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There was a time when travel was an event, an elegant affair of steamer trunks, handwritten letters, and long, leisurely journeys as magnificent as the destinations themselves. This was the Golden Age, an era when the voyage held its own romance and discovery unfolded at a more graceful pace. While the world has certainly changed, that spirit of glamour and intention is not lost. It lives on in certain places, waiting for you to step back in time and experience the world with a bit more ceremony.
1. Italy
The journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is not a trip; it is a rolling piece of art deco history. As you glide from Paris to Venice, dressed for dinner in the opulent, wood-paneled dining car, you are a character in a timeless narrative. The clinking of crystal, the blur of the European countryside, and the impeccable service evoke an era of unparalleled elegance. This is the very definition of traveling in style, a moving tribute to the art of the journey itself.
2. Egypt
A voyage down the Nile on a traditional dahabiya is a journey into the heart of antiquity. Unlike large cruise ships, these intimate sailboats allow you to drift silently between Luxor and Aswan, visiting ancient temples at dawn before the crowds arrive. As you watch the timeless scenes of daily life unfold along the riverbanks from a wicker chair on your private deck, you channel the spirit of early explorers who were first captivated by Egypt’s wonders. The only sounds are the wind and the gentle lapping of the water.
3. Switzerland
The grandeur of the Swiss Alps has long been matched by the elegance of its travel. This is a country that perfected the art of grand tourism. Riding the historic Glacier Express through breathtaking mountain passes or staying at a Belle Époque palace hotel like the Beau-Rivage Palace overlooking Lake Geneva connects you to that legacy. These were the original wellness retreats for discerning travelers, and you can still “take the mountain air” with a sense of ceremony and old-world sophistication that feels wonderfully preserved.
4. Scotland
The windswept romance of the Scottish Highlands is best experienced from the mahogany carriages of the Belmond Royal Scotsman. This is not a commuter train; it is a country house on wheels. The journey through misty lochs, ancient castles, and dramatic glens is an intimate experience, shared with just a few other guests. Dressed in tartan for a dinner of local game and enjoying a fine whisky in the observation car, you are not a tourist but a participant in the wild, poetic soul of Scotland.
5. Peru
Peru offers a journey into the golden age of exploration, a pilgrimage that culminates at the lost city of Machu Picchu. This experience is made all the more elegant aboard the Hiram Bingham train, a carriage of polished wood and brass that winds through the Sacred Valley. Sipping a Pisco Sour in the observation car as the Andes rise dramatically around you evokes a sense of true discovery, where the voyage itself becomes a rich and integral part of the final, breathtaking reward.
6. Argentina
Buenos Aires was once the “Paris of South America,” and that Belle Époque grandeur still echoes through its wide avenues and historic cafes. You feel it in the formal dress of its residents and the sultry, passionate rhythm of its tango halls. This is a city that invites you to dress for dinner, dine late, and immerse yourself in a culture of sophisticated, romantic flair. Its soul feels more European than Latin American, a place where Old World traditions are still very much alive.
7. Morocco
The magic of Morocco lies in its ability to transport you. In Marrakesh, stepping from a chaotic souk into the serene, tiled courtyard of a historic riad feels like discovering a secret world. It is this contrast between public and private, the idea of hidden beauty, that captivated style icons like Yves Saint Laurent. That legacy of effortless, curated elegance lives on in a place of sensory richness and refined hospitality, where past traditions are a vibrant part of the present.
8. Austria
The imperial spirit of the Habsburg Empire is still palpable in Vienna. Here, you can attend a grand ball in a gilded palace or take a horse-drawn carriage through the city center. The city’s legendary coffee houses, like the iconic Café Central, are institutions where formally dressed waiters serve you and time seems to slow. Vienna offers a romance that is classical and cultured, a city that still operates with an unapologetically formal grace.
9. India
India’s royal past comes to life aboard its luxurious palace trains, like the legendary Maharajas’ Express. This spirit extends to the heritage hotels, many of them actual former palaces in Jaipur or Udaipur. Here, you are treated not simply as a guest, but as royalty, surrounded by history, splendor, and the meticulous personal service that defined a more gracious era of travel. It is an experience of unparalleled grandeur.
10. Kenya
The classic African safari is a direct descendant of the grand expeditions of the early 20th century. In Kenya, you can stay in a luxury tented camp reminiscent of those in “Out of Africa,” complete with antique furnishings, Persian rugs, and personal butlers. The ritual of a sundowner cocktail on the savanna as the sun sets behind a lone acacia tree is timeless. It connects you directly to the romance and adventure of the continent’s wild, open spaces, an expedition conducted with style.
11. Cuba
A trip to Havana is a step into a living museum, a city where time seems to have paused around 1959. The streets are a moving parade of meticulously maintained classic American cars, not as props but as part of the city’s daily fabric. The colonial architecture, though faded, retains its magnificent grandeur. Strolling the Malecón at sunset or listening to live music in a historic bar, you can feel the rhythms of a glamorous, bygone era still beating strong and true.