Hotels shower monsoon packages

After the airlines, hotel chains are now luring Gujaratis with a host of travel packages to suit various budgets.

While Taj has the advantage of offering travel packages in various locations, the Welcome Group claims to have a pricing advantage. Hotel chains like Cama Hotels and Le Meridien also have attractive packages lined up.

With the arrival of the monsoons, Taj Holidays is showering prospective travellers with special offers as 'Magical Monsoon Retreats'.

"Taj Holidays are replete with adventure, romance, luxury and style, showcasing the best of every destination. From the moment you step into the gracious lobbies of Taj hotels, resorts and palaces, you will be enchanted. Every hotel has been furnished to capture the soul of its local environ," Darius Merchant, general manager, Taj Residency Ummed, Ahmedabad, said.

As part of its Magical Mosoon Retreats offer, Taj offers holidays at Hotel Chandela in Khajuraho for Rs 1,600 per day (inclusive of taxes and breakfast).

It is also offering packages at Taj View Hotel, Agra, at Rs 2,150, Taj Ganges, Varanasi, at Rs 2,400, Taj Malabar, Kochi, Rs 5,300, Taj Exotica, Goa, Rs 5,500, Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur, Rs 3,750, Hotel De'l Annapurna, Kathmandu, at Rs 3,000 and Savoy Hotel, Ooty, at Rs 2,400.

Taj's regular offers include hoildays at Taj View Hotel, Agra, at Rs 3700 for two nights and a day, including in-room tea and coffee, buffet breakfast, half-day sight-seeing trip in an air conditioned car to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, a complementary steam bath, visit to an emporium to witness ancient marble inlay craft and special discounts on shopping. Trips to Mathura and Vrindavan can also be arranged.

ITC's Welcome Group offers a two nights and three days holiday package at 12 of its locations in India.

These include stay at Mughal Sheraton at Agra for Rs 5,499, Rajputana Palace Sheraton at Jaipur for Rs 6,499, Marriott Welcome Hotel at New Delhi for Rs 8,499, ITC Hotel Windsor Sheraton and Towers at Bangalore for Rs 8,499, Sullivan Court at Ooty for Rs 5,999, Chola Sheraton at Chennai for Rs 7,999, ITC Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton and Towers at Hyderabad for Rs 7,999, ITC Hotel Sonar Bangla Sheraton and Towers at Kolkata for Rs 7,499, Rama International at Aurangabad for Rs 4,999, Grand Bay at Visakhapatnam for Rs 4,499.

It also offers three nights and four days holiday package at Bay Island in Andamans for Rs 18,999 and Gurkha Houseboats at Srinagar for Rs 7,999 amongst others.

Holiday at Taj Ganges at Varanasi would cost Rs 5,000 for two nights inclusive of one way travel from airport or railway station in an air conditioned car, bed tea and buffet breakfast, one half-day sightseeing trip, free bagghi ride at Nadesar Palace, usage of fitness centre and swimming pool, discount on purchase of saris.

Similarly holiday at Gir Lodge managed by Taj at Sasan Gir in Gujarat would cost Rs 5,000 for two nights and includes welcome drink, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner amongst others.

Hoilday at Rawal Kot in Jaisalmer would cost Rs 3,270 for two nights and the package includes railway station travel, buffet breakfast, half day sightseeing trip to Jaisalmer Patwa Ki Haveli, Jain temples and Gadisar Lake.

Goa and Kerala are the most sought after destinations for the monsoons. Taj offers a holiday at Taj Holiday Village in Goa for Rs 10,000 for two nights.

The package includes airport and railway station transfer by air conditioned coaches, buffet breakfast and meal credit of Rs 2,000 for two nights, half day north Goa sightseeing by coach, one adventure activity per person such as rappeling or rock climbing, free yoga sessions, trekking around 16th century Portuguese fortess, host of kids'activities, activities like Goan cooking demo, magic workshops, tattoo workshops, basket weaving also available amongst others.

While Taj Kerala holiday at Taj Malabar in Kochi costs Rs 12,000 for two night and includesfruitbasketi the room, buffet breakfast and a meal credit of Rs 2,800 on double occupancy and Rs 1,400 on single occupancy per stay.

Kids meal credit of Rs 700 per day, half-day sightseeing of historic places and one-hour sunset cruisecan also be arranged at an additional cost.