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Travel in the Indian subcontinent is a mirror of Indian
society and one should be aware that with over 400 languages and dialects
and over 1 billion people, getting around is not the same as in your own country.
We believe that the key to travel in India is knowledge of the environment
that you are travelling to. We therefore recommend that you do some background
reading in addition to the information given below. Bureaucracy, hectic roads,
power cuts, flight delays and re-routings are part and parcel or everyday
life in India and you must expect to encounter one if not all of these during
your holiday. An awareness of what to expect will turn your holiday into an
ungfogettable experience...one that will linger in your memory forever.
All participants must be in possession of a passport valid
for at least 6 months beyond the end of your holiday. Visa requirements for
each country will be advised in detail at the time of booking. Your travel
agent will provide visa applications and can process all visas needed for
your tour at a nominal charge.
| International flights : |
There are a number of international
airlines operating into the various airports of India. Check with your
travel agent for the best deal. While departing India, it will be necessary
to leave very early for the airport several hours before your flight
departs. This is on account of traffic congestion which can seriously
delay your journey and also due to the fact that flights out of India
are now heavily overbooked and offloading those passengers last to check-in
is becoming fairly commonplace. It is necessary to check in 3 hours
prior to departure time. |
| |
| Internal flights : |
All flights are subject to government
approval and may be withdrawn or amended at any time, without us incurring
liability. All flight timings and days of operation are subject to change.
We reserve the right to substitute alternative airlines and /or aircraft
subject to availability or else use surface transport, if necessary.
While these are regrettable, delays unfortunately may occur through
technical problems, inclement weather or air traffic control delays.
Where long flight delays result in lost holiday times, no refunds are
given by hotels, supplier for unused accommodation/services as these
are held for delayed arrivals. Similarly airlines do not usually offer
compensation for flight delays. |
Accommodation standards vary dramatically
throughout the Indian subcontinent. 5 star hotels are of international standard.
The comforts they provide can be compared with anywhere in the world. The
deluxe and Palace heritage hotels are a world apart and many have been accorded
'Leading hotels of the world' status. A medium budget traveller can opt for
3 and 4 star level of accommodation.
Hotels in India are continually trying to upgrade
their services and many can suffer from building works going on throughout
the year.
Hotels may be overbooked resulting in you being
moved to another hotel. In such instances, we will provide either a substitute
hotel of equal rating or an upgrade in accommodation. This should not be taken
as a sign of poor organization but as a reaction to circumstances beyond the
control of our representatives. General service and room services can be slow
and limited in smaller towns so please bear this in mind while utilizing hotel
services.
Unless otherwise stated, accommodation
is in standard twin/double rooms though double beds cannot be guaranteed.
A triple room is usually a twin/double room with an additional bed of folding,
pull-out design, hence conditions may be cramped. In the basic accommodation,
you may have to be prepared to encounter insects (e.g cockroaches, mosquitoes
and ants etc) in your hotel rooms, where they are a natural occurrence due
to the tropical heat and do not reflect the standard of hygiene and cleanliness.
The standards of meals and services varies immensely, usually
in line with the standard of accommodation booked. In the main city hotels,
this can incorporate Western as well as Indian and Oriental cuisine. In the
more remote areas and smaller hotels and palaces, food is more basic and principally
Indian. In some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, menus are purely vegetarian,
so this must be kept in mind while visiting these places. Meals are usually
buffet style or set menus. The hotels are keenly aware of Western reaction
to Indian spicy food and take great care in areas of hygiene. While health
problems can occur, these are usually minor and are often a result of change
of diet and over consumption of different rich foods.
Driving in India can seem hazardous
to westerners due to the complicated codes of conduct that apply to road travel
in India. All our drivers are however carefully trained in the field. Roads
themselves in India bear no relation to roads in the west and in rural India
are frequently narrow, bumpy, pot holed and have stretches which are not sealed
or which are under reconstruction. Journeys are often long and dusty with
infrequent breaks. Road conditions change throughout the year due to the heavy
monsoon rains and weather patterns and journey times can vary enormously at
all times of the year. This is beyond our control. Most cars used will be
Ambassadors (based on the old Morris Oxford) and appear antique but are comfortable
and ideally suited to local roads. Coaches are also locally custom made on
truck chassis and can in no way be compared with American/European coach standards
but they are comfortable and maintained to a high local standard.
All vehicles used for transfers and tours in
India are air-conditioned where necessary and available as determined by the
nature of the terrain and as described in the notes of each programme. Please
note that on all tours, you will not usually be escorted by a representative/guide
from point of interest to point of interest but will be under the care of
a driver during these transfers. However at specific points of interest and
on arrival at, or departure from cities and airports etc., our representatives
and guides will be available to assist you to your hotel or sites to be visited
in that city.
All entrance fees to sights are usually
included in the cost. Should you request to partake of any additional excursions
or visit the sights a second time, you will be obliged to pay the entrance
fees applicable. When visiting places of worship, tombs etc., you may be obliged
to pay to remove your shoes, be appropriately dressed and you may be refused
permission to take photographs or use video recording equipments or be charged
a fee. Also some hindu temples restrict entrance to persons of other faiths.
Please respect these local customs.
Trained English speaking guides are available at fixed
charges at all important tourist centres. The Govt. of India Tourist Offices
have a list of approved guides. French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian
and Japanese speaking guides are available at some cities. Unapproved guides
are not permitted to enter protected monuments, and tourists are, therefore,
advised to ask the guides for the identity card issued by the Department of
Tourism, Govt. of India.
Rail journeys are an incredible experience, however expect
basic accommodation and facilities when aboard as all our featured rail journeys
are in second class cabins where the standard to be expected are lower than
those normally found in comparable Western rail services.
| Health,
Safety and Security |
Always consult your doctor before travelling to Indian
Subcontinent. Do consult for personal advice reqarding inoculations and
precautions that may be needed including protection against malaria, cholera,
hepatitis. Always ensure you have adequate and comprehensive travel insurance.
It is advisable to bring specific medicines. There are state operated facilities
in all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists in urban
areas.
Sensible precautions need to be taken especially in
regard to raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, uncooked seafood, food sold by
street vendors and restaurants that might have suspect refrigeration and
sanitary practices. Drink only mineral water and check that the seal is
intact. Bottled water is available and usually provided in flasks in hotel
rooms. For people with delicate digestive systems. It is advisable to use
bottled mineral water, this is widely available. Avoid ice in drinks.
You have the same responsibility for
your personal safety and possessions abroad as you do at home. Avoid drawing
attention to yourself by wearing expensive jewellery, carrying expensive camera
equipment, publicly displaying large amounts of money etc. Do not leave valuables
unattended and where possible, store them in a safe. Always respect local
customs, dress codes, standards and sensibilities especially in areas of cultural
and religious importance, as failure to do so may offend local inhabitants.
| Electricity and Water Supply |
At times, the demands of tourists on the local supplies
of electricity and water may exceed the supply with resultant power cuts and
or problems with plumbing and drainage. Items usually affected include air-conditioning,
running water (hot and cold), lighting and mini bars.
Alcohol bans, known as 'dry days' may be called at little
or not notice in India, generally coinciding with religious or political events.
Certain states like Gujarat and Lakshadweep are "dry" states and
liquor permits may be obtained from the nearest Government of India tourist
office in your country of origin.
| Public
and Religious Holiday |
Please note that services may be curtailed or limited during
public holidays and during certain religious holidays. Please also note that
such holidays may be called at very little or no prior notice.
We advise you to take the majority of your money in USD
travelers cheques for security purposes. These are easily exchanged in the
major hotels and banks. Please not that it is imperative that you retain evidence
of your transaction as this is required when changing your local currency
back. It is unwise and unnecessary to change money at the airport on arrival
since they have a significantly lower exchange rates and you will not need
money before arriving at your hotel. Most hotels, restaurants and some shops
accept major credit cards such are Visa, Master Card, American express and
Diners Club. Please note that if you are visiting more rural areas, its may
be wise to change currency at your hotel in the bigger cities since changing
money in more remote areas may be difficult. Please also bear in mind that
once your have passed through Immigrations on your departure from India, you
will no longer be able to use Indian rupees.
It is usual to tip waiters, porters, guides, and drivers
(except taxi drivers). Most service peoples run their lives on tips more than
salaries. Tip, if you are happy with the service. It will not go unrewarded.
The cost of our tours does not include airport departure
taxes. It is therefore necessary for you to pay these on departure from the
country and in local currency only. Please ensure that you keep enough of
local currency to cover this tax. Passengers embarking on journey to any place
outside India will have to pay an airport tax of Rs. 300. For journey to Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives = Rs. 150.
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