Recommend October 2010 - (Page 21)

LUXURIOUS INDIA by rail, plane and boat continued from page 18 been at much more of a deluxe level, whereas the Maharajas’ Express—because of the facilities on board—it’s really brought general train travel to the brink of being luxurious, I would say, though, India trains in general are not very luxurious. But it is definitely a very comfortable mode of travel. But the advantage of the Maharajas’ Express is that it’s the newest train—it was newly built—and it does have the finest features and amenities on board. It’s very hightech. It’s definitely a great way to travel and kind of maximize your time in India within a week without having to pack and unpack your suitcase.” At the same time, she adds, at the end, or even preceding the 7-night trip, “We can add a little bit of pre and a little bit of post and because you’re coming back into Delhi, it’s a great gateway to the south or anywhere else in India, for that matter. There’s a great opportunity to see a lot of Rajastan on the Maharajas’ Express and then fly into another area.” Which is one of the more unique things about booking with Greaves Tours in India—the availability of the company’s private plane means you can book more open itineraries that allows your clients to see more of India and enjoy more of its diverse attractions without wasting time in airports, trains or long overland trips by vehicle. Prices for the Maharajas’ Express train are from $5,600 pp dbl, but since customization is at the core of the Greaves experience, Greaves can suggest pre- and post-train itineraries to enrich a traveler’s overall experience in India. The company has another program called A Jungle Journey that showcases India’s selection of wildlife national parks. “The Jungle Journey is a fantastic trip,” Grabar effuses. “It’s a really great selection of parks up in Northern India,” and she adds, because it’s a Greaves Tour product, it’s easy to customize it to the client’s tastes and interests. “If a client or a traveler was looking to shorten up their trip but still wants to visit national parks, we do have that private plane and they can easily fly from park to park in essentially 25 to 35 minutes, depending on where they’re going. So that could be a very quick way to get from place to place without missing a beat because you can pretty much be on a game drive at one park in the morning, get on the plane, fly to another game park and be on another game drive in the afternoon. So it’s really a great way to kind of park hop, if you will.” This is also a program where your clients might have the opportunity to spot an elusive Bengal tiger, but there’s no guarantees. Indeed, Grabar says, “Clients are always asking when’s the best time to see the wildlife. There really isn’t a best time, but I can tell you in the winter months—November, December and January—when it’s colder, the tigers will be out but they’ll often go in early to get comfortable for the night. When you travel in May, that seems to be the best time to see the tigers. The monsoons haven’t hit yet and the tigers are out on the prowl looking for water and food.” The Jungle Journey starts at $4,618 pp dbl and includes the train tickets but not domestic India air (or international air). There’s still another option for a high-end India adventure with Greaves Tours: its new 7-day Soaring the Golden Triangle private plane itinerary with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, aboard a refurbished Super King Air B200 aircraft. The plane’s interior has expanded its capacity (from six to eight passengers in the main cabin plus two pilots) and they’ve upgraded the woodwork to a sleek mahogany, restyled the interior’s walls, and added soft cream leather chairs, along with a new bench seat. “Our new private plane itinerary with Oberoi connects some of India’s leading attractions and most elegant properties in an extraordinary program that is highlighted by the ease and convenience of traveling in stylish, private plane comfort,” says Carole Cambata, president of Greaves. “In addition to opulent hotel accommodations, intriguing sites and the appeal of flying by private plane, the tour is exceptionally priced, considering every step of the travel experience is first-class,” Cambata adds. Prices start at $5,100 pp based on four people traveling together. ÍÍ october 2010 21 http://lufthansaspecialist.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Luxurious India by Rail, Plane and Boat
The Heavenly Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces
Experiencing the High Life in Kenya
Savoring the North of England
Riviera Nayarit Travel Planner
Marival Residences & World Spa
Wildly Luxurious––High-End Vacations
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Does it Again
Guadeloupe
Five High-End Villa Stays
Compagnie du Ponant's Le Boreal
Palm Beach: Playground for the Rich and Famous
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
La Costa Resort and Spa, California

Recommend October 2010