Ask Joan: Taking the Orient Express and getting a group to Marseilles

I have had a lifelong ambition to ride the ‘Orient Express’. I have dined on the Orient Express Dining Car in Glenlo Abbey, Co Galway and it has whetted my appetite to experience an overnight on the real thing. My husband has little or no interest in the experience.

I was wondering if it were possible for my husband and I to fly to a departure city, my husband to leave me to my train and he then fly to the destination city so that he could be at the station to greet me off the 'Orient Express'. We are flexible on timing so off-season in Spring or Autumn would be preferred. Your help in fulfilling a dream would be appreciated.  - AMB, Clare.

The Venice Simplon Orient Express aka the VSOE operates from a number of European cities including London, Paris, Budapest, Prague, Vienna and Venice. It would be possible to begin your trip in one city and meet your husband in the destination.

Looking at all the journeys, I think the best and fullest experience would be the European routes – Venice to Paris, Budapest to Paris, Prague to Paris or Venice to Budapest. These journeys are all two days and one night and operate at various times through the year.

You would have the experience of enjoying the scenery, all meals on board, and an overnight in a luxury cabin. The one drawback to travelling on your own is the price. There is only a small discount on the price for two people, i.e. Venice to Paris is £1,720pps and for one is £3,060. Maybe you could persuade your husband to join you.

See details on belmond.com or call 0044-077 2222. From time to time they have special offers. Next year, Belmond will have a luxury train in Ireland, the Grand Hibernian which will be a similar experience touring around this country.

My family (seven adults and four children) has booked a holiday villa near Avignon in June and the nearest airport is Marseilles. We are unable to locate reasonably priced seats to get there.

Aer Lingus is quoting figures of almost €400 each. A similar situation pertains on Eurostar site, assuming we could fly to London and travel on from there. We have also considered a ferry crossing bringing an MPV thus avoiding the necessity of hiring a car but driving distance in France seems a deterrent. – BK, Wicklow

Aer Lingus fares are a bit up and down early in the season and there have been a few special offers recently that have reduced fares. I suggest you contact the Groups Department at 1890 800599 and groups@aerlingus.com.

You could make it to Marseilles by going via London Stansted with Ryanair. Prices per person would then be under €200 per person if you book now.

Eurostar might work. There is a service to Avignon and Marseilles on some days of the week with fares from £99 which is about €144. The Eurostar only loads three months of fares and availability at a time. If you are going to explore that option, the best routing is to go through London Gatwick as there is a direct train from there to St Pancras. This would reduce lugging around your baggage too much, eurostar.com and trainline.com.

Taking an MPV is not an option unless it can seat 11 people and someone has the necessary license. It would also cost up to €1,900 for the ferry with cabins. The journey from Cherbourg will be around 11 hours and cost in the region of €250 for fuel and tolls each way.

Send your queries to jscales@irishtimes.com