The Orient Express Holiday

If the flapper period gets you in a flap then a trip back in time on the Venice Simplon Orient Express could be just the thing to let your imagination go into 1920s overdrive. With original carriages encapsulating the glamour of the era, fine cuisine and waiters at your beck and call on the trip across Europe, it's a world away from your bog-standard no-frills flight.

Setting off from London Victoria, the Orient-Express can whisk you away to enjoy the romance of Paris, the magic of Venice, the charm of Budapest, the elegance of Vienna, the splendour of Prague or the Turkish delights of Istanbul. That is, of course, if you can bear to drag yourself off the train.

The luxurious carriages date from the 1920s when extravagant train travel reached its zenith. Original designs have been restored by craftsmen and the art nouveau brass table lamp and hand blown French crystal gleam like new. But whilst the single and double compartments may have been the height of blow-the-budget train travel in their time, for the sake of authenticity they do not have showers or baths - only gilded taps.

But a lack of washing facilities is no reason for dressing down - on the contrary those foolhardy souls who dare to emerge from their room in jeans will be politely removed from the company of other well-attired folk. During the day casual smart dress will suffice but when the candles are lit for an intimate evening dinner then its time to dust off that evening dress or brush down that tux to join the black tie brigade. When you're on the Orient-Express it's impossible to be overdressed. In fact, Agatha Christie fans might say you should dress to kill.

But your efforts will be richly rewarded with traditional cocktails to the classical strains from the baby grand piano in the stylish Bar Car which in its time has been graced by many a celebrity, head of state and even royalty. And when it comes to dining then take your pick from three individually styled restaurant cars - The Côte d’Azur style of the Lalique, the marquetry of the Etoile du Nord, or the black lacquer panels of the Chinoise. Then it's a case of sitting back and sipping your aperitif whilst the French chefs whipping up a storm in the kitchen and the ever-obliging Italian waiters deliver it with a flourish to your table.

But the price of high-class travel does not come cheap with fares starting at £425 for a one-way trip from London to Paris. Those with seemingly bottomless pockets could always stump up the £4,100 one-way fare from London to Istanbul whilst a return on the London-Paris-Venice route will set you back £2015.

The Orient-Express is as grand as a train can get and it's certainly carved a name for itself as the height of luxury travel. It may not be everyone's bone china cup of finest quality tea but if nothing else you can vent any pretensions of grandeur you may secretly harbour whilst taking full advantage of the style and comfort enjoyed by yesteryear's rich and famous jet set.