Rajasthan sets eyes on more tourists from Gujarat, Organises tourism festival across cities in Gujarat

Mumbai/ Rajkot: In a bid to woo more tourists from Gujarat, the Rajasthan Tourism Department is organising three day tourism festival in Rajkot, with more such events planned in other cities like Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara."Gujaratis are very fond of to travel and very large numbers of Gujarati tourists come to Rajasthan. However, we still see huge untapped potential in the state and hence, to attract more people from here, Rajasthan tourism department has planned to organise 'Rajasthan Calling' festival in Gujarat," said Anand Tripathi, deputy director, Rajasthan Tourism.

Organised under Rajasthan Tourism domestic tourism promotion campaign 'Rajasthan Calling', the festival will also cover other parts of the country and will travel to 22 major cities including Kochi, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Surat, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

The festival aims to give a feel of Rajasthan and facilitate a better understanding about the state and provide complete information and showcase Rajasthan's traditional culture and exquisite range of Rajasthani handicraft products and Rajasthani delicacies in the city, Amongst the major highlight of the festival are live dances and a food court.

"There are stalls put up during the festival where one can choose from handicrafts, woolen shawls from Bikaner, embroidery from Barmer, brass work and blue pottery from Jaipur, terracota from Udaipur and tie and dye from Jaipur, Pali and Jodhpur," said Tripathi.

According to Narayan Sharma, tourist officer, Rajasthan Tourism Department, more than 20.5 million domestic tourists had visited Rajasthan during 2010 and till August 2011 the state saw an influx of over 10.6 million tourists."Among the tourists that frequent Rajasthan, Gujarat tops the list followed by West Bengal and Maharashtra," said Sharma.

When asked about a potential brand ambassador for Rajasthan Tourism, Tripathi said, "Rajasthan is itself a brand and it does not need any brand ambassador for promotions. The tourism department is also marketing the state through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs."

(sourced Business Standard)

How to Save Money when Renting a Car

Rental Car Savings Tips
By Donna L Montaldo

Donna L Montaldo

Renting a car can be confusing and expensive if you don't understand industry terms and how fees are calculated. If you have a poor driving record, renting a car may be next to impossible. Here are some points to consider and questions to ask when you reserve a rental car.

Choosing a Rental Car Company
What Size Car Do You Need?
Before you reserve a car, think about the size you want or need and how much you are willing to spend. This will help you avoid making a hasty or expensive decision that you may regret later. At the same time, be aware that vehicle classification systems vary. The terms "compact," "mid-size," and "luxury" sometimes differ among companies.

Get Price Estimates and Look for Specials
Call several rental car companies for price estimates, or check rates through your travel agent. Ask about specials geared to the length of time you need the vehicle. Many companies offer weekly or weekend deals. If your plans are flexible, you may be able to save money by renting a car when price breaks are available. But be sure to ask about restrictions on special offers, including blackout dates when an advertised price may not be available.

Make Sure The Rental Company Will Accept Your Driving Record
Ask if the rental car company checks the driving records of potential customers. Many companies now check driving records when customers arrive at the counter. Some reject customers whose driving records don't meet company standards. Even if you have a confirmed reservation, you may be disqualified from renting a car for:

    * Moving violations within the last few years.
    * Seat belt law violations.
    * Accidents, regardless of fault.
    * Convictions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving Under the Influence (DUI), reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident.
    * Driving with an invalid, suspended or revoked license.

Ask your travel agent or the rental car company in advance whether your driving record will be checked.

Ask About Extra Charges
Ask if there may be charges that could increase an advertised base rate, such as:

    * Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) fees (in states that allow them)
    * A deposit or refundable charge.
    * Airport surcharges and drop-off fees.
    * Fuel charges.
    * Mileage fees.
    * Taxes.
    * Additional driver fees.
    * Underage-driver fees.
    * Out-of-state charges.
    * Equipment-rental fees (for items such as ski racks and car seats). These charges are defined below.

Read complete article at About.com

Source: FTC.

Udaipur, a great winter holiday destination

New Delhi, Dec7, 2011

Udaipur, the City of Lakes, has a lot more to it than its picturesque lakes. Plan your New Year vacation to see the lush Girwa Valley, Aravalli ranges, stunning royal palaces, forts, temples and gardens that add to the kaleidoscope of this city.

Situated in Rajasthan, its rich
history and culture is linked to the royal Rajput rulers, The Sisodias of Mewar, one of the world’s oldest surviving dynasties.

A hot tourist destination for its landscape and pleasant weather, Udaipur is also home to many hotels. We were invited for a two-day stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas, situated along Lake Pichola.

A boat ride is recommended to this centrally located luxury hotel that’ll make your stay in the city unforgettable.

Lively markets
Full of stalls, the city’s narrow lanes are where you’d spot the real Rajasthan. Smiling faces, friendly greetings, two-wheelers and tuk-tuks (autos) flood the colourful markets. The bazaar near the City Palace is the place for antiques, puppets, terracotta, miniature paintings, silver and ethnic jewellery — all that the city is famous for.

You’d find knick-knacks priced as cheap as Rs 50 to prices running in lakhs here. Also, visit the Spice Market, and Hathipol market for the city’s handicrafts and traditional arts, and try local food specialities such as Dal-baati, Choorma and Dil jani.

Rich history
This small city has many palatial structures. Situated by the famous Lake Pichola, is the splendid City Palace that boasts of a series of courtyards, corridors and gardens. The Crystal Gallery nearby has a rare collection of crystals on display. It even has chairs, dressing tables and a bed made of crystal.

Many may not know that the Jag Mandir palace here, had inspired Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. Standing tall in the city is the Jagdish Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has an imposing 79-feet-high pagoda.

Another attraction in Udaipur is the fountain garden, Sahelion Ki Bari, that boasts of fountains that still work on the unique hydraulic system devised in 1700.

Romantic sojourn
Considered one of the most romantic cities of world, Udaipur is also known as the Venice of East, and is a hit among couples and celebrities to hold marriage ceremonies and parties. It was a backdrop for many movies, including the James Bond flick, Octopussy.

The hotels in the city too, offer an array of interesting activities.

Lake cruises in a Shikara, camel rides, heena, culinary and miniature painting demonstrations, relaxing spa treatments, a tour of their wildlife conservatory, and a walk to the historical buildings located within the hotel, are some of the activities offered by The Udaivilas.

Quick bytes
How to reach: Udaipur (663 kms from Delhi) is well connected through air, rail and road.

Other places to visit: Sajjan Garh, Fatehsagar Lake and Shilpgram. Or plan an excursion to Sri Eklingji, Haldighati, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Chittor Fort and Mount Abu.
(Sourced Hindustan Times)

Travel portals enhance offline services to grow customer base

Monday, Mar07, 2011, 6:06 PM

New Delhi, Mar 7 (PTI) Online travel service providers, such as Yatra, Makemytrip and Travelmasti, are strengthening offline offerings to make people who do not have access to credit cards avail of their services, as they look to expand consumer base.

Yatra today announced launch of a new ''Cash on Delivery'' (COD) service that enables the consumers to make bookings online or through a call centre and make payment in cash.

Similarly, while Travelmasti is looking to double the number of retail outlets in the next two years, Makemytrip has recently launched a new mobile application to give consumers an additional platform.

"We are positive that this initiative (COD) will help us gain popularity with customers who have limited access to credit or debit cards or are reluctant to use them," Yatra.com Chief Customer Experience Officer Sonia Mehta told PTI.

Yatra.com has launched the service in Delhi, NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune and Chennai.

"Three months from now, it will be rolled out in 14 new markets. With the new COD service, we are looking at a 5-7 per cent increase in out total offline business," Mehta added.

She said the offline business (that includes bookings made at the exclusive 34 Yatra retail outlets and through the call centres) currently contributes 20 per cent of the total sales but did not share absolute revenue figures.

The firm is offering COD payment option on international air travel and any holiday booking free of cost to customers.

Similarly, rival Makemytrip has also started COD service in Delhi and Mumbai.

"We have started offering cash on delivery for air ticket. As of today, this service is available in Delhi and Mumbai but will be soon expanded to rest of the country," Makemytrip Co-Founder and COO Keyur Joshi said.

Besides, the company is also using mobile telephony as another touch point. "We recently launched our exclusive application for BlackBerry mobile devices. Users can make instant booking by using this application," Joshi added.

On the other hand, another player Travelmasti that began operations in 2003 is also expanding its retail reach.

"We intend to double the number of lounges in the next two years. We are also considering introduction of COD services for consumers," Travelmasti CEO Saghan Aggarwal said.

The firm currently operates 24 lounges to book tickets offline.

He said the company has also struck partnership with leading private sector banks in the country for customers to make direct payments.

"Offline services account for almost 60 per cent of the total business," Aggarwal said without disclosing revenues. PTI VJR RKL

Plan a Regal Wedding in Udaipur

Sharell Cook

By Sharell Cook, India Travel Guide

Many girls dream about being a princess on their wedding day. If you're one of them, you can't get much closer to living the dream than a wedding in Udaipur at the City Palace Complex, where the Mewar royal family still resides. And who better to organize the wedding than the royal House of Mewar, and the event planners of their HRH Group of Hotels.

The Mewar royal family were the pioneers in the concept of destination weddings in India, and have been at the forefront of organizing these weddings for over a decade. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, Chairman and Managing Director of the HRH Group of Hotels, explains that initially there was a great deal of opposition against holding weddings away from home in India. In order to sell the concept of destination weddings, they had to stage mock marriages. Now the bookings are flowing in.

The Zenana Mahal  The City Palace Complex Udaipur Photo by Eternal Mewa

Foreigners have also become very interested in the idea of getting married, royal style, in India. According to Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, he's been holding regal weddings for foreigners in Udaipur for around seven years now.

So what makes Udaipur such a standout destination for a wedding in India? Foremost is the setting. Known as the city of lakes and palaces, Udaipur really is one of the most romantic places in India. It's not just marketing hype. Udaipur is an incredibly charming city. A lot of this charm comes from its beautiful, regal palace buildings -- and the best bit, you can get married in them!

 

Contemporary wedding venues, they are not. However, their uniqueness and historical importance makes them very sought after. These venues offer couples the opportunity to truly live the royal fairy tale on their wedding day.

Let's take a look at some of the regal venues that are available in Udaipur, for weddings of all sizes:

Udaipur Wedding at Jagmandir Palace 

Jag Mandir is situated on an island in the middle of famous Lake Pichola, in Udaipur. It was built in the 17th century and used as.. visit... http://rajasthanroyalweddingplanner.blogspot.com/2011/02/plan-regal-wedding-in-udaipur.html?spref=fb