Date: 4 April 2002
From: Paul W. Jewett, MD; Wanless Hospital / MMC; (pwjewett@juno.com)
Travel
costs to India are substantial, about $1100 from eastern USA to Mumbai
(Bombay), round-trip. We have found the
very least expensive travel comes from Raptim, USA. Major scheduled international airlines are always used. Raptim seems to be a European agency whose
niche is scheduling travel for missionaries!
Mission volunteers who are visiting mission sites to work are allowed to
use these concessional rates as well. I
have also found the agency (listed below) is very efficient. There are some limitations: the tickets must be paid for by personal
check (which then delays sending you the tickets), or by certified/cashier’s
check, but not with credit cards; you will not earn frequent flyer
mileage. The checks for transportation
can come from your church, if the treasurer & session agree (which makes
the church donation eligible for charitable deduction, I suspect). If you find cheaper tickets, please let me
know the source! We’re always trying to
economize. Early bookings get the least
expensive tickets, usually. Here is
contact information:
David Lundbladt, Raptim Travel USA
or, Tim Childs (used by Tom Logan)
PO Box 444
145 N. 4th Street
Lewiston, NY 14092
tel: 1 800 777
9232; fax: 704 255 8212; e-mail: raptim@raptimusa.com
Travel from Mumbai to Miraj is ‘always’ by train. One can take a day train (A/C chair car) or
overnight (two tier A/C). I suggest the
latter going from Mumbai to Miraj so that folks can sleep comfortably
(blankets, pillow, sheets, towel provided) after two nights of little sleep,
and the day train returning to Mumbai (to see the countryside). Travel takes about 10 hours. Tickets & hotel reservations can be
procured for you through the following contacts (choose one):
1)
Mr.
Mohan Luke, ucbwm@bom5.vsnl.net.in This is a church-related office in
Mumbai. Communicate by e-mail and ask
for tickets to be delivered to your hotel.
They can make hotel reservations for you as well, in accordance with
your tastes. (Mr. Luke can reserve
rooms in YMCA near Bombay Central Station, with A/C, which are modest, but
clean and with excellent Indian buffet meals (breakfast & supper included
w. room for $25/person/day).
2)
Delhi
Travel Agent
Rajiv
Singh
cell:
011 91 981 058 6473; (h) 011 91 981 555-5886; e-mail: leisuretours@vsnl.net
his cousin, Rebecca,
works CMAI office, Delhi (Dick Bedell
recommended)
3)
Mumbai Travel Agent:
Sonia
Sheth, Agent
JTB
Travels
Tel.
011 91-(22) 281 7020/21/22
Fax
(22) 281 7023
e-mail:
ibt@jbtours.com
website: www.jbtours.com (Dick Bedell recommended)
Please keep the
Director, Miraj Medical Centre, informed about your travel plans and hotel
accommodations in Mumbai. e-mail:
san_whmmc@sancharnet.in Once you arrive
at the Miraj station, a vehicle and staff will meet your train.