Those were the days when I, K Rathnakara Shenoy, B.E(Mech), M.B.A, was about to retire from my active job services, having almost reached the age of 60 years.
After having carried out my official duties excellently well during the entire of my professional career, I felt that it was time for me and my family to explore and experience the beauty of the world by going on tour around it.
To make a beginning on those lines, we thought of going on an Europe tour. Even though we were aware of many international tour operators who offered this sort of Europe Tours, we were meticulous and fortunate enough to evaluate, weigh, recognize and choose "Chariot World Tours" as the best among them.
The said Europe Tour undertaken by us through M/S Chariot World Tours, costed us around Rs 1.95 Lakhs per person. The tour was of 18 days duration. However, I am glad to admit that at the end of the said tour, we realized that we got far more than the value for our money.
The tour itself had been very well organized and the sight visits were excellent. We spent no extra money for sight visits, since Chariot tours had confirmed to us that all such costs have been included by them in the package itself. In fact, we hadn’t have to pay even the tips to anyone for their services. Such of them also had been included in the tour fees collected by M/S Chariot Tours.
For the entire tour which got started from London(UK), a caravan was accompanying us in which Indian food was cooked and offered to us during the period when we were travelling by bus from one city to another. The food was reasonably tasty and healthy. Due to this, we never felt that we were away from our native country India. Therefore, tour became very pleasurable and satisfying.
Whenever we were lodged in Hotels, they were definitely good ones both from the point of view of hygiene as well as comfort levels. There is no ambiguity in this aspect. Breakfast was excellent on all the days without exceptions. Both lunch and dinner were mainly in Indian restaurants of top quality.
The "Captain of the Bus"(in India we undermine them by calling them as mere "Driver of the bus") was of excellent nature, very hospitable and was of kind mind set.
Our set of tourists(travelers) had been accompanied by very good tour guides. It was so because M/S Chariot World Tours had chosen them meticulously and with great care.
The said tour guides not only gave us precious knowledge about the places that we visited but also encouraged us to mingle with each other harmoniously. They also encouraged us to share our individual talents with other of our bus mates. This aspect made us to become closer to each other. It also gave us a feeling of a single large family.
Further, there were many among us(fellow travelers) who had carried lots of eatables and condiments with us from India. We were liberal enough to share them with all the other fellow travelers time to time, most often when the bus was in motion.
There were jokes, singing, intellectual talks, general lectures, experiences shared etc within the bus. This aspect kept us active and alert always. Slumber of the people within the bus was definitely a rare phenomenon.
Above all, the said tour gave us lots of knowledge regarding various civilizations of the European world, their culture, history, degree of their technical advancement, levels of their infrastructure, cleanliness, discipline, mannerisms and religious beliefs.
Most of these good things were the true reflections of the way in which the tour was organized and coordinated by the organizers. They had kept health and comfort of travelers firmly in mind when organizing. This aspect is certain.
The food was unlimited. Needless to say that many of us(without our conscious knowledge) put on weight to an extent of 2-3 kgs by the end of the tour. Every one’s face was beaming with broad smiles, freshness and enthusiasm.
So far as tour ticketing is concerned, depending upon individual situations, Chariot World Tour organization gave certain amount of flexibility in it wherein individual tourist could blend and integrate his own family visit plans. I am very open and frank enough to admit that I derived good returns out of this of their flexible approach.
It is my firm personal opinion that Chariot world tour organization is an excellent organizer and coordinator. They ensure that the tourists who believe in them and adopted them for their tour program are given great attention. They leave no stone un-turned to ensure comfort to their clients. There cannot be an iota of doubt about this.
After the said 18 days tour, when we were about to depart each other to go to our individual places, we felt very sad. I could see tears in several eyes, for the reason of parting from each other. But the same was inevitable.
At the present time, when nearly 9 years have passed after my having undertaken the said Europe tour, my good feelings about Chariot Tours have remained as permanent bench mark in my memory. In fact that tour was so sweet that I will remember it through out my life. It certainly deserves it.
Important thing is that, the tours that they( Chariot Tours) conduct, have very little hidden costs. Factually speaking, the said tour was certainly economical, pleasurable, informative, conducive of satisfaction and was a spring board of peace of mind. It gave me enormous joy indeed.
Thanks for reading these facts. Wish you the best.