Like most plans for us, it was on an impulse that we decided to go on a trip to some place in South Kerala along with our extended family - parents, sister and her family, to club with a family function in Thiruvananthapuram. We went to Oriana Travels, gave our requirements - time, budget, location. We were happy to find very helpful and knowledgeable staff that gave us options around Kollam, Varkala, and Thiruvananthapuram according to our requirements. On defining our needs further - elderly parents and unruly kids - we were able to zero in on Varkala. We further got very honest opinions (read, less sales talk) on the different options there. This helped us select the right value-for-money resort. It was a trip that we thoroughly enjoyed - with many an activity thrown in for all the members of the group - parents were happy to visit the Jagannatha Kshetram and Papanasam beach, and to laze about in the resort, while the kids loved playing and building castles in the pearl-white sands and a friendly sea, and the younger parents loved the beaches, the nearby lake and the long walks across the ruddy landscape at a height overlooking a breath-taking sea. And, all of these within walking distance from our resort.

What impressed me the most about the trip was the clear-cut expectations set by the folks at Oriana - down to the fact that breakfast may take a while to get ready. This is what prompted us to trust Oriana for our later trips as well - we are yet to be disappointed.

When we saw that we were getting a long weekend with a holiday thrown in right on my birthday, we quickly planned a short trip to a nearby location. Back at Oriana with our requirements - less than a week to go before the required date, slightly lower budget, not too far from Ernakulam. Since I had never been there, we chose Munnar. We got just the right offer that snugly fitted into our budget. On reaching the location too, it was exactly as was explained. We had a whale of a time roaming around Munnar, Top Station, Mattuppetty... the usual suspects... got our share of Facebook/ Orkut pics. Again, what amazed us was the accuracy with which our expectations were set, as earlier - including the type of food we could expect - "local flavour, nothing jazzy, but hygienic".

During our kid's annual vacation, after her summer camp got over, we got a few days off. When a friend and family also evinced interest in setting off to the hills, we decided that it was again time for one more of our little-planned trips. Back to Oriana. This time around, the requirements were - medium budget, hills, cold, not very far. Even though the last three requirements seemed mutually exclusive, we were pleasantly surprised by a couple of options that Oriana folks pulled out for us. We selected a resort at Kulamavu, and we didn't regret the decision. Nestled in mountains and woods, it was like an untouched paradise especially since it was off-season and there were only a few folks

staying there at that time. We had a great time there - as we walked or sat around, and clouds floated past us as mist. There was a walk-way that overlooked huge mountains with streams flowing down like a necklace around a giant's neck. It rained while we were there, and my friend and I took to trekking with our rain jackets on, all the way to the summit of the hill on which the resort was spread about - exhilarating experience! It was a refreshing trip, the memories of which would not get drowned amidst the rest any time soon. Once again, thanks to the Oriana folks for helping us find what we needed, setting the expectations right, and making sure that we were served well, wherever we went.

I have also used Oriana's services for my friends and family too - my boss's vacation in the God's Own Country - included car and chaufer service; brother-in-law's trips while in India; and a honey moon trip as a wedding gift for the last man standing in our gang. It is impressive that, without exception, all the experiences have turned out to be positive.