There seems something luxurious and old-fashioned about booking a first-class, scenic train trip.
From spacious suites to sparkling dining rooms, train companies around the world offer different first-class experiences to keep you comfortable while you watch the world go by.
Stay in the most deluxe cabin onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, for instance, and you'll find yourself surrounded by old-world opulence — as well as access to a private marble bathroom.
First-class travel on one of Japan's bullet trains offers automated reclining seats and complimentary dining service, while on some Amtrak trains, traveling in the highest class simply makes for a more spacious seating arrangement.
Here's what first class looks like on 12 trains, from some of the world's most luxurious locomotives to contemporary, comfortable cabins.
The Eastern & Oriental Express travels through Southeast Asia. Its Presidential Suite comes with a minibar and massive picture window.
Passengers who book the Presidential Suite, the most luxurious cabin onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, can lounge in luxury. The ornate cabins also have an en suite shower and restroom and are fully air-conditioned.
The Presidential Suite appears even more elegant at night. The couches fold out to become beds, and attendants equip the suite with bathrobes and slippers for the ultimate luxury experience.
After a good night's rest in the spacious cabin, passengers can enjoy a complimentary breakfast brought right to their door.
Suite cabins onboard the Andean Explorer train are ornately decorated and include a double bed, closet, and elegant en-suite bathroom.
On the Andean Explorer, which travels through Peru, a stay in one of the train's suite cabins is a true first-class experience — complete with a robe and slippers, 24/7 assistance buttons, and a spacious, private room.
Travelers in the GoldLeaf class onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, which travels through the Canadian Rockies, can relax in a stunning glass-ceiling coach.
The Rocky Mountaineer train offers two classes: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. GoldLeaf is its equivalent to first class — and it includes a car with glass ceilings, which give passengers uninterrupted views of the landscape. GoldLeaf also offers sit-down, gourmet meals, as well as top-notch service from tour guides who point out passing landmarks and wildlife.
First-class cars on Renfe and SNCF's high-speed trains, which travel through France and Spain, have spacious seats and huge windows.
Most first-class trains operated by the European rail companies Renfe and SNFC have three seats in a row (instead of four), providing a spacious experience. First-class travelers also have access to free WiFi, power outlets, and an onboard "club space," where passengers can connect their laptops to TV screens.
On Eurostar trains, first class, or "standard premier," offers complimentary food and a larger luggage allowance compared with other classes.
Eurostar passengers who book a standard premier trip get a larger seat, plus a free meal and drinks, and they're allowed to bring more pieces of luggage than travelers in the train's regular class.
The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express offers a luxurious experience in its highest-class cabin, the Imperial Suite. The cabin has a lounge area and includes in-cabin dining and laundry service.