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“A super holiday”

written by wendyprowse on 25/04/2012

The car sevice from home was very good up to Heathrow where I met the friend I was going with. As there had been a change of aircraft, the Saga lady gave us new flight details. We were now flying with Qatar. Never used them before, but they were really good, the best economy I have seen .
WE went via Doha and then on to Kathmandu, arriving early evening and were met by our Tour Manager. We went to the hotel to freshen up and then itwas out to a Tibetan restaurant for dinner and a show.The food was like a mezze and l thought very tasty. Back for bed. A nice hotel, but the lift was only from the 1st floor. Up early next day as I was flying out early to see Everest. Came back for BF and then a bit of sightseeing of Kathmandu before we drove on to Nagarkot which is high up in the hills.
Being high up it was colder. But the rooms had electric fires which we kept on also you could ask for a HWB. The room not so large and when we arrived no hot water, so no shower before dinner.A tepid one later on. Dinner was quite good, but not as much choice as the last hotel. Quite chilly whilst having dinner due to outside doors being left open. If you wanted the loo whilst at dinner, you had to walk back upstairs (no lift) or go outside.We were all in the main building, if not it would have been in the chalets in the grounds. The gardens were lovely and lovely views. Being up here it was for the sun rise and sets. we arrived in time for sun set and in the morning we were woken early to see the sun rise from the top of the hotel. Most of the hotels had viewing areas. After this we had a walk around the area with the tour manager before BF, then it was back to Kathmandu for our flight to Pokhara last that day. This next hotel in Pokhara was the best so far. More choice of food and more sweets. AS up till now the sweets had only been fresh fruit salad or cake.The rooms were nice and spacious but no safe, so if you wanted to use one, it was out in reception. Lovely gardens here. One draw back plenty of flies. BUt on the second night they were serving outside and l didn't fancy it, but they lit citronella candles and we didn't see one fly. We visited a local village from here which was very interesting.Next morning it was back to Kathmandu for another night at the first hotel. we also got a chance to ride in a rickshaw. If you want to see some shops, this is the place to do it. Leave the hotel and turn left and within a few 100 yards you see some side streets, mainly where the rickshaw had taken us. WE saw Dunbar square the next day and a bit more of Kathmandu, before flying on to Delhi that night.On arrival in Delhi we were met by the Tour manager. change money here at the airport if you need some, but they dont rush to do it. ON to the bus and were given garlands. Arriving at the hotel find out itinerary had been changed and only here one night, so only in the hotel 12 hours. This hotel amazing. Dropped off our bags and came straight down to dinner as it was about 8.00pm by now. Good job we did as about 15 mins later the place was heaving with more tour groups. Food here, what a choice. So much to choose from and the service from the staff was good. so many sweets. Food here is mainly kept covered, as in Nepal it was mainly uncovered.
Next morning we had a long journey on to Jaipur by road. The roads are really busy and noisy. We stopped off for lunch on route, these stops were usually quite good. We arrived early evening, again a lovely hotel. Nice rooms but better if you were a double or a loan single, twins were not so good.This is my only gripe, the bathroom. Beautiful, but it was split level. So you walked in to the basin and loo, but took two steps down to the bath and shower. If it hadn't been for the bathmat sitting in the middle of the floor, l'd never have noticed, as not that well lit.Everything was black marble. I thought this quite dangerous. The bedroom was lovely which looked out on to the gardens. The food here a good selection and again good service. A few had got tummy upsets, so the TM advised us to eat yogurt each day and a banana and chew two cloves after your evening meal. The gardens are lovely with sun beds, but only about 20 for the whole hotel. Had two nights here and then it was a long drive to Agra and the Taj Mahal. The Agra hotel was definately the best one, so large l kept getting lost, good job there were plenty of staff to direct you. If you wanted to go out of the hotel to the town, it was easy getting a tuktuk out side the main gates. The food, so much to choose from and ice cream, the first we had seen.Rooms really spacious and looked out over nice gardens. Again not many sunbeds for use, only about 20. UP early to see The Taj next day at sun rise, as you had to Q for getting in and tight security. It was just as l imagined, we had about 2 hours touring around.definately the cleanest place we had seen in India.
WE also had the chance to see a show all about the building of the Taj the night before. After two nights it was back to Delhi for another night before flying home the next day. An early start for our home flight, again good service from Qatar.The car service was good, but we had to wait a while to get it home.