With India being a major world tourist in the world, availability of hotels is not such a problem. However, every tourist in India, local or foreign, would do well to plan his trip in advance to enable him to find a hotel that most suits his needs.
There are a number of questions to be answered before finding the right choice of hotel for your India trip: What are your individual interests and inclinations? Are you looking for a relaxed holiday in India, maybe on a beach or hill station where you can recharge your batteries? Or is your holiday incomplete without the adrenaline that accompanies rushing off cliffs and plunging into raging torrents? Are creature comforts of the hotel paramount to you or do you dig the seclusion of a log cabin in the woods, with all the hardships that it entails? Again, are you one who falls for five star glitters or is an elegant hotel with old world charm more to your taste.
An important consideration while choosing your hotel is budget. Are you prepared to spend a premium for style to match or are you ‘doing’ India on a shoestring?
While planning your India trip, consider where your hotel will be situated. As they say, it’s all about “location, location location.” For instance, if you have specific interest in India, say a wildlife reserve, it makes sense to stay as close as possible to it rather than book a hotel at a distance and spend time and energy commuting. Again, does your itinerary demand a central location or would you prefer a hotel in a choice setting with fabulous views?
These are some of the hotel options that might be available to you in India.
Five Star Hotels in India: Often owned by prestigious names in the Indian Hotel industry such as the Taj or Oberoi, these offer the ultimate in terms of comfort and excellence in service. While most of the important chains do have hotels in major Indian destinations, hospitality here does come at a price.
Heritage Hotels in India: These were originally former palaces or mansions belonging to India’s erstwhile princes or nobility that have now been converted into hotels. For a price, tourists can experience a slice of the history and romance of India’s former royalty. Rajasthan, Mysore, Hyderabad are some of the Indian states where heritage hotels are located.
Eco friendly Hotels in India: These hotels offer you a close communion with nature during your stay. Most of them are located in scenic locations, around forest reserves, hill stations or ecologically sensitive zones. While many such hotels in India are committed to the preservation of natural resources, with others it is often just a sales gimmick.
Wellenss Centres or Spas in India: India being home to the holistic science of Ayurveda, these hotels provide you with massages, detoxification and fitness routines to rejuvenate the body and soul. Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Rishikesh and Rajasthan are some of the places where these are found.
Budget Hotels in India: While many budget hotels do offer decent accommodation and excellent food, the same cannot be said for all. Again while some have pleasant surroundings set in plum locales others maybe no more than congested hotels.
Roozbegh Gazdar Content writer http://www.traveljini.com seo@traveljini.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roozbegh_Gazdar
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Finger-Licking Kebabs - Food in Hyderabad
Hyderabad is most famous for its Biryani but not far behind are the delectable Kebabs served at many a place around the city. Not surprisingly most ofKebabs the places which serve the best Biryani also serve some of the best Kebabs but all that is changing as new eateries get added to the city's map. Here is MetroMela's guide to some of the best places for Kebabs around the city.
Old and Popular
These restaurants have grown with the city. The typical dishes they serve range from the ever popular Murgh Tikka to the very delectable Murgh Malai Kebab, Tangdi Kebab and of course traditional favourites like the Shammi Kebab, Mutton Do Pyaza, Mutton Sheek kebab and Patthar Ka Gosht. Do not expect a large variety of sea food here as only the fastest moving items are served best here. The prices range from Rs. 80 to Rs. 160.
Garden Restaurant,
# 38, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad.
Tel - 040-27804074, 66337755
Hotel Shadab,
Shop No. 21-1-140, High Court Road, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-24561648, 24565949
Paradise Restaurant,
Paradise Circle, Secunderabad.
Tel - 040-27843115
Hotel Niagara,
Chaderghat, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-65092711
New Kids on the Block
The city has grown exponentially and there has been a huge surge in the number of restaurants. While some follow the fast food culture others offer fine dining facilities too. Some even offer Mediterranean, Lebanese and Arabic varieties of kebabs. So while there are evergreen favourites, there are even new varieties to sample like the Sharwama, Falafel etc. The pricing here is modest and ranges between Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 for the chicken variety and Rs. 100 to Rs. 140 for the mutton variety.
Hyderabad House
Raj Yuvraj Complex, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Tel - 23554848
Also at Mehdipatnam, Madhapur, Malakpet, Himayath Nagar, Trimulgherry, Sanjeev Reddy Nagar, Lallaguda, Secunderabad, Kukatpally.
Kababish Food Court
Red Hills, Lakdi-ka-Pul, Hyderabad.
Tel - 09393055566, 09393025677
Also at Yousufguda, Mallepally, Chaderghat, Towlichowki, Khairatabad, Ameerpet.
Four Seasons
Opposite RTO Office, Toli Chowki, Yousuf Tekri, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-23560156
The 5-Star Experience
Five star hotels like the Taj Banjara has Kebab-e-Bahar, which is by far one of the best places for Kebabs in Hyderabad. They serve the popular fare with a Lucknowi touch in the form of Kakori kebabs and the ever popular Barah Kebab. Since this is a five star restaurant there is also a good selection of sea food from Tandoori fish to Fish Amritsari and the Tandoori Jhinga to choose from. The food has a distinct touch of the North. Then there is even Kebabs and Curries (formerly Peshwari) at the Grand Kakatiya. They serve some of the best Tandoori Raan in the city. The lobster is one of the best in the country and so are their jumbo prawns. Apart from its specialties they also serve some of the softest and most delectable sheek kebabs (with a special crunchy buttery variety) and Murgh malai kebabs. The prices, needless to say, are on the higher side.
Kebab-e-Bahar
Taj Banjara, Road No.1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-66661919
Kebabs and Curries
ITC Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton & Towers, Begumpet, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040 - 23400132
So have a finger-licking time at these kebab havens!
Finger-licking Kebabs has been written by Pranay who writes for MetroMela
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pranay_Rupani
Old and Popular
These restaurants have grown with the city. The typical dishes they serve range from the ever popular Murgh Tikka to the very delectable Murgh Malai Kebab, Tangdi Kebab and of course traditional favourites like the Shammi Kebab, Mutton Do Pyaza, Mutton Sheek kebab and Patthar Ka Gosht. Do not expect a large variety of sea food here as only the fastest moving items are served best here. The prices range from Rs. 80 to Rs. 160.
Garden Restaurant,
# 38, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad.
Tel - 040-27804074, 66337755
Hotel Shadab,
Shop No. 21-1-140, High Court Road, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-24561648, 24565949
Paradise Restaurant,
Paradise Circle, Secunderabad.
Tel - 040-27843115
Hotel Niagara,
Chaderghat, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-65092711
New Kids on the Block
The city has grown exponentially and there has been a huge surge in the number of restaurants. While some follow the fast food culture others offer fine dining facilities too. Some even offer Mediterranean, Lebanese and Arabic varieties of kebabs. So while there are evergreen favourites, there are even new varieties to sample like the Sharwama, Falafel etc. The pricing here is modest and ranges between Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 for the chicken variety and Rs. 100 to Rs. 140 for the mutton variety.
Hyderabad House
Raj Yuvraj Complex, Road No. 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Tel - 23554848
Also at Mehdipatnam, Madhapur, Malakpet, Himayath Nagar, Trimulgherry, Sanjeev Reddy Nagar, Lallaguda, Secunderabad, Kukatpally.
Kababish Food Court
Red Hills, Lakdi-ka-Pul, Hyderabad.
Tel - 09393055566, 09393025677
Also at Yousufguda, Mallepally, Chaderghat, Towlichowki, Khairatabad, Ameerpet.
Four Seasons
Opposite RTO Office, Toli Chowki, Yousuf Tekri, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-23560156
The 5-Star Experience
Five star hotels like the Taj Banjara has Kebab-e-Bahar, which is by far one of the best places for Kebabs in Hyderabad. They serve the popular fare with a Lucknowi touch in the form of Kakori kebabs and the ever popular Barah Kebab. Since this is a five star restaurant there is also a good selection of sea food from Tandoori fish to Fish Amritsari and the Tandoori Jhinga to choose from. The food has a distinct touch of the North. Then there is even Kebabs and Curries (formerly Peshwari) at the Grand Kakatiya. They serve some of the best Tandoori Raan in the city. The lobster is one of the best in the country and so are their jumbo prawns. Apart from its specialties they also serve some of the softest and most delectable sheek kebabs (with a special crunchy buttery variety) and Murgh malai kebabs. The prices, needless to say, are on the higher side.
Kebab-e-Bahar
Taj Banjara, Road No.1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040-66661919
Kebabs and Curries
ITC Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton & Towers, Begumpet, Hyderabad.
Tel - 040 - 23400132
So have a finger-licking time at these kebab havens!
Finger-licking Kebabs has been written by Pranay who writes for MetroMela
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pranay_Rupani
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Five Star Hotels In India
India is a land of diversity and a melting pot for great cultures and religions. People from all over the world come over to India for various purposes like business and pleasure. Tourism is booming in India and this has in turn led to the emergence of good-quality and top-rate hotels and accommodation facilities. The travelers can have their pick from excellent hotels ranging from five-star hotels to budget hotels and guest houses depending on their requirement and budget.
There are many good five star hotels for people who wish to experience luxury and can spend lavishly without having to bother about money and expenditure. The Oberoi, Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott, Taj Hotels etc are some of the major hotels chains found in India. These hotels chains have their offerings in all the major cities and place of tourist interest in India. Several other independent but prestigious hotels are also found in the five star category in India.
There are several luxury hotels in New Delhi for travelers who can afford to spend on lavish accommodation and wish to live in the midst of sheer comfort and opulence. Located in the midst of the city, these luxury hotels are well connected to all parts of the city. All the major commercial centers and tourist attractions are easily accessible.
A good deal of facilities and amenities can been enjoyed by the guests staying in these hotels. The rooms in these hotels are embodiment of luxury and are well-equipped to suit the varying requirements and tastes of different types of travelers. Business facilities, recreational facilities, dining facilities etc are also available for the utility of the guests in the five star hotels in India. Thus the five star hotels in this country are superb and well-suited for international travelers.
Abbey James is an associated editor to the website http://www.hotelsinindia.com
Hotelsinindia is dedicated to explain all about Luxury Hotels in India, 5 star hotels in India, Hotel Booking in India, luxury hotels in New Delhi, luxury hotels in Mumbai, luxury hotels in Goa, India Hotel. Your feedback and comments will be highly appreciated at "abbey.james11@googlemail.com"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abbey_James
There are many good five star hotels for people who wish to experience luxury and can spend lavishly without having to bother about money and expenditure. The Oberoi, Grand Hyatt, JW Marriott, Taj Hotels etc are some of the major hotels chains found in India. These hotels chains have their offerings in all the major cities and place of tourist interest in India. Several other independent but prestigious hotels are also found in the five star category in India.
There are several luxury hotels in New Delhi for travelers who can afford to spend on lavish accommodation and wish to live in the midst of sheer comfort and opulence. Located in the midst of the city, these luxury hotels are well connected to all parts of the city. All the major commercial centers and tourist attractions are easily accessible.
A good deal of facilities and amenities can been enjoyed by the guests staying in these hotels. The rooms in these hotels are embodiment of luxury and are well-equipped to suit the varying requirements and tastes of different types of travelers. Business facilities, recreational facilities, dining facilities etc are also available for the utility of the guests in the five star hotels in India. Thus the five star hotels in this country are superb and well-suited for international travelers.
Abbey James is an associated editor to the website http://www.hotelsinindia.com
Hotelsinindia is dedicated to explain all about Luxury Hotels in India, 5 star hotels in India, Hotel Booking in India, luxury hotels in New Delhi, luxury hotels in Mumbai, luxury hotels in Goa, India Hotel. Your feedback and comments will be highly appreciated at "abbey.james11@googlemail.com"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abbey_James
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Royal Orchid Hotel: Walk on the red carpet
Bangalore-based Royal Orchid Hotels is a mid-sized hotel with nine properties spread across four cities. The company has been one of the prime beneficiaries of the IT boom in the country and is a dominant player in the Bangalore-Mysore IT belt with six properties.
The company plans to emerge as a national chain with a presence across all major business and holiday destinations in the country by ’11. In the past one-and-half year, Royal Orchid’s stock price has more than halved, making it one of the cheapest stocks in its sector.
Besides, the stock offers a surprisingly high dividend yield of 6% at its current stock price. All this makes it an interesting growth story for long-term investors.
BUSINESS: Starting with a budget business hotel in Bangalore, the hospitality chain has grown with the IT and BPO sector. It now operates four properties in Bangalore and two each in Pune and Mysore. Early last year, it opened its first property in North India in Jaipur.
Unlike its national peers which cater to the entire gamut of travellers, Royal Orchid is exclusively focussed on business travellers. It offers its services under six sub-brands, each catering to a particular niche in the business travel market. At the top end is the Royal Orchid branded hotels, which offer typical 5-star amenities to guests.
At the other extreme is Royal Orchid Harsha economy business hotels. Besides, the company offers boutique hotels (RO Central), business leisure (RO Getaways) and service apartments (RO Suites).
It also has an exclusive licensing agreement for the development of 10 Ramada branded 4-star hotels in India. Recently, the company entered the budget travel market by launching Peppermint hotels in Hyderabad.
GROWTH STRATEGY: By ’11, the company plans to emerge as a national business hotel chain with 20 properties operational across major business and leisure destinations in the country. Towards this, the company is investing around Rs 500 crore partly funded through IPO proceeds raised in ’06 and debt, which has already been tied-up.
The company is on course to open six RO properties in ’09, one each in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Noida and Shimla. Next on the target are Chennai, Udaipur, Goa, Indore and Bikaner.
It is also planning an international foray and recently acquired a 30-acre property in the Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, Africa. It plans to develop a business hotel-cum-resort on the property in the next 2-3 years.
FINANCES: In the past three years ending March ’08, the company’s consolidated net profit increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%. Revenues during the same period rose at a CAGR of 31.6% to Rs 130 crore by the end of FY08.
However, a bulk of the growth was recorded in FY05-FY07 period with the company reporting a decline in net profit last year. This was mainly on account of a small decline in the average room rates in the Bangalore market. Going forward, we expect profitability to improve as the company opens more properties outside Bangalore.
VALUATIONS: At its current price of Rs 100 per share, the stock is valued is around 8 times its consolidated earning per share recorded in FY08. In contrast, its peers such as Taj GVK and Asian Hotels are trading at a priceearning multiple of nearly 11-12.
This is despite the fact that Royal Orchid has one of the strongest balance-sheets among its peers and, at 6%, its dividend yield is the highest in the industry. The sharp correction in its stock price offers the right entry point for long-term investors interested in capital growth along with decent dividend income.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Investors_Guide/Royal_Orchid_Hotel_Walk_on_the_red_carpet/articleshow/3131700.cms
The company plans to emerge as a national chain with a presence across all major business and holiday destinations in the country by ’11. In the past one-and-half year, Royal Orchid’s stock price has more than halved, making it one of the cheapest stocks in its sector.
Besides, the stock offers a surprisingly high dividend yield of 6% at its current stock price. All this makes it an interesting growth story for long-term investors.
BUSINESS: Starting with a budget business hotel in Bangalore, the hospitality chain has grown with the IT and BPO sector. It now operates four properties in Bangalore and two each in Pune and Mysore. Early last year, it opened its first property in North India in Jaipur.
Unlike its national peers which cater to the entire gamut of travellers, Royal Orchid is exclusively focussed on business travellers. It offers its services under six sub-brands, each catering to a particular niche in the business travel market. At the top end is the Royal Orchid branded hotels, which offer typical 5-star amenities to guests.
At the other extreme is Royal Orchid Harsha economy business hotels. Besides, the company offers boutique hotels (RO Central), business leisure (RO Getaways) and service apartments (RO Suites).
It also has an exclusive licensing agreement for the development of 10 Ramada branded 4-star hotels in India. Recently, the company entered the budget travel market by launching Peppermint hotels in Hyderabad.
GROWTH STRATEGY: By ’11, the company plans to emerge as a national business hotel chain with 20 properties operational across major business and leisure destinations in the country. Towards this, the company is investing around Rs 500 crore partly funded through IPO proceeds raised in ’06 and debt, which has already been tied-up.
The company is on course to open six RO properties in ’09, one each in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Noida and Shimla. Next on the target are Chennai, Udaipur, Goa, Indore and Bikaner.
It is also planning an international foray and recently acquired a 30-acre property in the Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, Africa. It plans to develop a business hotel-cum-resort on the property in the next 2-3 years.
FINANCES: In the past three years ending March ’08, the company’s consolidated net profit increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%. Revenues during the same period rose at a CAGR of 31.6% to Rs 130 crore by the end of FY08.
However, a bulk of the growth was recorded in FY05-FY07 period with the company reporting a decline in net profit last year. This was mainly on account of a small decline in the average room rates in the Bangalore market. Going forward, we expect profitability to improve as the company opens more properties outside Bangalore.
VALUATIONS: At its current price of Rs 100 per share, the stock is valued is around 8 times its consolidated earning per share recorded in FY08. In contrast, its peers such as Taj GVK and Asian Hotels are trading at a priceearning multiple of nearly 11-12.
This is despite the fact that Royal Orchid has one of the strongest balance-sheets among its peers and, at 6%, its dividend yield is the highest in the industry. The sharp correction in its stock price offers the right entry point for long-term investors interested in capital growth along with decent dividend income.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Investors_Guide/Royal_Orchid_Hotel_Walk_on_the_red_carpet/articleshow/3131700.cms
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