Tag Archive | Travel Tips

Experience A Relaxing Holiday

Nov25

If you wish to enjoy a holiday away from the crowds, you should escape to Desroches Island, which is a secluded luxury island that is ideal for de-stressing and escaping the pressures of daily life. Many couples and families head to this beautiful island that has a ring-shaped coral reef around it. If you step out onto the verandah, you can behold a variety of birds, plenty of sea life and tropical lush foliage.

Desroches Island Resort has nearly 26 luxury villas and 20 junior sites that guarantee privacy even when the resort is occupied with people. You reach the beach within a few minutes and you can avail of the bicycles provided by the resort to explore the beautiful island. Each room contains king size beds or two single beds with large bathrooms. The rooms are also fitted with outdoor showers, beautiful verandas and tasteful private lounges that overlook the sea, or garden. You can get butler service or use the culinary kitchen and dining room that are provided in the villas. An infinity pool is also provided.

For those who prefer the upscale dining experience, two restaurants are available, which offer three meals every day. You can order local beers, spirits, house wine and soft drinks or you can get a picnic basket full of snacks, if you so desire. Whether you sit in the restaurant, beach restaurant or enjoy the al fresco on the private veranda, you can order fresh and local cuisine that serves dishes that are produced on the island.

Activities by way of leisure pursuits include matches played on the floodlit tennis court, guided snorkeling tours to view angelfish, as well as sea turtles from up close, or just exploring the shorefront. Take a bicycle and picnic basket and enjoy relaxing on the beaches, or in the jungles, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature.

You can enlist for diving courses at PADI, or NAUI in Desroches, so that you can avail of any of the 14 classified diving sites. The other sports activities offered are sea kayaking and wind-surfing. Sports enthusiasts, who prefer fly-fishing and big game fishing can make arrangements for boats, as well as get their supplies of tackle from the Island Resort.

The island ensures that they closely monitor the population of fish and maintain organic farming. They take care to preserve the native species, which are rare or endangered by making sure that there is no impact with human activities. They try to involve the guests in awareness programs of conservation so that the sea life, wild birds and fauna of this unique island is preserved.

If you are only interested in relaxing in Four Seasons Seychelles then you can book yourself a massage the Coconut Spa or relax by the poolside with a book and a refreshing drink. The Desroches Island Resort has been planned with conservation in mind of the natural features of the island to ensure proper sustenance.

Top Things To Do In Australia

Nov2

There is so much to do when you visit Australia which is home to big cities, beaches, deserts and mountains. You can choose from any of the ten top things to do in Australia that is listed below.

Visit the Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge as this is something every traveler to Australia must do. Some tourists enjoy climbing up the Bridge and book well in advance while other may opt to enjoy a night at the opera on terra firma.

Enjoy a scenic drive down the Great Ocean Road which starts from Torquay and runs for 243 km to Warrnambool in Victoria which is the southern state. You are bound to spot a few koalas hanging from trees and enjoy stunning sights such as the rock formation of the Twelve Apostles. The Outback may be difficult to reach from any of the major cities but if you can make a trip to Ayers Rock you will enjoy the journey on the dusty roads that take you to Alice Springs.

Make it a point to include the West Coast of Australia as you will be spellbound by the spectacular scenery. Enjoy snorkeling and discovering reef sharks, manta rays, turtles and perhaps a whale shark if you are lucky when you travel half way down the coast to Exmouth.

Skydiving is very popular for backpackers as it is something most tourists enjoy trying. Feel the adrenalin rush as you jump out of a plane from thousands of feet in the air. There is nothing as thrilling, especially as you get a great bird’s eye view of the stunning landscape.

Accommodation is easy to find in Australia. There are many luxury hotels and various eco retreats where you can find great big beds to rest at night. Melbourne and Sydney abound in five-star hotels though if you look around you will find some great chic eco hotels at affordable prices.

Tourists flock to Sydney to enjoy the large ocean pools that are filled with sea water. These types of pools are found in the far end of Coogee beaches and Bondi, Sydney where you can soak lazily in these pools and watch the water flowing in with the current.

Do not miss the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest in the world and spectacular, whether you see it from above, or below. This reef that spreads for over 2,600 km abounds in diverse marine life that will amaze you and make your trip there worth your while.

Try to include Darwin, which is the capital of the Northern Territories, in your itinerary and visit the Kakadu National Park that lies about 200 kms to the south. You will enjoy a wide spectacle of flora and fauna, including rivers, waterfalls and aboriginal rock art.

Tourists can learn to surf and enjoy a great time soaking up the sun on the beaches. Include this exciting sport as one of the top things to do in Australia. Surfing is a popular pastime with Australians and you can join the other tourists and locals in the sparkling crystal waters.

When looking for budget travel insurance it is often necessary to get online in order to find the best deal. For example Endsleigh can offer you every kind of cover for every kind of trip.

The Benefits of Airport Parking

Jul21

When you are on holiday you want to take away as much hassle away from your trip as you can. What you don’t want to be doing is worrying about what is happening back home, and you especially do not want to have to worry about what is happening to your car whilst you are away. This is why many people choose to use a secure airport parking service which means that their car is kept in a secure and reliable environment whilst they are off enjoying themselves in sunnier climbs.

Airport parking services know how important it is to their customers to know that their cars are kept well looked after when they are away and this is why many airport parking services now go out of their way to make sure that your vehicle is in safe hands when you are travelling.

However, there are things that you can look out for when you are booking your airport parking service to make sure that your car is a safe as possible. When you book make sure that you look for a car park that has 24 hour CCTV surveillance and is manned by security staff 24 hours a day. Flood lights and a gated secure car park are also good things to look out for.

Many car park services offer pretty slick operations now and you can be sure that most will offer you a professional and efficient service to make sure that you are not hassled about your car at the start or at the end of your holiday.

You don’t have to go away for a long period of time to use a car park service at an airport, you can choose from short stays, mid length stays or long term stays. When you contact your car park service they will advise you on which service is best for you (all depending on how long you expect to be away for).

All of the major airports up and down the UK will offer a wide range of airport parking services and often many are run by independent companies who are all after your business, so if you shop around you will be sure to find some very good deals. One of the best things that you can do is to go online and search for airport parking near to the airport that you are flying from. A good site that you can use is Park PCB which offers a comprehensive range of car parks that are all brought together in one place so that you can search out the best deal for you.

Travel Tips for Asia

Jul13

Its impossible to give tips for travel to Asia in one single article, so if required we will continue this article in several series. Today Asia is one of the fastest growing continent and hence traveling from Europe & America all the way down to Asia is not a problem as all major airlines do cover this region extensively. In this particular article we will cover countries within the Indian Sub-continent viz – India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Myanmar and discuss about which of these countries is tourist friendly and what to expect and what not to expect.

Starting with India, the largest country in the Indian Sub-continent is a popular tourist destination due to its rich and varied culture. They say that you can’t finish exploring India in one life, and that’s indeed true. India has about 32 states and each of those states has its own state language apart from the national language Hindi. Every state has its own cuisine and different style of dressing. Major tourist attracting destinations in India are dessert palaces in Rajasthan specifically those of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur. Places like Leh, Ladakh, Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Haridwar & Rishikesh are well known destinations which lie around the Himalayan ranges. Goa & Mumbai are equally interesting destinations on the west coast. State of Kerala, Tamilnadu & Karnataka are full of natural and architectural wonders.

On the other hand countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Nepal are geographically small but in terms of natural beauty, there is no limit. SriLanka is abundant with Tea Estates & Coffee Plantations. There are multiple virgin beaches on the coast of SriLanka and there is much more to explore in Sri Lanka than just visiting Candy and Colombo. Similarly, Bhutan is an untouched paradise and thanks to its rulers and citizens they have well preserved green regions. Modernization has not hampered the natural beauty of this country and the citizens themselves are proud of their natural beauty. In the same region, Nepal is well know to all mountaineers as access to Mt. Everest is through Nepal. Nepali culture, cuisine & rituals have a lot of influence from those in India. These days all major European airlines do reach Kathmandu in Nepal and Colombo in Sri Lanka. If you are not able to find the right connection to these destinations then try reaching India as several Indian private airlines fly to these countries.

Most of the countries in the Indian subcontinent have good internet connectivity and telecommunication infrastructure. These days making international phone calls to and from these countries is not expensive. As a traveler you can also buy a local SIM card, but that’s going to be a little expensive. Most hotels have internet connectivity and have desktops with popular voice over internet applications pre-installed.

Before traveling to Asia, make sure you read about the popular dishes in regions you plan to visit. For example, if you are flying down to Sri Lanka then be prepared to enjoy various rice preparations. While traveling to India, make sure you enjoy spicy Indian curries and bread. Not all regions in India serve spicy food, but if this is your first time to India then tell the hotel attendant to serve you less spicy food.

This article is first from our Travel to Asia series, and in the next article will focus on major tourist attractions and not to miss places in this region.

Travel Tips for Bangkok

Mar28

Bangkok is an increasingly popular tourist destination in Thailand and it has reason for this. Not only is it referred to as Venice of the East, but it has lots of different scents and smells and it is completely different from any country you will ever visit. Bangkok is big, bold and beautiful.

Last year I reluctantly decided to travel to Bangkok. It had never been a destination which appealed to me, but I ended up going with a friend. Yes, there is a lot of noise, pollution and I did feel a bit unsafe at times. However, there is a magical side to Bangkok that I fell in love with. I had never been to Asia and now that I have tried it, I want to travel more.

Bangkok has all the great tourist attractions you would expect to see…..lush gardens, temples, shrines and all in the middle of an urban jungle. All I can say is go. But here are some of my dos and don’ts.

Do……….

  • book your flights in advance

Bangkok is a popular destination so make sure you get your airline tickets in advance to avoid paying high fares. Airlines such as British Airways and Delta Air Lines operate to the main airport serving the city – Suvarnabhumi Airport.

  • travel between November and March

If you want to experience the best weather for sightseeing, travel to Bangkok between November and March. However, this is the high-season, so hotels may be more expensive.

  • get vaccinations before you go

Make sure you visit your doctor (I would recommend at least 3 months before you travel) just in case you need to get a vaccination before you travel. I got the Hepatitis A jab.

Don’t……….

  • travel alone

Perhaps not many people will agree with me. But I would recommend that females don’t travel alone in Bangkok, especially at night. They say that Bangkok is a safe city. Keep your wits about you and be careful…remember that tourists are easy targets.

  • show public affection

Make sure you respect customs in this country…for example, it is offensive to show affection to your loved one or even a friend in public in Thailand. You should also have respect for sacred places and don’t be too noisy.

When to Go to Asia?

Mar1

They say that the best time of the year to visit Asia is during the autumn or the winter. Why? Well, autumn marks the end of the monsoon season and the weather is much dryer. Temperatures are lower and more pleasant for sightseeing. The only catch is that autumn is the start of the high season so you will probably have more difficulties finding cheap flights to Asia. As winter arrives, the tourists flock to some of the most popular destinations in Asia, such as Thailand, India, China and Japan. This is because the temperatures are low and just perfect for sightseeing.

Spring is also a popular time to visit destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, the Philippines, Bali and some areas of China. However, other areas may be experiencing intense heat and humidity which makes sightseeing rather unpleasant. I would not advise visiting Asia during the summer because this is when the temperatures are at their highest and the monsoon season is in full swing.

So it would appear that although the best time of the year to visit Asia is during the autumn or the winter, this is when airline tickets are most expensive, because it is the high season. I personally would recommend organising to go during the spring, the start of the low season, as this is when you are likely to get cheap flights, as well as cheap accommodation and there will be fewer tourists. The weather should be okay too.

This is a general overview. If you want to find out what the weather is like in a particular Asian country, you should do further research on the internet. By doing this you will know exactly where to go or avoid during the spring and summer. When I first arrived in the Philippines it was Fall and I had no idea that it would be rainy season but every single afternoon it would rain without fail. Sometimes it would rain for hours but other times only 30 minutes. I didn’t mind because as soon as it stopped raining the sun would come out and dry all the rain. The Philippines is tropical so even when it was raining it was never really that cold. So if you ask me there is no bad time to visit Asia – well I guess unless you want to go somewhere that has seasonal flood. Whether the flight ticket is cheap or not I probably wouldn’t go but that’s just me.

Tips for finding flights to Asia

To find flights, I would recommend spending quite a bit of time doing various searches online until you find the best deal. Try searching different dates, days and months (if you are flexible about travelling of course) until you find the right deal. Some of the airlines you should consider booking with are British Airways, Thai Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

Travel Tips for India

Feb7

India is a country of contrasts. On the one hand you have a country which is home to some of the world’s most beautiful monuments: the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Aga Khan Palace and Gandhi National Memorial, and the Gateway of India. On the other hand it features in the news for all the wrong reasons: armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion and terrorism-related incidents. I was never very keen on visiting India, but seeing the tourist attractions appealed to me.

I did overcome my fears and eventually I organised my holidays in Delhi. My conclusion is that you will either love it or hate it. I loved it….and so I have compiled some tips to help you enjoy your stay in India.

  1. Book your flights early. Long-haul flights are expensive if you leave it to the last minute. I flew direct with Continental Airlines – it was the only company I could find which didn’t have stopovers. Flight time New York – Delhi was about 14 hours.
  2. Take photocopies of all your documentation: passport, airline tickets and Indian visa.
  3. Organise vaccinations which you may need before going on holiday. Bear in mind that you may need to get them 6 months before travelling. Check with your GP.
  4. Don’t accept drinks or food in the street or when taking public transport as it may be drugged.
  5. It is not a good idea to travel alone, especially if you are a female traveller.
  6. Carry cash or travellers cheques in case your card gets swallowed by the ATM or the machine itself doesn’t work.
  7. Never set off without a good travel insurance.
  8. Beware of scammers. Many locals will try to get you to buy something which looks expensive, but isn’t.
  9. If you are paying by debit or credit card, make sure you insist that the transaction is carried out at the shop counter.

Do not be afraid of traveling to India. I had a fantastic time in Goa and really recommend it.

Reasons to go on Safari in Tanzania

Jan25

tanzania safari

Tanzania situated in central east Africa is a country that can offer so much. It is the land with such dramatic and diverse landscapes encompassing famous and romantic places including Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and The Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park is packed full of magnificent scenes of natural beauty and absolute wonders of the earth. The wildlife the country offers is truly astounding and the historical importance is amazing.

Tanzania has the oldest known inhabited areas on earth that date back 2 million years. It was also believed to have supported pre-historic hunter gatherer tribes. There is evidence of such people in specialist areas within Tanzania. In addition, the tourist industries surrounding Tanzania holidays are forward thinking and innovative. They are known to support many poverty alleviation and environmental protective schemes, using local resources wherever possible and providing fair pay rates to their employees. Tanzania adventure holidays can be a unique and unforgettable experience.

The word safari is said to mean ‘travel’ in the Swahili language and there’s certainly much exotic travelling to do on safari in Tanzania. One can travel to many exotic and scenic locations that are teaming with native wildlife.

Lake Manyara is one such exotic place. It is a massive alkaline lake that supports flocks of pink flamingos, en route there are herds of elephants and tree climbing big cats to be spotted. On the vast Serengeti plains herds of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle gracefully graze along with giraffe, buffalo and warthog. There’s also a chance to view the natural predators of these grazing animals in action, big cats such as lions, cheetah and leopards roam around the plains, sniffing the air for potential prey. The Ngorangoro Crater is an enormous crater left by a collapsed volcano. It is 16 miles in diameter and is covered on its sides by lush, dense forest. In its crater is natural grassland, wetland and a lake, ideal for supporting further magnificent African wildlife. Tanzania adventure holidays provide superb wildlife adventures.

The Olduvai Gorge is the area where the ancient archaeology can be found.

Also known as the ‘Cradle of mankind’, the gorge is said to hold the secrets of man’s early evolutionary heritage. Fossils have been found here that date back 2 million years. For those that want to immerse themselves in the culture of the people on Tanzania holidays, the experienced guides know of friendly local villages spread across the Rift valley escarpments that welcome tourists and can actively involve them in village activities. These activities can vary from traditional brick making in wood fired kilns to milking goats or jewellery making.

Accommodation on a big game safari in Tanzania can be varied but always safe and comfortable. There are bush campsites, (often with swimming pools), which allows the appreciation of the countryside and wildlife and are always fully staffed to provide excellent catering arrangements. There is also the opportunity of experiencing luxury camping involving thatched tented accommodation complete with en suite facilities and gourmet meals.

Comfortable lodges are another possibility while enjoying Tanzania holidays. Tanzania adventure holidays offer lots of choice, there is something for everyone.

Good Advice for Traveling to Asia

Nov22

asiaTraveling to Asia gives you a perfect experience where you can exercise your new language learning experiences, if you’ve mastered one of the many languages spoken in Asia. Since one of the best ways to learn a language—and to use it, once you’ve learned it—is by traveling and living in the country where the language is spoken, traveling to Asia can be a great way to further develop some of the new languages you learned.

As you probably figured, though, traveling to Asia is not like traveling to a destination inside the United States, or even like Canada or Europe. Not only is the language structure very different in many Asian countries, but the things that you need to know before traveling are also very different. Here are some things to keep in mind as you travel to Asia, and before you get there:

  1. Be prepared in advance for a long flight. The biggest thing you need to remember about getting from the United States to Asia is that your flight, no matter what part of Asia you’re traveling to, or where in the United States you’re leaving from, is going to be long. Plan on having a flight that is at least several hours, and bring enough with you to either help you sleep, or keep you entertained during the flight. Your flight will be even longer if you’re traveling from Europe, and you may want to make the decision to buy a business class seat where you can be more comfortable.
  2. Remember to get your visa before you go—and do it well in advance of when you plan to travel. Many Asian countries require that travelers from the United States and Europe have tourist visas before traveling. You may need to get these months in advance of when you travel, unless you are willing to pay for expediting costs or you have a business that is sending you to Asia.
  3. Keep an open mind with regard to food. Asia presents many opportunities to try food that you’ve never heard of, and probably have never tried. Don’t try to seek out familiar, Western food when you’re traveling in Asia. Instead, take advantage of this experience and try new foods that you definitely won’t be able to get as take out at home.
  4. Remember that not all hotels are like those we have in the United States. This tip is very similar to the idea of keeping your mind open about food. Although many American and European chains do have locations in Asian countries, don’t expect even from those chains that you’re going to have the same level of amenities and room that you’d have in an American hotel room. In the larger cities, such as Tokyo and Beijing, space is at a premium and you’re going to have to accept up front that your hotel room may be smaller than what you’re anticipating.