3 hotels embracing the glamour of train travel
Step back in time by checking into one of these heritage carriages-turned-suites.
Travellers and hoteliers alike are welcoming the fashionable return of the locomotive. Coinciding with the revival of sleeper trains, which are rolling back in style as people relive the romance of falling asleep in one city and waking up in another, rail cars have inspired a new crop of five-star hotels, each an own ode to the Golden Age of train travel. Think handsome lobbies that resemble stations and rooms housed in historic carriages that have been brought back to their former, glamorous glory.
Discover three unique properties that offer a luxurious spin on the locomotive below.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, Thailand
Step into the spellbinding world of designer and architect Bill Bensley, who imagined the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort as the home of a fictitious train conductor. “There is something deeply nostalgic and romantic about train travel — it speaks to a past era of slow travel,” says Bensley.
Open for bookings from August 22, guests will have the chance to stay in one of 19 suites and villas housed in train carriages, in addition to 45 traditional-style rooms. “These are all uniquely designed to transport guests to old time train travel glamour — complete with boarding cards and special tags for their luggage,” he says. Standard rooms feature green leather chairs that resemble side berth seating and decorative luggage racks, while the 47.5-square-meter suites include an outdoor Victorian-era bathtub.
Bensley hopes the project encourages hotels and guests to think differently about sustainable design. “As an environmentalist, I love to see upcycling at this level,” he says. “To have the support of the likes of InterContinental in this is a step in the right direction when it comes to changing the narrative around recycling in luxury hospitality.”
Located on the edge of Khao Yai National Park, the hotel is the first internationally branded resort in the UNESCO-listed area. The design was inspired by the region’s rich history as a gateway for rail transportation during the reign of King Rama V from 1868 to 1910.
Bensley has spent four decades hatching retreats in Southeast Asia, including Capella Ubud in Bali, Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia and Rosewood Luang Prabang in Laos.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort opens 22 August 2022. Rooms start at approximately $244 per night.
Kruger Shalati, South Africa
Kruger National Park’s new boutique hotel offers a fresh vantage point to take in the spectacular scenery. Kruger Shalati, a 31-room property that opened in December 2021, is perched along the tracks of a long-abandoned heritage bridge, suspended high above the Sabie River.
The unique location isn’t its only drawcard. The hotel is fashioned from a reclaimed maroon-coloured South African Railways train, which, from the outside, appears as if it is frozen in time on the tracks. The interior tells a different story: Train Carriage Suites have been modernised to include stone-clad bathrooms, a rain shower and plush upholstered bed. An additional seven suites are also located off-track in the Bridge House.
Perhaps the most photogenic feature is the central deck with its circular plunge pool that glows a brilliant shade of blue. There, guests can take a dip while watching hippos and crocodiles below, before retiring to the dining carriage, where dishes like marinated ostrich fillet, warthog salami and crocodile carpaccio are on the menu.
Kruger Shalati is a short drive from Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park. Carriage rooms are priced from approximately $795 per adult per night.
Mantis Founders Lodge, South Africa
From the outside, the heritage train’s red and yellow exterior looks out onto a private swimming pool attached to a decking area, the perfect vantage point to watch rhinoceros, warthogs and giraffe roam by. There’s also an outdoor bathroom with spectacular views, playfully called the ‘Ticket Office’. Inside, parts of the original 1970s decor remains, including wood panelling and accents.
Guests staying at the Founders Railway Carriage will have a dedicated personal team to set the pace of their vacation, including leisurely picnic brunches, lounging by the pool or late nights around the bon fire.
The Founders Railway Carriage is priced from approximately $885 per night and requires a minimum booking of two-nights.
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