Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2007 - (Page 12) ADVISOR INSIGHT: Ellison Poe, president of Poe Travel in Little Rock, AR, fell in love with India early on. “At age seven, my parents took me around the world, including my first visit to India, and I loved it. I’ve since lost count of how many times I’ve returned,” she says. “Now my favorite way to travel within India is on Oberoi’s private jet. Coincidentally, my ultimate hotel is Udaivilas, situated overlooking Lake Pichola and Udaipur’s City Palace. With special permission, one can arrange a private dinner served course by course while being entertained by musicians, dancing hydras and fireworks in the compound’s former royal hunting lodge. Another favorite pastime is playing elephant polo while drinking Krug champagne. Seriously! “If one is lucky enough to visit the Pushkar Camel Fair, a worthwhile cultural phenomenon that transported me straight to the Mogul Era, then for sure use my preferred on-site, Peirce & Leslie (www.peirce andleslie.com), who have their own private luxury tented camp. “I like to counterbalance this rugged pilgrimage by staying at überluxe hotels such as the nearby Aman Bagh. This serene gem succeeds as only Aman can: Individual villas with private plunge pools, a sublime spa, guided nature hikes and hot and cold running water—all complemented by the sounds of the local Imam’s calls to prayer. A definite ‘must see’ for the Aman junkie!” at work. High season is October to April, and lodges can get quite full; book well in advance. Tip: In Delhi, we love the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Taj Palace Hotel (www.tajhotels.com) for a pre- and/or post-safari stay. Stay on a Taj Club floor, or, in The Taj Mahal, in the Oriental Suite or Presidential Suite, each with its own private gardens. VIPs will enjoy personal butlers, who stand at the ready to cater to their every whim. At the Palace, contact General Manager Sarabjeet Singh (palace.delhi@tajhotels.com; 9111-2611-0202), who can arrange a car and driver to take your clients on a private shopping tour to exclusive areas of Delhi, or to visit colonial New Delhi. He can also book an ayurvedic massage at the spa for clients who just want to recover from jet lag. TAJ CLUB PREMIUM ROOMS at the Taj Palace Hotel feature a modern take on traditional Indian design (shown here). The hotel’s Presidential Suite opens up to its own private gardens (top). 12 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | September 2007 http://www.peirceandleslie.com http://www.peirceandleslie.com http://www.tajhotels.com
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