A-List Eleanor Flagler Hardy T+L TOP TRAVEL ADVISOR | LUXURY RAIL SPECIALIST By Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 31, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Courtesy of Respective Travel Advisor Since 1983, Hardy and her husband Owen, the co-founders of the Society of International Railway Travelers, have been crafting luxury train journeys along some of the world's most iconic routes. A perennial favorite? A 17-day Australian whirlwind via the Ghan and Indian Pacific lines. She recently planned a two-week trip from Paris to Istanbul aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, complete with excursions to Bulgaria and Romania. "I inspected and stayed in one of the brand-new Grand Suites (one of only six aboard) on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express early in 2022. It was FABULOUS. I highly recommend for any guests who need extra space and a full ensuite bathroom and shower," Hardy says. In addition to securing the best cabins, Hardy also excels at at seamlessly integrating off-rail activities and stays. For example, in Australia, she can set up a stay at Longitude 131 in Uluru—a destination unto itself, she says. If guests are wine-lovers, the Margaret Valley in Western Australia is also unmissable. Language(s) Spoken: English Average Daily Spend: $1,000 per person Trip Planning Fees: From $200 Contact Info ehardy@irtsociety.com | (800) 478-4881 | Louisville, KY irtsociety.com facebook.com/irtsociety twitter.com/luxuryrail instagram.com/intl_railway_travelers Testimonial "Eleanor Hardy has been planning trips for me for many years. Her professionalism, level of caring, and expertise have provided me with some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Not only does she provide an excellent final product, but she's there with you from the beginning planning stages, helping to determine exactly what will please you the most and make it happen. Her enthusiasm for her industry is apparent in everything she does. She customizes each trip to an individual's personal tastes and interests. If something doesn't go exactly right, she's available to fix it—she once called me from the deck of a riverboat in Myanmar in the middle of the night for just such a situation. Her dedication to making your trip an unrivaled experience is topped by none. I can't recommend Eleanor Hardy enough!" - Susan P. Itinerary Peru Sample Itinerary Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit