[Dragonlady]

strickers wrote:

@DragonLady Take only memories from and leave only footprints. I haven’t checked Delhi but Heathrow-Mumbai has been operating as normal so far. Routing is taking it north of the closed airspace.

@strickers thanks and wise words. I would happily stay here for another x weeks plus as I’ve felt totally destressed here in India since I’ve arrived .Back to the madness that’s Delhi tomorrow ( sad face as Frogee says..).

[Dragonlady]

I know it’s a sh**fest out there at the moment but I’ve just come back from my leopard safari in Jawali . Two spottings ! No photos ( who cares as memories are in your brain not on your phone ) .I was too busy watching the magnificent beasts (and they truly are). Flying back to Delhi tomorrow via Jodphur and hopefully home on Tuesday but keeping my eyes and ears peeled given the un-certainty

[Dragonlady]

@Enrico 1875 Just be aware that Indigo Stretch isn’t what I would consider business class but a PE product. I flew out to DEL 11 days ago with them (in Stetch) and was impressed with the hard product (much more leg room than VS or BA in W as they use the old Norse aircraft). Fast track security at LHR and lounge access included. On board service / food /drink / entertainment isn’t as good as others but for the price it’s more than fine and staff are very happy to help ( I got asked if I wanted another G and T for breakfast… I politely declined 🙂 ).Hope you make it to Goa. I’ve been travelling all day/ sightseeing and wasn’t aware of the unfolding events until my best pal texted me in total panic a few hours ago.

[Dragonlady]

L1verp00lfan wrote:

Dragonlady wrote:

Well it’s a glorious morning here at Fort Barli.
https://www.fortbarli.com/ I’m having a couple of nights down time as I’ve been on the go for ten solid days.Came via Pushkar yesterday which was totally devoid of European visitors.
Off to Jodphur tomorrow and then on to my Leopard Safari on Sunday. So far it’s been unbelievable and I’m so glad that I came.

Where are you planning on doing the Leopard Safari, as we are planning on doing one next year? Is it in Jawai?

Yes Godward – tented (I haven’t slept in a tent since camping in France with my parents in the 1960s…).

[Dragonlady]

Radisson Jaipur.
Rudest man ever at check in.
Demanded my ‘booking voucher ‘. Advised I didn’t have one but it was visible on my account if he’d like to view it as it was booked directly.
No acknowledgement as VIP. Asked if room had been upgraded ( again I’d booked the Business Class room so one category below suite). ‘ No. Sold out ‘ was the response. Again screen shot taken several minutes before arrival showing multiple suites ( 6 plus ) available shown (he did squirm) . Asked to speak to duty manager. Advised by agent that he was duty manager. He then rang somebody (so doubt he was the duty manager) and magically given a junior suite . I just hate the lies. VIP helpline contacted as he was so bloody rude. No welcome gift and had to fight the rude man on the desk for things that were included in my room rate (drinks vouchers, laundry and money off restaurant voucher).
Housekeeping and restaurant staff lovely (I think Radisson had contacted them as I had a ‘reserved’ table for breakfast each day with somebody senior checking frequently that ‘everything ok ‘ ? and housekeeping were fabulous with my laundry etc. Dinner in the restaurant the first evening was a bit meh – room service food was actually very good (I was too tired to go out and was desperate for some non spicy food and the Mac Cheese was absolutely delicious !)

[Dragonlady]

Radisson Amritsar.
Totally ignored at check in ( in priority line ). Male staff member then said he didn’t think I was checking in ( my bags were a dead giveaway..).No welcome as VIP
Asked if room had been upgraded and told I’d been upgraded to a Business Class Room (which is what I’d booked ). Asked about suite ( one class upgrade ) and was advised ‘ sold out ‘.Pulled up screenshot of website taken minutes before arriving showing multiple suites and Presidential Suite.
Asked for duty manager who duly arrived and walked me to a Suite apologizing profusely.
Fruit platter and sweet treats arrived in room later.
Hotel is tatty and needs refurbishment.
No issues with breakfast.
Bit noisy due to numerous weddings over my stay.

[Dragonlady]

Well it’s a glorious morning here at Fort Barli.
https://www.fortbarli.com/ I’m having a couple of nights down time as I’ve been on the go for ten solid days.Came via Pushkar yesterday which was totally devoid of European visitors.
Off to Jodphur tomorrow and then on to my Leopard Safari on Sunday. So far it’s been unbelievable and I’m so glad that I came.

[Dragonlady]

@Gordon – I’ll try and cobble something together .

@Strickers I’m enjoying India but not my two Radisson experiences ( Amritsar and Jaipur ) thus far ( booked as a Radisson VIP guest). Not sure what the issue is but the attitude from the male reception staff towards me (in both properties ) when checking in has appalling ( the only thing I can assume is that it’s because I’m a solo female).Reasonable service recovery by the duty manager in Amritsar but no such thing here in Jaipur ( and I’ve made a formal complaint with the VIP helpline).
If / when I return I’ll book non homogenised chain properties and not bother with the corporates as the service I’ve had elsewhere has been exemplary.
@ TJ Amritsar is just so lovely . Golden Temple completely overwhelmed me .

[Dragonlady]

Morning greetings from a very sunny and warm Jaipur. I’ve had my fill of forts , temples , museums etc over the past week and just want to do a bit of shopping now (heathen that I am ).Jaipur is incredibly busy and sadly the insta crowd seemed to have reached here…I’m off to decompress for a few days tomorrow at Fort Bali before moving on to Jodphur (via Pushkar )and then a leopard safari before heading back to Delhi to fly home.
Thanks to whichever Dave gave the tip about ATM app, it’s been invaluable (but a few SBI machines seemed to have run out of cash which had been a bit inconvenient ).
It’s been a great trip so far with Amritsar topping my leader board as a place to visit.

[Dragonlady]

Morning from the Primus domestic lounge in Amritsar which is possibly the worst lounge I have ever been in. Getting in to the airport was a nightmare – huge queues to get into airport ( there’s a flight to LGW leaving this AM) and then massive queues to check in .
Anyway Amritsar has been totally amazing. I’ve become immune to the stares ( and I’ve had loads ) as a single female traveller and I’ve met some other Brit travellers ( who are on the tour I was going to book with Distant Journeys) who think I’m ’very brave’ ( no I’m not brave I just wanted to see some of India and OH wouldn’t come with me 🙂).
The Golden Temple was absolutely spectacular. I queued for 2.5 hours . I saw zero other Europeans( and you zig zag so see lots of people ). Loads in the main complex but none bothering to experience what the temple has to offer.I can only put this down to no photography/ filming ( rightly ) being allowed so nothing to stick on Facebook, Insta, Tik Tok etc. Anyway , their loss . I felt totally overwhelmed and it certainly rates in my top 10 of travel experiences.
Now off back to Delhi where my driver is collecting me to go off to Agra and then Jaipur.

[Dragonlady]

Evening from Amritsar . What an amazing two days. I queued to enter The Temple today – having wandered around the complex for several hours yesterday but was too exhausted to queue yesterday evening .
I was the only European (male or female) that I saw in the queue today (and I only queued for 2.5 hours as I was there early ! ) .Lots of looks ( stares even ) as a European woman but nobody disrespectful towards me . Why don’t Europeans visit the temple ? Could no photos ( so no Facebook, Insta, Tik Tok ) be the reason ? Loads of Europeans in the bigger complex.
Anyway it was absolutely magnificent and what a privilege to have been able to visit it.

[Dragonlady]

@strickers – my travels start on Friday ( off to Amritsar ). I’m currently sat overlooking the park in Haus Khas following a death defying tuk tuk ride that was slightly less dangerous than the driver who collected me from the airport this morning!

[Dragonlady]

@davedent. Four weeks ago this trip wasnt on the cards. VS wanted 4.5K in UC and 2K for PE with AI 2.6k in J and no guarantee of the new seat that Rhys reviewed .I was impressed with what I got . Not a proper business cabin but nowhere near those prices either. Seat was surprisingly comfortable with a very good recline and much more legroom than VS ( it’s the old Norse offering ).Crew seemed to be finding their feet but helpful and pleasant .IFE a bit basic but as it was overnight it didn’t bother me.Food was interesting ( but the Biryani was very nice ). I got a few hours sleep which I generally struggle to get even in proper F/ J.
I was off the aircraft through( fast track ) immigration bags collected and out in 20 minutes.

[Dragonlady]

Morning from a very grey Delhi and where the air quality is truly disgusting ( you’d swear you were in a room with chainsmokers ).Very good flight with Indigo ( old Norse aircraft ). Fastrack security at LHR, access to No 1 lounge ( so I didn’t bother going to the Centurion lounge )and fastrack immigration here. Deplaned and bags collected within 20 minutes.Now stuck in the madness that is traffic in Delhi.

[Dragonlady]

Mark wrote:

No Post on the HUGE Amex Platinum perk devaluation today?

Which is ?

[Dragonlady]

@strickers@MGOR
Thank you

[Dragonlady]

I’m hoping to use my Chase debit card to get some cash when I arrive in India next week. Does anyone known which banks ATMs won’t charge me a fee ? I am aware there’s daily and monthly limit I can withdraw with Chase .I’ll be travelling to a few cities and being able to withdraw cash as I need it will be helpful.
For those who are toying with moving to Lebara the porting of my number was simple but if you do it after 5 pm on Thursday the number won’t be ported until the following Monday (lesson learned 🙂). So far it’s been no worse than 02 in terms of reception etc for me (but hugely cheaper).

[Dragonlady]

@Northernlass I think Kenya was a popular honeymoon destination in the 90s. Our 3 week honeymoon there was extended by a few extra days as one of the crew had an accident and a replacement had to be flown out.
We then had a medical divert to Athens when we were finally on our way home. We flew with Caledonian on a DC10/Tristar ? We were sat towards the back and I remember it being pretty noisy.

[Dragonlady]

NorthernLass wrote:

I’m slightly disappointed that we’re not in the original Solana, lol.

🤣 Be glad you’re not! Half of it (it’s the Sol Ocas/ Pelicanos in real life) is a building site at the moment.

[Dragonlady]

@Northerlass part of my honeymoon (35 years ago) was at Bamburi Beach. Memories of endless soapstone chess sets, ‘kissing giraffes’ , carved elephants and other objects d’art being hawked. Also some odd sandals made out of old tyres..

[Dragonlady]

@Dragonlady, we’re all booked into the Melia at sister’s behest, which is costing a flipping fortune and earns me no points or status nights![/quote]

You could be staying somewhere far worse in Benidorm 🤣.

[Dragonlady]

@Northernlass has your sister told you where you’re staying yet ? 😀

[Dragonlady]

Thanks to @Gordon for signposting as I’ve totally missed this.
Last minute trip to India booked – I had lots of leave to take before the end of March but the trip had to fit in between two other trips in Jan/ Feb ( Spain) and mid March (London and ABBA Voyage / Brussels ( Eurostar ) /London which was my surprise Christmas present from OH.
Going solo to India having been given quotes from several UK companies that were very restrictive in terms of flexibility and seemed to be large in traveller numbers.
Delhi, Amritsar, Agra, Jaipur, Jodphur ( and with a detour to do a tented leopard safari).
I have arranged a driver and car via a lady who helps facilitate drivers through an ethical scheme so they are paid a decent wage and stay in accommodation with food ( rather than sleep in their cars which most seem to do). Hotels are a mix of heritage properties and a couple of Radissons.
Spain again in May.
Italian Riviera in late September is a possibility as daughter is doing the Italy Ironman ( no hills for this one as she’s hoping for a PB !) – if we do go it’ll probably be in the motorhome.
OH currently planning his jaunts around Europe in said motorhome and I’ll no doubt join him for small bits (flying in and out).
No doubt other things will come along and I’m keeping my eyes open for another good Virgin Voyages deal 🙂

[Dragonlady]

Avis continue to be the cheapest provider for me in Spain ( YMMV) . However the upgrade PC is a continual battle – I’m on my third rental ( a week each) across ALC / AGP and ALC since the end of November. I book a mid size automatic SUV and have been given what I’ve booked once ( telling me it was an upgrade !) and a lower category saloon vehicle twice.The latest battle has eventually given me a Renault Australe ( which is marginally less battered than the Ford Kuga they eventually gave me 5 weeks ago in AGP). Presidents Club means zilch IMHO.

[Dragonlady]

@LD27 I guess it’s a bit of badge snobbery on my part .I still think of Dacias as being Eastern European bits of junk ( I clearly need to review these ideas ! ).@JDB a Berlingo is so totally uncool it’s cool :).

@Northernlass I’ll definately get a quote but Avis have been so much cheaper on all my rentals down on the CDS for the past few years .
The Kuga has proved itself to be as useless today as it was yesterday. It’s struggled to get up any sort of incline ( and there plenty of those down here once you’re away from the main coast road 🙂 )