Expect shimmering Mediterranean blues, charming pastel villages and lashings of old-world glamour.
Travellers have long fallen for the romance of rail travel – the ever-changing scenery, the train’s gentle lull, the pleasure of waking somewhere new. Now, one of Europe’s most storied trains has us daydreaming all over again with a brand-new route.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the benchmark for old-world railway glamour, is heading to the French Riviera for the first time. The new route from Paris to Monaco will whisk travellers aboard midnight-blue Art Deco carriages from the twinkling City of Lights through the dazzling Côte d’Azur region, passing through Saint-Raphaël, Cannes and Nice. The announcement follows Belmond’s unveiling of its first train journey from Paris to the Amalfi Coast, which launched its inaugural voyage in May 2026.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train is introducing a new route from Paris to Monaco.
Departing for the first time on 10 May 2027, the new overnight Paris-to-Monaco route will be offered annually, offering a dreamy way to travel from the twinkling City of Lights to the breezy Mediterranean.
The one-night journey begins at Paris Gare d’Austerlitz station, where guests will step aboard exquisite Art Deco carriages that recall the Golden Age of rail travel. The line traces the French Riviera coast, passing through the Massif de l’Estérel – a dramatic mountain range known for its reddish cliffs that tumble into the azure Mediterranean – then glides through the historic resort towns of Saint-Raphaël, Cannes and Nice. Promising unparalleled scenery and the finest French service, it’s tipped to become one of the best train journeys in the world.
The new route will end in Monaco. (Unsplash/Victor He)
The train boasts some of the world's most beautiful interiors on rails.
Sparkling Mediterranean blues await.
A masterpiece in design, the train features some of the most opulent railway interiors found anywhere on the globe. Guests can choose from sumptuous accommodation options from Historic Cabins to Grand Suites, which showcase elegant marquetry, plush double bedding and Art Deco fixtures handcrafted by Parisian ateliers.
Slow slip cocktails and fine Champagne in the Bar Car 2674 while watching picturesque mountain ranges give way to the glistening Mediterranean coastline. Or savour foie gras, lobster and dauphinois potato gratin in one of the dining cars, which dish up seasonal flavours on crisp white-linen tables.
Expect fine dining and drinking aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
This once-in-a-lifetime rail journey, however, comes with a steep price tag bound to elicit a gasp. Tickets for the new Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Paris-to-Monaco overnight journey will cost €4870 per person, based on two people sharing a Historic Cabin. Meals, wine, transfers and steward service are included in the price. Contact the reservations team via the Belmond website for booking enquiries.
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Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
