experience Scotland in absolute luxury with just a few fellow travellers. With a maximum of only 36 guests aboard at any one time, it is easy to see why the Scotsman is considered among the top ten of the most luxurious trains in the world.

Seen from the comfort of the Observation Car the spectacle of Scotland's great wilderness does take the breath away - from sweeping glens to towering peaks and black lochs.

Al Andalus Express

The Al Andalus Express is comparable to a luxury hotel on wheels, a comfortable vantage point from which travellers can admire the Spanish countryside. Andalusia is the birthplace of flamenco and one of the most beautiful regions of Spain. Today it is a paradise for everyone to enjoy, with its stunning olive groves, picturesque villages and ancient cathedrals.

The interior of the Al Andalus Express offers all manner of exquisite touches, refinement and services. Travelling the Al Andalus across the panoramic landscape of Andalusia is an unforgettable experience.

The Express is made up of twelve cars: two restaurant cars, a lounge and game car; the Giralda bar car; five sleeping cars, two shower cars and a staff car.

Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail boasts international reputation for offering a world-class travel experiences. Passengers simply step aboard the wood-panelled coaches - classics remodelled and refurbished to mint condition - and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the windows.

In a series of journeys lasting from 24 hours to a fortnight, the Pride of Africa links some of Africa's greatest destinations - from Cape Town to Dar-Es-Salaam in Tanzania, from scenic splendours such as the game reserves of Mpumalanga to the stark beauty of the Karoo.

Eastern & Oriental Express

This luxury train was first built in Japan in 1972 and first operated as the Silver Star train in New Zealand. The interior of the carriage is inspired by the East. The carriage walls are decorated with wooden marquetry of Eastern designs, while the bar and restaurant cars are decorated in Chinese and Thai lacquer.

Accommodation on board the Eastern & Oriental Express includes three grades of compartments: Presidential Suite, State Compartments and Pullman Compartments. All are air-conditioned, with en suite shower rooms. During dinner the steward transforms passenger compartments from daytime seating to bedrooms.

Facilities include a 24-hour steward service, international electric sockets and 110 volt adapter for razors, personal safe and hairdryer. The Presidential Suite also features a complimentary bar.

The train's observation car provides the perfect vantage point to witness the ever-changing terrain as the journey progresses through tropical countryside and jungle, past ancient temples, rivers and rice paddies.

The Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian Express can satisfy one's thirst for adventure without sacrificing comfort. Tour Russia and other countries of the former USSR in luxurious style. The Express does not operate a 'fixed formation' train, as the composition varies to suit the number of passengers. For this reason the choice of the cabins can vary from trip to trip.

The Express Cars are purpose-built, new carriages designed for the 21st century to offer top-class comfort and service. Each carriage has four compartments which can be configured for double, twin or single occupancy, with the lower berth converting into a sofa for daytime travel.

Each compartment features its own private shower and toilet facilities and has a wardrobe, audio system, DVD/VCR and air conditioning with individual climate control.

Live out your wildest dreams by booking a luxury rail tour today.

Karen Cooke is a professional consultant with Travel Associates, an exclusive Australian travel agency catering to the premium travel market. More helpful travel tips and suggestions are available at http://www.travel-associates.com.au

Karen Cooke - EzineArticles Expert Author


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Booking a Tour Through a Travel Consolidator

When you are ready to book your summer vacation, it is likely that you are going to choose either a travel agency or an online discount site. However, there is one option which may be ideal for you that you do not even know about and that is a travel consolidator.

Understanding Travel Consolidators

Basically a travel consolidator is a high-volume ticket broker. They tend to purchase a large number of tickets and then sell them to consumers for a lower price than most published fares. So by purchasing from a ticket consolidator you could potentially save a lot of money on travel and perhaps even on a tour in your chosen destination.

The reason that a travel consolidator can afford to sell tickets so cheaply is because when they purchase such a large number of tickets, they get a good discount. It is possible that some travel consolidators even have a contract with different airline companies because they purchase so many tickets form them.

However, when you look for information on travel consolidators, you will notice that they only tend to buy tickets for popular destinations. After all, they need to know that the large number of tickets that they purchase will actually sell, so they are not going to purchase tickets for an unknown location. Generally airlines will have more than one travel consolidator dealing with them. This is basically to ensure that the flights will be fully booked as there is often a worry that seats will be left empty on various flights. So if a consolidator can sell the tickets really cheaply then there is less chance that the flight will be left empty.

You may be wondering how travel consolidators make their money when they are selling the tickets so cheaply. Well because the discount that they get for purchasing a large number of tickets is quite significant, they can afford to sell the tickets really cheaply and still make a profit. In fact some travel consolidators even sell the tickets for ordinary published prices which mean that they make even more of a profit. They mainly sell to travel agencies and members of the public. Some travel consolidators even sell their tickets online too.

Overall if you can find a travel consolidator then you may well be able to save quite a lot of money on your next vacation. However there are different types of travel consolidators and some will be better than others. This means that you should look and see which travel consolidators have been reviewed on various comparison websites and see which ones sound the most reliable to go with.

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Elegant Wedding Photography

Wedding photographs are truly something to be cherished throughout your life. These photographs speak a lot about the moments of enjoyment, the presence of the couple, the feeling of joy and everything that the bride and the groom experiences. Wedding photography should capture every move and every emotion that comes once in a lifetime.

It is also about a lot of advanced planning and management, or else, your wedding photographs could be a great disappointment. Even if you have hired the best photographer and had the best crew to assist you, incomplete arrangements can prove to be disastrous.

The key to elegant wedding photography is communication. Good photography begins with the development of good relationship with the photographer. Discussing all the intricacies of photography, including the style and the approach will give an insight to the person who would be taking the photographs. This helps in making these photographs a memorable experience and the photos seem more real.

You can as well give your photographer the liberty to use his own shooting philosophy. Depending on the different aspects of the wedding, such as venue, style, event etc. The photographer can use his imagination to produce excellent photographs.

If you also want to help your photographer in creating the best and the most beautiful photographs for that special day of your life, you must also look into the attribute layout of the site, the lights, the overall atmosphere and the hues used to make sure that everything is perfect.

The elegance of the photographs lies in the natural looks, the ambient light and the overall decoration. Simple is perfect for photograph. But the lights make a great difference. When dark places are chosen for weddings, which happen occasionally, the photographers are left with no other option but to use the flash lights.

Every wedding photograph is like a memory of overwhelming emotions. From the point the bride is being dressed, till the time the couple kiss each other, every moment is worth capturing. From the wedding gown to the rings, to the cake and the flowers, the ceremony and the venue, everything is important. Concentrating on the close-ups is also a must.

Some classic examples of elegant wedding photographs can be seen in different websites. The background, the attire and the colors are so well matched that it seems natural and not just photography.

Classiness also lies in the different positions and angles used for photography; it isn't everybody's forte. Only a handful of photographers can give you those perfect shots to make your wedding photos stand out in the crowd.

Capturing every emotion is also another sophistication of photography. The bride goes through countless emotions on the weeding day - sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and sometimes nervous and sometimes longing for the groom. Remembering these emotions can give you heart-felt joy even after years of wedding. These photographs can freshen up your memory whenever you want to experience that special day once again.

The groom cannot be left out - he also enjoys, feels nervous for the newly acquired status and responsibility, has a great time with friends and longs to kiss his bride. They hold hands, they hug and then the wedding kiss - an ever joyous moment.

For further information, please visit Elegant Wedding Photography Website

Hayi Mansoor - EzineArticles Expert Author


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