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You can now visit a Dior Spa on a luxury train through Southeast Asia
Tanner Saunders
Senior hotels reporter
Tanner Saunders is a Webby Award-winning senior hotels reporter for TPG based in Brooklyn. He covers everything from breaking hotel news to in-depth features on the world’s best hotels.
July 12, 2024
•
3 min read
You can now visit a Dior Spa on a luxury train through Southeast Asia
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Just when you think a journey on a luxury train couldn't get any better, Dior knocks on the door.
Beginning July 22, the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train will be the moving home of a Dior Spa — a first from the LVMH-owned French luxury house in Southeast Asia. (LVMH is also the owner of Belmond.)
On the Eastern & Oriental Express, travelers can take in the lovely sights of Southeast Asia on luxurious multiday journeys, which start in Singapore and travel through various cities in Malaysia, depending on the itinerary.
Soon, passengers will also be able to luxuriate in the Dior Spa railway car, designed to reflect the beautiful Malaysian countryside the 16-car train passes through.
Once inside, guests will be welcomed at a reception area that offers rich creams and an array of spa and beauty products before they're whisked back to one of two treatment rooms decked out in toile de Jouy tiger prints.
Spa guests will be able to choose from a "well-being menu" that offers five Asian-inspired beauty treatments tailored to each person's individual needs and preferences.
Signature treatments include the D-Jungle, a face and body experience that includes a deep muscle massage; the Kobi-Dior Facial, featuring Dior Prestige skincare products and a Japanese kobido facial massage; and Le Soin de Minuit, an evening treatment that uses meditation techniques to not only enhance guests' sleep but rejuvenate their skin as well.
Related: How to plan your first luxury train trip
And though it's a first for Southeast Asia, the Eastern & Oriental Express isn't the first train in the world to have a Dior Spa on board. Dior's spa partnership with Belmond's luxury trains started with a temporary residence on the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which runs through Europe. There's now a permanent Dior Spa on the Royal Scotsman, a train that crisscrosses Scotland's most scenic routes.
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Outside the Dior Spa, passengers on board the Eastern & Oriental Express can relax at the jazz club-like Bar Car and sip Champagne while the world whizzes by. They can also take their meals at two onboard restaurants, listen to live music with a nightcap in hand at The Piano Bar or simply take in the scenery from The Observation Car.
How to book: Journeys on the Eastern & Oriental Express start at $3,750 per passenger for the three-night Wild Malaysia itinerary.
Related reading:
Featured image by BELMOND
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.