THE PACKAGES

WHAT ARE THESE PACKAGES
These packages are the fly and drive kind with hotels included. The supplement for a single room is quoted apart. The cost for meals, domestic flights, local guides and entrances are quoted apart. You could select the services you need.

WHAT DO THE BASIC PACKAGES INCLUDE
Room with breakfast, private vehicles, train tickets (if any) and assistance. In places like Ranthambore, Bandhvgarh, Kanha, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong, Pemayangste, Chitwan, Bhutan, Houseboats, etc., all the meals are included. In National Parks like Chitwan, Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh and Kanha, the jungle visits are included. In some places the jungle visits are by Canter vans (with more people) and in some places by personal jeeps or on elephant back. In Periyar national Park, etc jungle visits are not included.

THE PACKAGES DO NOT INCLUDE
Airfares, meals other than mentioned, guides, entrances, insurance, personal expenses, Tips/ Gratuities/ Porterage etc.

HOTELS
- A Category: 5 star or next available.
- B Category: 5 star or 4 star or next available
- C Category: 4 star or 3 star or next best available.
- D Category: 3 star or 2 star or next best available
- E Category: 3 star or 2 star or guest houses

CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT TIMINGS AT HOTELS - 1200 hrs noon at most of the places irrespective of the time of arrival or departure. For house boats and hotels of Taj and Oberoi, check-in time is 1400 hrs and check-out time is 1000 hrs.

The confirmation of rooms at desired hotels will be subject to availability on the day of making the booking. In case rooms are not available at the hotel foreseen/ desired bookings will be made in alternate or similar category or the next best available hotel. Any supplement/reduction applicable in such cases will be payable accordingly.

ROAD TRANSPORT
In most of the cases, air-conditioned transport will be provided. Only in places like Kashmir, Ladakh, Darjeeling, etc, non air-conditioned transport will be provided. We are quoting you on medium sized cars, large cars, 10 seater vans, 18 seater coaches and 35 seater coaches.

01 to 03 people - Medium sized Ambassador or similar - with one baggage each
01 to 04 people - Large cars - Toyota Innova or GM Tavera with one baggage each
04 to 08 people – Mini Van with 8 to 10 seats
08 to 14 people – Small coaches with 18 seats
15 to 32 people – Coaches with 27 or 35 seats

The transport in all cases is for the exclusive use of the guests only and no other outsider is allowed excepting in safaris where others may be allowed.

In a half day tour, the visits are normally for four hours. In a full day tour, the visits are normally for six to eight hours. In most of the cases, where long distances are covered by the same vehicle (example in Rajasthan or Kerala), the transport is at disposal with the for visits and also for dining out.

AIR FARES
Airfares are not included in the cost.

The domestic fares are given apart where-ever applicable. The prices for the domestic flights are regular fares. We can offer you better instant purchase fares which are normally much cheaper but these fares can be offered only against full pre-payments as we have to buy the tickets immediately. Please check with us about these air-fares. NONE OF THE AIRFARES ARE GUARANTEED TILL TICKETED. These tickets are non refundable in case of any changes or cancellations.

For reservations we need the following information - full name of the travelers (Mr or Ms) & passport number.

TRAINS
In category A & B, we use First air-conditioned class or Executive Class. In category C, D & E second or economy air-conditioned class is being used. In some train, the above class may not be available in which we shall book the best available class. First class & Executive Class seats are very limited and are available on limited trains. There are no dining cars in most of the trains. Meals are included in certain trains like Shatabdi Express and Rajdhani Express. Meals are also offered in most of the trains at a very nominal price.

In the night journeys sleeping berths with bed rolls will be provided. In the day journeys seats will be provided.

In first class, the compartments have two or four berths and have a proper door to close for privacy. There is no guarantee of your getting a two berth or a four berth cabin. The railways do not allow you to buy all the four berths of a first class cabin if only two of you are traveling. Every empty berth/seat is offered to other wait-listed passengers.

In two tier, the compartments have four berths in the cabin and two berths in the passage. There are no doors but only a curtain is there for privacy.

In three tier, the compartments have six berths in the cabin and two berths in the passage. There are no doors nor curtain.

No refund or compensation can be claimed from Indian Railways in case of any cancellation of a train or delay in their departure/arrival or loss of baggage.

For reservations we need the following information - full name of the travelers, mention who is Male & who is Female (Mr or Ms), date of birth, passport number, and nationality. The bookings are non-transferable. Normally the train reservations open 90 days prior to departure. PLEASE DO NOTE THAT MOST OF THE GOOD TRAINS ARE ALL THE TIME FULL AND WE MAY HAVE TO OFFER YOU ALTERNATES.

BOOKINGS & CANCELLATIONS
For reservations we need the following information - arrival/departure flight details with flight number/timings, full name of the travelers, mention who is Male & who is Female (Mr or Ms), date of birth, passport number, and nationality.

All tour bookings are done at our Head Office in New Delhi. For groups, the policies depend on the hotels being used. The cancellation policies for Individuals is -

CANCELLATION POLICY – For packages
Cancellation - booking date to 30 days prior to arrival into India - 10% of billing
Cancellation - less than 29 days upto 21 days prior to arrival into India - 50% of billing
Cancellation - less than 20 & upto 15 days prior to arrival into India - 75% of total billing
Cancellation - less than 14 days prior to arrival into India - 100% of total billing

At times, certain services or hotels can ONLY be reserved against deposit or full payment, which of course will be advised to you in advance and accordingly charged also

CANCELLATION POLICY – For Flight or Train reservations
Once the Flight tickets ISSUED in Normal Economy class, there will be cancellation of US$ 25 per person/ sector. For Flight tickets issued under INSTANT PURCHASE/ CHEAPER/SPECIAL airfares, full cancellation fees will be applicable. No layover or compensation may be available in case of any cancellation of flight or late running of a flight in case of Low Cost Airlines.

For Train ticket, once issued, the cancellation of US$ 5 per person per sector will be applicable if cancelled more than 3 days prior to travel Certain trains like Shatabdi Express, Palace on Wheels, Tatkal (special fare) etc. do not fall in this category of cancellations and cancellation of the reserved space on these trains is subject to cancellation of 20-50% at any time. No layover or compensation is offered by the Railways in case of any cancellation of a train journey or late running of a train.

PAYMENTS
For making a firm reservation, we will be needing a deposit and the balance will be collected on your arrival. If you are traveling during peak dates like Christmas, New Year, or any festivals, full non refundable payments may be needed in advance, depending on the hotel policy.

Online Payment :: Bank Cheque :: Bank Transfer :: Credit Card

RESPONSIBILITIES
Services International is responsible for making reservation with the suppliers offering the services described in accordance with the relevant terms and conditions. The flights, cruises, rail, hotel accommodation, and other components of your holiday included in the brochure are supplied by reputable providers on there own terms & conditions, as such we do not accept any responsibility of whatever nature for the acts, omissions, or defaults whether negligence or otherwise of these providers. Services International does not accept liability for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeur or other events & will not be held liable for any loss or damage sustained because of delays or inconvenience that might be experienced during your holiday. Services International reserves the right to cancel or change any holiday or services without notice at any time. In `the event of cancellation or change, Services International will offer alternative arrangements if any are available or, if the alternative arrangements are not available or responsibly unacceptable to you, we will refund that part of any money paid which relates to that part of the of the holiday or service that has been cancelled or changed. Apart from that refund and subject to any statutory provision to the contrary, Services International will not be liable. All programs are subject to change with or without notice. All disputes are subject to Delhi Jurisdiction.

GENERAL INFORMATION
INDIAN VISA: All non Indians visiting India are required to obtain a valid visa and same can be obtained from the nearest Indian mission in your country. If visiting any other country along with India (example Nepal ), you have to apply for a multi-entry visa for India .

NEPAL VISA: A 3 nights stay is free of cost and known as GRATIS VISA (this may be withdrawn at anytime without any notice). Regular visa for 60 days with single entry the fee is approx US$ 35 per person (prices are subject to change) and can be obtained in advance from the Nepalese mission or on ARRIVAL at Kathmandu airport with one photograph.

DOCUMENTATION: A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date is a must. No vaccinations are obligatory but anti-malaria medicines are recommended. Consult your doctor for any personal medicines you may require during your visit. People coming from African and South American continent should consult their travel agents for Yellow Fever Vaccination as it is a must.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: The baggage allowance is 15 to 30 kilos and varies from airline to airline. Normally 1 handbag is allowed. For safety reasons, your suitcase should be locked. All liquids, more than the specified quantity, should be placed in your checked in baggage..

TIPPING: Tips are not included in the cost. Although not obligatory, guides, drivers, porters etc. expect a tip. Depending on the quality of the service, we suggest you to tip them equivalent to USD$ 5 to 10 for the tour guide, driver/per day and US$ 1 for the porter. Tipping in the restaurants depends on the quality of the food/services. You may tip 10% of the bill amount.

CURRENCY: The currency in India is INDIAN RUPEE (INR) & comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Rupees. Coins are in denominations of 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees, and five rupees. The best way of carrying money to India is in form of Travellers cheques which are widely acceptable. All major credit cards- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc are accepted all over India . You may withdraw cash in local currency from ATMs available in all the major cities. You may exchange money either in the hotels or banks/money changers against an official receipt.

RESTROOM FACILITIES: Most public washroom facilities in India are of the traditional Western Style toilets. Please carry your own toilet paper and hand wipes. The washroom facilities in most of your hotels are as you are accustomed to.

MEALS/DRINK: The breakfast at most of the hotels is usually buffet style and has a mix of Indian and Continental dishes. Lunch and Dinners is also normally available in buffet style as well as A la Carte. Most Indian food is cooked, not raw and is safe to eat. If you are sensitive to spicy food, please ask the manager for NO SPICE food. A wide variety of fresh fruits/juices is available round the year. India offers a large variety of vegetarian food and we strongly recommend you to try it. Mineral water and other beverages are not included in the meal cost and needs to be paid for if used.

TAXIS: The taxis are quite inexpensive. You also have less expensive mode of travel called Auto Rickshaw which cost you almost half of the taxi fare. Please insist on the meter fare or negotiate before boarding. It is recommended that you carry the name card of the hotel. You may also get private taxis with drivers which are hired on half or full day basis.

TRAFFIC and SAFETY: The traffic in India is pretty chaotic as we drive on the left side of the road. The traffic rules are not followed strictly & you need to be careful if walking on the roadsides. Self-driving is possible in certain cities with valid International driving license but we recommend you to take chauffeur driven cars which are not expensive and are available all over India/Nepal.

DO’S & DONT’S : Removing shoes is a must before entering a shrine. Drinking alcoholic beverages on the premises is not permissible. Some Temples are off-limits to visitors. People should be properly dressed and should cover their head before entering a Sikh Temple , cover their legs while entering a mosque etc.. In most of Hindu and Jain temples leather products like shoes, belts, handbags, camera cases etc. are prohibited in the main shrine and should be left outside or in your bus. Smoking is not permitted in public places as well as in the bus.

SHOPPING: India is a paradise for shopping – you may find souvenirs, handicrafts, antiquities, carpets, precious and semi precious stones, gold and silver jewellery, spices, woodcrafts, clothes in cotton and silk. Every nook and corner of India offers a different product and you can hard-bargain for the prices everywhere except at the shops or emporiums which are run by the Govt.

CLIMATE & CLOTHING: Basically a tropical country, we have a hot and tropical climate and cotton clothing is recommended. From April to October it is hot and dry barring the two months of July/August of rains when it gets quite humid. Winter months are November till March with lots of sunlight. This is the best period to visit India . In December, January and February it may get quite cold in some parts of the country and you will need woolens.

ELECTRICITY: Like most of the countries in the world, we have 220 volts/50 cycles of Alternating Current (AC). We use 2 or 3 round pin plugs and it is same all over India .

TIME: India lies east of Greenwich and has a time difference of 5.30 hrs in winter and 4.30 in summer.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is recommended and should be taken from your home country and should cover medical assistance, repatriation, cancellation or curtailment of your travel, loss of baggage or valuables etc. All our transport as well as that of the suppliers carry a comprehensive insurance for the vehicle, driver and the passengers – as per the prevailing laws of the country. Claims, if any, will be processed as per the Indian Laws in local currency. No claim is possible in case of any damaged/lost or delay of the baggage and is not covered by the insurance either.