Go on a Culinary Tour of India with Chef Vinod

Indulge yourself on this exquisite 13 day tour that takes you through Mamallapuram, Bangalore, Mysore, Calicut, Cochin, Allepey, Kumarakom and Kovalam, as you let the aromas of savory spices and robust ingredients that explode with flavor seduce you in this once in a lifetime culinary adventure hand to hand to the celebrity Chef Vinod from beginning to end!

The tour departs January 31, 2013.

Chef K.N. Vinod is an award winning restaurateur, ambassador of Indian cuisine, and owner of Cleveland Park's Indique restaurant.

Tour highlights:

• Enjoy a unique experience with renowned Chef Vinod
• Experience the well known Indian hospitality during 12 nights in luxury hotels
• Join this Indian culinary adventure through local spice markets and sophisticated restaurants that can yet offer an ethnic cuisine

The tour package includes:

• Accommodation on twin sharing room with breakfast at all listed hotels or equivalent
• Tours and excursions by one AC Chauffeur driven large coach
• Daily bottle of mineral water on board coach
• Entrance fee of Monuments as per programs
• Service of English speaking Tour Manager throughout the tour
• Welcome Dinner at Taj Fisherman's cove (day 2)
• Traditional south Indian lunch (Mamalapuram)
• Dinner at Lalit Mahal Palace - Food Corner Karnataka's cuisine
• Mughlai cuisine at Olive garden (Wind Flower Mysore)
• Day cruises at houseboat with traditional lunch
• Special Mappila cuisine dinner at Kadavu Resorts (Calicut)
• Special authentic Dinner at Malabar junction (Cochin)
• Cooking demo & hand practice with lunch at Nalini Verma house
• Farewell dinner at Kovalam
• All applicable taxes

For more information and complete itinerary visit http://bit.ly/NIXv00 or
inquire at raju @ indus.travel, 866-978-2997.

A Room With a View: How to Get the Best Hotel Rooms (or at Least One That Doesn't Overlook the Garage)

I remember a trip we took to Jamaica in which we paid a bit extra for an ocean view. It wasn't. Or rather we had a bit of a disagreement with the hotel's management about the so-called ocean view. All we saw was the hotel's pool, no promised ocean view. Not so, said the hotel management: "If you go on to the balcony and crook your head around the corner, you will see the ocean."  Who can dispute that kind of logic?

Now there's Room 77 to the rescue. Room 77, http://www.room77.com, lets you see exactly what your view will be like at a particular hotel. So when you check into a hotel you can say, "I'd like room 1404" because you'll know that one looks over a meadow, while rooms on the other side of the hall have a view of the hotel's HVAC system. Hotel rooms that cost the same can have widely differing views and ambiance, so why get the worst room, when you can have the best? Room 77 gives you other useful information, too, including the distance from the elevator to your room -- too close and you'll hear elevator noise and chit-chat all night long.  Room 77's iPhone app (Android coming soon) will let you find the hotel in the area you want and then get the best room in that hotel.

How to Turn Your Computer into a Wifi Router and Why You Might Want To

There's a handy, free program that every Windows 7 user can --and probably should get-- called Connectify. What is Connectify and what can it do for you? In short, Connectify turns your computer into a wireless router and hotspot. This can be very, very handy in numerous situations. I've used Connectify in hotels and it shines here. Many hotels require that you pay for each user, but with Connectify you can connect multiple computers to the same hotel wired Internet connection.

As with a regular router, your Connectify hotspot can be encrypted. Unlike a regular router, you don't have to deal with arcane settings; everything you need to do to get Connectify to work is done through the program's easy-to-comprehend software.

You can also use Connectify to extend the range of your home, apartment or office wireless network.

Once you've created a Connectify hotspot you can connect any wifi device, including iPads and other tablet computers.

You can also purchase a portable wireless router, but if you're already taking your Windows 7 laptop, then Connectify might be the perfect software to have installed.

Handy Tip for Traveling With Your iPad or other Wirless Device

What do you do to with your iPad if you get to a hotel that has Internet, but the wired variety? How do you connect your iPad to the Internet without an Ethernet port?

The solution is to use a portable router. Portable routers work just like your home router, only they're much smaller.  Two very good ones are the D-Link AirPlus and the TRENDnet Travel Router. Without a router, your dream of being able to stay connected while at a hotel might become a nightmare. With a portable router (sometimes called "pocket router"), you'll stay connected, regardless of whether  the hotel you're staying at has a wifi or wired connection.

Traveling with a pocket router two additional benefits: You can connect multiple computers to the router, so your family doesn't fight over Internet connection time; it's a good idea to have one, even if you're traveling with a regular laptop or netbook. A portable router can also let you pay just one connection fee for everyone. (Don't get me started on hotels that charge for wifi. These days, not having free wifi is like charging guests for water.)

Before your next trip, pick up a portable router.