I was signed up for a fly-in-fly-out tour from Mumbai to the Taj Mahal. Turns out that the runway on which our 737 was to land in Agra (where the Taj is) is undergoing construction, which was scheduled to be completed in time for our landing (yes, and takeoff) but alas! is only half complete. Nowhere to land the plane, no flight from Mumbai, no tour.
But, true to form, Holland America is offering a substitute. Now, for the same price, we can fly from what used to be called Goa, our stop before Mumbai, to Delhi and take a bus to Agra, spend the night in a hotel, then, the next morning, go see the Taj at sunrise! The bus trip from Delhi to Agra takes five hours to go 127 miles, which means we get to see a lot more of India than we would have during the air flight for the one-day tour. And the Taj at sunrise!
So I went down to file my acceptance of the new tour and encountered a woman I know who was just leaving the excursions desk, clearly mad as a hornet. "Can you believe they're trying to fob us off with only two and a half hours at the Taj?" she fumed. "But the Taj at sunrise!" I exclaimed. "Bullshit!" she answered, and stormed away.
She gets her $2500 back. I get the Taj at sunrise. You say "potato... "
2500USD ! Wow! It is the same price then the flight Portland-Taj ?:)
ReplyDeleteYes, Holland America tours are not cheap. But if you get back late, the ship doesn't sail without you, a significant benefit.
DeleteAnd you win!!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the woman who was so upset. She must just be an unhappy person.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, what an experience, actually SEEING some of India on the way, then the Taj at sunrise. Glorious!
I did just about the same itinerary. What an amazing journey to Agra!! You will see many different modes of transportation...much better than flying. We had a wonderful trip...and The Taj Mahal at sunrise...what can I say!! ENJOY
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