Packing for a week without a car boot

One bag you can lift over your head. Everything else is negotiable. Our hosts get asked this on every departure, so here is the long answer.

What we have learned

After a few hundred nights on board, the pattern is clear. The guests who enjoy it most are the ones who stop trying to arrive. They read, they look out, they talk to the person opposite.

The practical part

Bring less than you think. Keep one small bag for the cabin and send the rest ahead. Eat in the dining car at least once, and take the early breakfast sitting so you see the morning light.

One last thing

Ask your host which side to sit on. They know, they love being asked, and it is the difference between a wall of rock and a valley.