Has anyone travelled recently with 'Pan India Tours?'
Aug 8th, 2013, 11:03 PM
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Has anyone travelled recently with 'Pan India Tours?'
Hi,
I am in conversation with Pan India Tours in Jaipur regarding our trip to Kerala in October. While I have read a couple of good reviews about Pan India Tours on TA however would love to hear anyone's experience if travelled recently with this operator. What has been your experience?
All help appreciated.
I am in conversation with Pan India Tours in Jaipur regarding our trip to Kerala in October. While I have read a couple of good reviews about Pan India Tours on TA however would love to hear anyone's experience if travelled recently with this operator. What has been your experience?
All help appreciated.
Aug 10th, 2013, 07:19 AM
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Hi Summi1; Here are my comments
It was a really great experience with Pan India Tours and I will never forget it. I recently went to India to do the trip of my life. India is a very unique & colorful country and Pan India helped me to discover & enjoy it fully! I went to South India with Aurangabad and ended my tour in Delhi!
A detailed feedback (trip report) is furnished as under:
Driver:
The driver Mr. Ajim was excellent. Always ready and willing and able. His driving skills were excellent and as he became more comfortable with his English which was very good, we had many conversations along the road. He was animated and engaging and a true joy.
Guides:
All guides on this segment were truly very good. I would suggest that the best was Mr. Ravi whom I met for the segment regarding Ajanta and Ellora. He took much effort in explaining his substantial knowledge of the paintings and culture that we encountered. It was a pleasure considering the various influences of Greek philosophy that might be represented here. Moreover, Mr. Nafaj who was the guide at Aihole and Pattakale as well as Bijapur was excellent too. He invited me to his home to share lunch, I saw the interior of his family house and the traditional cooking methods, as well as people living in the village amidst ruins that have not been reclaimed for restoration. It was most informative to see how these urins were and are used in the reality of village life. Mr. Nafaj at Hassan gave much effort in his explanation of Jain religion as well as taking me to less well known temples and asking the priest to open the sanctum and give a puja for us while I was present. His sharing manner and knowledge was excellent. Mr. Jaies in Mysore was also very well informed and gave me an excellent introduction to Hoysala art formulations and iconography. Two days was certainly necessary to cover all the information and gain a reasonable understanding of this area and he did a very good job.
Hotels:
The Royal Orchid was a total pleasure in Mysore. From the moment I arrived, the hospitality was superior, the room was spacious, and the hotel being rather small, felt intimate and comfortable. The personnel came to know me and always greeted me with a smile. This is a superb property.
The Hoysala Village was also a pleasure and in the environment of the heat and dry climate, it made a wonderful chande to relax in greenery and very good food.
The Malligi was a good choice. The room that I had was in the new wing which was spacious and hospitality was good. After the second day the staff at the front desk began to recognize me and have my key ready for me when I returned. I was told, however, by one other guest to avoid the old wing of the hotel where she described the rooms as dark and dingy. Also, the restaurant is somewhat limited but the food prepared is quite good.
Badami Court is a great property. It is quiet and the staff was a pleasure. One waiter hugged me, shook my hand several times, and seemed truly happy to have met me and had our conversations during my stay. One note however, it may make sense to double check to make certain the reservation is confirmed. When I arrived, there was apparently some confusion regarding my arrival and they kindly placed me in another hotel giving me free meals at the hotel during my stay. The place to which was transferred was quite interesting where I had the chance to see the drivers sleeping on the lobby floor when Mr. Ajim kindly met me to transfer me back to Badami Court at 6 AM. For me, it was a great opportunity, but it could be difficult particularly for women travelers since the doors had bolts on the door leading one to question the security of the location. There was A/C and hot water and the room was totally clean.
Bijapur Hotel Madhuvan International was very good. The room was clean, hot water was abundant and air condition was strong. It was very quiet during the night. It gave pause that there was no latch on the door ... only a bolt and padlock system, but in truth it makes the situation more secure rather than less. The staff was a pleasure and the restaurant was very good. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Taj Residency in Aurangabad was a good property but quite formal and lacked the intimacy of the other hotels. I understand there may be another option (The Lemon Tree). I certainly would consider this since the Taj is a high end property with all the amenities but, for me lacked intimacy.
Additional comments: I would add the summer palace in Mysore. It is a grand example of Muslim architecture with superb volumetric and proportions. Also, the murals depicting the wars of Tipu are quite amazing and the inlay work of the wood is also quite beautiful. It is quick stop on the way out of town I probably one half hour or so). Also, if one had to choose, I would probably recommend the temple in Mysore as an excellent example of Hoysala sculpture and refinement. The chance to consider Chalukyan architecture in contract to Pallavan was also a special experience since I had had the chance to consider this in Tamil Nadu.
The scheduling was excellent and very well planned by Pan India Tours ([email protected] ). It gave me time to absorb information in various places and because some for the guides helped me on consecutive days, I had the chance to continue questions that came to me over the course of the night. In all, it was an excellently constructed tour and was a total pleasure.
It was a really great experience with Pan India Tours and I will never forget it. I recently went to India to do the trip of my life. India is a very unique & colorful country and Pan India helped me to discover & enjoy it fully! I went to South India with Aurangabad and ended my tour in Delhi!
A detailed feedback (trip report) is furnished as under:
Driver:
The driver Mr. Ajim was excellent. Always ready and willing and able. His driving skills were excellent and as he became more comfortable with his English which was very good, we had many conversations along the road. He was animated and engaging and a true joy.
Guides:
All guides on this segment were truly very good. I would suggest that the best was Mr. Ravi whom I met for the segment regarding Ajanta and Ellora. He took much effort in explaining his substantial knowledge of the paintings and culture that we encountered. It was a pleasure considering the various influences of Greek philosophy that might be represented here. Moreover, Mr. Nafaj who was the guide at Aihole and Pattakale as well as Bijapur was excellent too. He invited me to his home to share lunch, I saw the interior of his family house and the traditional cooking methods, as well as people living in the village amidst ruins that have not been reclaimed for restoration. It was most informative to see how these urins were and are used in the reality of village life. Mr. Nafaj at Hassan gave much effort in his explanation of Jain religion as well as taking me to less well known temples and asking the priest to open the sanctum and give a puja for us while I was present. His sharing manner and knowledge was excellent. Mr. Jaies in Mysore was also very well informed and gave me an excellent introduction to Hoysala art formulations and iconography. Two days was certainly necessary to cover all the information and gain a reasonable understanding of this area and he did a very good job.
Hotels:
The Royal Orchid was a total pleasure in Mysore. From the moment I arrived, the hospitality was superior, the room was spacious, and the hotel being rather small, felt intimate and comfortable. The personnel came to know me and always greeted me with a smile. This is a superb property.
The Hoysala Village was also a pleasure and in the environment of the heat and dry climate, it made a wonderful chande to relax in greenery and very good food.
The Malligi was a good choice. The room that I had was in the new wing which was spacious and hospitality was good. After the second day the staff at the front desk began to recognize me and have my key ready for me when I returned. I was told, however, by one other guest to avoid the old wing of the hotel where she described the rooms as dark and dingy. Also, the restaurant is somewhat limited but the food prepared is quite good.
Badami Court is a great property. It is quiet and the staff was a pleasure. One waiter hugged me, shook my hand several times, and seemed truly happy to have met me and had our conversations during my stay. One note however, it may make sense to double check to make certain the reservation is confirmed. When I arrived, there was apparently some confusion regarding my arrival and they kindly placed me in another hotel giving me free meals at the hotel during my stay. The place to which was transferred was quite interesting where I had the chance to see the drivers sleeping on the lobby floor when Mr. Ajim kindly met me to transfer me back to Badami Court at 6 AM. For me, it was a great opportunity, but it could be difficult particularly for women travelers since the doors had bolts on the door leading one to question the security of the location. There was A/C and hot water and the room was totally clean.
Bijapur Hotel Madhuvan International was very good. The room was clean, hot water was abundant and air condition was strong. It was very quiet during the night. It gave pause that there was no latch on the door ... only a bolt and padlock system, but in truth it makes the situation more secure rather than less. The staff was a pleasure and the restaurant was very good. I would definitely recommend this hotel.
Taj Residency in Aurangabad was a good property but quite formal and lacked the intimacy of the other hotels. I understand there may be another option (The Lemon Tree). I certainly would consider this since the Taj is a high end property with all the amenities but, for me lacked intimacy.
Additional comments: I would add the summer palace in Mysore. It is a grand example of Muslim architecture with superb volumetric and proportions. Also, the murals depicting the wars of Tipu are quite amazing and the inlay work of the wood is also quite beautiful. It is quick stop on the way out of town I probably one half hour or so). Also, if one had to choose, I would probably recommend the temple in Mysore as an excellent example of Hoysala sculpture and refinement. The chance to consider Chalukyan architecture in contract to Pallavan was also a special experience since I had had the chance to consider this in Tamil Nadu.
The scheduling was excellent and very well planned by Pan India Tours ([email protected] ). It gave me time to absorb information in various places and because some for the guides helped me on consecutive days, I had the chance to continue questions that came to me over the course of the night. In all, it was an excellently constructed tour and was a total pleasure.
Aug 10th, 2013, 07:24 AM
#3
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Rhinds, you are back from your trip? I thought you weren't going until October.
When was the trip you reported on above? You may want to post your report separately, as you can't flag someone else's question as a trip report.
When was the trip you reported on above? You may want to post your report separately, as you can't flag someone else's question as a trip report.
Mar 18th, 2014, 12:03 AM
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After getting lot of positive feedbacks from Travellers on Frommers, Fodors & TA, we finally booked our Kerala trip with Pan India Tours.
All went smoothly. Amit, thank you so much for all your help and assistance prior to our trip and for the excellent quality of service and accommodation during our stay.
Being met and taken care of right from leaving the airport and accompanied until we boarded the train meant we had no worries or concerns to mar the start of the trip. The stay at luxury Houseboat was a dream come true and Jose was an excellent host, the food was so good I put on weight in 2 days! The periyar trip, wildlife sightings and close up encounters with elephants are something I will never forget, and another magical moment was the visit to Munnar, and the magical waterfalls.
My only complaint is that 6 days was not enough! I certainly didn't want to leave, but that was our mistake. Everybody we have spoken to has said we had a really good deal, and I have recommended booking through you to everyone we met. I certainly hope to have the opportunity to use your services again.
Warmest wishes from a very happy client.
Regards
Summi
All went smoothly. Amit, thank you so much for all your help and assistance prior to our trip and for the excellent quality of service and accommodation during our stay.
Being met and taken care of right from leaving the airport and accompanied until we boarded the train meant we had no worries or concerns to mar the start of the trip. The stay at luxury Houseboat was a dream come true and Jose was an excellent host, the food was so good I put on weight in 2 days! The periyar trip, wildlife sightings and close up encounters with elephants are something I will never forget, and another magical moment was the visit to Munnar, and the magical waterfalls.
My only complaint is that 6 days was not enough! I certainly didn't want to leave, but that was our mistake. Everybody we have spoken to has said we had a really good deal, and I have recommended booking through you to everyone we met. I certainly hope to have the opportunity to use your services again.
Warmest wishes from a very happy client.
Regards
Summi
Mar 26th, 2014, 04:11 AM
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It was a great trip organized by PAN India Tours. The pre-planning (email- [email protected]) provided by Pan India Tours was excellent; all of our questions were fully answered and personal decisions we wished to make were respected. No problems were encountered during the trip and our expectations were more than met.
All the hotels selected for us were comfortable and clean; the staff very pleasant and helpful, and the meals good. Gaurav, the agent who met us at the airport, gave us all the necessary information and documents we required for our tour.
All three drivers, we had during our tour, were very good - professional in conduct, appearance and very skillful drivers! Here I would like to mention about Kumar as being exceptional - we always felt he was watching over us and watching out for us, and I really appreciated his efforts in obtaining medical care when I needed it. The projected hours of daily driving were very accurate and the car very comfortable. Both Kumar and Singh selected quite acceptable places for tea breaks and/or lunch during the driving. The hotels, in general, were satisfactory and some were excellent. The hotels we thought were outstanding were: Bundi Vilas in Bundi, Ajit Bhawan in Jodphur, Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, Chunda Palace in Udaipur and Gajner Palace in Bikaner (especially the no smoking policy). Le Meridian in Delhi and Wyndham Grand in Agra were very good western-style 5 star hotels.
We enjoyed all the sights on our stated itinerary - each day brought something wonderful to see and experience. As well, we thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected side-trips/stops that both Ram and Manoj came up with every day e.g. an ancient stepwell at Abhaneri; a village fair in a small town; a rural school; the monkey temple.
While we know that Pan India deals with many clients we still always felt "special" because of the care that was shown to/for us. We would not hesitate to recommend “Pan India Tours” to anyone wishing to have a well done tour of India.
All the hotels selected for us were comfortable and clean; the staff very pleasant and helpful, and the meals good. Gaurav, the agent who met us at the airport, gave us all the necessary information and documents we required for our tour.
All three drivers, we had during our tour, were very good - professional in conduct, appearance and very skillful drivers! Here I would like to mention about Kumar as being exceptional - we always felt he was watching over us and watching out for us, and I really appreciated his efforts in obtaining medical care when I needed it. The projected hours of daily driving were very accurate and the car very comfortable. Both Kumar and Singh selected quite acceptable places for tea breaks and/or lunch during the driving. The hotels, in general, were satisfactory and some were excellent. The hotels we thought were outstanding were: Bundi Vilas in Bundi, Ajit Bhawan in Jodphur, Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, Chunda Palace in Udaipur and Gajner Palace in Bikaner (especially the no smoking policy). Le Meridian in Delhi and Wyndham Grand in Agra were very good western-style 5 star hotels.
We enjoyed all the sights on our stated itinerary - each day brought something wonderful to see and experience. As well, we thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected side-trips/stops that both Ram and Manoj came up with every day e.g. an ancient stepwell at Abhaneri; a village fair in a small town; a rural school; the monkey temple.
While we know that Pan India deals with many clients we still always felt "special" because of the care that was shown to/for us. We would not hesitate to recommend “Pan India Tours” to anyone wishing to have a well done tour of India.
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