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Vijay Chadda - Chief Operating Officer, BTI-Sita, India answers your queries...

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Q1. What is the best time to go to Venezuela and how safe is it?
Venezuela is one of the destinations in South America which has an abundance of natural wonders. Caracas, the capital, is generally spring-like; Merida in the Andes is pleasant to cold depending on the time of the year; Canamia is hot to hotter; Margarita Island is hot but with cooling Caribbean breezes. Yes, just follow the universal rule of "normal precautions". You can decide on a visit anytime during the year and safety is not a problem.

Desmond Pereira, Mumbai

Q2. What is the percentage of difference in tariff in Goa between peak season and off-season?
Packages in Goa are available to suit all budgets. The discounts during the off-season may range from 20 per cent up to 60 per cent depending on the class of accommodation and package chosen.

Nina Seth, Chennai

Q3. Could you suggest some interesting weekend getaways in Maharashtra equipped with infrastructure to host a conference?
The popular weekend getaways for tourists and conferences around Mumbai and Pune are Lonavala, Aurangabad, Matheran and Mahabaleshwar. All these places have hotels which have the necessary infrastructure for holding residential conferences.

Pankaj Parikh, Pune

Q4. Is Dubai affected by the Iraq war and is it safe to go there now?
Dubai does not seem to have been affected by the Iraq War and is perfectly safe.

Preeti Mehra, Chandigarh

Q5. Has business travel to Europe been affected as a result of UK’s involvement with the Iraq war?
The impact on business travel to Europe due to the Iraq War has been marginal.

Nikil Ved, Bangalore

Q6. Can you give me information about the Ice Hotel in Canada?
The Ice Hotel in Canada provides you the experience of an igloo with average temperatures of minus four degree centigrade. It is open from October till end of March and sometimes may be extended till the ice melts. It has five suites and can accommodate 22 travellers. Only one overnight stay is allowed. It also has an ice chapel, ice bar and a grand hall.

Veena Iyer, Chennai

Q7. I am looking at a family vacation to Europe. There are a number of packages available through various tour operators. However, these packages have a tight schedule. Please advice if I should go on my own or join a tour?
Yes,, you are right. Package tours have a tight schedule, but in case you are travelling to Europe for the first time, it is a good option as you will get to see the maximum possible sights and destinations at the most economical prices. Besides you have no worries about the food and other administrative arrangements. However, if you want a nice relaxed flexi-holiday with no pressures and want to be your own master and explore - take an individual package

Rupa Mistry, Delhi

Q8. What are the best stopovers while taking the Rhine Cruise in Germany?
You could take a day cruise from Boppard to St Goar, or long route Rhine Cruises from Swiss through Germany to the Netherlands ranging from three to eight nights. Low season is November to March and high season is April to October.

Amar Munnawar, Pune