By Cheryl Tan

ALL THINGS EXOTICA

Spend six days in India and revel in its rustic and mystical charm.

Kick off your tour at Agra, the city of emperors, where you can marvel at the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world.

Your next stop will be Jaipur where you can visit grand palaces and pavilions and admire massive gateways.

There is the Hawa Mahal, known as the Palace of the Wind for its extraordinary facade of 953 airy niches and windows used by royal women to watch street life without being seen.

Visit the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory at the City Palace. The 16 instruments trace the movements of stars and planets.

Arrive on your last day in Delhi and gape at the intricacy of ancient Hindu architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages at the Akshardham Temple. Consecrated in 2005, it is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.

End your tour with a spot of shopping in Connaught Place.

Tour packages start from $1,588 and include stays at five-star hotels throughout the trip.

Promotions are available till the end of the year.

For more information, contact Sino-American Tours on 6535-8911 or e-mail outbound@satours.com.sg

HIDE AWAY IN SECLUSION

Enjoy absolute privacy at a pool villa at the Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa in Thailand.

Located on a quiet stretch of Mai Khao Beach, there is even a terrazzo tub that flows into the private pool at each villa.

A complimentary glass of sparkling wine and juices will greet you upon arrival.

Tropical fruit is served daily and visitors can enjoy the resort's signature breakfast from 7 to 11am.

The Anantara Breeze promotion from Oct 1 till Dec 23 includes a free night's stay if guests make a booking for four nights. A night's stay costs 16,000 baht (S$664).

Parents with children under the age of 12 get a 50 per cent discount on breakfast.

For more information, visit www.phuket.anantara.com

FLIGHT BARGAINS

For those planning a tour to Europe, British Airways is offering a whole range of flight deals to over 88 European cities.

Book between now and Sept 15 and you might just be able to book a ticket to cities such as London and Paris from S$998, excluding taxes and fuel surcharges). The non-promotional price of a ticket to London costs $2,145.

Tickets are valid for travel between now and Dec 31.

British Airways also guarantees that customers will find the lowest airfares from the airline on its website.

It promises to refund customers the price difference if they are able to find a lower fare for the same flight in the same booking class on another website or from a travel agent within 24 hours of booking.

Log on to www.ba.com for more information

FLIRT WITH ADVENTURE

It is a holiday not for the faint-hearted.

The Maldives W Retreat & Spa has put together a James Bond package for adrenalin junkies looking for a five-day fix.

Begin your adventure with an hour-long private speed boat tour around the island to admire the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

Once you're done, go for a SeaBob lesson. A cross between a jet ski and body board, the "water rocket" can propel you over and underwater at speeds of 20kmh.

If you haven't had enough of exploring the underwater world with the SeaBob, sign up for a session of night snorkelling.

Suit up and get ready to explore the fascinating marine life.

After you have rested for the night, experience the rush of flying with a parasailing session (above) and enjoy a view of the island and the vast Indian Ocean.

There is also kite surfing where you ride the waves and fly across the water. Riders are pulled across the water with the help of a kite and surf board instead of a speed boat.

If that is not enough fun, head for the nightclub 15Below at the resort where you can party till you drop. There are 90 vodka mixes to choose from, so let the bartender know your choice.

Room rates start at US$900 (S$1,270) a night per couple and include private plunge pools. Airfare, service charge and local taxes are not included. The offer is valid till December next year.

For more information, log on to whotels.com/maldives

tcheryl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 02, 2008.

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