On a recent trip to Europe, I had one priority: to take a once-in-a-lifetime journey on one of the most luxurious overnight trains in the world, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
As a train enthusiast, I've spent 160 hours on the rails in seven different countries. So even when I learned that the cheapest cabin onboard the luxury train cost $9,000, I had to find a way to get there. Splurging on the historic overnight train ride meant booking economy flights and cheaper accommodation — and a short trip.
Breaking it all down, I spent: $1,600 on flights; $200 on accommodation; another $200 for a cabin on a sleeper train; and $9,000 for a cabin on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
It was the most I've ever spent on travel and the most epic trip I've ever taken. And it was over in three days.