Luxury India Holidays & Oberoi Hotels FAM

No other destination I have visited was as surprising to me as India. There were so many preconceived ideas of what I was expecting this trip to be. After 40 years in the Travel Industry, I love that there are still so many wonderful surprises waiting for me.

I was so very pleased to have had one of the best experiences exploring such a magnificent country. The bonus, of course, was being hosted by Oberoi Hotels. Our small group of 5 Advisors from around the U.S. all met for the first time in Delhi before kicking off our 14 day  journey.

Oberoi Director of Sales America, David Corke, joined us for this adventure. Oberoi opened 2 new properties in 2025 which were named by Condé Nast as “the most anticipated openings;” both The Oberoi’s Raigarh Palace and The Oberoi Vindhyavilas did not disappoint.

Our amazing DMC Partner, Luxury India Holidays, curated an Itinerary that not only gave us the opportunity to taste India but to savor it. The local guide and Chief Storyteller, that escorted us throughout Central & Northern India, Lokesh, took us to the most popular sites as well as graciously opened up his home to our group.

We spent an unforgettable evening with Lokesh and his family, which included his parents, his twin brother, both their wives and all 4 of their combined children. It was a highlight of the FAM; cooking together, talking about their traditions and getting the incredible opportunity to hear what the younger generation of Indian children see for their futures. 

Exchanging stories, learning from one another and realizing we are all in search of the same things: love, health & happiness. This was not a tour, this was a chance to really get to know what life is like in a multi-generational Hindu home. It was time with a family that chose to raise their children together and support their parents as well as one another. 

This was just the start to our journey and it set the tone for how we would all be moved so deeply by this remarkable country. The contrasts were remarkable, from riding a e-rickshaw through the busy side streets of Old Delhi to riding the super modern, and clean, metro. We were in awe of how everyone moves in sync, feeling almost orchestrated. Traffic, noise, countless people and of course the cows, it was overwhelming in the most beautiful way.

We visited Mosques and Sikhs witnessing so many religions living together in harmony. We traveled by coach, car, train, boat, e-rickshaw and cycle rickshaw. We ate delicious foods from all parts of the country in varying levels of heat, spice & flavor. Throughout the trip, sharing with one another stories or our pets, families and loved ones back at home.

This was the first FAM I have traveled on that we spoke very little about work. We were so entranced by India and all it was sharing with us that I can say for myself, I was truly present. It was such an amazing feeling to be so immersed in a culture that you know will stay with you.

Throughout our stay, Luxury India Holidays DMC, continued to delight the group with nightly gifts that spoke of the culture and days activity. From brightly colored saris to Mughal miniature paintings. We returned home with Indian suits, colorful bindi’s, handsewn purses and typical jewelry as well as THE BEST insulated thermos I’ve ever had! When you can keep water cold in temperatures well into the 100’s, you know you’ve found a travel staple.

The gifts came from our incredible Host, Oberoi, as well. With each stay we left with both memories and a small reminder of our unforgettable stay.

Highlights of course included a visit to the Taj Mahal at sunrise; Chand Baori, one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India; the original Red Fort in Agra; Khajuraho and it’s renowned temples, and of course siting the elusive Bengal tigers in Bandhavgarh National Park.

Our time in India included stays in Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho and Banghavgarh. Each and every one of the 6 Oberoi properties and 1 Trident, we had the pleasure of staying in was more spectacular than the next. Each one was so unique but what tied them all together was the unforgettable service and attention to detail.

And just as we were struggling to close our suitcases following all the shopping and gifts, we had one last surprise. Vishwas Makhija, Founder & President of Luxury India Holidays, presented each of us with a signed copy of his Memoir, Peaks, Paths & Purpose. Truly an inspiration and the perfect way to end our stay in his incredible India.

It’s been hard to readjust to life outside of an Oberoi hotel. Noone is greeting me daily with a bow and a soft namaste, there is no masala chai and warm dosa being served to me at breakfast and flower petals have not been sprinkled over me when checking in to my last hotel stay in Jersey. It’s a harsh reality but also a reminder of why I will need to return to India, soon.