Results for "Amasya+|+123+>+233"

Voilà, nous sommes de retour après pratiquement 3 semaines dans l'Ouest !! Je n'ai malheureusement pas le temps de faire un carnet de route... Par contre, j'ai fait un blog que j'ai mis à jour pendant notre voyage et que je continue à alimenter maintenant : http://blogsperso.orange.fr/web/jsp/blog.jsp?blogID=407701 Pour suivre l'itinéraire du début, il faut commencer par la dernière page...

vous pouvez par contre me poser vos questions ! J'ai également laissé sur Tripadvisor une critique sur chaque hotel dans lequel on est allé. Si vous regarder l'hotel Paris à Las Vegas, vous trouverez ma critique avec le pseudo Utahpowel, en cliquant sur le Pseudo, vous trouverez toutes les autres critiques des hotels...

Juste quelques infos en vrac :

BUDGET - 2 adultes 2 enfants (9 et 6 ans) J'ai commencé la préparation du voyage 1 an à l'avance pour bénéficier des meilleurs tarifs avion, hotels... et je crois qu'on était bien placés en prix car sur place nous avons trouvé des Français (nombreux cette année vu le cours du change...) qui avaient réservé par agence et qui avaient payé le double de nous.. Avion : 1560 euros (Bruxelles Las Vegas en aller retour) - réservé depuis aout 2007 Voiture : 4x4 via Hertz. nous avons eu un Toyota Higlander 4 roues motrices, super. 460 euros pour 17 jours (pris à l'hotel Paris et non pas à l'aéroport - on a gagné 300 euros) + 27 euros pour le conducteur supplémentaire Hotel : 1600 euros pour 18 nuits (dont quelques hotels assez chers : Paris, Venetian, Goulding's Lodge). Je n'avais pas réservé les 1er prix, mais essayé de choisir le meilleur rapport qualité prix avec objectif piscine dans chaque hotel et frigo dans la chambre - Je me suis beaucoup aidé de Tripadvisor pour choisir Nourriture + essence : 1500 euros - La voiture ne consommait pas trop pour un 4x4 (entre 10- 12 litres/100). Prix moyen du gallon : 4.15 usd - Nourriture : nous avons souvent mangé sur le pouce des salades, sandwichs et quelques resto (super les vrais hamburger, rien à voir avec le Mac Do), dont 1 fois un Steackhouse pour gouter à un vrai Tbone, miam !

Nous avons été super bien accueilli par les Américains. On les a trouvé très cool : dans les resto, pas chiants, si on prenait qu'un plat pour 2 pour les enfants par exemple. Jamais pressés : aux caisses des magasins, pas de stress ! Toujours à se mettre en 4 quand on ne comprenait pas le fonctionnement de quelque chose : au départ, on ne savait pas qu'on pouvait se servir nous même à boire dans les stations services ou les deli et ils font une confiance absolue de ce qu'on annonce avoir pris au moment de payer... absolument impensable en France

Les payasage, on n'en parle pas, à couper le souffle.. La seule chose qui a un peu gaché notre voyage, c'est la Chaleur !!!(nous avons du annuler ou raccourcir des ballades à pied que j'avais prévu et certains sites pour privilégier la piscine des hotels... et oui, dur dur avec des enfants en bas âge, mais on en a quand même bien profité). A l'arrivée à Las Vegas, nous avons cru entrer dans un four à la sortie de l'aéroport... La nuit venait de tomber, et ça fait très étrange cette impression de suffoquer de chaleur une fois la nuit tombée !! Le dernier jour à Vegas, 44°C.... du coup, nous avons modifié la fin de notre circuit et abandonnée Death Valley et passé une nuit à la place à Laughlin - petit Las Vegas que nous avons trouvé bien sympa avec la présence du Colorado et plage privée de l'hotel harrah"s : nous avons pu nous baigner réellement dans le colorado !! L'atmosphère est plus détendue qu'à Vegas, moins kitch. On y retournera

LES MUST Zion : je sais que certains zappent ce parc.. mais j'aime tellement la route après le tunnel jusqu'à la sortie du parc vers Checkboard Mesa... trop beau - c'était notre 2ème visite à Zion, et je crois que si je refais un jour le grand Cercle, et bien j'y repasserai encore... Plus Springdale, très agréable pour y passer la nuit Grand Canyon North Rim : que j'ai vraiment préféré à la rive Sud visitée il y a 10 ans. Pas surpeuplé et la situation du lodge avec les petites cabanes à proximité du Canyon... génial - Le point de vue de Bright Angel Point n'a rien a envié aux belvedères de la rive sud... je l'ai trouvé bien plus impressionnant !! Secteur Page : Horseshoe bend - impressionnant / Antelope Canyon : nous avons fait le Lower Antelope Canyon (où il y a plein d'échelles : sympa avec les enfants) - Très beau, mais dommage qu'on y entre par groupe d'au moins 20 personnes - pour les photos ça gache un peu et ça fait troupeau... (nous avons payé 70 usd pour nous 4) Cottonwood Canyon road : très sympa au niveau palette des couleurs... n'avons pas eu le temps de faire Kodachrome BRYCE : un des plus beau parc. Nous avons fait la ballade combinée Navajo Loop et Queen Gardens... avons assisté à une descente des pompiers au fond de la descente de Wall Street où une personne s'est foulé une cheville... pas évident de descendre un brancard dans cette descente et surement moins facile encore de le remonter avec une personne dessus... avec la chaleur en plus... Secteur Moab : vraiment ma région préférée. Nous avons fait Shafer trail, bien que mon mari n'était pas très chaud en voyant la piste du haut... mais finallement c'est plus impressionnant du haut que lorsqu'on est dessus. c'était un des vraiment MUST- Mesa arch en matinée : superbe

L'autre vraiment Must, c'est Delicate Arch au coucher du soleil. En montant vers 19h00, la chaleur était acceptable et finallement notre fille de 6 ans a fait l'aller retour assez facilement !! Je voulais absolument faire cette ballade que nous n'avions pas faite il y a 10 ans, et c'est sans regret. ça vaut vraiment le coup. Seul bémol, nous étions plus d'une centaine de personne à la cime..et impossible de faire une photo sans personne sous l'arche !!

Route 128 : pas mal, mais bon seulement à faire si vous avez le temps. Nous avons fait un bout de Onion Creek, sympa. Fisher Tower : nous avons fait la route 128 le matin et Fisher Tower n'était pas le bon moment pour les photos... dommage Monument Valley : j'avais été assez déçu il y a 10ans. Cette année nous avons fait la piste un peu avant le coucher du soleil et c'était le top... en plus il y avait quelques mauvais nuage, arc en ciel.. tout pour rendre l'ambiance géniale... + lever du soleil depuis le balcon au Goulding's Lodge. Génial

DECEPTION : Assez peu... Canyon de Chelly : bof, pas emballé. nous avons regretté de ne pas être resté 1 jour de plus vers Moab ou vers Mexican Hat pour faire Valley of Gods ou même ailleurs Las Vegas : autant j'avais adoré il y a 10 ans.. là, j'ai tout trouvé bien moins impressionnant surement à cause de la chaleur qui nous empechait de mettre le nez dehors. En plus, la population a doublé en 10 ans, et la ville est devenue incirculable. Strip complétement bouché alors qu'il y a 10 ans, ça allait bien pour rouler... C'est vraiment une ville de fou... par contre, Hotel Paris et Venetian : génial !

Voilà en gros... si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas... a bientôt

Hi everyone, I just got back from a trip to Northern India with my family. Given the time it took to organize, I thought future travelers might find this useful.

Context: First time in India. Dates: August 5 to August 23. 2 adults + 2 boys (17 and 11 years old). Itinerary: Delhi - Shekawati (Bagar, Mandawa) - Bikaner - Thar Desert (Kaku) - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Bundi - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi. High-end hotels, travel in a Toyota Innova (like a Renault Espace) with a driver. Agency: Atithi Travels, contact: Rajeev, Driver: William. Budget: 3112 € for flights (Air India chartered by Air France and booked through Go Voyages), 1080 US$ per person for hotels with breakfast, car with driver, full-board night in the desert, camel ride, boat on the lake in Udaipur, farewell dinner, 1000 € for on-site expenses (drinks and meals—1 per day / various tips including driver (150 rupees per day) / monuments and outings / personal shopping and gifts (including 2 carpets 1x2m, 1 bedspread, a pair of curtains, 10 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 tablecloths, 5 scarves, 1 small piece of jewelry, and various trinkets...). In short, about 1900 € per person all-inclusive for 17 nights.

Review of Atithi Travels: Very professional and accommodating. They responded quickly to my many prep emails, accepted all my hotel choices—even those they weren’t used to working with (I picked them beforehand using TripAdvisor, VoyageForum, the *Routard* guide, and Ulysses’ Rajasthan guide). They were the only agency out of the nine I consulted that accepted all my choices. Their pricing was reasonable, in the first quartile of the agencies I contacted. They allowed payment in three installments (1/3 at booking by bank transfer, 1/3 upon arrival in India, 1/3 in Udaipur). They checked in throughout the trip to ensure everything was going well with the driver and local reps. They offered a great solution for the night in the desert. My direct contact (Rajeev) personally picked us up at Delhi airport on the evening of the 5th (a Sunday). If I had to do it again, I’d go with Atithi again without hesitation—just negotiate the prices a bit.

Review of the Driver (William): He drove very cautiously (which is super important in this country). He kept his distance from his "guests," which worked perfectly for us. No hard sell to take us to shops or restaurants. Just so you know, the driver gets 150 rupees per day for lodging and meals. When he stops at a tourist restaurant, especially on the road, he eats for free (for you, if you eat there, it’s 2–3 times more expensive than elsewhere). Some shops, especially in Jaipur, give him commissions. Overall, we had an unspoken agreement. The driver would stop halfway through the journey at a tourist restaurant so we could use clean toilets, grab a Coke, and he could eat and rest (after 2.5 hours on the road in India, it’s well-deserved and necessary). After 30 minutes, we’d hit the road again. For shops, he didn’t pressure us, and we were very clear about stopping only at places we’d chosen (via Lonely Planet, for example). Overall, we were happy with his service.

Review of the Stops: Generally speaking, in very touristy places, you’re constantly approached by touts and vendors. As soon as you move away from those spots, Indians are welcoming, friendly, and happy to chat with foreigners. Between each stop, it’s 4–6 hours because the roads are tough—average speed is 50 km/h. Keep this in mind when planning your route. We chose to stay 2 nights in most places to avoid spending all our time in the car. Delhi: Worth seeing, but rough for a first impression—loud in some areas, aggressive, but we don’t regret it. For our first taste of Indian cuisine, we dined at United Coffee House on Connaught Place, a restaurant for the Indian middle class. It was delicious, really nice, and reassured us that we’d enjoy the food. Shekawati: Amazing, off the beaten path, not very touristy, and the people are friendly. Note: Bagar, which we picked after reading an article in *Ulysses*. It’s off the usual routes. Result: we were the only tourists in this small town and had a fantastic evening. Mandawa (just an hour from Bagar) is on all the Shekhawati circuits, so it’s more touristy. But still nice because of the colorful Havelis (go see them alone, without clingy guides trying to charge you extra for every visit without giving all the details—only the rupees matter to them). Note: there’s a great, affordable cobbler on the main street of Mandawa (Main Bazaar), just before Sonathia Gate on the right. Beautiful handmade slippers for 300 rupees. By the end of the trip, I regretted not buying more pairs—the leather is so soft and comfortable. I haven’t seen any as nice since. Bikaner: Good, a necessary stop before crossing the desert if you’re heading to Jaisalmer (recommended). It lets you see the Karni Mata Temple (Temple of the Rats), a camel farm, a first Jain temple, a quiet spice bazaar (take a rickshaw for a morning), and the well-maintained fort. Kaku (night in the Thar Desert): A highlight, absolutely must-do. Nothing like what you’ll find in Jaisalmer. Simple, remote, and wild—no tourist buses, just you and the few Indians taking care of you. Watching the sunset, the starry sky, shooting stars, and sleeping under the stars is unforgettable. It’s neither too cold nor too hot. The toilet facilities are basic but hygienic. It’s fantastic, and the whole family loved it. Jaisalmer: Very exotic, at the edge of Rajasthan, right out of the Thar Desert. A magical little town. Watch the sunset near the cenotaphs, visit Gadi Sagar for a picturesque stop with a temple by the lake, lots of Indians feeding huge catfish, and pedal boats for rent. Nearby, the best lassi of the trip at "Mohan Juice Center." Don’t miss the three Havelis—take the back streets if you want to avoid the touristy areas. As for the classic camel ride at sunset, know that the dune spots are beautiful, but at the same spot, at the same time, hundreds (no exaggeration) of tourists arrive by the busload, each on their own camel (hundreds of them), with vendors selling drinks, trinkets, and impromptu shows. It kills the dream. Jodhpur: The Mehrangarh Fort is EXCEPTIONAL, very well maintained, with a great audio guide in French. The most beautiful fort/palace visit of the whole trip. The restaurant inside is excellent. Spend a morning there, and don’t forget to visit the temple at the end of the ramparts for a top-notch view of the Blue City. Around the Clock Tower, you can try delicious, fresh lassis at Shri Mishrilal Hotel, mostly frequented by locals, and grab a tasty masala omelet on the go at Vicky’s Omelette Shop—he’s always smiling and collects notebooks full of messages from his customers. We found beautiful cashmere scarves at Handloom House, a fixed-price shop with good prices. Ranakpur: Another highlight. An exceptional Jain temple in the middle of nature. We chatted with the high priest, ate in the refectory at 5 PM (meals at 5, 5:30, and 6 PM) with locals (super good, all-you-can-eat for 20 rupees per person). Our only regret: not staying overnight. For just 50 rupees more, you can sleep in simple but clean cells and attend the evening ceremony, see the temple at sunset (otherwise, it closes at 5 PM), and be alone in the middle of nowhere. It’s also a lush place full of non-aggressive monkeys that take what you give them from your hand. Don’t miss it under any circumstances. Udaipur: Unique and charming, our first glimpse of Ghats on this trip with Indians bathing in the morning and doing laundry. The lake is enchanting, and the Hindu temple is special. Dinner at Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel (where we were staying) with a stunning view of the lake. Very good food, reasonable prices, and an exceptional setting. Bundi: First regret. A charming little town off the tourist trail, but dull after Shekawati. Not much to see. Jaipur: Second regret. VERY aggressive, overcrowded, with glaring poverty in the streets, persistent beggars, relentless vendors, deafening traffic, and endless traffic jams. The Hawa Mahal is on a polluted main road, and the Amber Fort is a tourist trap. It’s poorly maintained, and the elephant ride is the ultimate tourist attraction: hundreds of tourists on elephants in a line, 550 rupees for 2 people for a 10-minute ride, with vendors shouting the whole way while the elephant handler reminds you 10 times to tip him. Tourism at its worst. Don’t go unless you’re with young kids who’ll remember riding an elephant forever. Even then, it’s possible in other cities like Udaipur. Don’t believe your driver if he says not to shop before Jaipur because that’s where the best selection and prices are. It’s false. There’s no more selection (except for jewelry), prices aren’t lower, and the quality isn’t better. It’s just a big city with lots of shops that pay commissions to touts. Still, there’s a beautiful textile shop that doesn’t look like much but has fixed prices, is affordable, and offers superb quality: SOMA (http://www.somashop.com/). The local middle and upper classes shop there for home textiles (tablecloths, bedspreads, sheets, curtains) and clothes. This shop is even mentioned by *Forbes* as one of the "World's Top Shops" (http://www.forbes.com/..._sb_1215feat_ls.html). The one positive in Jaipur: Raj Mandir, a historic, stunning cinema. You can go with your eyes closed—guaranteed atmosphere with Indians cheering, laughing, and taking sides for the characters. Even without speaking the language, we understood everything and had a great family moment. Plus, there’s an intermission to grab a snack. It’s fantastic. The theater is often full, but you can reserve. Nearby, the Galta Temple is picturesque with hundreds of monkeys and kids bathing in the pools. Fun, especially in the late afternoon. If we had to do it again, we’d skip Jaipur—too noisy, too aggressive. Agra: Just before Agra, stop at Fatehpur Sikri. The visit takes about 3 hours. It’s beautiful. I regret not staying overnight to admire Akbar the Great’s city at sunset. In Agra, the Taj Mahal is king. Our best photos were taken from the Yamuna River. From there, the Taj is stunning (its back = its front), and you can stay as long as you want (it’s free). The next day, we visited at 6 AM and stayed for 4 hours—it was peaceful and gorgeous.

Overall, we would’ve liked one more night in Ranakpur, one more in Udaipur, one in Fatehpur Sikri, and just one in Jaipur to see the Hawa Mahal and go to the Raj Mandir.

Review of the Hotels

Delhi / Amaraya Haveli: Clean and nice, run by two French people in a quiet neighborhood of New Delhi. Comfortable rooms, good breakfast, clean, a bit pricey. Satisfaction rating: 3 out of 5

Bagar / Piramal Haveli: A charming stop, a Haveli from the early 20th century, with very large rooms, warm and attentive service, and a GREAT dinner. All for a modest price since it’s off the tourist trail. Highly recommend. Satisfaction rating: 5 out of 5

Mandawa / Desert Resort: Outside the city, at the edge of the desert. Rooms are in "traditional" huts with all the comforts. There’s a pool, and it’s very quiet. Breakfast is mediocre. Avoid dinner—it’s a rip-off (three times more expensive than elsewhere and not good). Satisfaction rating: 4 out of 5

Bikaner / Lallgarh Palace: Former maharaja’s palace, well maintained, gorgeous rooms with marble everywhere, a large art-deco indoor pool, good restaurant, very classy. Worth the price. Satisfaction rating: 5 out of 5

Jaisalmer / Gorbandh Palace: Large modern hotel mimicking local architecture. Big pool, but the rooms are poor—noisy and small. Mediocre breakfast. Satisfaction rating: 2 out of 5

Jodhpur / Ajit Bhawan: Former residence, very classy, Hollywood-style pool with waterfalls and fountains, comfortable rooms tastefully decorated. Great breakfast. Satisfaction rating: 5 out of 5

Udaipur / Jagat Niwas Palace: By the lake, very charming, good food, restaurant with an exceptional view, very romantic, but the room amenities are mediocre. Satisfaction rating: 5 out of 5

Bundi / Braj Bhushanjee: The best hotel in Bundi, in a beautifully decorated old Haveli. The rooms are mediocre and very noisy. Breakfast is average, but the welcome is warm. Satisfaction rating: 2 out of 5

Jaipur / Samode Haveli: Exceptional, very comfortable, gorgeous pool, spacious rooms, attentive and non-pushy service, free Wi-Fi, beautiful restaurant, great breakfast. Satisfaction rating: 5 out of 5

Agra / Howard Park Plaza: A mid-range chain hotel with a small pool. Comfortable enough, limited service, terrible breakfast. Satisfaction rating: 1 out of 5

If this feedback was helpful, feel free to leave me a message.

Thierry