Transcantabrico Gran Lujo: 5-star luxury hotel on rails

Detailed information about the journeys with Transcantábrico

2023-11-16

The Transcantabrico Gran Lujo Train

Those hopping on El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo will travel back to the 1920s, when the historic Pullman (sleeper) cars that today are used for its lounges first operated. Together with the suites, they create an authentic five-star hotel on rails, with amenities that meet the most demanding of expectations.

The entire train, both rooms and common areas, is connected internally allowing free transit of all passengers.

Suite Gran Lujo (Grand Luxury Suite)

Spacious suites decorated in wood, distributed in a living room, bedroom, equipped with its own bathtub or shower, and adorned with exclusive details.

Its spaciousness allows you to enjoy a comfortable double bed (1.50 m x 2.00 m), or two twin single beds (0.80 m x 2.00 m), wardrobe, trunk, desk, safe and minibar, as well as the most advanced comfort, with LED screens, radio, adjustable air-conditioning, multimedia computer with free Internet connection and interior telephone.

Order your Transcantabrico Gran Lujo here

They also have a living room, with a convertible sofa that turns into a bed, large windows and equipped with bathtub or shower, spacious and comfortable, with hydromassage shower/steam sauna, hairdryer and varied set of first class welcome items.

Lounge cars

The lounges of El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo are original Pullman (sleeper) cars from 1923, authentic jewels of the historical-railway heritage, specially decorated and set for this train, including a glass-panoramic room.

In these common areas á la carte breakfast and lunch or dinner are prepared by our chef and served daily. The bar is open from early dawn and until past midnight and a 24-hour customer service is available. The tea room, the panoramic car, the Bar, the Restaurant lounges, the pub car, where parties, music or live performances are offered every night, complete a fantastic luxury offer.

The trip incluides

Suite Gran Lujo (Grand Luxury Suite) room on the Train
Welcome drink and snack.
Crew service to collect your luggage.
Toilet bag with toiletries and slippers.
All non-alcoholic beverages in the suite are free of charge.
All breakfasts, with à la carte dishes and buffet products.
All fine-dining lunches and dinners are either served aboard the train or in top-quality restaurants (including wine, water, soft drinks and coffee).
Onboard activities: live music and performances, parties in the bar, dancing and much more.
Tickets to museums, monuments and shows.
Excursions and scheduled visits.
Dinner – end-of-trip party.

Your journey also includes a luxury coach which accompanies the train throughout the journey to facilitate travel on some tours and excursions. Every day you will have the most important newspapers and magazines at your disposal. Our multilingual guide will be an inseparable companion throughout the trip, along with the rest of the team (expedition manager, guide, waiters, cooks and technical staff).

In the evening you can rest. The train remains parked until early morning so you can rest properly. In addition, the stations where you stop will be open and have a security service.

Gastronomy

Both in the dining cars or in the distinguished restaurants along the route, the gastronomy is the responsibility of the most renowned kitchens and chefs of northern Spain, an area already ranked among the best in Europe for the quality of both its professionals and its products.

The journey itself is a tour of the gastronomic identities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, where different cultures have inhabited, each leaving their own trait on the typical flavours of Northern Spain. A culinary tradition renewed and reworked by internationally famous chefs, which travellers will enjoy along the route.

Our fine buffet breakfast is complemented by the personalised attention of our waiters. Local specialties will be presented during the tour in the form of sweets, tortillas, pies, cheeses, cold meats, etc., thereby ensuring that every day is different and original - even at the breakfast table.

Lunches and dinners will be served both in the elegant train dining cars and at respected restaurants that make up our selection of restaurants during the journey. The innovative cuisine of Northern Spain and the traditional recipes of Castile are the centrepieces of this culinary and cultural trip. Dishes like Asturian fabada (stew), mountain cocido, baked fish, desserts like frixuelos (local crepes) or Mondoñedo tart, renowned Galician seafood or anchovies from Cantabria are just a small sample of the extensive and mouth-watering culinary offerings onboard El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo. All of this paired with the finest wines from different wine regions in northern Spain.

Menus are set in advance, seeking a balance between the traditional cuisine of each area, the creativity of our professionals, and the innovation that has made Spanish chefs famous internationally. Nevertheless, special food requirements due to health or personal choice shall be addressed without prejudice to the quality of meals on offer. All you need to do is notify us - preferably at the time of booking - to ensure that your culinary needs are catered for on the journey.

Life on bord Transcantabrico

For seven nights and eight days the Transcantábrico Gran Lujo will become your living room, your means of transportation, your socialising place, your bar, your bedroom: a hotel on wheels in which you sleep and wake up in a different place every day. The landscape passing by the window of your suite or the lounge where you are having a coffee is never the same. That simple fact makes the trip itself unique and unlike any other experience.

To ensure passengers a good night’s rest, the train will remain parked at a station at night. The train lounges are especially designed for relaxation and unfettered enjoyment of the evocative ambience, also offering the chance of sharing the company of fellow travellers. Many friendships have been formed over a drink onboard El Transcantabrico.

After dinner, an evening of entertainment. Every night is party night, with various live performances throughout the trip. Given the length of the train, these will not affect those who prefer retiring earlier to the privacy of their suite. You can also choose to have a quiet drink on one of the other saloon cars, or go for a stroll in whichever town we are spending the night. The train will remain parked at the station until the next morning.

In general, comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended for the daytime when we will be out and about on our excursions, while at night you can opt for more formal attire, although no particular dress code is required at any time. The only exception is for gaining access to the Casino de Santander on the routes that include that city, where there is a requirement for more elegant dress (suit and tie are not required, but shorts or trainers, for instance, are not allowed).

Other information

DOCUMENTATION
All travellers must have documents confirming their identity. For foreigners, the documentation required for travelling by train is the same as that required to enter Spain from the country of origin. Spanish citizens may use their national ID cards or passports.

MONEY
The legal currency in Spain is the Euros. There is no obligation to tip.

MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE
In Spain, medicines are purchased at pharmacies. Travellers from EU countries or states that have agreements in place with Spain, will benefit from the same pharmaceutical benefits as Spanish citizens. All trains have a first aid kit onboard, and the crew has been trained to use it. Furthermore, we are in continuous contact with health centres located along the different routes, in the case a traveller needs special medical attention.

VACCINES
No vaccination is necessary in Spain; nevertheless, as anywhere in the world, it is advisable to have had a recent tetanus jab and have undertaken the official immunisation vaccines.

TOBACCO
Smoking is prohibited in Spain in all enclosed public spaces (including public vehicles and public transport). Therefore, while on board, according to the current legislation travellers must refrain from smoking. However, each train journey stretch do not exceed 3-4 hours.

SECURITY
Overall, Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe for tourists. Our trains have a security service and a safe on board, in addition to security surveillance at all stations along the way.

INTERNET / WIFI
The El Transcantábrico Clásico, El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, Tren Al Ándalus and the El Expreso de La Robla trains have WiFi Internet and a computer in their social carriages so travellers can access the Internet, check email, etc. All cabins in the El Transcantabrico Clásico and El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo also feature WiFi connection (subject to coverage).

If you want to call abroad from Spain you must dial 00 followed by the country code and telephone number. If you wish to call a number in Spain from abroad, dial +34 (the country code for Spain) and then the 9-digit telephone number.

We recommend that foreign travellers wishing to use their mobile phones contact their operator to activate the international roaming service and enquire about costs.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travellers on the Luxury Tourist Trains are only covered by the Compulsory Passenger Insurance (SOV in Spanish). Therefore it is advisable to take out specific travel insurance to cover cancellation, off-board accidents, illness or similar incidents, as recommended by your travel agent or insurer.

ACCESSIBILITY
Although all our Luxury Tourist Trains are refurbished and equipped with the latest technology, they are still vintage pieces; their interiors are laid out in a way that makes it impossible to move around on wheelchairs or walkers.

Nevertheless travel would be possible for a person with reduced mobility who is reasonably self-sufficient or travelling together with another passenger, and who only requires the support of a wheelchair once off the train. In this case, if so desired and giving reasonable notice when booking, a wheelchair can be made available to the client. It is however important that such persons do not travel unassisted, and that their travel companion is available to help on and off the train, pushing the wheelchair etc, as there is no dedicated staff available for this purpose.

MINORS
When travelling with a child, a supplement or set price depending on the chosen train, will be charged. The Reservation Centre for Tourist Trains will be able to inform you of the possible accommodation arrangements and special prices in these cases.

Only the cabins in El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo and the Tren Al Andalus’ Deluxe Suites offer enough space for parents to place their own travel cot or to have an extra bed.

PETS
No pets are allowed, other than guide dogs accompanying their owner.

POWER SUPPLY
The power supply in Spain is 230V 50Hz, with Type F round 2-prong plug outlets.

THE CREW
The crew on our Luxury Tourist Trains consists of a team of professionals trained and ready to provide a perfect and personalised attention in different languages.

The team is led by the Trip Supervisor, who is responsible for bringing this rail cruise safely into port. This person can count on the help of all the other crew: the driver, guide, head waiter, cooks and waiters, music and entertainment organiser, maintenance personnel, bus driver and security staff, who will all make sure that passengers have nothing to do other than enjoy their journey.

The Trip Supervisor and the guide will become inseparable companions of the group, accompanying travellers throughout the journey and offering whatever information and advice they may need. The varied entertainment schedule onboard, in turn, will ensure an engaging and enjoyable time, encouraging the active participation of passengers.

The crew, in coordination with the Trip Supervisor, are available for travellers 24/7, ensuring the same high level of quality and personal attention inside and outside the train.

Visits and excursions

During our journey we will visit and explore places by the sea or in the mountains, charming squares and streets, museums, cathedrals, wine cellars and ports; many stories will be revealed by our multilingual guides, accompanying us on each trip. Lunch will be the central event of the day, and in the afternoons we will alternate more excursions with activities on board the train, or just enjoy the scenery passing by before our eyes.