I usually don’t include my travel time as part of my vacation, no matter how long or short it may be. My vacation begins when I unlock the door of my vacation rental and ends when I lock the door of my vacation rental on the last day of my stay.

But Amtrak’s partnering with GrandLuxe to bring luxury rail service may change my opinion. Amtrak announced on 6/27/2007 that this fall they will team with GrandLuxe to launch a new luxury train service between Washington D.C. and Miami, Florida. Starting at $789 per person you can extend your vacation to include your travel plans.

According to their press release, the GrandLuxe rail service includes five-course dinners, luxurious suites and personal butler service. The service will utilize seven private and separate cars attached to Amtrak’s Silver Meteor train to transport passengers from D.C. to Miami.

This limited service will begin on November 6 with the inaugural departure from Union Station and continue through the holidays with the last train leaving from Miami on January 4, 2008.

Other GrandLuxe Limited routes are between Los Angeles and Chicago and between Chicago and San Francisco.

For more information visit www.GrandLuxeRail.com.