Ringing in the New Year just became even more special and stylish with the world’s most luxurious train travel company, Orient Express, announcing its new Whispers at Midnight journey. Running from 30 December to 1 January, the new three-day, two-night journey onboard the glamorous La Dolce Vita Orient Express starts and ends in Italy’s Rome. It will take passengers on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that marries the romance of unhurried travel with the excitement of celebrating the new year, combining luxury, gastronomy and entertainment.
The ultra-chic La Dolce Vita Orient Express exudes timeless luxury. (Image: Mr. Tripper)
The iconic La Dolce Vita Orient Express exudes a mid-century Italian aesthetic inspired by the ’60s and ’70s. Richly layered with warm wood panels, textured upholstery, geometric patterns and gold accents, the locomotive has become synonymous with timeless luxury and unparalleled hospitality.
The new route begins in Rome at the ultra-chic La Dolce Vita Lounge, before heading to Tuscany’s Montalcino, a charming medieval town surrounded by rolling vineyards and cypress-lined roads, celebrated for its world-renowned Brunello wine. Guests can opt for à la carte or optional off‑board experiences, such as wine-tasting tours, available at an additional cost.
Celebrate the New Year with a Michelin-starred dining experience. (Image: Mr. Tripper)
Dinner that evening is prepared by world-renowned three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck. Beck is widely regarded as one of the most influential chefs in contemporary Italian gastronomy, preparing modern Italian dishes with refined techniques. The evening unfolds with live performances from a pianist and singer, alongside elevated tipples, for a truly sophisticated end to the day.
Soak up Tuscan views. (Image: Mr. Tripper)
The next morning, begin your day with breakfast in your cabin or in the dining car as the train pulls into Venezia Santa Lucia. Guests will be taken on a scenic boat journey through Venice’s canals before being treated to a spectacular, multi-course New Year’s dinner by Chef Heinz Beck, accompanied by fine wines. The festivities will continue into the evening with a burlesque show in The Bar Car and a DJ set. A leisurely breakfast on New Year’s Day before arriving at Roma Ostiense station brings the journey to a refined close.
The Whispers at Midnight journey is set to be an unforgettable way to kickstart the new year while passing through some of Italy’s most beloved regions.
Details
Let the gentle hum of the rails lull you to sleep. (Image: Mr. Tripper)
Price: €11,280 (A$19,875) per person (including all food, drinks, and onboard entertainment)
Journey length: 3 days, 2 nights
Dates: 30 December to 1 January
Departure and return: Starts and ends in Rome at La Dolce Vita Lounge
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Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist, editor and hotel addict based in the UK. She was formerly International Traveller's Evergreen Editor and was responsible for the foundational content ahead of its website relaunch, as well as managing and growing the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to creating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. Next on her travel wish list is Malta.
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.
