>> May 2009    >> Newsletter Archive  

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In this Edition.....

• Summer Special Offer - Creative Travel is pleased to offer individual tours for Golden Triangle and Kerala.........Come discover India with us.

• Special Feature of the month - Singinawa Jungle Lodge - Kanha, India

• Where you can find us next - IMEX 2009

• Guest Comment of the Month - Find out what our clients have to say about us in this section

• Destination News - Indian Election Results, ASI's Tourist-Friendly Plan: Buy One Ticket, See All Monuments, Elephant Ride timing's at Amber Fort amended, Everest Skydive Adventure 2009......all this and more Destination news

• Hotel News - Global hotel majors line up to enter India, Pushkar gets first ‘Greenhouse Resort’, Theva Residency, Hantane opens, Conde Nast Traveller ranks Diva Maldives best Indian Ocean hotel.......all this and more update on hotels

• Aviation News - GoAir launches new flights to Guwahati and Bagdogra, Jet Airways introduces “Jet Airways Konnect” a new all economy no-frills service, Kingfisher Airlines bags 3 Global Awards, Qantas will launch its new Australia-Mumbai services from June 2, 2009........and more

• Indian Recipe of the month - Malai Kofta Curry

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There is a lot of misconception as to why India cannot be visited during summer. Not all are true. There is a lot one can do in summer and the best part is that we can leverage our volumes from the season into some great deals into the off season.

Some reasons to visit India in the Summer are -

• The best value possible - you get to stay in some of the finest hotels in the world at prices that you would pay for a 4 star hotel in the winter.

• For wildlife lovers, late April and May are the best time of the year to see the famous Indian tiger. This elusive animal stays closer to the water during this time, and is more easily seen.  

• It's cooler than you think! Particularly in the desert regions of Rajasthan, the peak heat is between 11:30 am and 4:30 pm, when you could relax and enjoy the hotel. Sightseeing can be done in relative comfort in the early mornings and the evenings. The Indian summer is not hotter than many other destinations that you would consider visiting in the summer months - Dubai, Spain, Miami, etc.  

• Enjoy the monuments without the crowds - you have the luxury of visiting the monuments in the cities you visit, without having hundreds of tour buses present at the same time.  

• Enjoy the hotels - with lower summer occupancies, you can enjoy the hotels to their fullest. Use the spa without having to book it in advance, step into the restaurants without a reservation, have the pool to yourself......

Creative Travel is pleased to offer individual tours for Golden Triangle and Kerala.........Come discover India with us.

• Discover Kerala

• The Golden Triangle Tour

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Special Feature of the month......

Singinawa Jungle Lodge - Kanha, India



Located on 55 acres, in the Tiger Heartland of the World, Singinawa Jungle Lodge offers a unique experience of the forests of Central India with conservationists Nanda and Latika Rana. The Lodge offers a chance to not only learn about the tiger and its habitat but also experience ecologically responsible tourism & see conservation at work benefitting both local communities and the Tiger Reserve. Trained naturalists take you on safari in customized 4x4 vehicles to offer an insight into the unique ecosystem of the park where animals like the highly endangered Swamp Deer, Dhole, Gaur, Tiger and a whole host of birds may be seen. Back from safari, you can savour a choice of cuisines, relax at the spa, go for a bicycle ride into the nearby tribal village, visit the model organic farm or even take a walk on the land to see how degraded land has been protected and natural grasslands & forests allowed to regenerate. Facilities include 12 charming, secluded stone and slate cottages with live fireplaces, a freeform pool overlooking the grasslands, a colonial style library, fully equipped communications centre, nature shop, nature walks, choice of dining venues, child friendly facilities, and travel desk facilities. Click here to read more......

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Where you can find us next.....

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Guest Comment of the Month.....

We at Creative track guest feedback very carefully. Each evaluation form gives us an insight on our operations and allows us to constantly refine our service delivery process. Now and then we get a few letters that brighten up our days. These are some of them :

Monday, March 23, 2009
From - Bart Crols
To - Creative Travel

Dear Pankaj,

I would like to sincerely thank you and your team for the fantastic experience our dealers and ourselves have had in India this week thanks to the services of your company.

Whomever you talked to, everybody was delighted. The organization was flawless, the guides professional, knowledgeable and very friendly (a rare combination).

The difference between a good and a great experience is to go that little step beyond, to exceed expectations rather than just match them. The elephant polo, the gala dinner in the Jaipur City Palace and especially the meeting with the Maharaja were things we will remember for a very long time, if not forever !

Please give our best regards and sincere thanks to all personnel from Creative Travel that has in one way or the other contributed to this fantastic week.


Yours sincerely,

Bart Crols
Belgium

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Destination News.....

Indian Election Results
With the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) retaining power in the general elections, Dr. Manmohan Singh has achieved the distinction of becoming the first prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned after completing a full term in office.

Click the below link to read the CV of Dr. Manmohan Singh:
http://speakindia.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/resume-of-dr-manmohan-singh-prime-minister-of-india/

ASI's Tourist-Friendly Plan: Buy One Ticket, See All Monuments
The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) is to introduce a single-ticketing system from 1 May in an effort to do away with long queues at World Heritage monuments and other popular sites. Visitors and tourists will be able to use a single ticket to visit any number of monuments across the country. If you buy a single common ticket from Delhi to visit 10 World Heritage monuments, you can take your pick from sites across the country. And a validity period of close to a year means international tourists can save it for their next visit too. There will be three categories of tickets. While one will be for World Heritage monuments only, the other will be for all other monuments. The third is exclusively for the Taj. Click here to read more....

Elephant Ride timing's at Amber Fort amended
Due to extreme heat, the Elephant Ride timings at Amber Fort have been amended. The new timings are as under :

• Morning Rides - 7:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m

• Evening Rides - 15:00 p.m. till 16:30 p.m

"Mohabbat the Taj" Show, Agra
For maintenance & developmental purposes, The "Mohabbat the Taj" Show will not be held from 1st May 2009 to 31st July 2009. The show will resume from 1st August 2009. The show is based on chronicles that represent the legacy behind the Taj Mahal and depicts the true and immortal love of Shajahan and his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal and the lifestyle of Mughal era. The main attraction of the show is the replica of Taj Mahal made in pure white Makrana marble. The show is performed at the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Centre.

Western Ghats being considered for world heritage site
The pristine forests of Western Ghats have been recommended to be considered as a World Heritage spot. UNESCO members said that the recommendation has been received from the Government of India and the papers are being processed. The Western Ghats also known as the Sahyadri Mountains is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the River Tapti, and runs approximately 1600 km through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India. About sixty percent of the Western Ghats are located in the state of Karnataka. These hills cover 60,000 km and form the catchments area for a complex of river systems that drain almost 40% of India. The average elevation is around 1,200 meters. The area is one of the world’s ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots" and has over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species and 179 amphibian species. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.

India takes Tourism Advertising to the Streets
With the global economy in recession, many would-be travelers are staying put. But one country is hoping an aggressive advertising campaign will make their destination the exception. Click here to read more......

Bandra-Worli Sea Link to open by June
The much awaited infrastructure masterpiece, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, was finally connected last month. The sea link may be opened to traffic by June as the contractor expects the entire work to be finished by May-end. The last pre-cast segment was lifted by the gigantic launching truss at the Worli-end of the bridge, which will now be glued to the remaining segments of the span. According to Hindustan Construction Company, the contractor of the sea link, the target is to hand over the bridge by the end of May. Started in 2001, the construction of the 5.6 km sea link was embroiled in numerous issues like logistical, environmental clearance and public interest litigation, leading to its delay and cost escalation. Motorists will have to pay a minimum toll of Rs 50 for using the link. In the first phase, four of the eight lanes will be open to traffic. The link can handle nearly 1.5 lakh vehicles a day. Once motorists begin using it, traffic between Bandra and Worli will be divided between the road and sea, resulting in faster movement and less congestion.

Everest Skydive Adventure 2009
After the resounding success of the first event, Explore Himalaya is organizing the second skydiving program over Mount Everest. Brace yourself for the adventure that beats all adventure - Everest Skydive. Be ready to take the leap from 29,500 ft. and freefall past Mount Everest on to the highest drop zone in the world at Shyangboche, 12,350ft! The event was a huge hit last year and a number of world records were made. A total of 50 solos and 19 tandem descents were made from the height of 29,500ft, 22,500ft, 22,000ft, 19,000ft, 18,500ft and 18,000ft at the world's highest drop zone Shyangboche. Everest Skydive pushes the boundaries harder and higher, for this is a challenge, taking skydiving into two harsh and extreme environments – high altitude at 29,500ft plus extreme cold. The event draws upon the knowledge and skills of an unusual group of skydivers, some of whom are also Everest mountaineers. Everest Skydive 2009 will begin from 22nd September and end on 11th October. The first jump (tandem and solo) will take place on the 1st October 2009 at Shyangboche and the last jump on 8th October.

'Nepal is my favorite place' says Wheeler, the Co-founder of Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Co-founder Mr. Tony Wheeler has named Nepal as his favorite place, according to a new book from National Geographic. International celebrities were asked to name their favorite places in the world in the book called 'My Favorite Place on Earth'. Mr. Wheeler is not alone in nominating Nepal as his favorite destination. There are many who have not seen Nepal yet but have portrayed Nepal as their dream destination. The Government of Nepal has declared Year 2011 as Nepal Tourism Year. This remark by Mr. Wheeler at the onset of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 will definitely help Nepal to be the country to visit and explore.

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Hotel News.....

Global hotel majors line up to enter India
Global hotel chains are lining up to open properties in India at a time the sector is grappling with falling occupancy levels and declining average room rents, forcing local developers and hoteliers to defer projects. Click here to read more.....

Pushkar gets first ‘Greenhouse Resort’
The Greenhouse is a Luxurious Eco-Boutique Resort located in the heart of Rajasthan in a serene and quiet environment, just 10 mins drive from the main city of Pushkar. A Tented resort of just 20 Luxurious tents, it is set on 10 acres of landscaped gardens and Water bodies with a specially designed greenhouse restaurant that has a picturesqueue view of the hills. 20 free-standing special tents spaced at a comfortable distance from each other allow total privacy. The Greenhouse offers 8 standard tents (450 sqft each), 8 luxury tents (575 sqft) and 4 suites (980 sqft). The exquisitely decorated and tastefully done restaurant is one of its kind, it’s a huge greenhouse of beautiful gerbera flowers serving a menu of exceptional quality featuring the best of both International and Indian cuisine. The Restaurant has a bar and a small lounge area for the guests to enjoy drinks & snacks. Guests may also enjoy the open air dining by the Poolside. The Greenhouse also offers a spa, swimming pool, jacuzzi (60 ft by 35 ft), conference hall, yoga & meditation sessions. The Resort practices various Eco-friendly activities. For energy conservation, solar water heating system, energy efficient lamps are used. Emphasis is laid on water conservation. An exotic vegetable Garden has been grown without the application of pesticides or fertilizers.

Fortune Select Metropolitan, Jaipur launched
Located in the heart of the historical city of Jaipur, Fortune Select Metropolitan is 10 kms away from the airport and 2 kms from the railway station. Hotel Fortune Select comprises of 90 well appointed rooms which include 49 Standard rooms, 35 Club rooms and 6 Suites. All the rooms are well furnished and complemented with luxurious amenities. Hotel Fortune offers Zodiac, a 24 hrs coffee shop & Nastrodamas, offering excellent selection of spirits, wines and beers. Other facilities include Rooftop Swimming pool, fully equipped Health Club Steam and Massage.

Radisson Suites Gurgaon now operational
Situated in the business hub of Gurgaon, the Radisson Suites is a business hotel, just 20 minutes from Indira Gandhi International Airport. The hotel offers 32 spacious, stylish suites that feature wood and marble accents, and convenient amenities such as broadband Internet access, coffee and tea maker, LCD televisions and microwave. The hotel also offers a Business Centre & a well-equipped Fitness Centre. The hotel also offers 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The dining options include The Creative Kitchen which features all day dining, multi-cuisine, extensive buffet with European, Oriental and Indian, Grill and Rotisserie cuisine, Cakewalk which offers a range of chocolates, pastries and breads, Ninety-Nine for Cocktails and appetizers.

ITC opens Fortune Inn Grazia in Noida
ITC's wholly-owned subsidiary, Fortune Park Hotels, has launched its newest property – the Fortune Inn Grazia - in the centrally located Sector 27 of Noida. Targeted at businesses travelers, the hotel offers a choice of 42 well appointed rooms including 30 standard rooms and 12 Fortune Club Rooms, each equipped with all modern amenities such as satellite LCD TV, tea/coffee maker, electronic safe, mini bar and hair dryer. Other offerings at the Fortune Inn Grazia include a gymnasium, spa, swimming pool and two restaurants, Earthen Oven-a north Indian specialty restaurant and Fortune Deli - gives you the perfect blend of a contemporary setting and great delicacies to relish with variety of fast food choices like sandwiches, pizza, chocolates, etc. It offers free Wi-Fi connectivity in the lobby, restaurant areas and also in the rooms.

The Orchid New Delhi, an Ecotel Hotel opens
The Orchid - an Ecotel Hotel, New Delhi. is spread over an expanse of 10.5 acres of scenic grandeur and greenery. The Orchid is located in close proximity to the industrial suburbs of Gurgaon and Delhi. It is 4 kms from the Indira Gandhi International airport and 7 kms from the Domestic airport. The Orchid offers upscale high-quality, spacious accommodations with the Deluxe Rooms facing the lawns, the Premium Deluxe Rooms & Royal Suites having a private balcony facing the lawns & the pool area. The dining options include Bonitos, a multi cuisine restaurant & bar and a Pool Snack counter. The other services include a Swimming pool, lawn tennis court, jogging track, large banqueting facilities with state of the art technology.

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo Maldives opens
Situated within close proximity to the Male International Airport - a mere 15 minutes by speed boat, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo features 50 brand new subliminally appointed villas including 6 Japanese concept rooms on the ocean that sets the standard for a new level in luxury. Each villa comes with a personal butler, in-room spa therapy facilities, private dining area on deck, Jacuzzi, plunge pool, DVD player, home theatre system, espresso machine and many other facilities designed to cater to the discerning traveler. With beautifully landscaped gardens, a majestic infinity swimming pool and intimately placed spa facilities, a simple barefoot existence takes precedence where soothing spa treatments entice the senses.

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Aviation News......

Domestic

Jet Airways launches daily flights between Delhi and Srinagar
Jet Airways has launched a new, daily service on the Delhi-Srinagar sector. The airline will operate a state-of-the-art Boeing 737 aircraft on the sector, with a dual-class configuration. Jet Airways flight 9W 605 will depart New Delhi at 1115 hrs, arriving in Srinagar at 1235 hrs. Flight 9W 606 will depart Srinagar at 1310 hrs, arriving in New Delhi at 1435 hrs.

GoAir launches new flights to Guwahati and Bagdogra
GoAir announces its new flights to Guwahati and Bagdogra commencing 21st May, 09. Click here for the flight schedule....

JetLite introduces a new daily service between Delhi–Srinagar & Mumbai-Srinagar
JetLite, Jet Airways’ subsidiary all-economy airline, has introduced a new, daily service on the Delhi-Srinagar and Mumbai-Srinagar sectors. Click here for the flight schedule....

Paramount Airways launches North East Operations
Paramount Airways has launched operations of daily flights along the Kolkata-Chennai sector & will also connect Guwahati & Agartala sectors.

Jet Airways introduces “Jet Airways Konnect” a new all economy no-frills service
Jet Airwayswill introduce a new all Economy service, Jet Airways Konnect starting May 08, 2009, on select routes in India. Jet Airways Konnect is a new economy class service designed to meet the needs of the low fare segment. It will complement Jet Airways’ full service product, by providing a service that is better suited to cater to a market that desires an economically priced low fare product. Jet Airways Konnect offers a no-frills, economy class service where guests will be offered attractive and competitive low fares on specific routes. The on ground and in flight service will be delivered by Jet Airways staff, the only difference will be that travellers will have to buy their meals on board. Jet Airways Konnect will have dedicated aircraft for this service, the flight number range for this service will be unique and will help both guests and travel agents identify the class of service. The Jet Airways Konnect Service will initially operate with two 737 and six ATR aircraft on sectors such as Chennai-Coimbatore, Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Kochi, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Bhopal, Mumbai-Udaipur, Bengaluru-Pune and Bengaluru-Mangalore.

International

Kingfisher Airlines bags 3 Global Awards
Kingfisher Airlines, has received three global awards at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards ceremony held recently in Hamburg, Germany. Kingfisher Airlines was named the “Best Airline in India and Central Asia” and won an award as one of the world’s best airlines in the regional breakdown for 2009. In the segment of low cost travel, Kingfisher Airlines’ value offering ‘Kingfisher Red’ was adjudged the “Best Low-Cost Airlines in India and Central Asia” for the year 2009. Kingfisher Airlines also won an award for having the “Best Cabin Crew-Central Asia”. The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards are widely acclaimed as a truly global independent passenger survey of airline standards conducted over an 8 month period, covering over 16 million air travelers drawn from more than 95 different nationalities. The Survey data is collated from a variety of sources, including Passenger Interviews completed online & via e-mail, Business Research Group / Travel Panel Interviews, Corporate Travel Questionnaire / Interviews, Telephone Interviews and Selective Passenger Interviews and does not receive any third party sponsorship.

Kingfisher Airlines’ King Club Programme Bags Two Global Awards
Kingfisher Airlines, has won two Freddie Awards for King Club, its frequent flyer programme. King Club received an award for the Best Bonus Promotion (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia) and another award for Best Customer Service (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia). The Freddie Awards are widely acknowledged as the Frequent Travellers’ equivalent of the Oscar Awards. Each year, the Freddie Awards provides frequent travelers a chance to voice their opinions about their favorite frequent travel programs. The awards honor the best programs throughout the world. Besides these two awards, King Club also earned a place of distinction and was voted in second place in two categories namely, Best Member Communications and Best Award Redemption. The recognition awarded to King Club was further extended with King Club scoring a third place in three more categories namely, Best Elite Level, Best Website and Program of the Year.

Jet Airways announces a codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic on the Mumbai-London route
Jet Airways has announced a codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic with effect from 06 May 2009. This new agreement means that guests can book with Virgin Atlantic to travel with Jet Airways on their double daily service between Mumbai and London Heathrow. The new codeshare will be particularly useful for passengers traveling between many points on Virgin Atlantic’s worldwide network and Mumbai who will be able to make convenient, same-terminal connections at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3. Virgin Atlantic will place its code on Jet Airways. Click here for the flight schedule....

Jet Airways launches inaugural daily service to Dubai from Chennai and second daily service from Mumbai
Jet Airways has launched daily flights to Dubai from Chennai. Click here for the flight schedule....

Qantas will launch its new Australia-Mumbai services from June 2, 2009
Qantas executive general manager, John Borghetti, said Qantas would now offer flights from seven Australian cities to Mumbai via Singapore. “Customers will now be able to fly to Mumbai from Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, further opening up access to the Indian sub-continent from Australia,” he said. Click here for the flight schedule....

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Indian Recipe of the month......

Malai Kofta Curry
Malai Kofta classic dish of Moghul origin is a rich, decadent dish usually prepared during special occasions. Deep fried vegetable balls are prepared and simmered in a special creamy sauce/curry and served along with rice and rotis/Naans (Indian flat bread). Click here to read the recipe.....
 

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Newsletters from the past.....

April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, January09, December 08, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, November 2007, October 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, March 2007, February 2007, January 2007, December 2006, November 2006, October 2006, September 2006, August 2006, June 2006, May 2006, April 2006, March 2006, February 2006, January 2006, November 2005, October 2005, September 2005.

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Contact Us......

Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd.
Creative Plaza, Nanakpura, Moti Bagh, New Delhi 110021. India.
Tel : 24679192, 26872257-58-59, 26114281     Fax : ++91-11-26885886 / 26889764     Email : creative@travel2india.com
USA Fax: +1-646-349-1614       EUROPE Fax : ++44-20-7681-1242      www.travel2india.com

24 Hours International Emergency Contact Number : +91 - 99 11 266 277
(prefix a "0" before the number if dialing from outside New Delhi but from within India)

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Our Sales teams.....

You may contact us or any of our regional sales team nearest to you.

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