Travel Rewards

Have recently received a travel voucher for two to Bangkok.While it is supposed to be an all expenses paid voucher-A closer look reveals that I have to pay for the Taxes and my expenses there.
If they expect the winner to pay the taxes and other associated costs-why is it termed all inclusive?Airport taxes can be quite significant at some airports+the Fuel surcharge,it could end up being a turn down.
Can the organisations who organize these kind of prizes do better and make it all inclusive?

Marina Bay Sands

The scond casino has announced its opening date .It will be interesting if they encounter the same crowds as RWS did?Or they will be better prepared?
Let's wait and watch.

Resorts World Sentosa

Singapore awaits the opening of the Resorts World Sentosa Casino on Sunday-Feb 14th 2010.Universal Studio will take some time to open fully.They are allowing walkabouts for $10/-.
The Tourism scene is expected to do better with the two IRs operational.Unless I have overseas guests-I do not foresee visiting RWS till the theme park is operational.
If anyone is visiting RWS,drop a note here on your experience.
Gong Xi Fa Cai to all.

Visas for Indian Passport Holders

This post is edited every few months ,as we get a lot of enquiries for Visa enquiries.
India has recently allowed visitors from a few countries to avail of visa on arrival facilities .This is very useful for Singaporeans,and hope this gesture is reciprocated to Indian passport holders.Many Indian passport holders are frustrated by the lack of mobility of their passports,having to apply for visas for most countries they intend to travel to! The list of countries in my experience which allows for Visa on Arrival is listed below for Indian passport holders (The duration and conditions need to be be checked by individual travelers prior to travel,this site does not provide any guarantees.There are other countries where Indians can travel by obtaining a letter prior to travel or holding a valid US visa,they have not been listed)
Thailand will have the visa fee waiver programme from 1st April 2010.
*Nepal
*HongKong (Allows visa free travel to Indians for social visits)
*Macau
*Indonesia
*Thailand
*Sri Lanka
*Tanzania
*Kenya
*Bhutan
*Bermuda
*Burundi
*Cambodia
*Costa Rica
*Djibouti
*Dominica
*Fiji
*Grenada
*Haiti
*Iran
*Jamaica
*Madagascar
*Maldives
*Mauritius
*Montserrat
*Mozambique
*Samoa
*Seychelles
*Timor Leste
*Uganda
*Togo
*St Kitts
*Vanuatu
*Virgin island

Please add to this list when you notice relaxation by any country or making travel stringent by adding a comment to this post.

Budget Airline offers

Anybody notice how difficult it is to grab the budget airline offers?For me in recent times has been an pointless exercise,as the advertised offer haslooked good and when you click on it and for the dates you want the price has been way too high.the last time I took a budget airline offer was on the inaugral Jetstar flight to HK way back in 2004,since then I have taken budget airlines but not used their offer.
Whle traveling budget airlines -I suggest not trusting the scales in your home,as you may end up paying extra at the counters,pack a few kilos below permitted.

Airline Ticket Cancellations

My recent experience with premier airlines has not been good when it comes to ticket changes or cancellations.While the online booking exprience is designed to make it easy for customers,the cancellation process is very difficult.One has to call the number and then send a written confirmation,and the refund is credited to the credit card.imagine if one has to call the office after business hours-the airlines don't attend to it.
Why can't airlines allow online cancellations?Another grouse I have is with e-ticketing which was implemented for green issues and conserving naturebut almost everyone I know prints the e ticket-thus there is not much of paper saving.
I recently had to call Qatar Airways to make a change and I was on phone for 98 minutes before  getting the agent,and this is supposed to be a 5 Star airline.