Eleanor Hardy

Greetings! Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Rovos Rail, Golden Eagle Danube Express, Deccan Odyssey, Belmond Royal Scotsman & Andean Explorer -- these are just some of the luxury trains I have personally inspected — some many times over! My husband, IRT Founder Owen Hardy and I and our team have traveled millions of miles on luxury trains and to 100s of cities to get firsthand experience for our guests. My expertise also includes adventure — safaris and expedition cruising — as well as luxury hotels and experiences. We are expert at arranging private journeys for special events and milestone celebrations. Everything we do elevates your journey -- VIP planeside arrival/departure service, the best guides, the best ideas to elevate and expand your travel experience.

My most recent achievement is being named by Travel + Leisure magazine to its prestigious A-List of the World's Top Travel Advisors. (2022, 2023, 2024 + 2025.) I am the only advisor with the specialty of luxury trains. Condé Nast Traveler has named me World's Top Travel Specialist for luxury rail travel for both 2020 - 2024, Many thanks to our guests and our travel partners for nominating me.

Our focus is personal, amazingly detailed service based on direct experience and great relationships with our Virtuoso partners. Our company is family-owned and operated and has been since 1983.

Nothing is more wonderful than a luxury rail journey. Safaris, cruises, fab hotel stays, unique experiences, dining reservations: These are the "icing on the cake" to custom-design your journeys to take them from wonderful to spectacular. I am the senior concierge manager -- designing these trips with my team. But did you know I am one of the top 1% of Virtuoso advisors in the world trained to help you manage one of your most important assets -- your leisure time? It's called Wanderlist.

The unusual, the fun, the adventurous is what makes me want to share all this travel excitement. This is why my job as president and co-owner of The Society of International Railway Travelers and luxury travel advisor is a blast.

P.S.: We have won 25+ Magellan Awards for our publications, web site, blog and our weekly emails. Check out our site at www.irtsociety.com. Facebook is @irtsociety Electronic version of our award-winning IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/irts/journeys2018/