Thursday, February 25, 2010

Holidays in Sydney

Sydney’s laid-back outdoor lifestyle and physical appeal make it one of the world’s easiest and most pleasant cities to visit.
All of its attributes lie within easy reach of the city centre. Sydney’s dock is its natural playground, the leading factor in so much of what the city has to offer. The city has a wide-ranging cultural life, lively food scene and vibrant cityscape of outstanding modern and grand architecture. Iconic beaches and five major national parks bring memorable experiences.

Don’t miss

• Catching the wonderful wave at famous Bondi or Palm beaches.
• Dining waterside in the famous Rocks zone, by the beach at Balmoral or on the dock at Woolloomooloo Wharf.
• Climbing to the very top of Sydney Harbour Bridge’s huge, over-arching span, by day or night with BridgeClimb.
• Seeing the local fruit bats and 30 hectares of themed gardens in the Royal Botanic Gardens on a guided Aboriginal heritage tour.
• Catching the ship to Manly or a harbour cruise at sunset – or anytime – for one of Sydney’s most well-liked experiences.
• Learning about Australia’s exclusive animals, overlooking the harbour, at Taronga Zoo or at Sydney Wildlife World, Darling Harbour.
• Being inspired by a superb, magical presentation at the Sydney Opera House or gripped by one of the best Aboriginal art collections in the world at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
• Taking a skippered yacht or an adrenalin-pumping jet boat from Darling Harbo

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Nepal Tour Programme

If you are going for a week, or even for two months, and want to understanding everything Nepal has to propose without the hassle of looking for the right hotel, skilled guides, where to catch your bus, or want to find out that amazing hidden stupa which everybody talks about without getting lost in interwinding streets, then your best stake is to have your trip organized by agencies in Nepal. You can join a package tour, or have one customized to your specific needs so as not to worry about the step by step arrangements.

Tour Programme in Nepal :

1. Culture Tour: The mold of religion gives Nepal a unique position in the world. Here are lots of cultural and religious centers in Nepal where you can learn the Hindu or Buddhist culture. Perhaps you would like to visit a Gompa or monastery, or you could stay in a Nepali village and study about the different castes and cultures in Nepal, such as Chettri, Newar, Sherpa or Tamang. Each caste has its own culture, festivals and even language.
2. Village Tour: Village tours permit visitors to know-how a stay in a tropical Nepali village. You will fine to stay in home of one of the village. Tourist who likes to live in the village they are involved to do volunteer work in school, hospital and other sector. Village tours are conducted in Sibhapuri, Dhading (Ganesh Himal area), Gorkha and other places.
3. Learning Tour: Special interest tours conducted during the year to equivalent all tastes. Lepidopterology is one, since eleven of the 14 families of butterflies are found in Nepal. Exotic species are mainly visible in the summer and the monsoon seasons. Similarly, fossil hunting, archeological, 300 logical, geological, mythological, meteorological, historical tours game hunting, village tours and other interest tours take place thought all seasons.
4. Nature Tour: Nature tourism operators can provide you a better considerate of Nepal's natural heritage. They offer a range of unique and motivating trips to some of best natural attractions, including extraordinary landforms, Himalayan mountain peaks, and endangered species and wildlife parks.
5. Pilgrimage Tour: Besides Pashupatinath in Katmandu, one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages in world; Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in southern Nepal; and Janakpur, where Sita, wife of Lord Ram, was born, the Kingdom contains many other holy places which attract the faithful from all over.
6. Bicycle Tour: The Best way to discover the Kathmandu valley is on a mountain bike. Nepal's diverse territory is a mountain biker's dream adventure comes true. Mountain biking propose an environmentally sound way of exploring this wonderful country, its landscape and living heritage. There are many dirt roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker wildest fantasy.
7. Adventure Tour: There are many operators who focus in packaging great adventures at an reasonable price - and at the same time keeping all the thrill. You decide what to do: base yourself in one region or travel the whole country, focus on a preferred activity or try a whole range of adventures.
8. Sightseeing Tour: Sightseeing tour of Kathmandu valley as well as its nearby areas takes you very close to nature that enchants glance of Nepal providing a thoroughly knowledge about its past history, art & architecture which twist us to the primitive age. As such, Number of tourists from different corners of the world has been enrolling towards Nepal with a view to visit this beautiful country.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Switzerland - when to go

When you visit Switzerland you will, at least in part, be dictated by where you want to go and what you intend to do, but there are good reasons for exploring at least parts of the country at any time of year.

Summer lasts roughly from June to September and offers the most pleasant climate for outdoor pursuits (apart from exclusively winter sports). In fact, many adventure sports, such as canyoning, are only offered during this time. The peak period is July and August, when prices are high, accommodation often fully booked and the sights packed. You'll find better deals, and fewer people, in the shoulder seasons either side of summer: in April, May and October. With the exception of the busy Easter break, spring is a beautiful time of year to explore the blooming countryside. In Ticino, flowers are in bloom as early as March. Hikers wanting to walk at high altitudes, however, should be equipped for snow and ice until well into June (and, in some tricky spots, all year).

The winter season in Alpine resorts kicks off in mid-December and moves into full swing around Christmas, closing down again when the snows begin to melt around mid-April. Between the summer and winter seasons, Alpine resorts all but close down (except where year-round glacier skiing is on offer). At the very best, they go into snooze mode and can even be a little depressing.

At any time, as you travel around the country you'll hit many different climatic conditions. The continental climate in the Alps tends to show the greatest extremes between summer and winter. Mid-August to late October generally has fairly settled weather, and is a good period for hiking trips.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Essencial things while booking your Holidays

Here are some suggestions and notes for getting the best out of you holiday, Here are some questions and advice from One world Tours destinations, for whoever you choose to book with.

you should ask whoever you are thinking of booking with and whatever the destination.

1. Am I booking with a fully fledged travel company or just an Agent ? Quite simply, if you are booking through an agent only, then should you have any problems during your trip, you will have very little comeback as ultimately the tour company you are with will blame the agent and the agent will blame the Tour Company. Always look to book with a Tour Company and not an agent as this will guarantee that any problems that you may have experienced can be dealt with accordingly.

2. What is the name of the hotels I will be staying in ? This is particularly important when you are offered 5 star accommodation, but its important for all ratings. ALWAYS ask for the name of the hotels where you will be staying so you can check for yourself the actual rating / quality of the hotels. If they will not tell you - beware.

3. Can I pay by Credit Card ? If you can pay for your trip by credit card, this gives you a 99% guarantee that you are dealing with a reputable and established company. For Travel Companies, being able to accept credit card payments is notoriously hard to set up as the Credit Card companies run a VAST amount of checks before giving out such facilities.

4. Do you have a testimonials page ? Any Tour company should be happy for you to see what previous clients have to say about their experiences, but also check if these people are contactable (Through e-mail links etc) and can you therefore check if these testimonials / reviews are genuine or not.

5. Can I pay in Full on Arrival ? If a tour company / agent offers to allow you to pay in full on arrival - RUN A MILE. If this is offered, it simply means that almost certainly you will not be physically booked until you arrive and this is of course, a risky start to anyones holiday.

These questions are important and sensible to ask and any company worth trusting with your holiday should be happy to give you the answers.

How to prepare for Holidays

Going on holiday is supposed to be a relaxing, refreshing
experience.No matter whether you are going on a summer or a winter
holiday, you will still need to ensure that you have everything
needed before you set off, otherwise you could end up extremely
stressed, worn out and fed up by the time you come home again.

Having the Best Plan for Your Vacation

If you are going on a cruising holiday then you may not think that
remembering everything would be that important. After all, if you
do forget something surely you can just purchase it whilst you are
there? Well whilst that may be true, you really do not want to
spend a large proportion of your money on something you could have
remembered to take if you had done a little more planning. So
financially it does not make much sense to just pay more for
something that you could have had for free!

There are a number of things which you will need to think about
before setting off on your holiday. So creating a good travel plan
is an excellent idea. Firstly write a list of everything you will
need to pack. This should include identification such as your
driving license or an identity card. You will also need your
passport if you are going out of the country. Also it would be a
good idea to check to see if a visa is needed in the country you
are traveling to, otherwise you could end up in a bit of a pickle!
Medical records and proof of vaccinations should also be kept in

case they are needed for official purposes.
An obvious thing which you would think that you would not forget is
money. However make sure that you do not carry too much cash. If
you have debit and credit cards then make sure that you take them
too as they will help to stop theft and they will ensure that you
always have money on you. If you do not own a credit or debit card
then consider using traveler's cheques as these are accepted almost
everywhere. Finally to keep yourself safe from thieves, make sure
that you do not keep all your money together. Keep some in one
pocket, some in another and some in your bag. That way if a thief
does manage to steal from your pocket, you will still have some
money left.

Overall it is essential that you properly prepare holiday
essentials. If you don't you could end up having a disastrous
holiday and even if you can purchase whatever it is that you have
forgotten, it will come at a much higher price. So when preparing
for your travel tour, make sure that you take everything into
account in order to have the best time possible.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Romantic Holidays in Maldives

Scattered like emerald jewels across the Indian Ocean are the
Maldives, a string of over 1,000 low-lying islands grouped into 26
picture-perfect coral atolls.

With temperatures that fluctuate between 26-32ÂșC, the archipelago
attracts visitors all year round. Popular with couples and
honeymooners, this slice of tropical paradise provides the perfect
setting for seduction.

One such place is Kani. From a distance, Kani emerges like a garden
island poised on turquoise waters. This little paradise in the
Maldives, exclusively reserved for Club Med guests, has 75 suites
on stilts which, viewed from above, resemble a giant palm tree
straddling the lagoon.In the heart of luxuriant nature inhabited by multi-coloured birds,Kani’s rooms offer tailor-made services for demanding Robinson
Crusoes. Between diving in the underwater depths and the pleasure
of sampling the exquisite flavours of Asia, Kani is an Eden for all
lovers of discovery.

For those who decide to take the plunge, a glittering array of
undersea treasures await. Kani’s rich coral-rich waters are home to
turtles, Napoleon fish, stingrays, lionfish and much more.

Elsewhere, one of the best dive sites in the archipelago is at
Mushimasmingili Thila (Shark Thila) in Ari Atoll, renowned for its
grey reef sharks, giant snappers and clouds of tropical reef fish.

Warm, clear waters also make the Maldives a fantastic destination
for whale- and dolphin-watching excursions.
When it comes to other water sports, take your pick: there’s
everything from canoeing to windsurfing and fishing. If you’re a
keen angler, you can round off your trip with a barbecue and feast
on the day's catch.

Seafood features heavily on the menus around the Maldives - tuna
and swordfish are highly recommended. Delicately-spiced curries
from Thailand and India are available alongside a wide range of
mouth-watering international cuisine.

So whether you want to get active in the Indian Ocean, or prefer to
simply unwind with your other half amidst some of the world's most
breathtaking scenery, then the Maldives is for you.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Family Time in Orlando

Nothing will make your family smile quite like what put Orlando on the map in the first place. Combine the four parks at Walt Disney World® Resort with two action-packed parks at Universal Orlando® Resort and three adventure-filled Worlds of Discovery parks, and you’ll uncover one spectacular destination to explore with your loved ones.

Of course,world-famous theme parks are a must-see.
Say goodbye to bleary, dreary weather. With Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts each just a short drive from Orlando, a mere one-hour trip can transport your family to a tropical paradise. The smell of the salty ocean breeze, the sound of the crashing waves and the seemingly endless stretch of sandy shoreline inspires, relaxes and adds a true sense of adventure to your vacation. When you’re not laying back and soaking up the Florida sun, you can enjoy fishing, surfing,even building your own sand castle. It’s all waiting for you at the beach.

Year-round sunny weather provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with your family. Spot alligators during an air boat ride. Go fishing at Orlando’s more than 2,000 lakes, rivers and springs. Take a boat tour and learn about local history. Glide peacefully past manatees in a kayak. Saddle up and explore nature on horseback. Rise above it all on a hot air balloon or helicopter.

While Orlando is the best place for a family vacation, it’s not just for kids. Plenty of experiences geared for adults allow you to rest, relax, pamper yourself or have a cultural adventure. Tee-off at a championship golf course, get pointers from the pros at a golf academy or indulge in a spa day. Tour a vineyard and taste local varietals, attend a symphony performance or view world-renowned art.

From family style spreads and casual restaurants, to mind-blowing gourmet cuisine and eclectic global tastes, exciting culinary experiences await. Numerous restaurants offer one-of-a-kind plates that are alive with vibrant, seasonal flavors created by award-winning chefs. Relax with a cocktail at a hip lounge, catch a superstar DJ at a downtown club, drink a pint at a laid-back pub or attend a concert, and hear the latest bands.

Retail therapy in Orlando is an exciting affair with a dizzying array of options all within a 17-kilometer range. You’ll love upscale one-stop shopping areas like The Mall at Millenia, where you can browse exciting premium brands. Enjoy Orlando’s famously warm weather while exploring year-round indoor/outdoor malls like Prime Outlets International Orlando, where bargain hunters can find luxurious brands for less. Shoppers are in for a real treat when they visit Central Florida’s largest mall, The Florida Mall. This retail showcase features an impressive array of more than 250 stores. Or, browse luxury brands at the centrally located Orlando Premium Outlets.

Holidays in Italy

Italy is a country full of interesting things for the casual tourist and the educated tourist, it has deep Roman Catholic roots. The tourists can stay weeks in important tourist centers without reason to feel bored, but it is equally simple to get off the beaten track. In the north, next to the Alps and the landscapes of the Po river, many cultural gems and highly developed industrial cities fascinate. In this exciting country the people live the "la vita Italiana".

Lombardia is the capital of Milan, city of business organization and haute couture, the tourist can easily stay weeks without being bored. Bergamo is only an hour of distance and has an upper Old Town. On every corner you will observe something new. Venice and Verona are the most famous tourist attractions in the north-east of Italy, maybe you can think about romantic love affairs here.

The people can discover easily the beautiful landscapes of Italy, Verona province may be the more fascinating. Many persons say that the north-west of Italy is a paradise for every culinary interested traveler. For the people who adore the wine, Piemonte is related with Barolo and Barbaresco, the most famous wines made out of the Nebbiolo grape. Turin is the capital of Piemonte, this city provides more than just a starting point to visit these wine regions. Lots of tourist attractions like museums, modern art, music and book fairs make of this city, one of the notable Italian cities concerning cultural life. At the same time it is a booming industrial and multimedia city.

One of the most popular areas in Italy is Tuscany which is located in central Italy. Known for it's beautiful landscape and picturesque towns and villages including Florence, Lucca, Siena and Cortona. The Tuscan region is a popular vacation destination with many nice hotels and villas for rent.

If you wish to discover Italy by car, we suggest you to visit Rhino Car Hire Italy.

Tips for travel to India

India is among the most colorful nations of the world and boasts of a rich history, culture and heritage. To get the most of your trip to India, it would be a good idea to equip yourself with useful information before you set out for a journey of a lifetime.

Getting In and Out

* To explore India, you need a valid passport and visa to India. Carry them at all times while enjoying a vacation in India. Notify your country’s embassy or consulate in case your passport is stolen or lost.
* One needs additional permits to go to certain destinations in India such as Andaman Islands, Gujarat, Ladakh, Kerala, and more. Check with your travel agent or embassy while planning your visit.
* 15-Day visa extensions are granted under exceptional circumstances. If you intend to stay longer than 3 months on non-tourist visas there is a registration requirement. This registration makes the bearer eligible for domestic ticket prices.

Getting Around and About

* Most cities have means of efficient local transportation such as taxis, auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and buses. Private cabs can also be hired.
* It is important to carry an International Driving License if you wish to drive on your own.
* For inter-city and inter-state transport you can avail services of Indian Railways and domestic airlines. Buses, taxis and cabs also ferry people across cities and states.

Climate

* It is best to visit Indian plains during cooler months from November to March.
* For a visit to mountainous regions of India, the months of April to October are better suited.

Food and Health

* Indian cuisine is a tad too spicy for European and American taste buds. Indulge in the gastronomical delights only if you have the stomach for it. Also, there are plenty of non-spicy cuisines and delicacies to choose from.
* You may occasionally need insect repellent cream. If you are allergic to dust, be sure to carry medication with you. Sunscreen is another must-have.

Smart Shopping

* Bargaining is the norm in local bazaars selling products without a written price. Resist the urge to buy without comparing prices from shops selling similar stuff.
* Be wary of roadside peddlers trying to sell you semi-precious and precious gems and jewelry. Visit state emporia and the Central Cottage Industries Emporia (most major cities have one) for fixed prices and a fair idea of the cost with a regular dealer.
* Trading in ivory, fur, animal skins, antiquities and the like is illegal. If you must have it, obtain a certificate of legitimate sale and permission for export before leaving the country.

Social Decorum

* Public display of affection is not appreciated and neither is public nudity unless perhaps one is at a beach.
* One is expected to cover the head before entering a religious place such as a temple or mosque.
* Ask for permission before clicking pictures of women and religious complexes. Some places charge for taking pictures while it is prohibited at a few places as well.

Do’s and Don’ts

* Do carry attested photocopies of your travel documents and keep the originals in a safely locked baggage.
* Do fill up a Currency Declaration Form along and a Disembarkation Card besides making an oral declaration of the luggage you are carrying.
* Do not smoke in public places.
* Do not give money to beggars.

Travel to Varanasi

Ghats of Ganges, Varanasi The land of Varanasi (Kashi) in India has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.

Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries. Also a pilgrimage place for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar.

Vaishnavism and Shaivism have co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously. With a number of temples, Mrs. Annie Besant chose Varanasi as the home for her 'Theosophical Society' and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, to institute 'Benares Hindu University, the biggest University in Asia. Ayurveda is said to be originated at Varanasi and is believed to be the basis of modern medical sciences such as Plastic surgery, Cataract and Calculus operations. Maharshi Patanjali, the preceptor of Ayurveda and Yoga, was also affiliated with Varanasi, the holy city. Varanasi is also famous for its trade and commerce, especially for the finest silks and gold and silver brocades, since the early days.

Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives

How To Reach Varanasi

Varanasi or Benaras has a well-developed transport network and is well connected to all the major Indian cities and states by air, road and rail.

By Air
There are daily domestic flights to and from Varanasi to several cities in India. Apart from the state owned Indian Airlines, there are many private air taxi operators that offer their services from Varanasi to other Indian cities. In fact, the daily flights on Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi route are quite popular among the tourists.

By Rail
Varanasi is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other parts of India. There are two railway stations in Varanasi, the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction.Rajdhani Express from Delhi or from Calcutta passes through Varanasi too. One can also catch trains from Mughalsarai, just 10 km south of Varanasi.

By Road
Situated in the flat Ganga plains, Varanasi has a good network of roads. frequent public and private buses and road transport to all the major towns of Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Travelling with Family

If you're traveling with kids, chances are you're looking for a trip that will be educational, convenient, and most of all fun. Here are some of the most easily accessible and kid-friendly places you can go, from Disney World to the Grand Canyon.

* Take the kids fossil-hunting at the Grand Canyon, a classic American family destination. We have several tips for avoiding the crowds—and for finding freebies.
* You can't go wrong at Disney World. Avoiding a meltdown there is easy if you plan ahead a little—and your own enjoyment is just as important as the little ones'. The hidden Mickeys scavenger hunt is a great way to stay busy when lines get long.
* With all its history and free museums and other things to do, Washington, D.C. is a no-brainer family vacation. Visit our short list of essential sights to see with kids.
* There's lots to see at Yellowstone National Park. Luckily, the many educational offerings available will help you make the most of your time. Once you're all tired out, take a scenic drive—but keep an eye out for Bison!

Cities to Travel

‘A city is the pulsating product of the human hand and mind, reflecting man’s history, his struggle for freedom, creativity, genius-and his selfishness and errors.’ (Charles Abrams)

For some travelers, gazing at a mountain, swimming in rivers or navel gazing on a beach only takes them so far. The city has been the birthplace of art, ideas and social movements for time immemorial and, in a planet with shrinking resources and growing population, cities look to be the model for the future.

More than that, cities are where you can walk and be anonymous, where you can fall in love ten times a day with random strangers that you’ll never see again. Cities are places where there’s always something going on, somewhere to go dancing or nurse a glass of wine in a hidden away bar where no one will ever find you.
For the traveler, cities are likely to be the modern face of the country, where the young people are hanging out, having left their folks behind back in the country. In the absence of the watchful, shaming eye of the village, inhibitions are dropped in the city and a new identity is formed.

There are so many cool cities out there that we didn’t feature – Kathmandu, New York, Barcelona, Buenas Aires and St Petersburg amongst them – but that’s the nature of subjectivity. Had we written this list a month later we might have chosen ten completely different cities for our cool list.

Travel Ideas

Most travelers just follow the same old tired route wherever they go. From the bus station to the hostel to the cheap bar and back, repeating the same old routine in just a few places on the backpacker route in every country they travel to.

But travel can be so much more and we’ve come up with a few ideas to help your trip along.

Road Junky has 99 Travel Ideas articles. Scroll down to view.