Sick of 2020? Travel back in time or venture to another world with the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s Rail Baron Charters. This feature, which opened last December, allows guests to rent out their own train cars or even whole trains for get-togethers with friends and family, from retirement parties to a visit to the “North Pole” aboard the Polar Express. Guests can add options like a personal chef, a professional photographer or even an overnight stay to customize their voyages. The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel closed briefly earlier this year due to COVID-19, but reopened in June with updated guidelines to ensure guest and employee safety. “People do have to wear masks on the train,” says representative Katie Dabbs. The private quarters are a huge draw while COVID-19 is still a concern. “People want to control their environment,” says Samuel Langner, private charter railway concierge at Xanterra Travel Collection. “They are asking to charter cars and trains for mostly family celebrations and reunions.”
