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PLEASE NOTE: Grandluxe Rail Journeys, formerly the American Orient Express, informed Vacations by Rail that it ceased operation effective August 28, 2008.
All future American Orient Express trips are cancelled.
Private Rail Car Tours are a great alternative to the American Orient Express. Relive those days of first-class service, superb cuisine, and comfortable appointments. Travel in comfort and style aboard historic privately owned railcars.
Alternatives to Grandluxe Rail Journeys. The tours below go to some of the same great destinations using Amtrak:
If you are interested in a luxury rail experience in North America consider The Royal Canadian Pacific.
Please contact a Vacations by Rail Specialist for alternatives to Grandluxe Rail Journeys, formerly the American Orient Express.
3 Nights Onboard the American Orient Express,
4 Nights Luxury Hotel
Experience Mexico, from modern to ancient, in one relaxed trip. From San Antonio to Mexico City; from contemporary Monterrey to the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacán; from Colonial Zacatecas to picturesque San Miguel de Allende-our GrandLuxe Mexico journey shows you the very best of this colorful land. All with the unparalleled comfort and convenience of American Orient Express (GrandLuxe) rail travel.
Glide along in restored Vintage Pullman, Parlor Suite, Classic Presidential Suite and Grand Suite Carriages as you journey to the treasures of Mexico.
Watch GrandLuxe Mexico Train Video
Day 1 - San Antonio
Fly today into San Antonio. Meet this afternoon at our luxury hotel for a Welcome Dinner with your fellow passengers. Sleep the night away in your luxury hotel (included in the price of your trip). (D)
Day 2 - San Antonio
Mexican-American history and charm. Today we enjoy San Antonio, a center of Mexican-American history. Visit the Alamo, take in the River Walk, be serenaded by mariachis as you ride a boat along the river, or enjoy the glitzy shops of the Paseo del Alamo. At the end of the day, we board our flight for Monterrey, Mexico. Tonight we sleep in our luxury Monterrey hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Day 3 - Monterrey
Discover contemporary Mexico. Monterrey is Mexico's most modern city, where you will experience contemporary Mexican life. Choose from a variety of activities. Monterrey houses several major museums, including the Mexican History Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Lifelong students will delight at the opportunity to visit one of Mexico's most prestigious schools, the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM). Mexicans refer to the school as "Tec de Monterrey" and it is widely regarded as the MIT of Mexico. Or visit Cerveceria Cuauhtémoc, one of Mexico's largest breweries, the maker of Tecate beer. At the end of the day, we board the train and you settle into your comfortable cabin. Delight at your first dinner onboard the train, complete with Mexican specialties. Relax aboard the train as we head towards one of Mexico's best colonial cities, Zacatecas. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Zacatecas
One of the best colonial cities in Mexico. Zacatecas (pronounced saw-caw-TAY-kas) is a particularly beautiful and fascinating colonial city, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. This morning, after breakfast aboard the train and an hour-long motor coach ride, we arrive in Zacatecas. We begin with a visit to the Eden silver mine, which supplied Zacatecas with most of its silver from 1586 until 1960. Train lovers will delight in the open-air mining train that carries us through the cavernous tunnels and to an interesting rock museum. Following our visit to the mine, we enjoy a ride on the only cable car in the world to cross an entire city, showcasing Zacatecas' magnificent architecture and arriving at the Cero de la Bufa, an overlook with a grand view of the city. Our motorcoaches bring us back into the city center where we enjoy a gourmet lunch. In the afternoon, we take time to enjoy the beautiful colonial downtown, including the cathedral (thought to be the finest baroque building in Mexico), the Quinta Real hotel, which is built around Mexico's first bullring, and the Museo Rafael Coronel, which holds the greatest collection of Mexican masks in the country. After a fulfilling day in Zacatecas, we board the train and enjoy dinner en route to San Miguel de Allende. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - San Miguel de Allende
Wander through an artist's paradise in the Colonial heartland. In San Miguel de Allende you can let the historic atmosphere overcome you in these picturesque, narrow, winding streets lined with Colonial buildings, where artists and students alike find their inspiration. Our tour takes us throughout the city, including the plaza, the Parroquia (the famous Gothic-style church), and the Instituto Allende, a renowned school of art. Enjoy the afternoon to peek in at all the art galleries or wander at your leisure before we return to the train for dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Teotihuacán
Entering the vast ruins of this ancient city will take your breath away. You'll quickly discover why it's considered one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world. The scale is so vast that visiting Teotihuacán is often compared to visiting the pyramids of Egypt. Pace yourself: the ruins are at 7,000 feet and the grounds are expansive. Your day begins with breakfast on the train at the Teotihuacán station, followed by a very short motorcoach ride to the ruins. Take your time to explore the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the temple of Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent god), as your guide answers your questions about this mysterious civilization. After our visit to Teotihuacán, a motorcoach takes you to our luxury hotel, the J.W. Marriott in Mexico City. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Mexico City
The oldest city in North America, with centuries of culture on display. Today, we see the best of the city, including Diego Rivera's masterful murals at the Government Palace which tell the history of Mexico from ancient times, the cathedral, the Aztec ruins at the Templo Mayor, and the world-famous Museum of Anthropology. Tonight, our Farewell Dinner is your opportunity to say goodbye to the friends you have made on this amazing rail journey. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Mexico City
The journey of a lifetime comes to a close. Whether you pack your bags in the morning and head directly to the airport or take a little time to visit more sites and finish up some shopping, you'll feel a profound sense of accomplishment when you look back on how far you have come on this trip, knowing that you have seen, tasted, and experienced the diversity of Mexico. (B)
Meals included:
B=Breakfast
L=Lunch
D=Dinner
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