Click Here to consider Asian Itineraries’ 3 levels of travel packagesYou Can’t!!

Nepal is a wonderful place, full of friendly people, the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world, and wonderful history everywhere. It is a tourist mecca, with a booming tourist precinct in Kathmandu, as well as several other towns that travellers from all over the world flock to.

However, a thing to keep in mind, is that the Nepalese Rupee is not such a wonderful thing! Within Nepal it does a reasonable job. In-fact, you can buy them cheap, and dont need to use too many to buy all kinds of interesting things, from a Tibetan meal, to a locally brewed Everest Lager, as well as all many of clothes and hiking gear (all branded North Face, but definitely not original!).

However, if you take any of these little devils out of the country, nobody, anywhere, will change them into anything more useful in their country! We left Nepal after a Visa card disaster, and took a fair bit of Nepalese Rupee with us, thinking we could continue our travels for a few weeks, while we waited for new Visa cards. 

First place we tried to change some was at Kathmandu airport, thinking we would turn them into Indian Rupee, at a rate of 5 to 8, as per the fixed conversion rate. No chance, they only currency exchange booth was busy changing Indian rupee to Nepalese, as well as Indian to US dollar, but would not take Nepalese Rupee! We weren’t to worries, and didn’t have much time, so we figured we would leave it till we got to Delhi.

Wrong again - first exchange booth in Delhi International airport just laughed! Nobody at airport could exchange Nepalese rupee, maybe a bank in the city?

We were only passing through Delhi, so we couldn’t go to the city centre, instead, we though we would try a bank branch in Goa.

No again! No bank in Goa, or for that matter later at Kuala Lumpur airport would change them. Back in Australia, we figured we would be OK. Well, guess what……we still have them…….even Australian Banks will not exchange!

Only thing I dont really understand is why? The currency is fixed against the Indian Rupee at a rate of 5 to 8, and has been for some time. Banks anywhere will happily exchange Indian rupee??

Anyway, I still have 16,410 Nepalese rupee, is anyone is interested in  discounted rate????

At current rates they are worth-

256 Australian Dollars, 212 US Dollars, 149 Euro, 128 GB Pounds or 20,221 Japanese Yen

(or 10,200 Indian rupee, 263 Libyan Dinars, 621 Polish Zloty or 1310 Norwegian Krone!!!) 

ANY OFFERS???

Click Here to consider Asian Itineraries’ 3 levels of travel packagesI have used Wotif a couple of times for booking accommodation, and have found them quite good for Thailand in particular. I like the format of their search page, and the prices they offer are competitive, although not necessarily better than elsewhere.

However, the hotels that do deals with them as WOT hotels, you would expect to be very strong offers, as they offer these rates “anonymously”, theoretically not undermining their brand, but still filling rooms at the last minute. The down side of the WOT hotels, is the consumer doesn’t get to see what they are until the commit, and are therefore taking a gamble that they will like them. Location etc becomes difficult to establish, and as such could be disappointing. as a trade off for this, the customer would want a big discount!

My experience was in Bangkok, as we wanted somewhere 4 star, but had been staying considerably cheaper in the rest on Thailand, and didn’t want to spend too much.

So we booked a WOT hotel, 4 star, in Sukhumvit, was all the real information provided, along with description saying major international brand, new hotel, etc etc.

well it wasn’t new, it was new to the company, and newly renovated (so that was OK), and it wasn’t a major international brand, at least, not by my expectations ( although it was international - Furama International - hotels in Singapore, Bali and Bangkok).

BUT THE PRICE WAS GOOD. we paid 1799 baht, and the best price they would offer as a walk up was 2499 baht. The hotel was the FuramaXclusive Asoke, and It was in a reasonable location, across the road from the Millennium hotel, close to Asoke BTS and underground train stations. I will report on the hotel in another post, as this post is more about the value in a WOT Hotel.

What was odd, was that all the guests in the hotel were Australians!, who had all booked through Wotif!!! So that was unusual. Shows how well Wotif WOT hotels works for the hotel (they were newly acquired to the chain, so maybe not marketed though traditional channels yet?).

In summary - happy with Wofit WOT hotel

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following is a copy of an email received from a  concerned former Indojet passenger, trying to find out how to get their refund for their cancelled flights. These people, like many others, were left high and dry in Bali, having flown to Bali with them, and then having to make their own way home!

The correspondence does give several contact options for other concerned customers to try and contact -

 

Indojet Asia will refund the unused portion of your Indojet ticket, in your case Denpasar to Perth. If the booking was made directly with Indojet on the website or over the phone, please reply to this email requesting the refund; if the booking was made through a Travel Agent or Wholesaler please contact them directly as Indojet will refund the return ticket to them.

Please note, due to the overwhelming enquiries and refund requests we have received, the refund process can take up to 6 weeks.

We thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

Kind regards,

Customer Service

Phone: 1300 783 335

Phone: (08) 6380 3377

Fax: (08) 9381 4625

Email: customer.service@indojet.com.au

Web: www.indojet.com.au

Licence: 9TA 1433 

We stayed at the Baan Khao Sok Resort in April 2009.

We searched Khao Sok accommodation on the Internet in Khao Lak, as this was our intended next destination, and did not manage to find any options that looked very appealing. However, in a travel agent in Khao Lak, actually on Bang Niang Beach Rd, Bang Niang, we saw a wall photo display of Baan Khao Sok Resort, and though their new Tree-house bungalows looked good. So we booked them and a taxi to take us from Khao Lak to Khao Sok.

The resort is located just off the Khao Sok National Park road, probably about a kilometer from the park entrance. The Baan Khao Sok Resort is one of the first accommodation options you come to on Khao Sok National Park road, and there are many more bungalows and lodges along the road as you get closer to the national park entrance.

We paid 1200 baht per night accommodation, and stayed for a total of 4 nights. This, we felt was quite expensive for a non air-conditioned bungalow, but there were no aircon options in Khao Sok at all. The tree houses were never new, and and interesting and novel experience!

Sitting up high in the tree made for a very peaceful time, and we could see some interesting bird and tree life we would otherwise probably have missed. Bieng built around a tree, there was a few gaps and crevices, and as a result we got a few visits from bugs and lizards, but nothing to worry about. The bathroom, in particular, with a tree passing right through the room, and with the removable shower-head attached to it, was really getting close to nature!

The bed was comfortable, and has a good mosquito net. lighting was good, and the tree house had excellent windows that opened up nicely to pickup the light breeze, and make air conditioning unnecessary.

We enjoyed our stay at Baan Khao Sok Resort very much, and would recommend it to others. It is perfectly suited to visitors to Khao Sok National Park, as it has a lovely close to nature feel.

I will post again shortly, with some more information on the grounds, the restaurant and the wonderful service! 

Two types of “regular” visas are available for potential tourist travellers to India, being Transit visas and Tourist Visas and both of these are available from the Indian Embassy, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The main differences between the two visas are as follows-

• Tourist visa is valid for 6 months, Transit visa is valid for 15 days
• Tourist visa cost 3050 Nepalese rupee, Transit visa cost 800 Nepalese rupee
• Tourist visa require security check with Indian embassy in your home country, Transit visa does not
• As a result of above, Tourist visa takes approx 1 week from application to issue, and Transit visa is issued same day
• Tourist visa does not require confirmed departure arrangements from India, Transit Visa does
• Tourist visa is for travelling and sight seeing, transit visa is not (!)

However, we recently took the transit visa option, primarily as it was going to be considerable quicker, and although limited to 15 days, obviously we travelled and did  sight seeing, beaching etc! They did however, require to see a onward flight booking (not that that could not have been changed).

I am still amazed at the total lack of pro-active action Indojet have taken to attempt to protect their image and reputation, after the the cancellation of their Perth to Bali service in Mid June.

Their initial handling of their difficult situation when they first found themselves without a plane was excellent, and they organised alternative flights for those on half a dozen or more flights, both into and out of Bali.

However, once they decided to suspend their services, they then appear to have totally dropped any attempt to help anyone, or to protect their own image with West Australian travellers! They issued a press release suspending services, and contacted in-transit customers by SMS to let them know they would not be assisting them any further, and that they should make their own arrangements for travel (including return flights to Australia).

Since June 29, there has been absolutely no contact from Indojet, and they are advising customer who can reach them that refunds will take up to 6 weeks.

As the company is not in administration or receivership - IE - they are not in financial difficulties - they definitely should be managing their image better. Surely they hope to continue this business into the future, as they have indicated on their last company announcement?

This is a classic example of NO DAMAGE CONTROL. They have just closed their doors, phones and eyes, and hoped the problem will go away!!! Feedback I get makes me believe the way they have handled this business crisis will haunt them well into the future! I doubt they can re-launch their service effectively in Perth. Yet, if the had handled it better, it could have almost been a public relations coup for them - as it looked like it was going to be when things first went bad for them.

However, maybe Air Asia’s commencement of flights direct from Perth to Bali would have pushed them out of the market anyway?????????

Having recently travelled to Bali I can’t recommend Odyssey Surf School enough! At approximately US$30 for a 2.5 hour lesson, with boards and surfwear included it was a great deal. What really took the cake though was the twenty - thirty photos that are taken while your riding the waves, and even better catching every wipeout! The instructors were friendly and patient and able to watch your technique and provide any advice that can help to stay on the board. Its not just for beginners either, they run intermediate and advanced classes as well as private and group lessons. You can find it attached to the Mercure hotel (next to the Hard Rock Hotel) - it’s a must for anybody who has even thought about surfing before!

Dissapointed at having to wait until summer to get back on the board,

Future Globetrotter

Travel insurance is one of those travel costs that sometimes get missed out, particularly when you are considering a longer term travel plan. But is this a good idea?

Travelling is Asia is no different than any other travel in the world, with a couple if exceptions. Firstly, most costs in most Asian countries is considerably cheaper than other parts of the world, particularly North America and Western Europe! This should mean your per day costs in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam will be relatively low. Secondly, standards of living in these countries is also considerably lower than their European counterparts, as is their safety standards and their health and hygiene standards!

In a nutshell, it mean accidents are more likely to happen, and when they do, you are less likely to wish to spend too much time in Asian care facilities!

Yes, I am suggesting Travel insurance is an absolute must, particularly when travelling in the countries of South East Asia! And when looking for travel insurance, you should look for one that offers evacuation to home, as well as the normal insurance coverage for things such as cancelled flights. On the other hand, I think coverage for stolen and lost personal items is an unnecessary expense. Particularly longer term travellers, are unlikely to carry many personal items of high value to South east Asia - maybe a camera and/or video camera.

World nomads travel insurance is a good option to consider, particularly as they cover longer term travel, and the ability to extend your cover if you stay away for longer than your initial plan! Click below and consider World Nomads!

Nepal is a popular place for travellers who have not made arrangements in their home country, but are attempting to get a Visa to enter India. Unlike many countries, India requires all foreign visitors to get a visa, and does not offer visa on arrival to any nationals of any country.

In Nepal, the Indian Embassy is located in Kathmandu, at 336 Kapurdhara Marg. This is in the suburb of Lazimpat, known as the Embassy district, and is located off the southern end of the popular travellers area of Thamel, only a kilometer of so from the Royal Palace. Not difficult to walk to, or any taxi driver will get you there for next to no cost.

Getting to the Indian Embassy is the easy bit, actually getting an Indian visa is the more challenging part! As the embassy is busy and they only issue a limited amount of visa’s per day, it is important to get there early, so as to not miss out and have to go through the process again the following day.

In point form the process is as follows ;

• Arrive to queue outside Embassy early - suggest around 7 -7.30 am
• wait in ever growing queue until embassy gates open at 8.30am
• wait in queue still, as officials allow about 20 people at a time through to security
• wait in small queue to go through security
• take electronic ticket from machine, with number
• proceed to customer service windows, and wait till they open at 9am
• get visa application form (about 50 available, for 200 applicants)
• wait for officials to get more forms
• wait for number to be called to foreigners window (in our case this was 1.30pm, only 6 hours after we arrived!!!!)
• hand in form, money and passport.
• comeback at later time (depending what type of visa you are applying for) to collect and repeat above process!!!

The process varies depending on if you require a tourist visa (valid for 6 months), or a transit visa (valid for 15 days), and I will detail the requirements and differences in another blog shortly. However, in either case you need to allow a full, frustrating day of waiting in queues! General opinion is that this is a fair introduction to Indian officialdom, and all prospective travellers to India should get used to it!!

Well, does anybody else wonder what is happening over at Indojet offices in Subiaco? Not too much, if the amount of activity on their website is any indication!

A recent text inquiry (as this is the only method of correspondence that appears to get answered) by a frustrated passenger, has been answered that refunds for unused flights will be another 6 weeks! Seams very convenient, that all dealings are getting pushed out for longer and longer? I would think there would have to be some big question marks over if Indojet intend to pay out any refunds at all!!!!

Considering passengers stranded in Bali last week were only given 1 days notice that Indojet would not be organising return flights for them, and that they needed to make their own arrangements to get home, you would think they would at least organize a quick refund???

Come on IndoJet - get people their money back, keep the public informed with what is going on (website hasn’t been updated since late June!!) and try to salvage your shattered reputation!!!!!!!

Keeping in mind, we think they intend to re-introduce their service not too far down the track, it is well and truly time to start to fix their image!

Message to INDOJET - GET THE REFUNDS HAPPENING NOW!!