Month: September 2010

An Indian Maharaja aboard Deccan Odyssey: Luxury Travel in India

An Indian Maharaja aboard Deccan Odyssey: Luxury Travel in India

Reinvented and revitalized the new itinerary onboard the Deccan  Odyssey – the Indian Maharaja takes you on a whirlwind tour of the choicest  of places in India. Beginning from Mumbai and traversing a course that takes you to the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora to the rendezvous with tigers at Ranthambore to Pink City Jaipur to the ultimate symbol of love: the Taj Mahal and finally to the capital city Delhi.

Train travelling has been an integral or; I’d say an unavoidable aspect of tours in India. The normal train journey in India is a test of patience and perseverance with swarms of passenger vying for the space. The luxury train tours are a welcome relief from the usual cacophonies and rush of the normal travel. Instead of worrying about which place to stay in and where to go for sightseeing along with the constant fear of fleecing by the insatiable agents, you are more than relieved onboard a luxury train in India as it chugs along to take you on a whirlwind tour of some of the most beautiful and stunning landmarks which are must-visit places in India. A luxury train travel in India has several advantages as the only thing, once onboard the train, worries the guests is that it why doesn’t it last a few more days.

The experience onboard the Indian Maharaja is an explorer’s dream come true. The interiors of the train are a reflection of the myriad hues of the rich heritage of India. The train has a total of 22 coaches and can accommodate a total of 88 passengers onboard for a luxury tour of the varied landscape and diverse cultures of northwest India each with a distinct history of their own. The train is equipped with modern amenities which includes Plasma TVs, internet access, well stocked bar, restaurants and a spa car.

The interiors of the cars of this Indian luxury train are meticulously done. The rich heritage of the Indian tradition permeates through the coaches with exquisite furnishing, carved panels, stunning artefacts and palette of muted themed hues. The traditional charm fuses seamlessly with the contemporary sophistication which makes for a sumptuous and serene stay. The elegantly appointed restaurants and the well stocked bar serves an eclectic collection of authentic cuisine and finest labels of wines and spirits. The picturesque landscape unfolding through the picture windows of the train is simply magnificent.

This royal sojourn takes you through some amazing places which are the manifestation of the rich cultural heritage of the bygone era of India. The amazing piece of rock carving and architecture at the Ajanta and Ellora caves en route the Indian Maharaja itinerary are simply breathtaking. You can but wonder at the sheer inspiration and the creativity of human mind. At the Ranthambore, rendezvous with  the tigers in a magnificent national park dotted with beautiful landscape and  the ruins of the structures made by the erstwhile Maharajas – many of them are  hunting lodges. Move on to the Pink city afterwards and ride the mammoth elephants on your way to the meticulously restored Amber Palace to take a peek into the opulence of royal Rajputana. One can also go shopping for gems, handcrafted accessories and clothes which are the speciality of Jaipur. The  penultimate halt of the Deccan odyssey’s Indian  Maharaja Itinerary is the Taj Mahal, a magnificent structure and a UNESCO  World Heritage Site, which has lured the lovers and the leisure tourists alike.

After the ends of an enchanting passage you would not like to wake up from the reverie of this royal retreat. It’s unbelievable how the time flies when you are having the  time of your life onboard this train which lets you have a glimpse of the  lavish life of an Indian Maharaja.  But of course it comes for a price…so have a chug of your life.

Comfy Comfort Travel Pillows

Comfy Comfort Travel Pillows

There is a plethora of comfort travel pillows on the market these days but some are quite unique and worth a look if you find yourself on long daily commutes by train, frequent flying on long-haul flights, wheelchair bound, highway warrior, or simply a couch potato. There is a pillow now for every physical ailment, achy muscle or curvature needing support. And if you’ve ever found yourself weather bound for the floor of an airport lounge or train terminal without a comfort travel pillow, you’ll never make that mistake again.
Travel pillows have come a long way from the tiny little poly-filled squares the airlines used to provide which have disappeared along the way with basics such as food and water. Face it, the only “pampering” you’re likely to get from any transportation provider is that which we pack and lug around for ourselves. Gas is at a premium, of course. On board amenities are shrinking faster than you can say “first class please.”
And even though their little tiny poly-filled pillows were small and probably not too hygienic, at least it was a bit of cushion between your head and the cold steel side of the plane. So suffice it to say, there are just a few things that one must keep in their carry on luggage at all times. Just don’t unpack them trip after trip, leave them in there because you will want it next time. No, not want it; you will NEED it next time. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Your Comfort Travel Pillow – a necessity, take my word for it – just get one
2. Your headphones, ear buds or whatever, just in case the movie is decent and you haven’t already seen it (they charge at least two bucks now days)
3. A clean pair of socks – you know how cold it is on most planes, don’t suffer
4. Your own blanket – IF you are one of the lucky 10 people to grab a blanket, you know it has  been used and stepped on by lord-who-knows-who, so again, it’s cold on those planes- bring your own
5. Snacks – $5.00 for a can of chips is a little outrageous, with a little advance planning you can toss in a few little boxes of raisins, crackers, fruit, anything you bring will save you money and a growling stomach
6. Reading material – Right, they haven’t had that nice selection on board for a decade now so don’t forget to bring a magazine or book to entertain yourself. For many of us, it’s the only time we’re able to catch up on our reading – take advantage of the spare time
Shopping around for a comfort travel pillow online will take awhile. As mentioned before, there are a lot of options out there. You’ll find buckwheat, poly filled, down filled, water filled, inflatable air filled, tempurpedic, memory foam and the list goes on. Find the one that’s right for you and it will save a lot of traveling headaches.

Holidaying in Italy:milan and Rome

Holidaying in Italy:milan and Rome

Steeped in antiquity yet bursting with all that’s fashionably modern, Italy is the birthplace of La Dolce Vita – the sweet life that celebrates beauty and happiness.

Climate

Winters are long and cold in the northern alps; the summers can be rainy with frequent storms. The far south is warm but often lashed by the sirocco – the hot and humid African wind that brings weeks of stifling heat to the areas south of Rome. Pleasant temperatures make spring and autumn the best times to visit Italy.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of hotels in Italy

Milan:cutting edge design and fine shopping

Milan’s drab facade belies the fact that it’s the innovation capital of Europe.

transport: getting there and getting around

Malpensa airport, located about 31 miles northwest of Milan, handles most international flights. For domestic and some European flights, Linate airport is used. Stazione Central, which as the name suggests is in the city centre offers an extensive rail network.

Milan has an efficient public transport system is efficient. It includes four underground lines, buses and trams.

climate

Other than the odd heat wave, the climate in Milan is mostly temperate.

accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Milan hotels

events:what’s on and what’s hot

For all its consumer-driven culture, Milan celebrates the spiritual as well as the worldly.

*The first ten days of June celebrate the Festa del Naviglio, a potpourri of parades, music and various performances.

*The Milan Jazz Festival gets the city swinging in November.

*The Festa di Sant’Ambrogio, on 7 December is celebrated with services, offerings and fairs around the Fiera di Milano. This is also the day that Milan’s renowned opera house La Scala opens its season.

Rome:the eternal city

Drenched in history and weighted with monuments famous the world over – the Vatican and the Colosseum, Rome stands as the epitome of history and culture.

transport:getting there and getting away

Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport is 16 miles southwest of the city with the Stazione Termini direct train running hourly into the city. The main bus station is located outside the Stazione Termini. The Rome Metro service has two lines, both of which go through Termini. It runs from 5:30 a.m to 11.30 p.m. and 0:30 on Saturdays.

climate

The climate is mild with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. However July and August can be oppressively hot, November is often rainy, and December to February can be chill.

accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Rome hotels

Events: what’s on and what’s hot

*Holy Week (Easter) is time when Catholics from all over the world arrive on pilgrimages to visit the city’s churches and to hear the Pope at the Vatican. On Good Friday a procession of the Cross goes from the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill.

The Estate Romana (Roman Summer), is at the heart of Roman social life from June to September. It’s a time when the city reverberates to free concerts, street theatre and outdoor cinema.

In September museums, galleries and shops stay open all night from 20:00-08:00 on the occasion called Notte Bianca (white night). It’s also a time of free concerts and other happenings all over the city.

Tips for Your Trip through Scotland

3 Tips for Your Trip through Scotland

Scotland is a fascinating country. Everyone has seen movies like Braveheart with the typical Scottish landscape which offers so much. If you plan on going to Scotland though you need to be prepared for a few things.

Weather

The weather in Scotland is strange, at least for people not living in Scotland. It is pretty much unpredictable and you never know when it’s going to rain or when the sun is going to shine.

Here is my tip: Because the weather is so unpredictable and changes so quickly you need to be prepared for everything. Always carry around some additional rain cloths even if the sun is shining at the moment.

We once went to visit a nearby coral beach. The weather was nice and it didn’t look like it was going to rain at all. We arrived at the place and the weather was still nice. But on our way back to the car it started raining. So be prepared.

Buses

If you want to drive through Scotland using a bus then be sure to have everything planned out and to also book all the bus tickets earlier.

The reason is pretty simple. We once tried to get from Edinburgh to Glasgow using the bus. We went to the bus station and got our tickets. Then we lined up to get into the bus and the guy in front of us turned to us and asked how much we payed. We told him that we payed around 6-7 pounds and he started smiling. He then showed us his ticket and the price on it: It was one pound.

Book buses two days earlier and you will save lots of money. The problem for us was that we never knew where we were going to go.

Visit Pubs

I know this might sound like a standard statement but I got to say that we really had a lot of fun in pubs. First of all the Scottish people are very open and it’s easy to talk to them. Secondly if you visit a country then you should also get to know part of their culture.

A few days before we had to leave we went to one of the oldest pubs in Scotland, it was called the Moulin Inn and was near Pitlochry. We had the best time there talking to some other people. It was really great.