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

Wondering about your travel options? Seeking answers to specific issues? Simply ASK feBUSINESS TRAVELLER for a plausible solution... Address your queries to editor@businesstravellerindia.com or write in to

The Editor,

feBusiness Traveller

1) I have heard that there was once a bus service from Delhi to the Soviet Union. Is this true? If yes, what route did they follow? When and why was it stopped?

x Frank Kalra,

Gurgaon

There is no bus service from Delhi to Soviet Union and to the best of our knowledge no such service existed.

2) If different airlines charge different rates for the same route, what is the incentive for a traveller to take an airline whose ticket costs more? Does a more costly ticket usually come with lesser flying time or additional perks?

x Prasad Shetty, Bangalore

Different airlines charge different rates on the same sectors due to factors such as product differentiation, connectivity, perceived reliability, routings and most importantly demand from the customer for the product. For example, flying to London on British Airways would mean shorter travel time than on another airline which would be routed through its main hub and would require a change of aircraft, for which there could be a price differential.

3) Do international airlines reduce or increase ticket costs during the Christmas festive season? What is the approximate percentage difference?

x Alka Mangeskhar, Pune

It is hard to be precise on this but in most cases all airlines tend to increase or keep the airfare static during festive times, as vacation and holidays end up witnessing an increase in demand. I can hardly ever recollect the prices being dropped during Christmas.

4) I would like to know if there is any sort of wildlife tourism in Australia? If yes, which is the best time in the year and what would an approximate package cost?

x Romero Diaz, Goa

Yes, there are a lot of Australian wildlife tourism offers that exist in the market. They are generally 6-14 day packages. Melbourne, Cape Conran, Bemm River and East Gippsland are among the popular ones. October to February is the best season to view wild life in Australia as this is summer and the weather and climate is ideal for bird watching and trekking. As far as the prices for these packages are concerned, they vary and are designed as per individual / group request depending on the tour operator.

5) I am planning to go to France for a vacation. But I remember hearing reports of a heat wave there. How is the climate in France between February and April? What does the south of France offer for the first-time tourist?

x Pramod Desai, Mumbai

Yes ,there was news about a heat wave in summer. However, if you travel to France between February and April, there is little chance of one. The temperatures during these months will vary according to regions but broadly speaking in the Burgandy region it varies between 10 degrees to 15 degrees. In the Rhone Valley it varies between 11 degrees to 16 degrees and similarly in the western Loire it varies between 9 degrees to 18 degrees.

A visit to the south of France would be incomplete without visiting these cities:

• Nice - the capital of the Riviera and the largest city between Genoa and Marseille.
• Cannes - well known for the film festival, international regattas, galas, concours d’élégance, and even a Mimosa Festival in February – something’s always happening at Cannes.
• St Tropez - Artists, composers, novelists, and the film colony come to St Tropez in summer.
• Marseille - Bustling Marseille, with more than a million inhabitants, is the second-largest city in France. Perhaps its most common association is with the national anthem of France, “La Marseillaise.”