Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 - (Page 30)

DESTINATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28 and two-line speaker phones with data ports. Guests who desire premier views can choose between Conservatory Rooms, which face the gardens, or Premier Rooms overlooking the pool. The hotel has nine interconnecting rooms. From September to March, it’s recommended that agents book at least a month prior to arrival. When guests wish to be pampered during their stay, the Leela Spa has nine treatment rooms; two of these are outside cabana rooms set up for couples’ massages. Make appointments in advance by contacting Rosemarie Wikramanayake (011-91-803-057-1240, ext.1240, rosemarie.wikramanayake@the leela.com). Jamavar, the hotel’s main restaurant, is famed for its Tandoori Prawns and Lobster Niruli Chaamp Tajdar. The restaurant regularly holds wine dinners and wine-tasting events. The Leela Palace Kempinski Bangalore is a celebrated wedding venue. Plans are made through the Catering Sales Department. For catering needs, agents can contact Sachin Malhotra, head catering sales, (011-91-803057-1307, sachin.malhotra @theleela.com). For other questions, agents can contact Lena Royappa, associate head of sales (011-91803-057 1194, lena.royappa@theleela.com). operates the flights using its latest purchase of several Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The new planes offer three classes of service: first class (eight 78-inch seats in a 1-2-1 configuration), business class (thirty-five 76-inch seats in a 2-3-2 configuration) and economy (198 seats measuiring 34 inches). American Airlines (www.aa.com) and Continental Airlines (www. continental.com) offer direct service from the New York area to Mumbai. In October, Jet Airways (www.jetairways.com) began flying daily from New Delhi to JFK via its hub in Brussels. I New Airlift Last August, Air India (www.airindia.com) introduced daily nonstop service between New York Kennedy and Mumbai. The airline CONNECTING YOU Want to know about more tours that go to India? Visit www.travelagentcentral.com/india Resources Getting There: India has more than 30 major airports, along with many smaller airports, making it easy to explore the country by air. The primary gateway is Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, which offers flights to international destinations as well as points within India. Secondary airports at Mumbai in the west, Chennai in the south and Calcutta in the east also provide flights to cities throughout the country. Carriers with flights to India from the U.S. include Air India, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Jet Airways, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. Indian Consulate Language: English is spoken in all major tourist areas. Eighteen languages are officially recognized in India. Hindi is spoken by 250 million people. Chicago: http://chicago.indiancon sulate.com; New York: www.indiacgny. org; San Francisco: www.cgisf.org; Houston: www.cgihouston.org. Health Precautions: Many travelers get some form of digestive upset during their visit to India. Lessen the severity by drinking bottled water only (also brush your teeth with bottled water). In restaurants, insist they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Eat fruit you can peel. Tour Operators: Here’s a partial list of tour operators and wholesalers with India programs: Abercrombie & Kent (www.abercrombie kent.com, 800-323-7308), Collette Vacations (www.collettevacations.com, 800-832-4656), Gate 1 Travel (www. gate1travel.com, 800-682-3333), General Tours (www.generaltours.com, 800-221-2216), GTS Globotours (www. globotours.net, 800-988-4833), International Expeditions (www.ietravel. com, 800-633-4734), Orient Flexi-Pax Tours (www.orientflexipax.com, 800545-5540), Pacific Delight Tours (www. pacificdelighttours.com, 800-221-7179), Pleasant Holidays (www.pleasant holidays.com, 800-377-1080), Ritz Tours (www.ritztours.com, 800-9002446), SITA World Travel (www. sitatours.com, 800-421-5643), Swain Tours (www.swaintours.com, 800-22SWAIN), Tauck World Discovery (www. tauck.com, 800-468-2825) and Travel Bound (www.booktravelbound.com, 800-808-9541). Tipping: The standard tip in restaurants is 10 percent. You might find that some hotels include service charges on the bill, making a tip unnecessary. In hotels, porters and room service attendants are usually tipped at the end of a guest’s stay, although an early tip might earn you more attentive service. Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip. Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens need a valid passport and visa to visit India. Visas can be obtained at an Indian embassy or consulate office prior to entering the country. For up-to-date information about entry requirements, contact: Embassy of India Etiquette: Some temples and religious sites do not permit leather articles on their premises, or they may require visitors to cover their head or enter barefoot. Don’t be afraid to make some inquiries to avoid causing offense. 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 202-939-9806 www.indianembassy.org 30 | TravelAgent January 7, 2008 http://www.aa.com http://www.continental.com http://www.continental.com http://www.jetairways.com http://www.airindia.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/india http://chicago.indianconsulate.com http://chicago.indianconsulate.com http://www.indiacgny.org http://www.cgisf.org http://www.indiacgny.org http://www.cgihouston.org http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.collettevacations.com http://www.gate1travel.com http://www.gate1travel.com http://www.generaltours.com http://www.globotours.net http://www.globotours.net http://www.ietravel.com http://www.ietravel.com http://www.orientflexipax.com http://www.pacificdelighttours.com http://www.pacificdelighttours.com http://www.pleasantholidays.com http://www.pleasantholidays.com http://www.ritztours.com http://www.sitatours.com http://www.sitatours.com http://www.swaintours.com http://www.tauck.com http://www.tauck.com http://www.booktravelbound.com http://www.indianembassy.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: Top Hotels in the Czech Capital, Prague Europe News & Notes Pacific/Asia: India's Tourism Boom Hawaii Spas: Send Your Spa-Loving Client to these Havens of Relaxation in the Islands Hawaii Briefs Las Vegas: Restaurants are Taking Center Stage as Vegas Becomes a Destination for Foodies California: San Diego, La Jolla and Coronado Offer a World of Options Close Together Ski/Snowboard: Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada New Orleans: Hotels for All Types of Travelers and Can’t-Miss Events to Consider Central & South America: Selling Santiago, Chile Caribbean & Bahamas: The Reef Atlantis, Cape Eleuthera Debut in the Bahamas in Time for the New Year Caribbean News & Notes Cruises: Onboard Enrichment Programs Grow as Cruisers Seek to Work on More than their Tans Cruise Lines Expand the Variety in their Shore Excursions with Special Activities and Adventures Cover Story: A New Era for Classic Luxury Travel Expo & Home Based Travel Agent Expo: Photos and a Recap of the Events Rail: Company Books Private Train Trips Agent Profile: Dave and Christa Krick, Advantage Cruise & Travel in Northern California Technology: XML Enhances Sabre and Amadeus Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite Reports from Queen Victoria Christening and Marriott Headquarters Funjet Vacations NCL’s New Ship, Norwegian Gem The African Country of Djibouti In the Spotlight Editorial Index Classified Marketplace Advertisers Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - January 7, 2008

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