Excellent. Review on Raj Travels and Tours, Mumbai

I had been on Raj's Amazing far east Bonanza in 2006, after reading the negative reviews I decided to share a very positive experience I had with Raj travels. I had booked the tour Via a franchise o Raj called Umarshi Travels at Powai, hassle free booking.

I had traveled for 12 Days to Thailand/Malaysia and Singapore on the 4th of may 2006, Me and my sister had gone for the tour. We were departing by Thai Airways which was scheduled to leave Mumbai at 00:30 Hrs.

We had our tickets and visa already with us, so we reached the airport a good 3 hrs before the departure of the flight and saw some families who would be taking the tour with us, we could recognize them as we all had a raj travels hand carry bag, this was a complimentary gift when we booked the tour.

I was expecting a group check in, but some families had already checked in earlier, so we also checked in individually. Also met the tour manager at the airport and identified ourselves. She was friendly.

The flight to Thailand was good, did not like the in flight entertainment on the flight but cannot complain to Raj about this as thai airways is not owned by Raj and I would still rate Thai airways better than IC/AI for travel to thailand.

On arrival to thailand we were told by the tour manager that some passengers needed to do their visa on arrival and she needed to assist them as they were not conversant in english and not aware of the process, the rest of us were told to clear immigration and we would see the local guide with a sign of Raj travels and the local agency was pathfinders.

5 groups of Raj were arriving that day, no recession in those days, we saw a pathfinder represntative and he told us that Raj had given him wrong details of the incoming flight and hence we needed to wait for about 20 mins before the bus came. This was the only small inconvience we had on the tour.

The Buses in Thailand/Malaysia and Singapore were all Volvo AC buses and were very comfortable no complaints on that front.

From Bangkoks airport "Duang mang" the old airport we were taken to Komalas for breakfast, we were served idlis and wada, 95% of the group were veg, only me and my sis and another 2-3 pax were non-veg. After breakfast the local guides apologized for the delay of the late arrival of the bus at the airport. Anyways that was not a big thing as we still needed to wait for people to get their visas done which took about 45 mins.

After breakfast we were taken to Pattaya, we checked in at Thai garden resort, the rooms were big and the hotel was a 4 star resort, excellent breakfast in the morning, good facilities like swimming pool which I had a chance to use in the morning for 30 mins. We were given 1 hr to rest. The distance from bangkok to pattaya is a good 2 hrs by bus.

Then started the sight seeing, we were taken to ripleys believe it or not where we went for the haunted adventure, Ripleys musieum and 4D movie, followed by a visit to mini siam where one can see various monuments from across the world in Miniature.

For lunch we were taken to a restraunt curry pot and were served Indian food, I tried the staff food which was thai, I told the guides that Indian food I will have in India abroad I want to try your food, she was happy, she said the main problem on tours is food as many pax are pure veg and jain.

In the night we went to the tower for a tower jump, this was an optional tour and one needed to pay another INR 225 for it, but its worth it. Last program for the day was the alanghan show a thai cultural show.

Next day after an early breakfast we headed for the coral island, in the bus the guide thought us some thai songs, we played some ice breaker games. Before going to coral island we stopped at the para sailing base and did some para sailing, at the island we did under sea walking for 30 mins, this was an additional tour and we needed to Pay Rs 1500 but its worth the experience. we also tried various water sports at the island.

Next we headed for the gems factory, u get to see how gems are made, they have a monorail ride across the factory, then pax are given time for shopping. Then lunch as usual Indian food outside India not a big fan but what to do 95% of the people will starve if I have my wish. In the afternoon we went to see nor nooch village and some elphant shows which were good. In the evening we went for the tiffany show followed by dinner, In the night we were to go to walking street to sample the night life which most of us skipped. Some people tried the traditional thai massage which is very relaxing and affordable.

Next day we left for bangkok, today people are given a chance to see the tiger zoo enroute, which is good. In bangkok we checked in at hotel novotel a 5 star hotel, good clean rooms and great facilities. Next we went for the bangkok city tour, saw some temples, tried the sky train, evening we went for the dinner cruise.

Last day in bangkok we went to safari world which is truly amazing, the outdoor safari is amazing and she shows are equally good. In the evening we had free time for shopping.

Next day afternoon went to Malaysia, we should have ideally gone in the morning but were put on an afternoon flight, Again some people did not have Visas and we needed to wait for 4 hrs at the KL airport. The tour manager told me that so pax apply for the tour at the last minute and its not possible to issue visas for them in that short span. This day was kind off wasted because of this. In the evening we went for dinner followed by a drive to gengting highlands

The next day we were free to roam on gengting go to the outdoor theme park which did not live up to my expectation or visit the casinos. In the night we had an option of watching a magic show from vegas which we did which was good , Tickets coste Rs 800. Wanted to try the sky diving simulator and space shot in the theme park but it was closed as it was raining.

Next day visited KL did a city tour, visited the choclate factory, went on top of KL tower and got a paranomic view of the city, stopped at the petronas, wanted to do a space shot at KL but again could not as it was raining.

In Malaysia we stayed at Holiday Inn in KL and Sunway which was an outdoor water park, also we had the evening free for shopping.

Next day early morning we left for singapore, it was a 7 hr drive by bus, enroute we visited malaca, To provide extra comfort we were traveling in two buses so se could sleep comfortably. The local agency in Malaysia was tour land.

We reached singapore in the afternoon and checked in at Grand waterfront cromphtone hotel a 5 star hotel, krish was shot here. The local agency at Singapore was Luxury, we had a city tour in singapore and then a visit to jurong bird park.

Next day was a trip to sentosa followed by shopping. Metro ride and cable car ride, one should try the 4D movie here for SGD 28.

Next day was a trip for night zoo and local shopping

In short we had a hassle free experience, there might have been small inconviences which is understandable

In short it was an amazing experience we truly enjoyed the tour and would definelty book with Raj again

We enjoyed Thailand the most followed by Singapore, Malaysia which I had the highest expectations let me down.