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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.

Fascinating Beijing Folklore Museum

Fascinating Beijing Folklore Museum

Beijing, China’s magnificent capital city is recognized as one of the greatest cities in the world, laying claim to a rich cultural legacy, with many splendid buildings and monuments. The city’s imposing temples, palaces and massive stone walls and gates hint at a glorious past, while there are a multitude of other buildings in the city which also have a memorable history.

As might be expected with one of the world’s most historic cities, Beijing has experienced an eventful history stretching back to ancient times. Various Chinese dynasties controlled the city at different periods of time, and it was also dominated by the Mongols at one time. With such a turbulent history it is not surprising that Beijing has a rich cultural mosaic.

In recent years Beijing has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all parts of the globe.

The Beijing Folklore Museum is one of the city’s premier attractions. It is situated in the former Dongyue Taoist Temple constructed in 1319. The only folklore museum located in Beijing, the museum displays folklore artifacts throughout the year and has achieved great popularity among locals with its folklore activities coinciding with traditional holidays.

The museum is arranged into three main interior squares which display extensive assortments of steles, statues, inscriptions and stone tablets. The statues provide a fascinating glimpse into the supernatural Taoist world. The various aspects of the Taoist world are shown with a set of statues relating to each aspect. Each statue is accompanied by an explanation of its significance and its function in the supernatural world. If desired visitors may contribute a small donation in the collection box or attach a fortune card if they would like to make a wish and placate the gods. If you have an interest in Chinese mythology, or simply wish to spend a few hours profitably, there is no better venue than the Beijing Folklore Museum.

If you would like the best luxury accommodation Beijing has to offer, look no further than the Raffles Beijing Hotel. This superb hotel in Beijing offers a lavish environment with every amenity and comfort making it a delightful place to stay in.

A Guide to Car Hire in the UK

A Guide to Car Hire in the UK

If you’ll be journeying to the UK and will be needing car hire service, you should investigate cheap car hire at airports across the UK. Not only are there competitive rates to be found from many different companies, but also each company has different policies and protection which can give you the peace of mind you need while traveling abroad. If you’re unsure of which company to make your reservations with, you should check out some of their features online. Some companies may not operate in your destination, or may not have the type of car you’d like to hire.
Two of the biggest car hire companies in the UK are Hertz and Avis. Both Hertz and Avis offer competitive rates from more than 100 different airports located around the UK. Their car selection is also quite large, with both having a Prestige collection which includes some of the newer luxury models from Mercedes. You can also make your reservations online for a seamless experience and both of these companies work with travel planners such as Orbitz or Travelocity to include their car hire in your package. If you’re looking for cheap car hire on a budget, there are other options available to you.
Budget Car Hire offers deals from as little as ?17 and include such perks as unlimited mileage, a collision damage waiver, and theft protection. Budget’s service area includes many of the major airports around the UK and reservations for their services can be made online, or by phone. They also offer a discount for those who book more than six weeks in advance. Those who do may receive up to 10% off of their total bill for car hire when you prepay your entire car hire service online. Budget has a great selection of small sized cars and vans to get you where you need to go. They also offer a small selection of luxury cars, if you need to travel with both class and style.
If you’re unsure of which company you’d like to hire your car from, or you’re just unsure of which features you’ll need in your hired car, your best bet is to compare the companies mentioned above, along with a few others to find the company which can tailor to your needs. You should definitely compare car hire prices in the UK with Avis, Budget, Dollar, Economy and Hertz to make sure you’re getting the best deal for both your time and your money. Always keep in mind that you’ll receive the best deals if you book your car hire a few weeks in advance instead of waiting until you’re in the country. There is usually an additional discount for customers who book online. So be sure to confirm your bookings as early as possible.

Camaro Rentals and Other Performance Rides You Want to Rent

Camaro Rentals and Other Performance Rides You Want to Rent

After renting cars for over a dozen years I’ve come to have very specific expectations about the whole rental car experience. I expect the car to be clean and get me to my destination in relative comfort. What I don’t expect is an exciting driving experience that I would want to share with everyone. Please understand I’m not unhappy I just don’t normally equate fun-to-drive with your average rental.

Rental car companies have real performance cars

I understand that car rental companies such as Avis, Budget and Hertz also include in their fleets rental cars that you do want to drive. These cars include models such as the Nissan 350Z, Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro. Avis calls their special car class Cool Cars while Budget has the Budget Street Fleet and Hertz has its Fun Collection.

The challenge to renting one of these special cars will be finding an available car for your destination. Rental cars companies typically have limited numbers of these cars in their fleet. Which means don’t expect to be able to rent a Camaro right at the rental car counter. Chances are one won’t be available when you want it. But don’t worry renting a performance car isn’t that hard but it will take a little planning because rental car companies usually make these types of cars available in areas where they are most popular.

Finding the rental you want

What worked well for me was to start with the rental car company sites and their car guide section. I’ve been interested in trying out the new 2010 Camaro. I narrowed my choice to Avis Cool Cars and Budget Street Fleet since they carried both the Camaro LT and Camaro SS (the V8 version). Avis offers the Camaro in over sixty cities throughout the U.S. including Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles. My travel plans for the next month included a trip to Los Angeles so I booked the Camaro SS.

When I finally got behind the wheel of the Camaro rental I was pleasantly surprised to find this was no stripped down car. The Camaro completely lived up to the buzz. Renting a higher-end car does come with a premium rate. But I think the higher rate was more than offset by the drivability of the car. If renting a Camaro or other performance car sounds like an option then remember to book early because these cars are definitely in demand.