With direct rail partnerships worldwide and a multitude of train-focused packages to choose from, Railbookers aims to be the “one stop shop” for travel advisors when booking FIT independent vacations using rail as a means of transport for their clients.
“Our mission and purpose at Railbookers is to make it easy for travel agents to work with the train. That is the founding motivation of our company: to provide a supplier solution to travel advisors that makes the train something that’s hassle-free, convenient and lucrative,” Cris David, Vice President of Sales, Canada at Yankee Leisure Group, said during a webinar Wednesday, which explored the rail options in Italy and Switzerland. Yankee Leisure Group is Railbookers’ US-based parent company.
“We understand agents are traditionally shy of the train because there hasn’t been much in it commission-wise and it has been quite difficult, complicated and intimidating,” David said.
“We have tried to make that a thing of the past.”
This is a map of the rail system in Europe. Cris David says it’s no wonder travel advisors have felt intimidated
in booking train travel!
Bookings with Railbookers can be made from two days to two years in advance, a huge advantage over the traditional 60 or 90 days for rail ticketing in Europe. Railbookers also pays a 12 per cent commission on the entire package, including rail, hotel, sightseeing excursions, land transportation and other elements.
Switzerland: Explore Where Vehicles Can’t Go
“Rail really is the best way to get the most out of Switzerland,” David told participants. “The train routes go through the most scenic and remote parts of the Swiss Alps, places motor cars can’t go, allowing your clients to be exposed to this destination in a way they couldn’t be in other formats.”
Switzerland’s iconic sightseeing trains like the Glacier and Bernina express travel through some of the most charming towns and villages, while the country’s cogwheel trains ascend iconic alpine peaks.
Railbookers’ offers short and long itineraries in both Switzerland and Italy. The short itineraries, notes David, can be booked as standalone vacations, or serve as convenient pre- or post-cruise additions.
The five-day Classic Glacier and Bernina Express, for example, starts and ends in Zurich, with highlights like a day trip to Jungfraujoch mountain railway station and two nights in two of Switzerland’s most scenic alpine towns, Interlaken and Chur.
Italy: Explore From Cuff to Toe
Italy’s rail system runs throughout the entire country, from Cinque Terre in the “boot’s” cuff, down to Calabria in the toe and everywhere in between, taking travellers to some of the country’s most iconic destinations like Amalfi coast, the Italian Riviera and even Sicily, with a short ferry ride connecting the toe with the boot.
Railbookers’ Grand Venice, Florence and Rome itinerary of seven days allows guests to check off Italy’s three “must-see” cities, Rome, Florence and Venice. Highlights include several skip-the-line tours of popular attractions, a walking tour of the Doge’s Palace and a gondola ride in Venice.
Then, there are itineraries that combine both mountain countries, like the 12-day Italian Lakes and Swiss Mountains trip that takes guests on a journey from Rome to Zurich.
Agent Discount
Railbookers is offering an agent discount of 20 per cent for the agent plus three people.
Webinars Every Wednesday
Railbookers hosts webinars each Wednesday on various topics. The next one, on 03MAR, covers why trail travel is conducive to post-COVID travel.
Anna Kroupina Journalist
Anna is OJ's newest member and she joins the team as a writer/reporter. She co-writes the daily news and covers events. Although she's new to the industry, pursuing a career path in travel/tourism has been a goal since her first family road trip to the Florida Keys sparked a desire to discover the world and this exhilarating, fast-paced industry
