For the first time, Railbookers will take travel advisors on small-group familiarization trips accompanied by its Rail Experts, with 10 departures to the company’s top-selling destinations scheduled between April and November 2027.
Railbookers Hearts Advisors
The trips put advisors on the routes they sell, with staff alongside, so they can build the knowledge and confidence to recommend them to clients.
“Travel advisors are essential partners in helping their clients discover the possibilities of a rail vacation,” said Jim Marini, SVP of Strategic Partnerships, Railbookers, in a press statement. “Our 2027 itineraries, the largest launch of rail familiarization trips ever, give them a chance to experience a journey alongside our Rail Experts, asking questions, hearing our team’s insights and seeing what makes each destination special. That firsthand perspective helps them bring the trip to life for clients.”
Advisors apply for spots and list their first, second and third choices. Selected advisors pay a $499 participation fee that covers all rail travel, single-occupancy hotel stays, sightseeing and select meals; flights are not included and are the advisor’s responsibility. Spaces are limited, and dates may change.
The 2027 calendar pairs high-speed rail between cities with several named trains:
- Rome, Florence and Venice, April 12-19 and Nov. 7-14: Frecciarossa trains, the Vatican and four-star hotels in each city.
- Edinburgh, London and Paris, May 16-23: Edinburgh Castle, a Highlands bus tour and Eurostar to Paris.
- Anchorage, Seward, Denali and Fairbanks, June 6-13: the Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic in GoldStar Service, a Kenai Fjords cruise and a Denali National Park tour.
- Switzerland’s Famous Trains, June 14-20 and Sept. 18-24: first class on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express and a Jungfraujoch day trip.
- Prague, Vienna and Budapest, Sept. 9-16: high-speed trains, Fisherman’s Bastion and four-star hotels.
- Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer, Oct. 6-13: Lake Louise, the Athabasca Glacier and GoldLeaf Service from Jasper to Vancouver.
- Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto, October (nine days): first-class Green Car Shinkansen seats and private daily tours with local guides.
- Madrid, Seville and Barcelona, Nov. 2-9: first-class high-speed rail, a tapas and wine-tasting tour in Madrid and a flamenco show in Seville.
The hosted departures are an addition to the company’s independent fam program, which continues in 2027 and beyond and lets advisors travel on any of the Railbookers or Amtrak Vacations itineraries worldwide at 20 percent off.
Why It Matters
The destination mix lines up with where clients say they are headed. IMG‘s sixth annual Travel Outlook Survey, released in March, ranked Italy as respondents’ top planned destination for 2026 for the first time, with Canada second, and found that 41 percent use a travel advisor or agent for at least some of their trips. Advisors already fielding Italy and Canada requests can put Rome, Florence and Venice or Canadian Rockies departures among their three choices.
For more information, visit railbookers.com/travel-advisor-fam-trips.
