Dr Know And Credit Cards For The Foreign Traveller

On the other hand, fax machines are accessible and popular. To use this service in Mumbai, all you have to do is dial the numbers 2823637 or 2823747. A recorded voice then informs you to dial the extension which will provide you with the information you are looking for.

For instance, to get the latest information on domestic flights just punch the numbers 4001. If you want to plan an outing, or perhaps update yourself about the movies or plays on in town, the following numbers will come in handy 4014, 4015, 4016 for English theatre, vernacular language theatre and English movies, respectively. Hitting 4444 will give you a list of all the services at your disposal in the city. And 4059 will tell you the news of the world on an hourly basis.

 

Besides this, retail service information is also available. For example you can punch in the code for Citibank service to get information on all the facilities available at the bank.

At present this free fax service is limited to Mumbai city alone. But Tantra claims that this will become an all-India facility soon. Dr Know is slated to become operational in Delhi sometime this month, following which the service will be flagged off in Kanpur.

Plastic rupees abroad: If you are about to leave on a foreign jaunt, here is a useful bit of information. You are soon to be relieved of the hassle of deciding how to carry your precious foreign exchange quota of $3,000. The Reserve Bank of India issued a notification in November, 1997 allowing all dealers in foreign exchange to incorporate the quota amount into your International Credit Card (ICC) account. Both Master and Visa cards can be equipped with this facility if you already have an international credit card. There are no initial payments to be made, but there is an annual service fee of $100 levied for availing this service. When you finalise the dates for your trip, just ask the travel house or the foreign exchange dealer to incorporate the travel amount in to your card and you are ready to take the flight.

However, if you jump at this facility, you may be disappointed for these cards are yet to see the light of day. S P Rehman, assistant manager, RBI clarifies that this facility will become functional only by the second week of January, 1998. Once the operation starts you can get yourself a Citibank or American Express credit card, since these are the only two banks who are currently authorised to issue ICCs.

Earlier this facility was only available for participation in fairs, seminars and other business-related activities. All individuals who applied for the card had to show export earnings in foreign currency. After doing which, they could also use the card for paying hotel bills, telephone and fax bills and car rentals. With this facility extended to all, you can now do all of the above and shop on one credit card.

Tatkal Sewa on Rajdhani Express: The Tatkal Sewa is already available on Shatabdi Express trains between New Delhi and Amritsar, Chandigarh and Kalka (Train Nos 2005/2006, 2013/2014 and 2011/2012). The service is now being extended to the Rajdhani Express (Train Nos 2953/2954 August Kranti Express) that will have one additional AC 3-tier coach. This facility was started ex-Mumbai Central on January 1, 1998 and ex-Hazrat Nizamuddin on January 2, 1998. For a special charge of Rs 150 per passenger, you can now get confirmed reservation on a first-come-first-served basis; the reservation opens one day in advance to the train journey.

But this special charge is not refundable. Moreover, there are no concessions to be availed of and no waiting lists either. All you need apart from the train fare is a verification of identity by way of a Voters Identity card, passport or a credit card and you can get the reservations on computer terminals in advance and current counters at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station four hours in advance of train departure.

Take care to carry your identity authority with you on the train theres a penalty to be paid for failing to produce it, as you will be considered as a passenger travelling without a ticket.

Park Royals special deal: Park Royal, the latest five star hotel in the Capital, has launched a package deal especially for Mumbaiites travelling to Delhi. The offer, valid up to January 16, 1998, is for a minimum stay of three nights. Under this offer, you can stay in the hotels luxury rooms by merely paying the rates for regular rooms. The package costs Rs 5,500 and includes free airport transfer, complimentary breakfast as well as cocktail drinks in the early hours of the evening. But keep some extra cash handy this package does not include taxes.

An added advantage is that the hotel does not charge you double occupancy rates in case you bring along a guest. At the end of it all, each guest can take part in a lucky draw to win various shopping coupons that can be used in Mumbai or Delhi. And if your luck really favours you in the New Year, a holiday package to France or New Zealand could be on the cards for you.