2025 shaping up to be the Year of the Tailored Train Vacation

Glacier Express, Excellence Class rail car – Photo Credit: Railbookers

With travel preferences continually evolving, it seems 2025 is shaping up to be a bumper year for rail-based vacations, according to Railbookers. The company, known for its carefully curated train travel packages, is witnessing a growing trend of travelers opting for customizable rail journeys to iconic destinations and emerging hotspots as they plan their adventures for 2025.   

Among the company’s portfolio of destinations across six continents, Railbookers noted a surge in demand for travel next year to Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, the UK and Switzerland—destinations long popular with vacationers. Alongside these iconic locations, less-frequented destinations like Amsterdam and Portugal are experiencing a rapid rise in interest, showing a five-fold increase in bookings, according to the company’s latest consumer insights.

“As we approach 2025, we’re witnessing an exciting shift in how travelers are planning their trips,” said Frank Marini, President and CEO of Railbookers. “Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years, and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation. More and more of our customers and travel agents are drawn to the flexibility and customization available with independent travel as they plan their vacations. Best of all, our guests can travel any day the train goes, versus set dates that may not fit their schedule.”

Photo Credit: Railbookers Media

Railbookers also highlighted key travel and booking trends that are likely to shape the travel landscape in 2025: 

• Travelers are gravitating toward immersive vacation experiences, including museums, culinary tours, scenic day trips and guided historical excursions. Food-based experiences, like wine tastings and cooking classes, have become particularly popular, with Railbookers offering these activities in over 60 destinations globally.
• The company’s data indicates that the average Railbookers trip in 2025 is set to last around 10 days, with 70 percent of travelers booking vacations that last at least a week.
• The excitement surrounding the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics has also significantly boosted interest in travel to Paris and France in general, with a notable uptick in bookings for 2025.
• In terms of luxury travel, Railbookers is experiencing unprecedented demand for these types of rail-based vacations. Its trailblazing “Around the World by Luxury Train” journey has already incurred a waitlist for the release of 2025 travel dates.

A leading supplier of independent rail vacations, Railbookers gives travelers the chance to experience all kinds of destinations around the world by train. Comprised of seasoned travel experts, the company’s expertise lies in its ability to create flexible and highly tailored rail itineraries, allowing travelers to explore iconic destinations across six continents in a singular fashion. Whether it’s a scenic adventure through New Zealand or a luxury journey across Switzerland, Railbookers aims to provide comfortable, convenient and sustainable travel experiences to its clientele.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.