FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Opulence in Rajasthan

by Eugenia Lazaris

Sep 19, 2017

Elenatur | Dreamstime

Luxury
Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur India

Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Located in the desert region of Rajasthan, the Taj Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur is truly a diamond in the rough. This 4-star luxury resort offers a glimpse of the romantic India of years gone by. From the moment of arrival each guest is treated like a maharaja. Resort staff greet guests with a traditional Indian welcome and a shower of rose petals while an attendant brings a fresh towel and refreshing glass of lychee juice, preparing you for the ultimate experience in Indian decadence and indulgence.

 

Dating back to 1745, the lush grounds and ornate architecture provide a living history lesson for children. The former home of the Indian Prime Minister of the Royal Cabinet of the Maharajas, the Jai Mahal is decorated throughout with Indian marble, historic artwork and extraordinary attention to detail.

 

Morning tea is accompanied by an Indian flute player in the gardens, ensuring your day starts with peace and tranquility. As the heat of the day sets in, the pool is the ideal place for the kids to keep cool while parents relax at the hotel spa, JIVA, which offers a number of centuries-old Indian therapies to soothe and pamper your body and soul. Treatments available include the masala spice scrub that soothes and rejuvenates tired muscles or the champi, the traditional Indian restorative head massage.

Jai Mahal chess set in Jaipur, India

Jai Mahal chess set in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Evenings and early mornings are the best times to enjoy a stroll through the 18 acres of expertly maintained Mughal gardens. The lavish grounds are home to a pride of peacocks that majestically roam the property, offering amazing photo opportunities. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the giant chess set in the garden with pieces adorned in traditional Indian dress and riding intricately carved elephants and camels.

 

With six different choices for drinking and dining, each member of the family can satisfy their culinary tastes. Cinnamon, run by head chef Kuldeep Rajvanshi, offers a tantalizing array of specialties from all over the country, while Giardino, with its open-air patio, offers traditional Italian fare. The Marble Arch serves a wide variety of cuisines for families who cannot settle on one cuisine, as well as an impressive breakfast buffet that includes eggs and omelets made to order.

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India. Photo: Indiatraveler | Dreamstime

Hotel staff can easily arrange a city tour for you and your family, providing you with a driver and tour guide to show you the impressive sights and sounds of Jaipur. Explore the ancient streets shared with cows and elephants while visiting the nearby royal complex known as City Palace where the current maharajah of Jaipur and his family reside. The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, is a must-see as you tour Jaipur, as it is the most famous structure in the city and the most widely photographed. This intricate structure of 953 tiered, latticed windows is best viewed from the street and is a window facade for the Zenana Palace, or women’s quarters, where ladies could observe the daily life of the city without being seen by the public.

 

Amber Fort artwork on display in Jaipur, India

Amber Fort artwork on display in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Jaipur is also home to the Amber Fort, a medieval hillside complex of palaces, pleasure pavilions, gardens and courtyards once the refuge and playground of Indian royalty. Kids are especially enthralled with the Amber Fort when visiting it on the back of a stately elephant.  These impressive pachyderm taxis pick you up near the lake on the valley floor and drop you off just inside the gates of the fort.

 

After a fun-filled day of taking in the awe-inspiring sights of the city, return to the opulence of the Jai Mahal to revive your body and soul.

#WhereverFamily

Insta Feed
Destinations / North America
Sep 22, 2023

These Omni Hotels and Resorts Have Haunting Ghost Stories for a Spooky Stay

Part of a family who just loves a good scare or ghost story? This fall, wherever your travels might take you, chances are you’ll be near an Omni hotel or resort with a history of haunted sightings and other scary happenings. So, why not learn a bit about where you’re staying to make the experience all the more eerie …

Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet

United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.

Destinations / North America
Sep 22, 2023

Here’s Why Brunswick, Maine, is the Perfect Getaway for Couples

Overshadowed by nearby Portland and overlooked by tourists bound for the popular coastal towns of Camden and Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick is not on the radar of most family travelers in Maine. But couples looking for a cozy getaway will find fine dining, antiques, art and quiet streets for strolling, many lined by distinguished homes and well-kept gardens.

Destinations / North America
Sep 21, 2023

The World’s Largest Indoor Beachfront Waterpark Opened This Summer

Not quite ready to say goodbye to summer? If the weather is forcing you to head indoors, you can still take advantage of a few opportunities to splash around in the waves, without even being that far from the beach — thanks to the world’s largest indoor beachfront waterpark, which opened this summer in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates

As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.

Destinations / North America
Sep 21, 2023

Spooky Haunts to Visit in Cayuga County, New York, This Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner, which means its time to start making plans for spooky and scary stops for having fun with the family this fall. New York’s Cayuga County is always a fun visit for family travelers, but if you plan on being in the area this October, you will definitely want to explore its haunted history with some choice spots along New York’s Haunted History Trail. This curated list of haunted and spooky stops throughout New York features incredible locations showcasing the perfect combination of the state’s beautiful charm and fascinating history.