The new world of RCI Holidays

The new world of RCI Holidays

JANUARY/JUNE 2011

More fl exibility, more transparency, more choice

More fl exibility, more transparency, more choice

Renew your RCI Membership more than 12 months in advance, and you pay only N10,950 for a 5-year extension. So, for just N6.00 per day, you and your family can enjoy the best of holidays for 5 whole years:

RCI Member HelplineToll Free (All India): 1800 419 2131 Bangalore: +9180-41849100/66915555Email: indiarci@rci.com Website: www.rci.com

Regular Renewal Fee N12,900

More than 12 months before expiry 15% N10,950 N1,950

6 to 12 months before expiry 10% N11,600 N1,300

3 to 6 months before expiry 5% N12,250 N650

3-Year Renewal

Regular Renewal Fee N9,700

More than 12 months before expiry 15% N8,250 N1,450

6 to 12 months before expiry 10% N8,750 N950

3 to 6 months before expiry 5% N9,200 N500

*Calculated to the nearest multiple of N50

5-Year Renewal Discount You pay* You save* Exchange Holidays in over 4,000 RCI-affi liated resorts around the world

Fabulous RCI Rental deals in the world’s great cities and other sought after destinations

And much more!

Plus, you save N1,950 on the regular 5-year renewal fee.

Surely you don’t want to miss out on this great opportunity! So avail RCI’s Special 2011 Renewal Offer, and renew your Membership today.

Avail RCI’s Special 2011 Renewal Offer today!

5 whole years of RCI Holidays...from just T6.00 a day!

features8 EUROPE’S HIDDEN GEMS From thermal spas to Alpine splendour,

there was never a dull moment for

Venkata Subramanian on his holiday

in Central Europe

12 A JOURNEY INTO HISTORY A week is too short to savour Rajasthan’s

treasures, discovers Daisy Ardeshir

15 THE NEW WORLD OF RCI HOLIDAYS

A good thing gets even better with

the new enhancements to your RCI

Weeks membership

27 GREEK TRAGEDY AT THE ACROPOLIS

Anushka Ravishankar fi nds unexpected

drama on her day in Athens, as she

tackles the rain with dry humour

36 ENCHANTING NEW ZEALAND Neeta Nair and her family are

captivated by New Zealand’s

magnetic charm

is the offi cial travel publication of RCI

contents

in each issue4 Operational Resorts 6 Letters from our Members10 Magic Memories23 Rate Reckoner24 Member Benefi ts30 Inside View32 Resort News34 Snappy Holiday Recipes

8

12

27

36

January•June•2011

15

RCI WEEKSENHANCEMENTS

A GOOD THING GETS EVEN BETTER

JANUARY/JUNE 20114

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15

4

5

8

39

8

2

3

7

7

7

6

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New Delhi

Colombo

Bikaner

IndoreJabalpur

KanpurAgra

ChennaiMangalore

Madurai

Nagpur

Kannur

Kodaikanal

BhimtalRamnagar

RaichakKolkata

Gurgaon

Auli

Silvassa

Manali

Chandigarh

ShimlaParwanoo

YercaudBangalore

Hambantota

Almora

Gangtok

JodhpurJaipur

UdaipurKumbhalgarh

GoaHampi/ Hospet

Coorg

Mumbai LonavalaPune

MunnarThekkady

Mussoorie

Ooty

Puri

Hyderabad

AhmedabadGandhinagar

Kottayam

KollamAlleppey

Thiruvananthapuram

Nainital

I N D I A

SRILANKA

Manali6753 Club Mahindra Snowpeaks4807 Manali Resorts5892 Royal Banon Resorts4896 Snowcrest Manor-Manali4087 Sterling White Mist

DharamshalaA298 Club Mahindra Kangra Valley

Shimla3823 Toshali Royal ViewC084 East Bourne ResortC348 Club Mahindra Whispering Pines

Parwanoo5195 Timber Trail Heights

Ramnagar5859 The Leisure ClubA962 The Riverview RetreatC182 The Solluna ResortC347 Club Mahindra Safari Resort

Gurgaon4438 Resort Country Club

Jodhpur6191 Ajit Bhawan6282 Fort Chanwa LuniC345 Prescon Desertscape

JaipurA960 Cambay Spa & ResortC261 Cambay Golf Resort, Jamdoli

UdaipurC262 Cambay Spa & Resort

KumbhalgarhA486 Club Mahindra Fort KumbhalgarhAhmedabad6474 The Luxury Club at Le Meridien

GandhinagarA472 Cambay Spa & Resort

Silvassa3090 Ras Resorts Silvassa

Kannur7636 Kairali Heritage

Munnar4800 Club Mahindra Lake View3720 Sterling Green Vistas3470 The Tall Trees

ThekkadyA963 Club Mahindra Tusker Trails

Kottayam4962 Golden WatersC263 Gold Field Lake Resort - Kumarakom

AlleppeyC260 Panoramic Sea Resorts

KollamC090 Club Mahindra Backwater RetreatC091 Cambay Palm Lagoon

Thiruvananthapuram8666 Poovar Island Resort (Club Mahindra Associate)

KovalamC138 The Country Club Treasure Cove

Hyderabad4256 Amrutha Castle

8773 The Country Club International

Goa5890 Averina Beach

4883 Club Mahindra Varca Beach5677 Phoenix Park Inn5743 Lotus Suites Goa

3726 Royal Goan Beach Club at Benaulim3820 Royal Goan Beach Club at Monterio

4129 Royal Goan Beach Club-Haathi Mahal3594 Royal Goan Beach Club-Royal Palms

4891 Sun Village5324 Vista do Rio

8872 The Country Clube de Goa

Hampi/HospetC475 Vijayshree Heritage Village

Yercaud4881 Sterling Rock Perch

C082 Lake Forest Yercaud (Club Mahindra Associate)

Ooty5192 Hill Country Resorts-Ooty

3721 Sterling Elk Hill2969 Sterling Fern Hill

Kodaikanal5193 Hill Country Resorts-Kodaikanal

3719 Sterling Lake View

Mussoorie4175 Avalon Mussoorie

6755 Hilltop at Avalon (Club Mahindra Associate)7492 Hotel Green Castle

Auli4276 Clifftop Club

NainitalA961 The Naini Retreat

C083 Club Mahindra Dancing Waters, Naukuchiatal

Almora6692 Club Mahindra Binsar Valley Resort

Bhimtal4431 Country Inn-Bhimtal

7695 Mountain Club

GangtokC346 Club Mahindra Royal Demazong

Mumbai6475 The Luxury Club at Le Royal Meridien4889 VITS Mumbai

Lonavala3935 Treasure IslandC364 The Lagoona Resort

PuneC264 The Waterfront Shaw, LavasaC363 Le Royale Residency

Hambantota5258 The Oasis

Coorg3452 Orange County Resort7703 Club Mahindra Kodagu Valley

Agra5681 Jaypee Palace Hotels

Puri4279 The Chariot

2955 Toshali Sands

0 200 Miles100 1000 200 Kilometres

Kolkata6691 Vedic Village

Raichak5490 The Ffort Holiday Klub

1

KulluDharamshala

Bhubaneshwar

Kochi

Operational Resorts: India & Sri Lanka

Check out your 2011 holiday opportunities!

Take a look at the

2011 Holiday Calendar

in the enclosed Plan Your

2011 Holidays pullout.

Th ere are plenty of long weekends to look

forward to: start planning right away, and

you could end the year with a bagful of

new holiday memories. Whether it’s a

spot of adventure you crave or just a laid

back week of fun and relaxation, we have

plenty to off er you!

For Your Eyes Only

Th ere’s plenty that

you can do once

you log on to RCI.com, and go to the

members-only section of the Web site.

Th e Online Ease guide on the reverse

of the Plan Your 2011 Holidays pullout

tells you how to use the tabs and links to

navigate through the member pages at

RCI.com, whether you want to transact

or just get information.

New Rate ReckonerOf special interest in the 2011 Rate

Reckoner is the fee for Combining

Deposits: A2,500 is all that it will cost

you to avail this great new feature of

your RCI

membership!

Go to Page 23

for full details of the

fees that will apply for

all your RCI transactions

this year.

news from RCI

Endless Vacation® Magazine is published twice a year by RCI India Pvt. Ltd. Designed by DIREM Marketing Services (Bangalore) Pvt. Ltd. Original articles and contributions may be reproduced or transmitted only with written permission from the publisher. No responsibility is accepted by RCI India for any losses or other consequences resulting from advertisements or other material in this publication. All offers appearing in the publication are subject to terms and conditions, and availability. ©RCI 2011.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 5

It’s unusual for Endless Vacation, a magazine about

travel and holidaying, to have a cover feature that’s

centred on technology; but when technology impacts

the way you plan and book your RCI Holidays to

the extent that the recent enhancements to your

RCI Weeks membership have, an exception is surely

called for.

Th ese changes have not happened overnight. From

the January-June 2009 issue of Endless Vacation, we

have been telling you about the amazing new features

that have been incorporated in RCI.com—the new

user-friendly interfaces, the improved functionality. We have also been urging

you to register at RCI.com to get the most out of your RCI membership: when

you turn the pages and fi nd out about all the great things you can now do online,

with tools such as the Exchange Planner and the Deposit Calculator to help you,

you’ll understand why.

It’s not just online that you’ll fi nd the improved experience. When you contact

our Call Centre, you’ll fi nd that your RCI Guides use the new transparency

about trading power and the new tools to help you fully leverage the fl exibility

that Deposit Credits and Combined Deposits bring to your holiday planning.

Th e launch of these new enhancements in November 2010 is arguably the most

momentous event in RCI’s 35 year history: the culmination of a global eff ort

that took its cues from what members told us they wanted, and then married the

benefi ts of the latest technological developments to the RCI Exchange System

to deliver a revolutionary new experience. In the larger context, however, momentous

though these enhanced benefi ts defi nitely are, they are not an end in themselves:

they are but a major milestone in our never ending quest to be responsive to the

ever changing world around us as we make a good thing—holiday exchange

and all the benefi ts it brings to your timeshare ownership—even better!

In the Plan Your 2011 Holidays pullout this year, you will not only fi nd the

2011 Holiday Calendar, but also useful tips on how you can go about transacting

on RCI.com once you have registered. I am sure you will fi nd the pullout and

the enclosed Availability Grid invaluable as you go about using your new

membership benefi ts to bring back incredible holiday memories in the New Year.

Happy holidaying—and have a great 2011!

Radhika Shastry

Managing Director – Indian Subcontinent

lettersfrom our members

An entertaining incident or a cultural insight. Or even how RCI has enhanced your holiday experience. Just write in to Editor – Endless Vacation, RCI India Pvt Ltd, Pine Valley, First Level, Embassy Golf Links Business Park, Off Intermediate Ring Road, Bangalore 560071, India, or email editor.ev@rci.com, and share your memories with other RCI members. Selected letters will be published in the next issue of Endless Vacation.

JANUARY/JUNE 20116

Scandinavian HeavenMy idea of a vacation has gained a new

meaning. At the age of sixty four, I am

rediscovering the world and visiting new

destinations with my wife. It is like

embracing life one more time, and making

the most of my time off from work.

Th is summer, we escaped from the sweat

and scorching heat of Mumbai and went

straight to Sweden. I have a great friend

in Sweden, and, having looked up the RCI

directory, we found a great resort in Åre.

Åre is a haven for ski lovers. It is what

Auli is for Indians. Almost 30,000

people from all over the world come

and enjoy skiing in Åre. From here,

it is also easy to go to Åreskutan, which

is the highest mountain in the area, and

which was the host for the 2007 FIS

Alpine World Ski Championship.

When we reached Åre, we were initially

overwhelmed with all the snow. But it did

not take us more than a day to get back to

being kids. We had snow fi ghts and made

wasted attempts to create a snowman.

Th e place was thoroughly entertaining.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the register

in the resort, and I was a little shocked

to fi nd that my wife and I were the only

Indian visitors who had visited the place

in the new millennium. Th e last Indian

visitor they had was in 1983!

From Åre, we hopped across to Norway,

and made our way to Trondheim. Th ough

there is a direct train to Trondheim that

runs twice daily, we drove there, and it

took us only two hours. Th e drive was

amazing. I lost count of the lakes we saw

on the way. I wouldn’t be exaggerating

if I said we saw more lakes than people!

Trondheim was intriguing. I was told

that it served as the capital for many years

under Viking rule. But this is debatable,

as many believe that Trondheim was

founded only towards the end of the

Viking era. What is more established

is that the city was a religious centre

during the Middle Ages. Th e Nidaros

Cathedral was an important destination

for pilgrims from Northern Europe,

and its grandeur is self-evident. Now,

the city is mostly a centre for students,

as it is the home of the Norwegian

University of Science and Technology.

A word for those who want to explore

Europe with the Eurail Pass: this is

the ideal place to use it, because you

can travel from any popular European

gateway—Copenhagen, Hamburg,

Frankfurt, Zurich, or any other—

and take a dream journey to your

destination. Needless to say, Malmö

and Stockholm are also very well

connected to Are.

Prakash Latkar

Member from Club Mahindra

Different WorldsIt was a hot, clammy summer night when

my husband, Mario, my son, Niketh,

and I left Mumbai on 1 May 2010 to

begin our holiday in Turkey. We arrived

at our fi rst destination, Bodrum, at 4 pm.

Th e cool breeze that greeted us when

we exited the airport was a welcome

change from the heat back home.

RCI had booked our accommodation at

Club Dedemen. It was a short, scenic

drive from the airport to the resort. Th e

view of the unending Blue Ocean and

the tiny houses dotting the skyline was

simply breathtaking.

Th e resort had apartments located at

diff erent levels. From our apartment, we

could get a view of the bay, with yachts

of the rich and famous anchored there.

Th ere was a huge, inviting swimming

pool, which was a wonderful place to

end our evenings. Th e resort also had

a dedicated animation group, so there

was always something for us to do. Th ey

even arranged for us to take one of the

traditional Turkish hamams (baths), which

turned out to be one of the highlights

of our trip.

Buses from the terminus at the foot of the resort took us to Bodrum city,

where we explored its castles, museums,

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 7

shopping, and other attractions. If, by

chance, we were late for the bus, the

resort staff was more than happy to

drop us off at the city centre. Th e staff

was very friendly and helpful, and went

out of their way to try and help us in

whatever way they could, in spite of the

language barrier.

After our week in Bodrum, we caught

a ferry to Rhodes in Greece. We took

a cab from the ferry terminal, and got to

Sun Beach Holiday Club. Words cannot

do justice to this fabulous resort, which

is located right on the Lalyssos beach.

Th e resort was split into several buildings,

each bearing the name of a Greek god

or goddess—ours was Athena. It had

two swimming pools, two children’s

pools, and a private beach.

Th e apartment itself was fabulous. It had

two large rooms and a huge terrace

overlooking the sea. Th ere was also a DVD

player, to our pleasant surprise, and the

resort staff was more than happy to lend

us a couple of DVDs!

Rhodes is an old town, with cobbled

streets and old buildings that have been

converted into shops and restaurants

without disturbing their old world charm.

But, for us, the main attraction was

the beach, where we spent most of our

evenings just lazing around, watching

the beautiful ocean while reading a book.

Th e resort was located next to

numerous restaurants and fast food

joints. We chanced upon a nice little

diner called Mike’s Tasty while visiting

a nearby tourist information kiosk, and

we began to go there religiously—not

just for the lip smacking food, but also

due to the warm and friendly owners.

Our fi nal destination was Athens,

which was a ferry ride away from Rhodes.

Our only mistake here was not taking

RCI accommodation; because we felt

the diff erence, now that we were staying

in a “regular” hotel room again.

From Athens, we caught our plane back

to Mumbai, with a heavy heart, but with

wonderful memories to last us a lifetime.

Th ank you, RCI! You made our trip truly

special, with excellent accommodation.

Each resort was absolutely fabulous.

We are looking forward to years of

wonderful vacationing—and you being

a big part of that.

Anne Desouza

Member from Sterling Holidays

A Perfect GiftMy wife, Rajvi, and I visited Orange

County from 11-18 July this year. Th e

holiday was a gift from my father, Anil

Shah, who is an RCI member from

Sterling Holidays.

Th e resort was excellent, and we cannot

describe how much fun we had... Going

on nature walks and plantation tours

was an experience that was out of this

world. It was so quiet and green there

that it set a perfect atmosphere for

our vacation.

Th e resort’s staff was the best, and

accommodating of all our needs.

Food in all the three restaurants was

excellent.

We are looking forward to visiting the

resort again every three or four years!

Sahil Shah

BeijingOur visit to Beijing from 2-7 July 2010

was very enjoyable, and our stay was

comfortable.

Th e level of development of the

Chinese capital was far beyond our

expectations. Present day Beijing is

the equal of downtown New York or

Chicago, with its wonderful network

of clean and beautiful roads, with grade

separators facilitating easy movement of

traffi c, without any traffi c snarls.

All the roads are neatly lined with

trees and fl owering plants. Th ey are

spic and clean, without dust and litter.

Above all, what impressed us most

was the absence of noise pollution,

with no blaring of horns or loud noise

from engines. Th is itself is a wonderful

tourist experience!

Beijing has been transformed so totally

that it was unrecognisable from the old

photographs of the city that we had seen.

Instead of monotonous rows of buildings

that we expected to see in a Communist

country, we found that the tall buildings,

both residential and commercial, each

had its own distinct identity. At the

same time, they have retained historic

monuments in all their glory, and their

maintenance is to be appreciated.

Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City,

the Temple of Heaven, Mao’s mausoleum,

and the Olympic Stadium were all

fascinating. Outside the city, the Ming

tombs and the Great Wall of China are

a must for visitors. No visitor should

miss the visit to the Silk Market either.

Our seven day stay in Beijing will be in

our hearts always.

Mohanakrishnan

Member from Royal Goan Beach Club

8

Since 2003, when we became members of Club Mahindra

and RCI, we have had many opportunities to use the

glorious and excellent facilities at RCI-affi liated resorts

around the world—in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa,

Germany, England, France and Switzerland.

We—my wife Meenakshi, son Kartik and I—have just got

back from a two-week holiday in Hungary and Austria,

where we had a wonderful time at Club Dobogomajor near

Heviz in Hungary, and Ferienclub Bellevue (Mondi) in

Bad Gastein, in Austria.

been there

From thermal spas to Alpine splendour,

there was never a dull moment for

Venkata Subramanian on his holiday in

Central Europe

Europe’s Hidden GemsEurope’s Hidden Gems

JANUARY/JUNE 2011

With the Alps in the

background across most of

the country, and plenty of

small rivers, lakes and snow

clad mountains, it is diffi cult

to distinguish Austria from

Switzerland. Th e motorways

are extensions of the German

autobahns, and we could

do the drive from Heviz to

Bad Gastein, a distance of

about 630 km, in six hours

with a break. We wondered

why India can’t import road

construction technology

from Austria—we never

encountered a single pothole

anywhere across the whole

country, even though we

traversed so many roads built over rocky mountains.

Bad Gastein in itself is a beautiful place. It is a 22 km drive

from the motorway up to the Ferienclub Bellevue (Mondi)

resort, with mountains on both sides. Among the places that

you must not miss is Zel am See, a beautiful small town about

a 48 km drive from Bad Gastein. Right next to it is Kaprun,

from where you can take a long ride up the ropeway to the

snow clad Alps… It is one of the largest ski centres in the

country, and, during winter, the place is overcrowded with skiers.

Innsbruck and a visit to the Swarovski Museum (with some

cash or plastic on hand!) was also on our list. Th e drive from

Bad Gastein to Innsbruck is picturesque, and, though we

covered nearly 278 km, it did not give us the feeling of having

driven 1½ times the distance from Mumbai to Nashik!

We had a once-in-a-lifetime experience when we visited the

Liechtenstein Gorge near St Johann. Th e walk up the gorge

on a carefully laid out wooden platform, cutting through

the mountain and terminating at a huge waterfall, was quite

amazing! Th is rare gorge is well charted for people to visit

and experience, rather than just click pictures.

Another must-see is an experience totally out-of-this-world.

Ever heard of the Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves? Th ey are the

largest ice cave system on Earth, more than 48 sq km in size,

with some of the largest stalactites and stalagmites! Th e

guided tour, with expert guides, takes you on a 700-step walk

up dark stairs, and the same number to come down… it’s like

a one hour journey through some dream. Th e approach to the

caves in itself is quite something, with a 20 minute walk to

the ropeway, and another 20 minute walk to the entrance of the

cave, up the mountain in Werfen. Th e motorway and the speeding

cars look like miniature toys from that height. It was truly one of

the best experiences and memories we carried from Austria.

What we covered must be just one half of Austria given the six

day vacation we had; and I think we will return soon to explore

more of this country, the natural beauty of which is just superb.

stayExperience the contrasting pleasures that Austria and Hungary offer with RCI.

AustriaRCI has 17 affi liated resorts in Austria.

HungaryRCI has 14 affi liated resorts in Hungary.

Also, check for RCI rentals in Vienna, Graz, Budapest and other urban destinations.

Hungary comes across as a lovely,

green, serene and laid back country

with very warm, aff ectionate people

who are always willing to help

foreigners visiting their country.

Th e place where we stayed, Heviz,

is a small, beautiful town in the

southern part of Hungary, which

is well known for its thermal lakes.

Club Dobogomajor is located in

Cserszegtomaj, and is very close

to some of the largest thermal spas,

where one can spend a full day

lazing in the various water streams

and open lakes that have natural

thermal water. Kehidakustany is

one such thermal resort which

you must not miss if you visit

Club Dobogomajor. Situated only

14 km away, this is a perfect place

for a thermal dip and hot water

massage. Th e place is huge and full of people, especially over

the weekends.

Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and is

situated not very far from Heviz. Driving across the countryside

is the best way to get around. Th ere are various tourist spots

along Lake Balaton like Szigliget, the remains of a small old

castle, Balatonfured, and Siofok.

Kesztheley is a small town near Club Dogobomajor which has

two important places for tourists—a McDonald’s restaurant

and a Tesco supermarket. Tesco came in handy for us, as we

got all that we required for a short stay.

Budapest was a surprise packet; Buda (the hillside) and the Pest

(the plains) were a brilliant combination, buzzing with activity.

Th e Liberty Statue, facing the main city centre from a hill,

the third largest Parliament—the brilliant 22 carat

gold plated ornamental carvings,

and the wood and glass work

make it a must see—and a War

Memorial built 300 years back,

all made the drive from Heviz

worthwhile.

Th e city is a mix of old history

and new age technology. Th e

seven bridges, built across

centuries on the River Danube,

make a lovely sight from the

Liberty Statue atop a hill.

Coming as we were from

the plains and lakes of Hungary,

we found Austria to be a contrast in itself.

It is so scenic, you could choose any part of the country for

a photo shoot, and it would look brilliant! When we had

visited New Zealand, we had thought that there could be no

better place on earth; Austria runs New Zealand very close,

I must say. Venkata Subramanian is an RCI member from Club Mahindra.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 9

JANUARY/JUNE 201110

Your priceless holiday memories could win you a prize.

iPod

magic memories

1st

Prize

2nd

Prize

S Krishnamurthy

Member from

Th e Village

[Kollam]

Binoculars

Ravi Sodhani

Member from

VITS, Mumbai

[Munnar]

Camera

1

5

4

3

2

1 Pranav Chaturvedi

Member from Club Mahindra

[London]

Hardev Singh

Member from Avalon Mussoorie

[Bali]

Avinash B Dahima

Member from VITS, Mumbai

[Las Vegas]

Akshay M Vani

Member from Sterling Holidays

[South Africa]

Dr Jayashri S Pandya

Member from VITS, Mumbai

[Malaysia]

Komath Sivadasan

Member from Royalty Club

[Coorg]

Zenobia M Framroze

Member from Club Mahindra

[Miami]

Akalp Gupta

Member from

Royal Goan Beach Club

[South Africa]

Once again, we bring you some priceless memories

captured by RCI Members on holiday. Like we said

before, it is the quality of the moment you’ve captured

that really matters. All that it takes is a fun-fi lled

RCI holiday. And, of course, for you to enter the

photographs in the RCI Magic Memories contest.

3rd

Prize

7

6

1 2 3

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 11

Prize3

r d

2n d

Prize

4 5 6 7

Prize1

st

Please write “RCI Magic Memories” on the envelope and mail your entries before 15 April 2011 to Editor – Endless Vacation, RCI India Pvt Ltd, Pine Valley,First Level, Embassy Golf Links Business Park, Off Intermediate Ring Road, Bangalore 560071, India, or email editor.ev@rci.com.

All entries must have the member’s name, RCI membership number and holiday destination behind the photograph. Please do not staple the prints. All prints will be considered the property of RCI India and will not be returned. RCI reserves the right to publish these photographs in any of its publications in India or abroad.

JANUARY/JUNE 201112

For our RCI holiday this year, my husband Marzban and

I put our fi nger on Royal Rajasthan. But how could we

plan a holiday for only one week to this land of contrasts,

with its rich culture and heritage, imposing monuments,

colourful arts and crafts, and amazing topography? Again,

we wanted this holiday to be a blend of leisure and travel, to

see as many places as possible, without overdoing it. It was

not an easy task, but we took up the challenge, and decided

to go ahead. So we started our research from various sources,

chalked out our week’s itinerary covering three places only,

and made the relevant bookings.

Day 1: We took a 1½-hour direct Go Air fl ight to Jaipur on

17 September afternoon, and headed straight to Cambay Golf

Resort at Jamdoli, on the outskirts of Jaipur, off the Jaipur-

Agra highway. We arranged for a tourist vehicle to take us

around Jaipur for the next two days, went through our notes,

and made a list of places to visit each day. Th e rest of the

evening was spent relaxing and soaking in the atmosphere.

Day 2: Th e fi rst thing our driver told us was that we were

very lucky with the weather, as there has been abundant rain

this year—the best in the last 14 years. (In fact, during our

fl ight descent the previous day, we noticed greenery down

below, and wondered how a land known for its dry and hot

climate could display such greenery!) We showed him the list

of places we would like to visit, and invited his opinion and

suggestions on them. He was impressed, and became quite

enthusiastic as well.

Our fi rst halt was Ram Niwas Bagh which is a spacious garden

with four sentry doors, and houses a zoo, aviary, greenhouse,

auditorium, small pools and fountains. But the most striking

feature is the Albert Hall situated in the middle of the garden.

Th ere we bought a 2-day pass for B50, which covers entry to

fi ve diff erent attractions—Albert Hall, Jantar Mantar, Hawa

Mahal, Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort. To go around

Albert Hall, we bought an audio guide, which provided each

of us one headset to listen to the commentary on the exhibit

halls displaying a rich collection of artefacts.

We proceeded to Jantar Mantar, the stone observatory with

complex, scientifi cally designed instruments, which represents

the high point of medieval Indian astronomy. Just a stone’s

throw away is the City Palace, with a blend of Rajput and

Mughal architecture. Th e erstwhile royal family still lives in

one part of this palace, which also houses a museum with a

collection of costumes, an armoury and an art gallery.

We drove past Hawa Mahal, with its 953 delicately honey-

combed pink sandstone windows; it is best viewed from the

road outside. We had heard Jaipur being called the Pink City,

A JOURNEY INTOHISTORY

A JOURNEY INTOHISTORY

and had wondered what it would be like.

Driving through it satisfi ed our curiosity.

After lunch at a multi-cuisine restaurant, we

drove to Amber Fort, passing Jal Mahal en

route, making a note to spend some time there

later, as we had to reach Amber Fort before it

closed at 4.30 pm. Th is fort is setin rugged hills,

and made in red sandstone and white marble.

Th e Shish Mahal was undergoing renovation so

we could only click pictures of the external walls.

Th ere are many touts around posing as guides, so

it is advisable to take a licensed one to get a good

understanding of the fort. We did not wait for the

sound and light show which takes place every evening.

Th e last halt of our day was at Moti Dungri, meaning

Pearl Hill. Atop the hill is a Scottish-type castle, which

is open to the public only once a year, and hence we

could not visit it. But we visited the Ganesh Temple

and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, built completely in

white marble, which are at the foot of the hill.

Day 3: We started the day with a visit to Sisodia Rani

ka Baug (Ghat ni Guni) situated on the Jaipur-Agra

road. It consists of tiered multilevel gardens with

fountains, which are illuminated after sunset.

Our next stop was the Jaigarh Fort, which we found the

most spectacular of the three hill-top forts. It took us nearly

two hours to cover the area, which has palaces, a granary, a

cannon foundry, a tall tower, and a giant mounted cannon

called Jai Baan, which is the largest cannon on wheels in the

world. Nahargarh Fort was a let-down in comparison, except

that it off ered a bird’s eye view of Jaipur city.

On our return, we spent some time at the promenade of

Man Sagar Lake, and had a good view of Jal Mahal or the

Island Palace situated in the middle of it.

Daisy Ardeshir is an RCI member from Royal Goan Beach Club.

A week is too short to savour Rajasthan’s

treasures, discovers Daisy Ardeshir

been there

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 13

Th anks to the good rainfall this year, all the water

bodies were full, much to the delight of the locals.

We had a few hours to while away before we headed

to Chowki Dani at 7 pm. You guessed right! Our

wallets got lighter, as we went shopping!!!

Chowki Dani is a large open air complex, depicting

the village life of Rajasthan. You have a magician,

dancers, camel and elephant rides, and palm

reading at various spots. Th e highlight of the

evening was a typical Rajasthani dinner, sitting

on the fl oor, and served in village ware.

Day 4: In keeping with our original plan, this

day was spent at leisure in the comfort of the

resort, as we had to take an overnight train to

Udaipur. Th e train came in two hours late.

Day 5: At Udaipur station, the pre-booked

vehicle awaited us, and took us around the city.

Udaipur has been fondly called the Venice of

India. But scanty rainfall and drying up of the

lakes in recent years belied this notion. Th is year,

the abundant rainfall has reinstated it.

Our fi rst stop was at the overfl owing Fateh Sagar

lake. Viewed from a higher altitude, this lake

resembles a rough outline map of India. We spent

some time breathing in the

fresh morning air on its banks.

Our next halt was Saheliyon ki

Bari, the garden of the maidens,

with its fountain pools, the

main one being the lotus pool.

Moti Magari (Pearl Mount)

has an impressive bronze statue

of Maharana Pratap on his

horse Chetak, and it overlooks

Fateh Sagar lake.

We drove to the City Palace. It towers over Pichhola lake

on a hill, off ering a spectacular view of two island palaces: Jag

Mandir and Lake Palace. It took us about two hours to go

round the City Palace.

Driving along Pichhola lake , we reached Dudhia Talai, from

where we took a ropeway to the sunset point and the temple.

Th e view from this height was simply breathtaking... a clear

sky, with the sun shining over the city and overfl owing lakes.

We spent some relaxed moments at Gulab Baug and Rajiv

Gandhi Garden.

Towards the evening, we headed to Sajjangarh Palace, also

known as the Monsoon Palace, which is built at a height of

691 m on top of the Bansdara hill. It off ers a panoramic view

of the city and the surrounding countryside. From the terrace,

you can see the sun setting behind the Aravalli Hills. But, for

us, it was marred by clouds.

We browsed around a few shops before returning to the station,

to catch the overnight train back to Jaipur.

Day 6: We arrived early in the morning at Jaipur, headed

straight to our resort, switched to leisure mode, and spent the

rest of the day relaxing and planning our excursion next day

to Ajmer.

Day 7: We left the resort at 7.30 am, and drove straight to

Ajmer to pay homage at the Dargah Sharif. Th e place was

crowded with pilgrims, and a volunteer guided us through

the shrine. A short walk from there led us to Adhai Din

ka Jhonpra. It is so named because a legend says that this

masterpiece of architecture was constructed in just 2½ days!

After worshipping at a Muslim holy place, we proceeded to

do the same at a Hindu holy site—the Pushkar temple and

lake. Th ere, we were hounded by touts and others who wanted

to make a quick buck out of us. We donated to the fund to

feed the poor (the same amount we gave at the Dargah), but

refused to be drawn into any other schemes.

We returned to the resort, tired after a long drive on a hot day.

We did not want to think of our vacation coming to an end,

so we just relaxed and left the winding up process for the next

morning. On our return, our Go Air fl ight to Mumbai was

delayed by half an hour.

Our Journey into History is not yet complete, as there is still

lots to cover in Royal Rajasthan—and we look forward to

taking another RCI Holiday to other exotic destinations!!!

stayTake your trip into historic Rajasthan with RCI.

RCI has 7 affi liated resorts in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kumbhalgarh and Udaipur.

JANUARY/JUNE 201114 For details contact Bangalore, India: Tel: +91 (0)80 4191 1021 / 22 / 23 E-mail: members@orangecounty.in www.orangecounty.in

Spirit of the land

luxury resorts

Providing exquisite holiday experiences,while preserving the purity of nature and culture of the land.

Kabini - Wildlife, the Tribal Way: A resort inspired by a tribal village. Designed

around a pristine river. Bordered by a legendary forest. Welcome to Orange County,

Kabini, tucked within the Nilgiri Biosphere. A journey that takes you closer to the heart of a rustic land. One that opens up the

wild side of nature.

Coorg - Coffee, Spice & Plantation Life: A 300 acre working plantation resort tucked deep within the cool

green hills of Coorg at a height of 800 m. Bordered by the legendary river Cauvery. Surrounded by virgin forests. Enveloped by

the heady aroma of coffee and spice. Shrouded in myths and legends. Welcome to

Orange County, Coorg, a Gold Crown resort.

Special Offers available for RCI members

years ago, RCI invented holiday exchange to add fl exibility to your holiday

ownership, by enabling you to exchange the Holiday Week you own at your

home resort for a week at another RCI-affi liated resort anywhere in the world.

Over the years, we have helped our members enjoy more than 50 million memorable

holidays to over 4,000 RCI-affi liated resorts in destinations around the globe.

Even as many of you have shared your wonderful RCI holiday experiences—and the

joy they have brought you!—with us, you have also given us suggestions on the ways

that we can make your RCI experience even better.

Today, RCI is REINVENTING holiday exchange by building and expanding your

RCI membership benefi ts—and giving you what you’ve asked for.

As you can see below, over the past 2 years, we’ve been delivering new tools and

Web features that make holiday planning fun and easy… all in preparation for

these exciting new enhancements to your RCI membership!

RCI now off ers more choice and infi nitely greater fl exibility to add value to your

RCI membership, and help you maximise the use of your holiday ownership. And

we’ve made your membership benefi ts so much easier to understand and use that

all you have to do is work out where you want to go!

the new world of RCI holidays

cover story

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 15

A GOOD THING GETS EVEN BETTER

DECEMBER 2008• Enhanced Search:Customise your search and see all your options

FEBRUARY 2009• RCI TV with videos, information and member reviews

JULY 2009• Faster online registration and e-mail updates

• More resort photos and videos

DECEMBER 2009• E-mail notifi cations for Ongoing Searches

• Even more resort information

• Expanded destination information

JULY 2010• Advanced Search• Favourite Searches• Redeem special offers and quickly modify your reservation online

NOVEMBER 2010• Trading power transparency

• More fl exibility with Deposit Credits and Combined Deposits

• More planning tools at RCI.com

2011 & BEYOND• Even more coming soon!

35

More Transparency

Ever since you became an RCI member, the trading power of

the Holiday Weeks you deposit with us has been the key to

determining what Exchange Holidays you can take. Th e great

news is that your trading power is no longer a secret.

• Now you can SEE the exact trading power of your

deposited Week, and directly compare it to the trading

power of resorts where you wish to take an Exchange

Holiday.

• You can search for holidays of equal or lesser trading power

than your Deposit or search for ALL available holidays,

regardless of trading power.

More Value

In the past, when you took an Exchange Holiday, your

Deposited Week was utilised in full, even if the holiday you

booked had a trading power lower than your own. Th at’s no

longer the case.

• When you trade down for an Exchange Holiday with lower

trading power than your Deposit, you will receive a Deposit

Credit back into your account!

• You may use that Deposit Credit for a second Exchange or

save it for future use.

More Flexibility

Ever asked for a dream holiday only to fi nd that the trading

power of your Deposit was not enough to book it? Well, that

need no longer be the case.

• Now, not only can you split your Deposit Trading Power

and get a Deposit Credit, you can add up the trading power

of more than one deposited Week or Deposit Credit to

access holidays that require a higher trading power.

So what exactly are the new enhancements we have made to your RCI Weeks

membership? And how do they benefi t you? Here’s what we bring you:

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ALL ABOUT YOUR RCI WEEKS ENHANCEMENTS

This is a great opportunity for me to avail holidays in Bangkok and Pattaya by clubbing the 2008 Week I have already deposited with my Week from 2011.The system of accumulating trading power is a great advantage for us.

Asoke BoseMember from The Chariot

More Choice

What all this adds up to is more choice. Now you know the

trading power you have, and the trading power you need to

book the holidays you want. And you are no longer restricted

by the Deposit Trading Power of a single Week. So, with

proper planning, you can take more—and more fabulous!—

holidays than you ever could before.

• You can decide which Weeks to deposit and when.

• You can utilise Deposit Credits to get more Exchange

Holidays than you could earlier.

• You can add up your trading power across multiple Deposits

and Deposit Credits to access Exchanges that you earlier

could not, even in the best resorts in sought after destinations,

in peak season!UNDERSTANDING YOUR TRADING POWERIn the Holiday Advisor section of the last issue of Endless

Vacation, we had explained all about trading power, and the

factors that determine it. Here’s a quick recap.

As you are aware, every Holiday Week deposited with RCI

is assigned a trading power at the time of deposit: this is the

Deposit Trading Power. When you request an Exchange

Holiday, your Deposit Trading Power is compared against

the trading power of all available exchanges, referred to as

the Exchange Trading Power, to determine which Exchange

Holidays are available to you.

What Determines Trading Power?

As soon as you make your Deposit, RCI assigns trading

power to your Week, based on the following criteria:

Demand, Supply, and Utilisation: Th is has the biggest

infl uence on your Deposit Trading Power.

• Demand: Th e more

subscribing members

there are who want your

deposit, the higher its

trading power.

• Supply: How many

similar deposits have

been made?

• Utilisation: How many

deposits like yours have

been confi rmed by other

members in the past?

Unit Type and Size

Timing of Your Deposit

Resort Ratings: Comment card scores that members like you

fi ll out after going on holiday are a component of resort ratings.

Season: Depending on location, some times of the year are

worth more than others.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 17

Choose to use your Deposit in multiple ways.Book an Exchange Holiday equal to what you already own, split your Deposit’s Trading Power to book multiple Exchanges, or combine it with other Deposits to book an Exchange Holiday you didn’t have access to before.

Learn the exact Deposit Trading Power of your Week.

Receive a Deposit Credit when you exchange for a holiday that requires less trading power than that of your deposited Week.

Combine multiple Deposits to use towards one or more Exchange Holidays.

See ALL available holidays, and the Exchange Trading Power required to book each of them.

WHAT’S NEW

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As you can see, the timing of your Deposit is the one factor you

can control. If you deposit your Week 2 years to 9 months in

advance of its start date, you will get 100% of the available

Deposit Trading Power when you exchange.

Deposit late, and you could lose up to 55% of your trading

power. Here’s how it works:

Deposit Trading PowerAdjustment Schedule*

% of TradingPower Retained

2 years to 9 months (276 days or more)

100%

6 to 9 months(181 to 275 days)

95%

3 to 6 months(91 to 180 days)

90%

1 to 3 months(31 to 90 days)

80%

15-30 days 60%

14 days or less 45%

*Lead time before the start date of the Holiday Week you are depositing. In case an Exchange is cancelled, the trading power will be revised, with the cancellation date taken as the new deposit date.

Has the Deposit Trading Power of your Week changed? Th e

answer is: No, it hasn’t. What has changed is that, for the very

fi rst time, you can now see the trading power of every Week

you own!

Th at’s where the new Deposit Calculator on RCI.com

comes in:

• It calculates the trading power of the Holiday Week you

intend to deposit.

• It helps you see the impact of timing on your Deposit

Trading Power.

• It allows you to enter the start date and unit confi guration

of your Holiday Week to see what its trading power will be,

before depositing.

Go to RCI.com now, and try it for yourself!

DEPOSIT CREDITS: FOR ADDED VALUEIf the Exchange Trading Power of the holiday you book is

less than the trading power of the Week you have deposited,

you will receive a Deposit Credit that can be used towards

a future Exchange Holiday.

Th e Deposit Credit will appear in your account as a new Deposit

with a trading power equal to the diff erence between the

Deposit Trading Power of your original week and the Exchange

Trading Power of your confi rmed Exchange Holiday.

You can use your Deposit Credits towards Exchanges up

to the expiry date of your original Deposit, giving you

more value than ever before. Th e travel through date of your

Deposit Credit will be the same as the travel through date of

the original deposit.

COMBINING DEPOSITS: FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITYWhen you have a Deposit Credit, or multiple Deposits in

your account, you can help maximise your exchange options

by combining them.

How does that help? Th e trading power of your Combined

Deposit will be the sum of the trading power values of all

the Deposits or Deposit Credits you combined.

Th us, with a Combined Deposit, you could book a holiday

with an Exchange Trading Power that’s greater than the

trading power of any single Deposit you have!

What’s more, you can confi rm an Exchange Holiday

against the Combined Deposit for 2 years from

the date of combination, irrespective of the travel

windows of each of the deposits being combined.

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When I booked my holiday to Portugal, I used just 15 from the Deposit Trading Power of 17 that I had. Now I have a Deposit Credit with a trading power of 2 that I can use for my next holiday.

Viren PatwariMember from Sterling Holidays

Now that you are no longer in the dark about the trading

power of your Holiday Week, and how to maximise it, let’s

see how you can combine this knowledge with the new online

tools available to you to make sure you derive the full value of

your Holiday Week.

SMART DEPOSITINGHow, and when, should you deposit your Holiday Week?

To get the most from your new membership enhancements,

it’s important to understand why the timing of your Deposit

is so critical, and how the new online tools can help you make

appropriate Deposits for the Exchanges you want to book.

Depositing Your Weeks

As you are aware, the fi rst step towards your holidays with RCI

is depositing your Week. Th is opens up Exchange Holiday

opportunities for you and other subscribing members, and lets

you exchange into one of more than 4,000 RCI-affi liated resorts.

As before, you can deposit your eligible Week from 2 years to

14 days before its start date. However, to guarantee you receive

100% of your available Deposit Trading Power when you

Exchange, you should deposit a minimum of 9 months before.

Against your Deposit, you can book an Exchange Holiday

beginning 12 months before your Week’s start date to 24 months

after the start date.

Why is timing so important ?

Because it is the only

component used to

determine Deposit

Trading Power that

you control. To get the

most trading power,

it is essential that you

deposit your Week as soon as you decide not to return to

your home resort for that ownership year.

Using Online Tools

Th e Exchange Planner and the Deposit Calculator make it

easy to be smart about depositing your Week.

If you are targeting a specifi c Exchange Holiday, you can

go online to RCI.com, and use the Exchange Planner to

determine the Exchange Trading Power that is required to

book that holiday.

A few simple steps and a little care can go a long way in ensuring that you

get full value out of the newly enhanced benefi ts of your RCI membership.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 19

DEPOSIT WINDOW

The window of time you have to deposit your Holiday Week with RCI is called the Deposit Window. You can deposit your Week any time from 2 years to 14 days before its start date to be able to use it for an Exchange Holiday. Depositing at least 9 months prior to the start date guarantees 100% of your available trading power.

TRAVEL WINDOW

The window of time you have to exchange your Holiday Week and travel is called the Travel Window. The RCI Weeks Exchange System gives you a 3 year Travel Window: from 1 year before the start date of your Deposit to 2 years after. In this example, a member who deposits a Week starting in May 2011 can take an Exchange Holiday from May 2010 through May 2013.

20112009 2010 2012 2013

TRAVEL WINDOW: 3 YEARS

DEPOSIT WINDOW: 2 YEARS - 14 DAYS2 Years to 9 Months Before

1 Year Before 2 Years After

START DATE: MAY 2011 OWNERSHIPYOUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

GETTING THE MOST OUT OFYOUR NEW RCI WEEKS ENHANCEMENTS

It is important to remember that once you deposit your Week, its trading power will not go down, except in the case of a cancellation.

JANUARY/JUNE 201120

Compare this to the trading power of the Deposits—or

Deposit Credits—you already have in your account, and see

which Deposit or Deposit Credit, or a combination of them,

will get you your desired holiday.

Not enough Deposit Trading Power in your account? Use the

Deposit Calculator to check the trading power of the Weeks

that you are yet to deposit with us, and choose which of them

will make up the shortfall. Make your new Deposit, and you

are ready to confi rm your dream holiday!

Remember, even if you only own one Holiday Week, you can

“borrow” next year’s Week and deposit it now.

BOOKING YOUR RCI EXCHANGEWith the new options of combining multiple deposits and

using your remaining Deposit Credits towards a future

Exchange, you can now enjoy a greater choice of holidays.

But it’s important to have a good understanding of the

exchange process.

Let’s go through it one step at a time:

1. Deposit Early

We have said this before, and we’ll say it again. Th e more

trading power you have, the better your holidays options.

So deposit early! Th e magic number is 9 months: that’s the

minimum time before its start date that you need to deposit

your Holiday Week to get 100% of your available Deposit

Trading Power when you exchange.

2. Understand Your Window of Opportunity

Once your Deposit is received, you may request an Exchange

for an available Week up to 1 year before the start date of

your Deposited Week, and until 2 years after the start date.

3. Plan Your Holiday

Decide what you would like to do for your holiday. Some

useful tips:

• Plan your holidays as much in advance as you can.

• Focus on an experience rather than a specifi c destination.

For example, do you prefer to holiday at the beach or in the

city? Searching by experience yields holiday options that

suit your holiday style.

• Be fl exible with dates and locations.

4. Visit RCI.com

After you have considered the type of holiday you would

like, visit RCI.com to explore your options. Th e easy-to-

use Exchange Planner will give you an idea of how much

Exchange Trading Power you may need for the destination

you want to travel to, at diff erent times of the year.

Deposit Credits that can be used for future exchanges make your holiday ownerships go further than ever before.

Combining Deposits to increase your Deposit Trading Power will help increase your choice of holidays.

ADVANCED SEARCH: If you know exactly what you want for your next holiday, use the new Advanced Search option to enter all of your holiday criteria at one time before searching.

AUTO-CONFIRM: If you know the exact resorts and travel dates that you want to book, set your Ongoing Search to Auto-Confi rm, and if there is a match, RCI will confi rm it automatically for you.

COMBINED DEPOSIT: The combination of two or more Deposits and/or Deposit Credits.

DEPOSIT CREDIT: A Week placed in a member’s account after the member exchanges using a Deposit which has a trading power that is greater than the Exchange Trading Power. The Deposit Credit Trading Power is the difference between the applicable Deposit Trading Power and the applicable Exchange Trading Power.

DEPOSIT TRADING POWER: The trading power assigned to a Deposit.

DEPOSIT CALCULATOR: A tool members can use to see the trading power value that would be assigned to a Week on any particular day.

EXCHANGE PLANNER: A tool members can use to see the trading power previously required to book a holiday in a specifi c region and the historic Exchange Holiday availability.

EXCHANGE TRADING POWER: The trading power assigned to an available Exchange Holiday.

FAVORITE SEARCHES: Save search criteria like dates, destinations and holiday activities, to make future searches faster and easier.

ONGOING SEARCH: If a suitable match isn’t immediately available you can start an Ongoing Search. RCI will look for your holiday request 24/7 until a match is found or your travel date passes. Members with open Ongoing Searches have prioritised access to Weeks newly deposited by members.

TRADING POWER ADJUSTMENT SCHEDULE: A schedule used to determine trading power based on the timing of the Deposit, or what is received by a member if an Exchange is cancelled.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND TOOLS

To start your holiday

search at RCI.com,

click the Search for a

Holiday tab. If you select

Exchange Only, you will

see a summary of your

available Deposits against

which you can book

Exchange Holidays.

You can personalise your search using a menu of

15 customised search options, including region, check-

in month, resort amenities and holiday type. Using the

Advanced Search feature saves you time as you browse

through only the resorts that meet criteria that you specify.

Once you decide on the holiday you want, go to the Manage

Your Deposits tab, and check out the Deposit Trading Power

available to you against each of your Deposited Weeks or

Deposit Credits. Choose the most optimal combination

that will get you the holiday you want. If necessary, use the

Deposit Calculator

to fi gure out which

additional Weeks you

need to deposit to match

the required Exchange

Trading Power for the

holiday you desire.

If you can’t fi nd the exact

holiday you’re looking for,

open an Ongoing Search,

and we’ll look for your holiday 24/7, and

send you e-mail updates about its progress.

When a holiday that meets your criteria becomes

available, RCI will hold it on your behalf for up to 24 hours.

Every month, 37,000 Exchange Holidays are confi rmed

through matches made using Ongoing Searches. Ongoing

Search requests get priority when Weeks are newly deposited

by members.

If you still can’t fi nd what you’re looking for, save your search

criteria in Favorite Searches, so you don’t need to re-enter

them each time you search.

5. Complete the Exchange

Whether you complete your Exchange online or with the

assistance of an RCI Guide, you will receive a confi rmation,

via e-mail or standard mail, verifying your Exchange

Holiday details. Remember, you can save up to 10% on the

Exchange Fees charged at the Call Centre if you transact

online.

RCI.COM: AT YOUR SERVICE 24/7RCI.com is the key to maximising your membership

benefi ts. Check the latest Deposit Trading Power of your

holiday ownerships with the new Deposit Calculator. Use the

Exchange Planner to search for your next great Exchange

Holiday. Browse resort listings with more photographs, new

resort videos and more detailed resort information, including

member reviews, weather and helpful local travel information.

It’s all there!

Planning your holiday online is fast, fun, and easier than ever.

RCI.com gives you immediate access to the full range of all

available holidays, along with tools that let you customise your

search by selecting nearby activities, resort amenities and more.

At RCI.com. you can even make last-minute plans, booking

a holiday up to 3 days before your desired check-in date.

So, if you haven’t already done so, register at RCI.com right

away, and experience its incredible ease-of-use and round-

the-clock convenience.

ONLINE CONVENIENCE

• The Deposit Calculator allows you to check the latest trading power of all your holiday ownerships in one simple view.

• The Exchange Planner allows you to check the Exchange Trading Power required to exchange into destinations around the world.

• You can modify your future reservation details with just a few clicks.

• Use the various search tools to help fi nd the Exchange you want quickly and easily.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 21

Radhika Shastry, Managing Director, at the RCI Weeks Enhancements launch party at RCI’s Bangalore offi ce

BEHIND THE SCENES

Th e new enhancements to your RCI membership have made planning

and booking your holidays simple and easy—but behind the seamless

transition to the new system lies many thousands of hours of hard work and

painstaking eff ort by cross-disciplinary teams of RCI staff across the globe.

From a complete overhaul of technology systems to the re-training of every

single employee in every offi ce of RCI, the entire process was planned in minute

detail. Amazingly, in spite of all the complexity, we met every deadline we

set ourselves. Finally, with just three days of downtime for the changeover,

the new world of RCI was before you on 15 November 2010, as scheduled.

For us, it was time to celebrate!

JANUARY/JUNE 201122

One simple secretto more holiday fun.

Deposit your Holiday

Week at least 9 months

before its start date.

There is a simple rule that underlies the RCI Exchange System: the more your trading power, the better the holiday options you have.

And there’s an equally simple secret to maximising your trading power: Deposit Early!

If you deposit your Holiday Week with RCI at least 9 months before its start date, you can get 100% of its available Deposit Trading Power.

Deposit later, and you could lose as much as 55% of its trading power—and have less than half the holiday fun.

It is quite as simple as that.

Call 1800 419 2131 to deposit early and maximise the Deposit Trading Power of your Holiday Week*.

*If you own a Floating Week, please contact your resort developer to deposit a Holiday Week with us on your behalf.

RCI Member HelplineToll Free (All India): 1800 419 2131 Bangalore: +9180-41849100/66915555Email: indiarci@rci.com Website: www.rci.com

86180028618002

12345t671034578

For bookings, renewal, and the latest information on availability, call RCI Member Helpline:

Toll Free (All India): 1800 419 2131

Bangalore: +9180-41849100

+9180-66915555

Email: indiarci@rci.com

Website: www.rci.com

rate reckoner January 2011 - December 2011

Standard Exchange

• If you cancel a confi rmed Standard

Exchange at least 30 days before your

check-in* date, the Exchange Fee you

paid will be refunded after deducting

a Cancellation Fee of A2,500.

• Th ere will be no refund if the

cancellation is made less than 30 days

before the check-in* date.

• However, you will get your deposited

Week back to utilise at a later date

(before your deposited week expires),

if you cancel at least 2 working days

before the check-in* date.

GetAway Special (Bonus Holiday)

• If you cancel a GetAway Special

(Bonus Holiday) at least 61 days

prior to the check-in* date, you will

be entitled to a refund of 70% of

the fee paid.

• Cancellations made from 31 to 60

days before the check-in* will be

entitled to a refund of 50% of the

fee paid.

• Th ere will be no refund in the case

of cancellations made less than

31 days before the check-in* date.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation policy on Rentals and Special Promotions may vary. Please call RCI Member Helpline for details.

*Check-in date as mentioned in your RCI Confi rmation Voucher

Standard ExchangeDomestic A6,500

Online† A5,850

International – Short Haul A9,200

Online� A8,300International – Long Haul A14,600

Online† A13,150

†Visit www.rci.com to avail our special online rates.

GetAway SpecialGetAway Special (Bonus Holiday)

rates vary according to destination,

season, occupancy of the unit, and the

resort’s RCI rating. To qualify and avail

a GetAway Special (Bonus Holiday),

please ensure that a current or future

week is banked with RCI.

Check out www.rci.com for GetAway

Special deals.

Guest Certifi cateEach transaction A3,500

Deposit ExtensionFor 3 months A1,250

For 6 months A2,550

Deposit CombinationEach transaction A2,500

Additional RCI Membership Pack

You can have an additional RCI

Membership Pack, consisting of a

Membership Card, the RCI Directory

of Resorts and the Endless Vacation

magazine, for your co-member, for

a fee of A600. Email Ms Rukmini

Ramesh at Rukmini.Ramesh@rci.com.

All rates mentioned above and in this Endless Vacation,

are subject to change without prior notice. Taxes as

applicable. Call RCI Member Helpline for details.

Renewal of RCI Membership3 years A9,700

5 years A12,900

10 years A19,500

JANUARY/JUNE 201124

member benefi tsCLUB MAHINDRA LAKE VIEW, MUNNAR• 20% discount on food and soft

beverages• Fun Dining: check with the resort for

more details• Spa: – 20% discount on regular Svaastha

offers – Companion discount: 50% discount

for the second person on couple bookings at Svaastha. Cannot be clubbed with any other discount

• 15% discount on the room tariff for additional rooms

CLUB MAHINDRA BACKWATER RETREAT, ASHTAMUDI

CLUB MAHINDRA TUSKER TRAILS, THEKKADY• 20% discount on food and beverages• Fun Dining: – All 3 meals at S770 (adult)/S460

(child: 5-12 years), plus VAT– 2-meal package, including Breakfast and Lunch or Dinner, at S575 (adult)/ S350 (child: 5-12 years), plus VAT

• 20% discount on Ayurveda facilities at Svaastha

• 15% discount on the room tariff for additional rooms

MOUNTAIN CLUB, BHIMTAL• 20% discount on food and beverages• 15% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

HOTEL GREEN CASTLE, MUSSOORIE• 10% discount on food and beverages• 10% discount on spa facilities• 10% discount on the room tariff

for additional rooms• Complimentary use of pool table for

30 minutes on fi rst day of stay

COUNTRY INN, BHIMTAL• 20% discount on buffet meals

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) • 20% discount on health club facilities • 25% discount on à la carte dining• 30% discount on the room tariff for

additional units of the same type, with upgradation subject to availability

MANALI RESORTS• 20% discount on food• 20% discount on health club facilities• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

AVALON MUSSOORIE• 10% discount on food and beverages• 10% discount on services availed

at the Ayurveda Centre• 20% discount on the room tariff for

extension nights or on additional rooms

CLIFFTOP CLUB, AULI• 20% discount on food and beverages• 15% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

CLUB MAHINDRA BINSAR VALLEY RESORT, BINSAR• 15% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• 10% discount on adventure activities:

check with the resort for more details

AJIT BHAWAN, JODHPUR• 30% discount on food • 20% discount on beverages • Complimentary use of health club

and swimming pool• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

CLUB MAHINDRA FORT KUMBHALGARH• 20% discount on food (à la carte)

and soft beverages• Special dining packages

– Rejoice and Double Delight: check with the resort for more details

• 20% discount on health club and Svaastha facilities

• 20% discount on laundry services, and special economical laundry package

• Complimentary use of the gymnasium

ORANGE COUNTY RESORT, COORG• Complimentary Plantation Tour and

Guided Nature Walk• 10% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• Check with the resort for details of

exclusive RCI member benefi ts: – Special food package – Special package for upgradation to

Orange County Resort, Kabini – Special discounts at Orange County

Resort, Kabini

CAMBAY GROUP (ALL RESORTS)• 10% discount on spa facilities • 10% discount on food and beverages• 15% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• 10% discount on the MRP for

membership of Cambay Family Holidays Club and Cambay Club

• S1,000 food voucher on investment of S25,000 or more in Neesa Leisure Ltd Fixed Deposit

All off ers are valid till

30 June 2011, unless

otherwise specifi ed

All offers are subject to change. Please check with the resort for any changes in the above-mentioned offers.

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 25

RESORT COUNTRY CLUB, GURGAON• 20% discount on food and beverages• 20% discount at the coffee shop• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• 10% discount on the Village Safari

guided tour• 20% discount on the Hot Air Ballooning

Safari • 20% discount on helicopter joyrides

ROYAL GOAN BEACH CLUB AT BENAULIM, GOA• 10% discount on food and beverages

(à la carte) • 10% discount on K Spa treatments• Complimentary Ayurvedic consultation

with certifi ed physician, on prior appointment

• Complimentary use of gymnasium• Complimentary Yoga lessons once a week• Complimentary cooking lessons by the

chef once a week• Complimentary vegetable carving lessons

once a week

THE COUNTRY CLUBE DE GOA• 20% discount on food and beverages • 20% discount on Ayurvedic massages• 25% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

CLUB MAHINDRA VARCA BEACH, GOA• 25% discount on all spa treatments • 25% discount on shuffl e board, dance

and swimming classes• 25% discount on Ladies Club activities

(sari draping, bindi designing, hair styling, nail art, etc) at Fun Zone

MORE MEMBER BENEFITS OVERLEAF

ROYAL GOAN BEACH CLUB – ROYAL PALMS, GOA• Special Meal Packages – All 3 meals at S750 per person,

plus VAT– 2 meals at S600 per person, plus VAT

– 10% discount on meal packages, if booked for 4 days or more

• 10% discount on the room tariff for additional rooms

• Birdwatching facilities, with the complimentary use of telescope

Show your RCI Membership Card at the time of check-in to avail these benefi ts

THE FFORT HOLIDAY KLUB, RAICHAK• 25% discount on spa facilities – 10% additional discount for ladies• 20% discount on food and soft beverages• Limited complimentary soft beverages

and mocktails for ladies during meals at the restaurant

• Complimentary use of gymnasium, swimming pool, carrom, table tennis, children’s play area, and large chess

• 10% discount on football, cricket, mini golf, croquet, cycling, pool table, electronic games, roller skating, skateboarding, archery, balloon shooting, paddle boating, volleyball, badminton, and airconditioned cruise on the Ganga (8 am to 6 pm)

• 20% discount on the room tariff for additional rooms (not applicable on premium or event dates)

JANUARY/JUNE 201126

THE COUNTRY CLUB INTERNATIONAL, MEDCHAL• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• No extra bed charges• 15% discount on food and beverages• 25% discount on health club and

spa packages• 10% discount on travel packages

VITS MUMBAI• 15% discount on food at the poolside

restaurant and 24-hour coffee shop • 15% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms • Special buffet meal packages (Breakfast

and Dinner) at the poolside restaurant – MP1 (One day): S525 per person,

inclusive of tax – MP3 (Three days): S1,400 per person,

inclusive of tax – MP7 (Seven days): S3,000 per person,

inclusive of tax

TREASURE ISLAND, LONAVALA• 20% discount on food and beverages

(à la carte)• Discounts on the room tariff for

additional rooms – 30% on European Plan (EP) – 20% on Modifi ed American Plan (MAP)

CLUB MAHINDRA KODAGU VALLEY, COORG• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• 20% discount on food and soft beverages• 15% discount on hard liquor at the

Planter’s Club bar• 20% discount on massages at the

Svaastha Spa• Complimentary use of gymnasium and

Yoga facilities• 15% discount on all trekking activities

member benefi tsCLUB MAHINDRA DANCING WATERS, NAUKUCHIATAL• Special room tariff for additional rooms:

S5,000, inclusive of taxes, buffet breakfast, and complimentary in-room tea/coffee making facilities

• Fun Dining: – Double Delight: Breakfast plus Lunch

or Dinner, at S550 (adult)/S330 (child), plus VAT

– Rejoice: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, at S735 (adult)/S440 (child), plus VAT

– Trio: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for two adults and one child, at S1,800, plus VAT

– Full House: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for two adults and two children at S2,250, plus VAT

CLUB MAHINDRA KANGRA VALLEY, DHARAMSHALA• 10% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• Fun Dining: – Double Delight: Breakfast plus Lunch

or Dinner, at S550 (adult)/S330 (child), plus VAT

– Rejoice: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, at S735 (adult)/S440 (child), plus VAT

– Trio: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for two adults and one child, at S1,800, plus VAT

– Full House: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner for two adults and two children at S2,250, plus VAT

• 20% discount on food• Special economical packages for

laundry services

THE COUNTRY CLUB TREASURE COVE, KOVALAM• 25% discount on Ayurvedic treatment

(individual/package)• 10% discount on food and beverages• 25% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms• 10% discount on laundry services• Complimentary use of hydrotherapy pool• Complimentary yoga sessions (individual

and group)

GOLD FIELD LAKE RESORT, KUMARAKOM• 15% discount on food and beverages• 15% discount on spa facilities• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms (not applicable from 15 December 2010 to 15 January 2011)

PANORAMIC SEA RESORTS, ALLEPPEY• 15% discount on food• 25% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

STERLING HOLIDAYS(ALL RESORTS)• 25% discount on Food Masti packages

and à la carte dining, excluding in-room dining

• 20% discount on laundry• Buy one and get another treatment free

on spa therapies (wherever applicable)

STERLING GREEN VISTAS, MUNNAR• 20% discount on health club and spa

facilities• 20% discount on the room tariff for

additional rooms

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 27

Greece. Th e image that goes with the word is that of

the Acropolis, with the columns of the Parthenon

in all its geometric perfection. So on our very fi rst

trip into Athens, the Acropolis was predictably on the

agenda. But what we did not expect was to be singled out by

the Greek gods. We got treated to a proper Greek tragedy.

Our ascent to the Acropolis had all the elements of

Aristotelian drama: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax,

Falling Action and Denouement.

Exposition

It was a sunny day as we set out from the Golden Coast

Holiday Club, the RCI-affi liated resort in Marathon, an

hour by road from Athens. Using our sacred book, the Lonely

Planet guide, we decided to do a walking tour they had

mapped through Athens.

We followed the guide book faithfully, and started the tour

at the festive Syntagma Square, where we had coff ee

in a café clearly meant for those with no agenda for

the day. Much later than we had intended, we headed

for the Parliament House, where we laughed at the

Greek guards (Evzones).

In spite of their impressive Greek noses, it’s impossible

to take these Greek guards seriously. Th ey look like

young schoolchildren togged up for a masquerade in

natty black smocks, white tights with black bands at

the knees that have black tassels swinging at the back,

and red caps. But it’s the shoes that defy solemnity.

Th ey wear red moccasins with black bobbles at the

tip, bigger than cricket balls. You cannot wear bobbled

shoes like those and expect to be dignifi ed. Is this

really how Greek soldiers look? I guess it’s a good idea.

Anushka Ravishankar

fi nds unexpected drama

on her day in Athens,

as she tackles the rain

with dry humour

Greek Tragedy at the Acropolis

One look at those wacky shoes

and the enemy would die laughing.

As it was, one of the guards, who

really looked like he was just out

of school, could barely suppress

his giggles. He must have caught

a glimpse of his feet.

When the change of guard arrived,

things got even more comical.

With those impossible bobbles

on their feet, the guards who had

come to relieve their beleaguered comrades came marching.

Th ey looked like kindergarten children doing a slow motion

spoof of a military march. Everything was done with dead

seriousness, and with bobbles quivering and tassels swinging.

It’s not easy; these boys must train for hours. And they have

to keep a straight face, poor things.

Having had our comic interlude we headed towards the

National Gardens, and went past the ruins of Roman Baths

beside the road, past Hadrian’s Gate and past the Temple

of Zeus, where we could see majestic columns in beautiful

green grounds. We should have stopped there for a closer

look, but our walk was to take us along the Plaka to, we

thought, the Acropolis. So we decided not to linger.

By the time we reached the Plaka, we were hungry. Th e Plaka

used to be the old working-class quarter of Athens. It’s a lovely,

picturesque maze of winding motor-free streets lined with

colourful shops, cafés and tavernas. We stopped for lunch:

feta cheese and pork dominated most of our meals. What

I remember of this meal is the grilled feta cheese oozing

with sin.

By this time, ominous clouds had begun to gather over

our sunshiny Athens day. We started up the hill, along

the route plotted for us by the Lonely Planet guide. As

we climbed, we suddenly found we were moving away

from the Acropolis, which we could see receding above

us. We looked more closely at the map of our walking

tour, and realised suddenly that it completely skirted the

Acropolis! It was a walk ‘around’ the city, so it went

around the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis and the

wish you were here

JANUARY/JUNE 201128

Ancient Agora without going to any of these places. No

wonder we had spent the morning walking past monuments.

We abandoned the walk and headed for the Acropolis instead.

It had begun to drizzle.

Rising Action

At the Acropolis, we bought tickets for the tour of the

monuments. Th e Acropolis plus six other ancient sites, at

12 euros per head. Th e ticket was valid for four days.

We had entered from the South Slope of the Acropolis where

the theatre of Dionysus is situated. Th e drizzle had become

determined. We had two umbrellas and two ‘rainproof ’

jackets between the four of us. We felt suffi ciently protected.

We looked with suitable awe at one of the most ancient

theatres of the world, where the works of Sophocles,

Aeschylus and Euripides had been performed. We imagined

Oedipus Rex and Antigone being performed here, to audiences

who later strolled in the stoa (a colonnade, whose ruins we

could see slightly up the slope), discussing the fi ner points of

the tragedies they had just seen.

Meanwhile, as if in a play scripted by these classical dramatists,

the rain began to gather force. When we passed the stoa, we

took refuge under a canopy sheltering some archaeological

fi nds dug up from the slopes of the Acropolis.

But the rain showed no signs of abating, so we soldiered on

until we stood breathless at the fabulous theatre, the Odeon

of Herodus Atticus. A more modern (well, relatively: 161

AD, as opposed to 325 BC) theatre, this has been rebuilt,

with the ruins of the ancient Odeon forming a backdrop for

the plays that are now performed there, during the Athens

festival. To see a play at this impressive new theatre at the

Acropolis must be a treat: we had to satisfy ourselves with

imagining it, as the rain poured on us.

there, wondering which plot line to follow, the rain seemed

to slacken. Very slightly, but it gave us hope. We dashed

towards the Parthenon. We saw a child splashing happily

through the puddles, oblivious of the water squelching into

his shoes and the mud splashing his trousers. We envied him,

but didn’t dare emulate him. We stepped gingerly around the

puddles, achieving almost the same degree of squelchiness

and muddiness as the child did, but with much less fun. And

at last, we stood before the Parthenon. Th e heavens opened

up. Th ere was thunder, lightning, rain. It was a proper climax

for our Greek Tragedy at the Acropolis.

Falling Action

We could get no wetter. So we circled the grand structure which

was rendered sadly banal by the cranes and rigs and scaff oldings

Above the theatre was the Acropolis itself: the temple of

Athena Nike, the Propylaea, which is the monumental

entrance to the Acropolis, the Erectheion, and then, at the

very peak, the Parthenon.

Th e rain was a steady downpour as we climbed the slippery

steps of the temple and stood under the dubious shelter

of an arch in the Propylaea, looking at the Parthenon and

wondering whether we should be satisfi ed with seeing it

from afar. By now, the two of us with rainproof jackets

were soaked to the skin. Our jackets were clearly no proof

against the Greek god of rain. On our way up, we had seen

some South Asian-looking lads hawking umbrellas, but

we had ignored them in a superior manner, trusting to our

two jackets, two umbrellas, and our completely unfounded

conviction that the rain would soon ease off .

The Climax

We stood there awhile, looking at the rain and the Parthenon.

Should we make a dash for it? Or should we turn back, since

we had, after all, offi cially seen the Parthenon? As we stood

Anushka Ravishankar is an RCI member from Club Mahindra.

reconstructed, and gave one

a sense of how it must have

been in the days when it was

populated. But, on the other

hand, its very newness was a bit

of a turnoff . After all, an ancient

Agora should look ancient.

With a sense of having been

picked by the gods for a greater

purpose which was entirely

incomprehensible to us, we

made our way down the now

deserted slopes, choosing to

descend from the other side,

where there were no ruins to

punctuate our descent. Th e

rains, as befi tted this phase of a well-constructed tragedy,

had begun to abate.

Denouement

As we reached the bottom of the slope, we saw our South

Asian umbrella-sellers again. Th is time we were more humble.

We stopped, examined their wares, and reluctantly bought a

bright red polka-dotted umbrella.

Th e moment the thing changed hands, it stopped raining!

hand, it probably

gives it longevity and

restores its aesthetic

and grandeur, which

we’d otherwise have

to struggle to imagine.

Th e stoa at the ancient

Agora only deepened

this quandary for

me. On the one

hand, it is beautifully

stayDelve into the enthralling world of Ancient Greece with RCI.

GreeceRCI has 46 affi liated resorts in Greece.

Also, check for RCI rentals in Athens and other urban destinations.

RCI Member Anushka Ravishankar has won

the Wish You Were Here award of a free Exchange

Holiday for this issue.

To win yourself a full waiver of the applicable fee for an Exchange Holiday, send in your entries, in 1,000 to 1,500 words, before 15 April 2011, along with at least 3 photographs, to Editor – Endless Vacation, RCI India Pvt Ltd, Pine Valley, First Level, Embassy Golf Links Business Park, Off Intermediate Ring Road, Bangalore 560071, India, or email editor.ev@rci.com.

surrounding it. We paused before the Erechtheion, with

its famous porch adorned with sculptures of the Carytids

hand-maidens, and made tasteless and predictable jokes, trying to

ignore the fact that we were wet and cold and that, as historical

monuments go, the Parthenon was rather disappointing.

Th is was a quandary we were to come back to again and again.

Is it better to let ruins be ruins? Or is it better to rebuild and

reconstruct? It destroys the sense of antiquity which gives

the ruins of the Parthenon greater signifi cance than those

of the Purana Qila of Delhi, for instance. But, on the other

JANUARY/JUNE 201130

It’s Time to Celebrate! All dressed up for Diwali

Id Mubarak, and smiles all around

staff page

JANUARY/JUNE 201130

At RCI’s Bangalore offi ce, the air has been quite

festive the last few months. From ethnic wear

to patriotic fervour, we’ve seen it all!

All of us look forward to these special occasions:

not only are they great fun and a welcome break

from work, they also provide a chance for everyone

to come together, and share and rejoice in each

other’s happiness.

Saying it with fl owers for Onam

Saluting our heroes on Independence Day

JANUARY/JUNE 201132

RESORT NEWS

he Lagoona Resort is India’s

fi rst resort to be certifi ed

environment friendly. Spread

over acres of serenity in

Lonavala, it off ers a perfect retreat,

with picturesque landscaping, and

panoramic views of hills all around.

Located close to the Pune-Mumbai

Expressway, the resort is an easy drive

from both cities.

resort news

THE LAGOONA RESORT

Th e resort, an Ecotel Hotel that has been awarded Five Globe Certifi cation,

features environment friendly products and practices, even as it provides value

added services that exceed guest expectations. It off ers an array of well-appointed

rooms, each equipped with modern amenities.

VIJAYSHREE HERITAGE VILLAGEampi was the capital of the

Hindu empire of Vijayanagar.

Th e ruins at Hampi, which

were declared a UNESCO

World Heritage Centre in 1986,

are a vast open museum of history,

architecture, and religion.

Standing witness to this historic site,

on the banks of River Tungabhadra,

is Vijayshree Heritage Village.

Located half way to Hampi from Hospet (which is overnight by train, or about

a seven hour drive, from Bangalore), amid serene valleys and Nature in all its

tranquility, the resort beckons you to travel back in time and experience the

grandeur of the days when the Vijayanagar kingdom fl ourished. A perfect blend

of tradition and culture, the resort will make you feel at home, even as it promotes

health consciousness, abjuring alcohol, smoking and non-vegetarian food.

QUICK TAKES

Sterling Rock Perch, Yercaud, has

introduced new activities like guide

conducted tours, treks, and picnics.

Th ese are conducted by the Events

Department, and charged extra.

Other recent additions at the

resort include in-house recreational

facilities, and new therapies at the

Ayurvedic Wellness Centre.

Club Mahindra

Dancing

Waters,

Naukuchiatal,

now off ers water

sports facilities, including canoeing

and kayaking.

The Royal Makeover ContinuesTh is year’s incredibly heavy monsoon

notwithstanding, the refurbishment of

the Royal Goan Beach Club properties

in Goa has continued apace.

At the Royal Goan Beach Club at

Monterio, work on 22 apartments and

the upper swimming pool has been

completed. Th e new units have lovely

bathrooms with state of the art fi ttings,

new fl oor tiles, and lamps,

and are already the subject of a torrent

of compliments.

Refurbishment of the lower half of the

resort will be taken up next monsoon.

Th e seven residential blocks will soon

be named after North Goan beaches:

Anjuna, Baga, Candolim, Dona Paula,

Arambol, Miramar, and Chapora.

Poco Loco, the Mexican restaurant at

the resort, will be further enhanced

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 33

RESORT NEWS

A REFRESHING NEW VISIONTwo and a half decades after it was

founded in 1986, with the dream

of enabling fun-fi lled, comfortable

and aff ordable annual vacations,

Sterling Resorts has renamed

itself Sterling Holidays,

and is in the process of

refreshing its vision,

with a promise that

is encapsulated in

its new brand name,

identity and tag line,

“It’s a wonderful world!”

To deliver on this new

promise, Sterling Holidays

is investing in refurbishing its

existing resorts—from freshly painted

exteriors and interiors and upgraded

furnishings, to well-tended landscaping

that will enhance the natural beauty of

the resorts; as well as in the introduction

of an enhanced service experience, which

will include a welcome at check-in, and

a sit-down check-in facility that will make

you feel comfortable and cherished.

Th ere has been an eff ort to upgrade the

menus and dining facilities as well. You

can now enjoy theme night dinners that

will be hosted at the resorts from time

to time, with the goal of promoting local

and pan-Indian culture and cuisine.

What’s more, since the focus is on

delivering aff ordable, fun-fi lled holidays,

Sterling Holidays has introduced Food

Masti, a programme that propagates

the concept of “More yummy. Less

money.”, and allows you to enjoy all

three meals at attractive prices.

Th e resorts have also expanded their

range of holiday activities. Now, when

holidaying with Sterling, you can

experience the thrill of the “fl ying fox”

in Mussoorie, rock climbing

and rappelling in Yercaud,

jeep safaris in Kodaikanal,

picnics and boating in

Munnar and Ooty,

and many other such

activities across locations.

On the days when you

feel like simply relaxing

and taking time out from

the chaos of everyday life,

the indoor recreation facilities

will keep you entertained with a choice

of games and pastimes, including painting

and craft workshops.

If you prefer something more passive,

the spas at some of the resorts will help

you enhance your physiological and

psychological well being, with specially

tailored treatments. A range of therapies,

including Ayurveda, combine the fi ve

elements of earth, water, fi re, air and

space to restore the body’s natural

balance. Just walk in to any of the spas,

and place yourself in experienced hands

to be soothed and pampered.

To give you a feel of this enhanced

holiday experience, Sterling Holidays

is off ering RCI members a host of

special deals across all their resorts

(see details on Page 26, in the Member

Benefi ts section).

Th e year ahead will see many more

developments, as Sterling Holidays

continually makes improvements

to ensure that their members and

guests truly feel that �It’s

a wonderful world!�

All apartments at Treasure Island,

Lonavala, have been refurbished.

Th ey have been painted in attractive

new colours,

and each

apartment

is now

equipped

with a tea/

coff ee maker and LCD TV. Artifi cial

indoor plants and new wall frames

have also been put in.

Changes have also been made in the

common areas, with the addition

of deck chairs and poolside seating,

and new furniture in the restaurant.

in the next few weeks with a live BBQ

area, soft seating around the bar and an

extension behind. Th e lounge area will have

a large wide-screen TV to screen major

live sporting events. Th e Friday jazz night,

which was a huge success last year, has

commenced once again from November.

Meanwhile, the K Spa is coming up at

the site of the old restaurant, just behind

the reception.

! Page 35

JANUARY/JUNE 201134

Snappy HolidayMore great recipes for you totry out on your next holiday

These three winners will each receive a special gift from RCI. If you’d like to win too, send us your favourite holiday recipes before 15 April 2011 to Editor – Endless Vacation, RCI India Pvt Ltd, Pine Valley, First Level, Embassy Golf Links Business Park, Off Intermediate Ring Road, Bangalore 560071, India, or email editor.ev@rci.com.

RECIPES

st PrizeSeema DuttaMember from Mountain Club1 nd Prize

Rachna JaiswalMember from Club Mahindra2 rd Prize

Bhavna SaxenaMember from Club Mahindra3

Seema Dutta

Tandoori Khumb

Ingredients

200 g mushrooms

50 g corn kernels

50 g spring onions,

fi nely chopped

1 medium size onion

50 g grated cheese

50 g fresh coriander leaves

½ tsp black pepper powder

Juice of half a lemon

1 beaten egg (optional)

Chaat masala

2 tbsp oil

Sugar

Salt

Method

Scoop out the mushroom stems and

make space for the fi lling. Chop the

mushroom stems, and steam the

corn kernels.

Take the oil in a pan, and heat.

Once the pan is heated, saute the

fi nely chopped spring onions,

steamed corn kernels, and chopped

mushroom stems. Add the pepper

powder, and sugar and salt to taste.

Once the extra water gets absorbed,

pour in the lemon juice, and let the

mixture cool down.

Meanwhile, blanch the scooped out

mushrooms in salty water for a minute.

1stPrize

Now fi ll the mushrooms with the

fi lling, and put some grated cheese on

each mushroom. If you like, dip the

mushrooms in the beaten egg.

Brush a baking tray, and place the stuff ed

mushrooms on it. Bake for a minute.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves

and a pinch of chaat masala. Serve hot.

Th e Weber Smokey Joe® Gold charcoal grill is

engineered to make a lot of fun out of a little

space... Barbecue for two or ten with this portable

charcoal grill in your balcony, terrace or garden

—or at your holiday resort!

Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, no-rust

aluminum vent, glass-reinforced nylon handle,

heavy-duty plated steel cooking grate and a lid

lock for carrying which lowers to double as

a lid holder.

Take it with you wherever you go!

Seema Dutta wins a Weber Smokey Joe® Gold Charcoal Grill worth A7,995!

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 35

Ingredients

2 tbsp curd

2 tbsp mustard paste

Ginger paste

Garlic paste

Kala jeera

4 thick cubes of paneer

Mustard oil

2 tbsp grated coconut

4 squares banana leaf

Green chilli, slit

Salt

Toothpicks

3rd

Prize

Method

Marinate the

paneer with curd,

ginger, garlic and salt.

Th en make a paste of the mustard paste, oil, kala

jeera and grated coconut. Apply on the paneer cubes.

Now, wrap each of the paneer pieces in a banana leaf

square. Close the mouth of the leaf with a toothpick.

Put in a steamer for 10 minutes, or microwave for

5 to 7 minutes.

Serve hot with naan or rice.

Method

Soak the Bengal gram

in a large bowl of water

for four hours. Parboil.

Drain and grind. Mix with the milk in a kadai.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats

the back of a spoon. Add sugar. Continue stirring.

When the mixture thickens, add ghee. Cook to

a deeper color, till the mixture leaves the sides and

bottom of the kadai.

Continue stirring till a solid mass gathers around the

spoon. Spread it on a greased platter to a thickness

of 1 cm. Sprinkle the crushed cardamom. Decorate

with silver leaves. Cool, cut into squares, and serve.

Ingredients

100 g Bengal gram

¼ fresh coconut,

grated and toasted

500 ml milk

125 g sugar

Green cardamom

– seeds of 4 pods, crushed

3 tbsp ghee

2 leaves edible silver

Rachna Jaiswal

Paneer Paturi

Bhavna Saxena

Dal Barfi

Weber is all about great food, family, friends, leisure and fun. Weber is the world’s

leading manufacturer of charcoal and gas barbecue grills. A concept that was

started fi ve decades ago in the US by a visionary has revolutionised the art of

cooking wholesome and healthy food and redefi ned fun times around the world.

Th e grills are user-friendly and come with a range of accessories to help make

the barbecue grilling experience fun.

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Email: support@grillco.in Website: www.weberindia.com

2ndPrize

Weber Apron

WeberMitt

" Page 33

Th e Royal Makeover

Continues

Th e Royal Goan Beach Club at Haathi

Mahal, too, has seen dramatic changes.

Th e apartments have quite literally

been transformed. Th ey have been fully

repainted, and melamine polish has

been applied on all wooden furniture

and fi ttings.

All bathrooms have been given a complete

makeover, with the best of contemporary

fi ttings and sanitaryware, anti-skid fl oor

tiles, premium wall tiles, and toughened

glass frosted shower screens. Kitchen

cabinets now have stainless steel trolleys

for cutlery, crockery, and utensils.

Many steps have been taken to conserve

energy: new energy saving key tags, LED

lighting in the kitchen and bathrooms,

and 5-star rated split air conditioners in

living rooms and bedrooms.

Th e resort’s restaurant, Casa Lisboa, has

been renovated as well, with its tan colour

scheme and new fl ooring emphasising

the Portuguese colonial feel. High quality

cutlery and crockery and brand new

buff et counters now complement its

cosmopolitan food off erings.

For added convenience, there is now a lift.

Th e gym has a rubberised fl oor and new,

state of the art equipment. Th e main

pool and canal deck have been repaved,

giving an attractive look to the pool

veranda. And guests can indulge in

Ayurveda-inspired treatments at the

newly created K-Spa.

JANUARY/JUNE 201136

Our holiday to New Zealand was a much deserved one,

according to me. I had planned it well in advance,

taking the family’s consent, but when the dates were

confi rmed, my husband Anil and my two sons made a hue

and cry about such a long holiday—and that, too, in a place

like New Zealand. I was adamant that there would be no

change in the schedule. Reluctantly, they agreed.

D-day arrived; we landed at Auckland airport. My school

friend Pamela was there to welcome us. After happy reunions,

we drove back to her house. Th e drive was scenic—it set the

mood for the entire trip. We

relaxed the whole day, gearing

up for the fun-fi lled plans she

had in store for us.

Th e next morning, we set out

early to explore the northern

part of New Zealand. We

visited the Maori Cultural

Centre at Waitangi. Th e Maori

tribe are the natives of New

Zealand. Th ey entertained us

with their native dance and song and we shook a leg with

them. We moved on from there to the Western Springs

Lakeside Park; we were surrounded by birds, and the geese

ate out of our hands and followed us all along. Th e Park is a

beautiful place to relax for hours together.

Our next halt was the Motat Transport and Technology

Museum, where vintage cars were the attraction. We took a

tram ride to visit the Aeronautical Museum, where we got

to see planes of all shapes and sizes. By the time we fi nished

looking around, we were tired and wanted to head home.

Neeta Nair and her family are captivated

by New Zealand’s magnetic charm

been there

EnchantiNew ZealEnchantiNew Zeal

JANUARY/JUNE 2011 37

Geyser is the main attraction—when it erupts, it can reach

heights of up to 20 m.

We had a quick bite, and moved on to Rotorua for the fun-

fi lled luge rides down the slopes. After lunch, and a short

drive on, we reached the Rainbow Springs Nature Park.

It had an array of exotic birds; and we saw kiwis, geckos and

skunks at close quarters. Here, in the evenings, it gets dark

very soon, and we did not want to lose our way, so we headed

back to the resort.

Our second day at Taupo was something everybody was

looking forward to. We drove to Sky Dive Taupo near the

Taupo Airport. We were nervous and excited, all set to

venture into a new adventure sport: sky diving from 3,650 m

above sea level! We got into our gear and boarded the fl ight;

once we reached the target altitude, the door slowly opened—

and, before we knew it, we had jumped and were freefalling

for about 20 to 30 seconds. I cannot describe the feeling... it

was awesome to be so high up and look down at the world

down below. It was unbelievable—the experience of a lifetime

for all of us.

We had hardly landed when it started raining. It rains in New

Zealand quite often, but let that not be a deterrent.

On the third day at Taupo, we set out to see the much talked

about Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Th e ceiling of the caves

was like a starlit sky. We later visited the Taupo supermarket

and decided to cook up a meal for a change.

On Day 2, we set out early to Cape Reinga.

Th is place is known for its Hole in the

Wall. Th e weather gods were kind to us,

and it was nice and bright. We visited the

Lighthouse—the view of the mountains

and the sea greeted us. After taking in

that breathtaking view, we drove to the

sand dunes at Cape Reinga and enjoyed

the toboggan rides. It was sheer fun to

slide down the sand dunes.

After two fun-fi lled days, on Day 3, we

decided to take it easy and visited the

Sky City in Auckland. Later, we went

for dinner to an authentic Japanese

restaurant, where they had a live wok—

they cooked our meal at our table! Th at

night was the last day with our friends,

as we were leaving the next day for the

RCI-affi liated resort, Taupo-Ika Nui,

at Taupo, a 4-5 hour drive away, where

we had booked a 1-bedroom apartment.

Th e fi rst thing we did the next day,

when we reached the resort, was to

make arrangements for a vehicle so

that we could go around at our own

convenience. Driving in a new country

where the road rules are very strict was

fun and challenging. Th e best part is

that, in New Zealand, you can hire a

4-wheeler if you have an international

licence—you will feel at home as they

have right-hand drive.

We drove to the Craters of the Moon

Geothermal Walk. Around us were hot

geysers that were emitting fumes. We

walked further to the Waikato Falls.

Th en we moved on to our next

destination—the Wai-o-Tapu Th ermal

Wonderland. It’s New Zealand’s most

colourful and diverse volcanic area.

You have colours of every tint and hue

displayed in the pools, lakes, craters,

steam vents, mineral terraces... even

on the tracks you walk on! Th ere are

huge volcanic craters, mud pools and

champagne pools. Th e Lady Knox

On Day 4, our destination was Napier, the Art Deco city.

It had been devastated by a massive earthquake—of magnitude

7.8 on the Richter scale—on 3 February 1931. By early 1933,

the town was rebuilt, making it one of the world’s newest and

most modern cities. Napier represents the most complete and

signifi cant group of Art Deco buildings in the world. Each

structure is a work of art.

From there we went to Hawke’s Bay Winery, where we tasted

diff erent varieties of wines. Th e ice wine was my personal

favourite. We got back to the resort, as we had to catch

a bus to Auckland that night to reach our next destination

—Queenstown.

Neeta Nair is an RCI member from Lotus Suites, Goa.

ng andng and

JANUARY/JUNE 201138

At Queenstown airport, we were welcomed by the person

from the car rental agency. We took a 40-minute drive from

Queenstown to reach our wonderful destination—the

Wyndham Resort at Wanaka. We had a 2-bedroom

apartment, against the backdrop of the mountains.

Relaxed and rejuvenated, we visited the nearby Puzzling World

the next day. Th is is a must see in Wanaka. Th e structure is as

beautiful as the name... you step into a diff erent, topsy-turvy

world. Th en we moved on to Hawea Lake. Sheer bliss—we

were one with nature.

On our third day there, we left for Dunedin. It was a long

drive from Queenstown. We stopped to see the artillery used

by warriors from New Zealand during the British era.

We went further up from there to see the albatross, a huge

white bird which lives in the snow, and drove towards ancient

Larnach Castle. Our next halt was much anticipated by my

boys, Nikhil and Nihar: the Cadbury Factory. Th e major

attraction was the Chocolate Fountain that overfl owed from

a height of 10 m—a chocolate lover’s delight! We stepped out,

and it started raining; we were worried about driving back

home, but with the road maps we had picked up at the

Information Centre and the street signs along the road, we

couldn’t go wrong.

Th e next day, we went to Kawaru Bridge, which is the “world’s

fi rst bungee jumping spot”. Th e jump is 43 m high. You have

to try it if ever you go to New Zealand! Th e boys were in awe,

they couldn’t believe that they had actually jumped

from that height! We left there for Queenstown

to do some shopping, and pick up souvenirs

for our dear ones back home. We bought

some jewellery made of paua shells, the

speciality of New Zealand. Jade

artefacts are also available. We had

lunch at Fergs, famous for their

hamburgers. Th en we moved on

to Arrowtown, and visited the

ancient Chinese villages.

On our return journey to

Wanaka, it started snowing,

so we pulled over. Th e

snow-capped mountains

looked beautiful and

the road had a white carpet

of snow. We suddenly became

kids, and made snowballs and

threw them at one another.

We got back home and warmed

ourselves with a hot cup of

coff ee. We had our last dinner

at the restaurant at Wyndham,

as it was time to say goodbye

to Wanaka and Queenstown.

We were to catch the early

morning fl ight to Christchurch,

but due to heavy snow, fl ights

were cancelled. It was a blessing

in disguise, as we took a bus to

Christchurch, and got a good

scenic view of South New Zealand—the

mountains and the fi r trees all covered with

snow made it look like it was Christmas!

We reached Christchurch late in the evening,

and checked into a nearby hotel as we had

to catch our fl ight to Mumbai via Singapore.

It was time to say goodbye to New

Zealand—that’s when the boys and Anil

felt the holiday was so short, and wished

that we could stay back longer! It indeed

was a very relaxing and memorable holiday,

one that we will always cherish.

stayExperience the exquisite beauty of New Zealand with RCI.

New ZealandRCI has 56 affi liated resorts in New Zealand.

Also, check for RCI rentals in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and other urban destinations.

Call RCI Member Helpline TODAY to enroll!

RCI Member HelplineToll Free (All India): 1800 419 2131 Bangalore: +9180-41849100/66915555 Email: indiarci@rci.com Website: www.rci.com

It’s time you went... Platinum

To make your RCI Membership experience even more special, we have developed a fantastic upgrade option which complements the holiday and travel opportunities you already enjoy as an RCI Member. RCI Platinum rewards you with 6 key member enhancements combining traditional RCI products and attractive lifestyle benefi ts. These benefi ts are available for 12 months from purchase, and selected items can be used over and over again—giving you great, ongoing savings!

Open the door toa world of savings

• Unlimited Discounted Standard ExchangesSAVE K750 each time on Long Haul International Exchanges

SAVE K500 each time on Domestic and Short Haul International Exchanges

• Unlimited Free Guest Certifi cates*SAVE K3,500 each time

• Free 6 Month Extension of Deposit ValiditySAVE K2,550 and get more time to plan your Exchange Holiday

• RCI-Dining Plus Lifestyle Program SAVE K5,000 or more at 1,500+ restaurants and hotels in India, and 1,400+ in the Middle East and select countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong.– Get Add-on Cards at K1,200 each!

• RCI-Weizmann Forex AdvantageSAVE K2,000 or more through a waiver of the 1% commission on traveller’s cheques, plus a further discount of K0.70 on the day’s selling rate on the purchase of US Dollar traveller’s cheques and currency

• Subscription to TRAVEL+LEISURESAVE K900 on the regular price of K1,800 for a 1-year subscription.You have two options:Pay K1,440 and get a FREE Electric Kettle worth K1,500; or pay K900

*You can obtain only one Guest Certifi cate for each transaction.

All benefi ts, offers, rates and savings shown above are valid as on 1 January 2011, and are subject to change without notice.

Pay L3,000 Save L17,800

Geta

FRE

EEl

ectric Kettle w

orth`

1,500!

RefreshingChoiceIf you are yet to start planning your 2011 summer holiday, then it is time to do so... especially with the plethora of options available to you this summer.

Just take your pick from any of the cool destinations below—and be off on your dream summer holiday.

Of course, you could opt to book a GetAway Special (Bonus Holiday), where you don’t have to exchange your Holiday Week. Or add on an RCI Rental to your Holiday.

Call 1800 419 2131 today to book your 2011 Summer Holiday.*Based on the applicablle fee for an Exchange Holiday against a deposited Holiday Week, with 4 persons sharing a 1-Bedroom unit. Rounded off to the next higher rupee.

Accommodation only. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Domestic Exchange Holidaysat L233* per person per day

International Short Haul Exchangesat L329* per person per day

International Long Haul Exchangesat L522* per person per day

Ahmedabad/GandhinagarAuliCoorgCorbett/KumaonGoaJaipurJodhpur

Middle East/AfricaEgyptIsraelLebanonKenyaSouth AfricaUnited Arab EmiratesEuropeAlpsFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryItalyMaltaNetherlandsPortugalScandinaviaSpainTurkeyUnited Kingdom

KodaikanalManaliMunnarMussoorieOotyPuriRaichakShimlaYercaud

Bali/IndonesiaChinaMalaysiaPhilippinesThailand

USA/CanadaAtlantic CityFloridaGreat LakesGulf StatesHawaiiLas VegasNew EnglandSan FranciscoWest CoastBritish ColumbiaOntarioQuebecPacifi cAustraliaNew ZealandCentral/Latin AmericaArgentinaBrazilCaribbeanMexico

RCI Member HelplineToll Free (All India): 1800 419 2131 Bangalore: +9180-41849100/66915555Email: indiarci@rci.com Website: www.rci.com

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