Sponsored Video: Finding Hannah

As world travellers who have seen the effects of capitalisation and globalisation up front, we’re strongly behind  any campaigns designed to better the working and economic conditions of countries we’ve visited abroad that are perhaps a little behind us in terms of development. Making a stand and buying only fair trade products is one such way of helping to make a difference.

The Fairtrade Foundation’s video campaign “Finding Hannah” is a fun way to educate yourself about what the Fairtrade Foundation is doing, as well as learning more about the countries, cultures and people helping to produce and bring the products we consume back to the market at home. In their series they have sent Hannah, along with comedian Tony Law, to an unrevealed destination to learn more about coffee production and how it’s being improved to bolster local economies and the lives of locals involved in production. Furthermore, as viewers we are invited to guess the location and stand to win a trip to the coffee harvest for two.

DontFlyGo is strongly behind sustainable travel in all its forms. Promoting overland travel over flying, we are just in line with fair trade practices as we are with all other concerns designed to bring more equality to the emerging world. The interesting thing about fair trade and the Fairtrade Foundation surrounds the sheet amount of the number of products we consume from abroad. Coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, cotton, honey, bananas and chocolate are just some of the products whose fair trade practices helps to improve. No one can debate the necessity to get better educated about the cause and to start buying fair trade ourselves.

This post is sponsored by Fairtrade Foundation but all thoughts are our own.

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Inside One of the World’s Most Expensive Hotel Rooms

Most travellers don’t ask for much from their hotel rooms, other than that the room is clean, comfortable and offers amenities and services, like easy access to restaurants.

However, for those travellers who demand more from their accommodations, the Presidential Suite at the Raj Palace Hotel in Jaipur will undoubtedly fit the bill — and then some. While this opulent suite is not the most expensive hotel room in the world, it consistently ranks among the highest-priced rooms, usually in the top five.

What does such a suite, which costs more than some people earn in a year, offer?

The Raj Palace: A Hotel Fit for Royalty

Situated in the “Pink City” of Jaipur, the Raj Palace Hotel was once the palatial residence of the Maharajah. The oldest mansion in the city, in 1995 it was restored to its former glory under the direction of Princess Jayendra Kumari Ji. The restoration effort included the reconstruction of the palace’s arched hallways and private courtyards, while adding modern and luxurious touches, including crystal chandeliers, hand-carved and painted furniture, and priceless art and artefacts.

When the refurbishment was complete, the Raj Palace Hotel opened with 40 guest rooms, including several large suites — in particular, the Presidential Suite, or Maharajah Pavilion.

4 Stories of Elegance and Luxury

In any hotel, the Presidential Suite is generally the largest and most well-appointed rooms on the property. But the Raj Palace’s version of the presidential suite, the Maharajah’s Pavilion, takes “well-appointed” to the next level.

The Maharajah’s Pavilion is a four-story, 1,500-square-metre apartment with four bedrooms and a private elevator connecting each level. The lowest level, where guests enter from a private courtyard or hallway, features a private lounge with a fully stocked bar. Upstairs, level two is the former private chambers of the ruler himself, and features not only a large reception area and bedroom decorated with gold leaf and intricate mirror work, but also a private museum displaying artefacts from the king himself — including his throne. The second level also allows private access to the hotel’s other pavilions and views of the gardens.

The third floor offers another bedroom, as well as a private kitchen, dining room and library. On the fourth floor, you’ll find yet another dining room, another bedroom, two bathrooms and the butler’s quarters. However, most guests who stay in this suite visit the fourth floor for other pursuits. As the former “pleasure pavilion” for the royal family, the fourth floor features a roof deck with sweeping views of the city, as well as a swimming pool, hot tub, lounge area and bar.

The cost for all of this space and luxury?  Depending on when you visit, the cost for this room can reach as high as 2,975,419 rupees, or about $45,000 U.S. dollars — per night. Lest you think the price is for the room only, it also includes the use of a luxury limousine, a private doctor on call, the services of a butler and plenty of purified water.

Other Luxurious Options

Of course, you can always browse this site for other Jaipur hotels that offer luxurious accommodations at a more affordable rate. You may not be able to sleep where the Maharajah slept or enjoy an evening swim while you overlook the lights of Jaipur from a private rooftop deck, but you can experience some of the opulence without draining your bank account.

For example, the Raj Palace offers smaller rooms and suites starting at a far more reasonable 36,350 rupees or $550 U.S.  per night. The Rambagh Palace is another of the Maharajah’s former residences in Jaipur, with a basic double room running about 40,000 rupees, or $800 U.S.  If you are looking for more of a resort feeling, the Oberoi Rajvilas are an unusual and romantic option. Honeymooners often book the Oberoi’s luxury tent villas for comfortable and secluded stay; the resort also has a swimming pool, fitness facilities and a spa that does ayurvedic and traditional treatments.

For most people, staying in a room like the Raj Palace’s Maharajah Pavilion is an once-in-a-lifetime experience — or one they dream of all their lives. Regardless, it’s easy to see why this suite is considered one of the best in the entire world.

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