Hot Destinations

This month we are replacing the article of “Popular Places Unusual Attraction” with ”An Emerging Destination” for the Indian market- Czech Republic, which is one of the finest destinations worth visiting in Central Europe.

Our Editor who was in Czech Republic gives his first hand experience of what you should expect from this place in case you plan travelling this summer. COMPACT TRAVELS provides a very attractive 9 nights/10 days package to explore two Central European countries i.e. Austria + Czech Republic. See further details of the offer on the inside back cover of this issue.

Czech Republic is one of the hottest destinations to visit this May or June and besides Prague, the historic city and the heart of Europe, you can visit two other exciting towns, the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Ceský Krumlov and the Spa town Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) which is famous for its film festivals as well.

I share my first hand experience having stayed 9 days in the Czech Republic recently and having qualified as a Czech specialist. Here is synopsis of wonderful holiday you can enjoy by visiting the Czech Republic. You need a minimum of 3 days to explore Prague which is comprising of the Old Town, New Town, Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and Hradcany.

The Prague Castle, the biggest Castle in Europe overlooks the picturesque city of Prague which is along the Vlatava River. In the Lesser Town it would be a good idea to take one of the walking tours around this region to see the famous Church of the Infant Jesus. The Jewish Quarter is a part of the Old Town, maybe possible to visit the oldest preserved synagogue in the Central Europe or very impressive jewish cemetery. In fact, Prague has so much to offer that the city's historical centre was added in 1992 to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage.

The town also known as the Golden City or the Mother of Towns or the City of 100 spires is the main hub to visit other exciting towns around Prague such as Ceský Krumlov, the second most visited town in Czech Republic as well as Karlovy Vary - famous for its spas and 15 thermal springs. However the most popular of them all is the 16th spring of Becherovka, the famous liqueur drink which was discovered way back in 1807. Initially, a medicinal herbal drink known for its curative effects, Becherovka today is recommended as an aperitive cum digestive. Why not visit the Jan Becher Museum to go back in time and see the historical cellars and unfold the secrets of this famous medicinal drink which today is one of the famous souvenirs you can bring back from your trip to Karlovy Vary.

Ceský Krumlov on the other hand is also 3 hours away from Prague. This historic town is surrounded by the Vlatava River with the famous Ceský Krumlov castle and chateau combine which forms one of the most priceless historical monuments in the Czech Republic. The amazing city of Cesky Krumlov is one of the few cities which has the Gothic, Renaissance as well as Baroque architectures, all you can see in one town and is one of the reasons that I consider this city as one of the most picturesque cities in the world for the amazing architecture.

On your way back from Ceský Krumlov you can visit the UNESCO village of Holašovice which is famous for its well preserved 18th and 19th century houses or farmsteads built in the Southern Bohemian Rural Baroque style. You can also halt at the fortress town of Pisek which has the oldest bridge in Czech Republic or take a detour to Ceske Budejovice, the original Budweiser Beer Town.

Czech Republic on the whole is not only an architectural wonder with over 200 castles and 150 lookout towers but also has the unique record of being the country with the maximum beer consumption in the world and over 50 breweries around the country. Actually, the famous Pilsner beer originates from Pilsen Town which is en route to Munich or Salzburg and is one hour away from Prague. You can also find traces of Mozart in Prague as Mozart wrote his famous composition Don Giovanni and performed the world premiere there in Prague.

Prague though well known for the old historic Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square for its night life and entertainment, the astronomical clock in Old town square or the famous Bohemian crystal glass, it is equally well known for the famous black light theatre shows which is a combination of music, dance, pantomime, projection and visual effects all combined to produce a unique extravaganza. For those interested in soft adventure, cycling or traditional caneoing is one of the ways to explore Czech Republic and you have 40000 kilometres of marked walking paths to choose from to explore the country.

Those who want admire natural wonders, it could be a good idea to walk around a labyrinth of sandstone creations in Czech Paradise or visit one of stalactite caves with beautiful natural decoration in a complex of underground domes, corridors and chasms.

For those who love mystery, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a ghost trail in Prague or visit Kutná Hora to see the famous Ossuary which is located in the basement of a chapel in Sedlec. You find here decoratives entirely of human bones and skulls including a chandelier made of every bone in the human body. So whether it's a spa holiday, a mystery tour, an architectural wonder, a walking tour or even a historical delight, Czech Republic has all of this and even more to offer and fortunately in Mumbai, you have a Czech specialist to guide you all the way to exploring one of the hottest destinations to visit this summer.

We thank our readers for the overwhelming response to the new feature started in 2006. We had got quite a few of our readers answering correctly to the “TEST YOUR DESTINATION KNOWLEDGE” Quiz on the Know Austria Contest (March 2006 issue)

Our Three Lucky Winners are :

1. Munir Rasiwala from Colaba.
2. Joaquim Rodrigues from Pune
3. Priya Joshi from Vile Parle

Congratulations! Each one of you win a voucher of Rs.1000 which can be used either for any international holiday package that you book with COMPACT TRAVELS OR get a concession for any of the courses offered by IHCTM or IMFAA of RBCS GROUP. So continue participating, keep winning and test your destination knowledge as well.

Answers to “International Antarctic Centre” contest (April 2006) issue
1. The International Antarctic Centre is located in Christchurch
2. The temperature in the custom built polar room for the “Snow and Ice Experience” is -5°C
3. A ride in this all terrain vehicle gives you an exhilarating experience which is similar to riding across the Antarctic terrain is the Hagglund Ride
4. How far is the International Antarctic Centre from the airport? 8 minutes
5. The 6 minute Sound and Light Show at the International Antarctic Centre is known as Four Seasons

The Winners of the April 2006 quiz will be announced in our June 2006 issue

Subhash Motwani - CEO COMPACT TRAVELS now a Central European Destination Specialist too!

Subhash Motwani has recently completed a five-day, extensive in-country training program at the American Society of Travel Agents' (ASTA) International Destination Expo (IDE) in Prague, Czech Republic, March 21-26, and is now a Central European destination specialist in Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Germany. “IDE gave me an opportunity to explore the many hidden treasures of Central Europe, and to make business contacts that will ultimately increase my expertise,” said Subhash Motwani of Compact Travels in Mumbai.

“Prague is an astonishing city that has a rich history and breathtaking scenery; each tour destination made me want to see more! I'm very eager to share my memorable experience with my clients,” Subhash continued.

During the IDE, Subhash received advanced training in Central European regions such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovak Republic, and Croatia. Among a total number of 1200 plus delegates from across the globe who attended the IDE in Prague. Subhash was in fact the only outbound travel agent from India. As part of his pre-tour and post-tour visits Subhash also visited Kutna Hora, Ceský Krumlov, Ceský Sternberk, the UNESCO village of Holašovice as well as the spa town of Karlovy Vary.

The IDE is not only an event for travel agents but also suppliers and retail sellers. More than 1200 delegates attended IDE Prague, most of whom reported having made substantial business contacts in Central Europe. “You can't say that you're a destination specialist unless you've really immersed yourself in a particular destination,” said Kathryn W. Sudeikis, CTC, ASTA's president and CEO. “One important way to do that is to network with local professionals to gain an in-depth understanding of the culture and environment of a region. ASTA's IDE attendees took advantage of a unique opportunity to not only gain valuable class experience but meet face-to-face with travel professionals from all over Central Europe, who shared a wealth of information, otherwise unattainable.”