Where the heck to go if someone offers to pay for your ticket?

theyyamdancer

What about Bhutan? Or Bali?

federica

I would go for Maledives... and have a window seat in the plane!

Pradeep Nayak

I have heard a lot about Jordan! You can try the place.

machadinha

The question I've been meaning to ask is why do they generously offer to put you in this cruel position in the first place? Would say a week ticket have been more expensive?

No advice, other than to take note of travel time taken (and jet lag, indeed) as well, so keep it realistic, like some of the others have hinted. A reasonable destination closer to you will be just as exotic as say Paris, they're both just new destinations right. A direct flight somewhere to SE (or Central?) Asia sounds pretty good to me.

(Keep in mind also a flight of a couple of hours may sound good, but what with getting to and from the airport and checking into hotel and having a bite and finding your way to do some sightseeing not to mention being tired by then and stuff, it can still easily knock out most of a day.)

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Radjesh

Yeah something nearby and nice, like Maldives, Mauritius or Seychelles should be fine...

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MY 2008 KASHMIR TRIP

ananda2193

People saying places like the Maldives and Sri Lanka have to understand that it's the monsoon there now. Not the place to be spending a nice beach holiday!

theyyamdancer

Has the OP considered Beijing for the Olympics?

boredinmumbai

Thanks everyone. After much deliberation, I have set my sights onto a not so relaxing holiday after all. I'm headed to Lombak, near Bali, to climb Mt. Rinjani (god-wiling). Have never been on an active volcano before let alone climb one, so looking forward to it.

Cruel is the right word! I am finding out that there isn't much I can do in the time frame allotted so I will have to beg for Aug 18th off.

Many thanks for your kind suggestions. It was these suggestions that got me really started on looking outside of India/comfort-zone.

machadinha

Hey, sounds like an excellent excursion for a few days! The dice have been cast!

theyyamdancer

Well done on your choice and good luck in your endeavour. Look forward to your trip report from Lombak!

boredinmumbai

I thought to give a quick update to those whose suggestions directly or indirectly led me to Lombok. I had to beg/plead/yell bloody murder but I got the 13th and the 14th off Combined with the 15th, that's 5 days in a row that I've off. 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I've submitted the itinerary to/from Mumbai- Denpasar (main Bali airport) to work and have been assured that it will be approved

The trek to Mt. Rinjani has been booked from August 14 - 16 (3 days/2 nights). You can see exact info here: http://www.lomboktrekking.com/rinjan...m-lake-top.php. Reasonably priced (as long as I get 1 other person in the group which they assure me has already happened) at US $190. It includes the following:

Transfer Pick Up in out Service from Airport Senggigi – Bangsal - Mataram
Mountain Porter
Licensed experienced
Mountain Guide
National Park Ticket entrance $ USD 15
Equipment, Tent, Sleeping Bag, Cook Gear, Mattress, Emergency Lamp
Bonus T-Shirt Rinjani Trekking
Food And Beverages ( three time A day during the program)

Basically I need to show up in some warm clothing, good shoes, and lots of stamina and we are good to go If all goes according to plan, then on the 2nd day of the trek, on India's Independence Day (August 15th), around 6 am India time, I shall hopefully be standing on the top of Mt. Rinjani

The guy I am dealing with at Lombok Trekking has booked me into a local hotel for the night previous to the trek-start (August 13th). Post-trek, I will be going to Senggigi Beach to spend a nice, relaxing night (August 16th) at the Holiday Resort Lombok and take a 2 hour long hot shower

August 17th, I grab a flight back to Denpasar from Lombok, chill in Bali for a few hours, and then off I go back to Mumbai.

Damage so far:
Flight to/back from Bali - zippo
Flight to/back from Lombok - Rs. 5000
Hotel, Aug 13 - Rs. 690 (yes, 690 and it includes breakfast!)
Trek - $190 - Rs. 8000
Hotel, Aug 16 - Rs. 3400
Total: Rs. 17,000

Food on trek is included, so I need to only pay for 1 night's food. The hardest part so far has been in booking the flights to/from Bali-Lombok. It seems that nobody wants to deal in credit cards over the phone or online. There doesn't seem to be any airlines that have online reservations. I don't speak any Indonesian, and they speak zippo English (well, mostly). Finally, I found someone who will book the tickets locally, meet me at the airport upon my arrival in Bali, and exchange the tix for money there. The travel agent is called Perematours and I believe they have a website as well. There is plenty of info on lonelyplanet or tripadvisor on them.

Cheers

machadinha

Hey! Thanks for feedback Have a swell trip!

(Oh ahem I noticed something on Wikipedia about fatalities on the higher slopes of that volcano being "not uncommon," LOL. Wouldn't worry about it really, but, er, watch your step Seriously, I'm sure those chaps'll look after you. Have fun!)