Archive for the ‘Transportation’ Category
Playful. Astonishing. Uncomfortable. Microcosm. These were just a few responses we received to our recent Facebook post, “Describe Indian train travel in one word.” The post was prompted by a recent email from a Sodha Traveler, Paul, regarding the Indian rail system:
I have heard so many stories about taking an overnight train in India. Some are idyllic and some are horrifying. It seems like everyone has an opinion on whether or not I should reserve the journey. What is your professional opinion? Also, is 1st class worth it?
An Indian train journey surely has the ability to spark many descriptive words - some are positive and others cannot be posted on this blog! Although the rail system is very reliable, I only recommend it for certain travelers. Contrary to what you may hear, taking an overnight train in India is not similar to European train travel. (Note that this refers to standard train travel, not luxury rail journeys like Palace on Wheels.) If you are particularly discerning, overnight trains can be a sensory overload.
The majority of overnight trains offer three classes of seating: 1st A/C, 2nd A/C or non-A/C, and 3rd non-A/C. Most travelers opt for 1st or 2nd class, where seating is reserved and Western restroom facilities are available. Depending on your itinerary and class of service, meals are delivered by a server or you may purchase food items from a vendor. Here are a few photos of the different interior spaces:
1st class sleeper on overnight Indian train
2nd class sleeper on overnight Indian train
3rd class sleeper on overnight Indian train
The cost difference between 1st and 2nd class is usually nominal and I do recommend paying the difference. Although 1st class is not completely private, it does offer a bit more of a retreat. However, 1st class is not available on all overnight trains so be sure to check on the availability before confirming a reservation.
Although not for everyone, overnight train travel can be quite magical as you observe the lands and people passing outside your window. My advice is to try and not have strong expectations – positive or negative – and just enjoy the ride. If you find it less than desireable, remember that it will be over the following day. Enjoy the journey!
Scenario #1: Jane is visiting a new destination and relies on a travel agency to confirm her hotel and touring services. She arrives at the hotel, checks-in, and finds that her room does not meet her expectations. The agency quoted a 4-star property, but Jane feels it is below average. The view from her window is less than appealing, she can hear her noisy neighbors, and the air-conditioning is faulty. Later in the evening, guest services calls to follow-up and assure her room is comfortable. Jane communicates none of her concerns. Two days later, her travel agent also places a courtesy call. Again, Jane says the trip is wonderful and does not share her negative impressions about the hotel.
Three weeks after returning home, Jane calls her agent to complain about the hotel and asks for a refund. In this situation, who is responsible? Did Jane miss the window of opportunity to communicate her concerns to the hotel and agent? Or does the agency owe Jane a refund for not providing a hotel that met her standards?
Scenario #2: John hired a travel agency to confirm his hotel and airport transfers for his upcoming trip abroad. Before departure, he is given a detailed list of contact numbers in his destination, including the phone numbers of the transfer representatives. After his flight arrived 20 minutes early, John exits customs and is unable to locate the transfer representative. He searches for a few minutes, walks backs inside, and waits 20 minutes. He then exits again and finds the representative. John informed him that his flight was early and he had to wait for the transfer. The rep apologized and explained that the flight schedules are not always accurately updated, and according to the airline, the flight was on-time.
John later contacted his agency and asked for a refund of the transfer, citing lateness of the representative. Was it trivial for John to request a refund when the representative arrived on-time according to the stated flight schedule? Should John have called the rep and informed him of his early arrival? Or should the agency oblige John’s request and refund the amount of the transfer?
It is difficult to firmly define the traveler guidelines of personal responsibility. Where is the line drawn between what a traveler feels is unacceptable and what an agency believes is acceptable? And in the end, who is ultimately responsible? As an avid globe trotter and Destination Specialist, travel is bridged between my personal and professional lives. Professionally, I coordinate. Personally, I participate. For this reason, it is especially important for me to plan a trip from the perspective of a client. The same philosophy applies to the Sodha Travel team: Ask questions, inform, confirm, and then reconfirm. But let’s be honest. Although we will do everything we can to ensure the trip goes as planned, we cannot foresee every unanticipated obstacle. Travelers, be proactive. If you have concerns, contact your agency, guide, or local representative and clearly communicate your needs. Unfortunately, the travel industry is not exempt from human error. As agents, we are (hopefully!) committed to providing you with a fantastic experience, but can do little to act on this pledge without being informed of our errors. Certain circumstances are beyond our control, but as with any business, we appreciate the opportunity to make it right.
We have been quite surprised by the inflated prices of international airline tickets in 2011. And with higher fuel costs, the prices will continue to rise. In the past four months, oil has risen over 25% and airlines have raised fares as many as eight times.
Unfortunately, the airlines have also been quietly raising their baggage fees. As travelers become more savvy, many carriers respond with costly alternatives. One example: charging passengers for priority boarding, guaranteeing space in the overhead bins for carry-on bags. Other airlines are drastically increasing their fees on overweight bags. United now charges $400 for any bag weighing between 71 and 90 pounds. I was shocked to learn that U.S. airlines made $2.57 billion in baggage fees in the first nine months of 2010.
However, there is still hope. Many international-based airlines still allow passengers two checked bags (up to fifty pounds each) for no charge on most routes. And as we have seen, this is a strong deciding factor when travelers are selecting an airline. As a mom to a toddler, I also research which airlines allow me to check a stroller and car seat for no charge. Some experts are also predicting that airlines will start to charge for infants on domestic flights, as they do on international segments.
If you are concerned about baggage fees, please ask your agent or airline representative at the time of booking. I also recommend getting the policy in writing from the airline directly, or printing it from the website on the date your ticket is purchased.
For those who love to spread their wings and explore the world – or even hop from one destination to the next – be sure to check out Travelhoppers. Recently launched, Travelhoppers is a travel site that allows consumers to research, connect, and discover. I am also personally excited to be a featured contributor in the Travelhoppers community.
Here is an excerpt from the official Travelhoppers press release:
Travelhoppers is a travel site dedicated to the proposition that it’s all about value. The company provides consumers with free access to the largest, frequently updated repository of travel companies’ brochures, real travel deals, and travel planning resources on the Internet. All via one site, Travelhoppers brings travelers unabridged information directly from 3000+ tour operators, packagers, cruise lines, destinations and other travel suppliers; as well as insight from travel industry veterans, first-hand knowledge from travel writers and feedback from other consumers; and a means to connect with travel specialists for assistance with travel planning.
“Travelhoppers presents travelers with resources for planning their trips that they typically would not find online – and certainly not in one place,” says founder Richard Earls. “It’s the perfect place to research where you want to vacation and find the right information and provider for your desired trip – from well-known brands to smaller suppliers and niche-focused operators, we present a comprehensive spectrum of companies, information, and real travel deals not hook’em and book’em ads seen rampant across the Internet.”
Owned and operated by travel professionals, Travelhoppers is backed by decades in travel with various sectors of the industry represented. “When a prospective traveler says they want ‘the best travel deal’ – that doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest,” explains Earls. “We’ve all heard the stories of how many travelers have booked a cut-rate package simply to find that the accommodations are below the standards they were expecting, or the location was far from the city’s main attractions… These are NOT travel deals; they are simply vacation spoilers that end up costing travelers more than money. At Travelhoppers, our focus is to provide travelers with the values they seek. We want to provide a forum for travelers to educate themselves.”
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Hop on over and check out this fantastic new site, and also check out my most recent Travelhoppers article, India: Beyond the Taj Mahal.
These days, if you ask someone why they selected a tour package, destination, or travel operator, one word trumps all others: Value. However, value can mean different things to different travelers. For some, it implies a good deal or considerable savings. For others, the value is in the experience of visiting a new or exotic destination, or fulfilling a lifelong dream. Many travelers excitedly reserve a group tour based on the value of all of the above. The affordable price and enticing inclusions – international airfare, deluxe hotel accommodations, and comprehensive touring - are certainly tempting.
Many, including myself, appreciate the value and camaraderie of what a group tour offers. It can be a vibrant experience and affords travelers the opportunity to explore a new destination. However, as the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true..” When reserving a group tour, it is important to research the details and read the fine print before placing a deposit. Here are 5 elements to consider before booking a group tour:
Number of Travelers: I recently had a friend return from a group tour to South America. She was very disappointed to land in Buenos Aires and find that her tour was with 48 other guests. Her expectation was somewhere between 20-25 people, and a full bus with double that amount felt impersonal and crowded. Her biggest complaint was during the touring. Unless she rushed to the front of the group, she had difficulty hearing the guide and also had limited time to ask questions. If you are not keen on sharing space with a large group, consider a smaller, specialized tour. Some agencies offer packages with a maximum of 20 people and are comparable in cost without traveling with the masses.
Departure Date: If you compare popular group tours from different companies, the departure dates are often the same. This is because airlines usually offer the lowest bulk rates when departing mid-week and/or on only one or two days a week. Since many companies follow a similar itinerary, the result is crowds of tourists on the same days at the same destinations. Reasonably, you can never tell exactly how many tour groups from around the world will be visiting a site the same day as you, but if you prefer to have less people crowding your view, consider alternate travel dates.
Time of Year: Similar to the departure dates, also research the best time of year to visit your destination. Sometimes the tour prices are low because the weather is unfavorable. However, if you don’t mind a little more rain or heat, this can actually be a cost benefit. A few years ago, I selected a group tour during the off season, fully understanding the weather would be a bit toasty. Since I don’t mind the heat, I saved $350 off the price and enjoyed less crowds.
Additional Expenses and Optional Excursions: Since the inclusions appear alluring, I strongly encourage all travelers to read the fine print and exclusions before placing a deposit, which is usually non-refundable. Most tours do not include additional airline taxes, hotel/government taxes, or visa fees. Some do not include airport transfers, domestic airfare, or a full touring package. In fact, the optional tours can be quite costly, so be sure to ask which tours and entrance fees are included in the advertised price. When approximating the final cost, also consider any additional meals, beverages, travel insurance, personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, WiFi) and gratuities. Last year, my friend and I were contemplating a very tempting group tour to Asia. However, after adding the additional expenses and desired excursions, the price almost doubled!
Customized Options: If you prefer to travel with a smaller group of friends and family, ask the agency for a price comparison. Many times, the international airfare is what makes the group tour price so affordable. When 40-50 seats are reserved, the airlines offer fantastic bulk rates. However, the land package is often comparable in cost when booking for 4 people or 40 people. If you have air miles accrued, consider traveling on a private tour. The affordability may surprise you and there is the added benefit of customizing the travel dates, excursions, and even the destinations.