Exploring cold regions in winters:

Winter has a charm of its own! Enjoying the delicate white tufts of snow in a snowfall, snuggling in warm beds with hot cup of coffee, the most awesome delicacies meant to keep your taste buds happy & your body warm from within. But the geography of the planet has been bit partial while ordaining the world with winters. So if you are also living in a place deprived of winters & wish to travel to a bone chilling, snow covered terrain, here is how you prepare for it:

• Before leaving, first thing be prepared for delays and/or cancellations of your tickets. Sorry to put it so bluntly but in winters due to many reasons long delays, & cancellations are very common. So moral of the story- have an alternate plan or make your bookings free of season effects (road trips, buses, break journey, etc.)
• Always be aware of the current scenario of the region. The weather reports & other news related to your destination city.
• You are going from a warm place to a considerably cold place; hence you will have to pack your warm clothes. But always keep the biggest of your jackets & heaviest of boots on while travelling. This will save space in your luggage bag & will be convenient during the transition areas when coming from warm place you eventually start feeling cold & vice versa.
• Do not wait to change your attire at the end of your travels – you will be forcing your body to face extreme temperatures at considerably short notice. Hence most of your energy & health cells will get busy in preparing you for the new terrain, which means immense tiredness, exhaustion & many other health issues.
• Keep medicines for cold, fever, coughs, motion sickness, etc in your first aid, within your reach as traveling through hills & valleys often causes headache, nausea or puke.
• Keep drinking water! Being in a cold region or not, never stop drinking water. It helps build up your immunity & your body temperature at par with your surroundings.
• Plan your trip systematically so that you know exactly what stuff you will need & so you can avoid over packing. This will be a blessing when you have to adjust your shopping stuff also in the same baggage on your return trip.

Travel safe. Happy travelling!

Why should Santa Have All The Fun- II!

The non-stop party season is at its zenith right now. The best thing about winter is you just can’t escape the festive zing it brings with it, starting from Dussera, to Diwali & now Christmas is almost here (not to mention New Year is closely following Santa’s approach)! This is the season where you can make up for your old mistakes, start something new. Or just open a new chapter – whatever you do, being emotionally intelligent is a must. So how about few emotionally festive yet intelligent gifts this Christmas for the people you love. The gifts may be for old time’s sake or just to toast a new life. Afterall, why should Santa have all the fun when it comes to giving gifts!

Here are top 5 souvenirs to present someone during festive season:

1. Gift a trip: it can’t get better than this! Nothing says ‘I love you’ or ‘I am sorry’ better than travel tickets to one’s much coveted destination, especially during festive season. Make sure, before booking though that your person (or people)of interest will be able to attend this trip.
2. Camera: giving a shutter machine is a direct green signal for awesome holidays. It is the most practical & considerate way of wishing someone best of vacations.
3. Travel smart luggage: so your dear one is a travel freak or maybe going to travel for the first time. One thing all travel bugs have in common – the baggage which comes along. Gift your special one smart, trendy & durable luggage. Choose the one which perfectly matches the personality of the traveller, physique of the person & nature of imminent travelling.
4. Watch: time matters, always has & always will. Gifting a perfect traveller’s watch can be great option. Keep your travelling buddy on time, updated with the different time zones, days and (if you are really generous with the gift) hinting at right direction can also be added to the check list.
5. Universal portable charger: caution –gifting this one can even turn your enemies into your most loyal fans! This is the master gift which has one stop solution for a lot of problems – none or just a single socket in hotel rooms, long traveling hours, dedicated Facebook profile updater, etc. Having a universal & portable charger which will not only work wonders for phone, camera, ipods, etc. it also saves time.

Besides other things you can always gift travellers are first aid kit, diary & an awesome pen (don’t forget the mightier-than-sword, most people do!) to jot down amazing traveling experiences, travel guides & maps, etc. the list is really long & can be customized to suite one’s needs & budgets.

So make someone happy this festive season.

Travel safe. Happy travelling!  

Why Should Santa Have All The Fun!

Image courtesy: www.goaeasy.com

…Oh what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh!

Yes, you know what we are talking about! Every year, you all must be celebrating this wonderful day in a way that is unique to you. This year, how about enjoying the festivities while having a cultural adventure? And don’t worry, we’ll update Santa on your whereabouts – you can count on us for that. Let Santa follow you to a place as warm as his heart & as jolly as his nature – the evergreen Goa!

Christmas in Goa, it can’t get any better than this, can it? If you are looking forward to enjoying an authentic Catholic Christmas, just pack your bags & head to Goa & in fact South Goa to be exact. Goa as whole is a fun place to be at but honestly, the ‘party essence’ is way over hyped!It is just unfair to associate a cultural place like this one with a perpetual party tag. Come to South Goa if you want to smell real Christmas in the air (Oh wait! Sorry that’s fish curry).

The enchanting churches emit mesmerizing carols around this time of the year. The masses held during this period have a contagious happy & joyful ring to them, you just can’t escape it! Take a stroll down the beaches, and don’t forget to dine in at the beach side shacks. These not only provide typical lip-smacking Goan delicacies but the variety of fish curries will leave you wishing you had more than just one tummy!

With accommodations ranging wide in price & variety, one can easily find a perfect place to crash – no matter if you are with family, or are just on your own. Also, Goa is conveniently connected with trains, buses & flights. Whether you are a lone ranger or with bunch of friends or family – South Goa is a place for all. With so many festivals taking place at the same time, there is something for everyone!

So folks have happy ho-ho-ho-lidays!

Travel safe. Happy travelling!  

Timeshare: Sharing Fun Times

You keep hearing of timeshare more often than usual these days. So what is timeshare? We’ll help you with that. The basic idea commenced in the early 60s in European countries, when few related families bought a vacation cottage jointly, each having exclusive use of the property for one of the four seasons. More people came up with similar concept. However, it was realized that the vacation houses were vacant for most of the time; hence they came together with a new idea – sharing vacation homes.

This way the owners could rent their vacation homes to others throughout the year. This concept gained momentum within a decade and different hotels from various places collaborated together. Few of the benefits of Timeshare are as such:

• Since the properties are jointly owned by many, the expense are reduced which in turn leads to lower costs for guests.
• Timeshare is a joint network, hence provides large variety of vacation houses at places all over the globe.
• As per current norms, you can enjoy 25 years of timeshare membership, wherein you get to enjoy vacations at exotic places at way cheaper rates.
• The vacations even years afterwards remain inflation free, which means you actually get to enjoy your stay at amazing places in way lesser price!
• Gifting a holiday becomes easier – you have membership & it provides a greater convenience to present your friends or relatives with amazing time at no additional rates.

Timeshare ownership is also varied; few owners prefer to buy the properties while the rest become owners for a fixed amount of time depending upon the contract or until the property is re-sold. Depending on it the initial purchase price may be paid all at once or over time; with a likely periodic maintenance fees. Stay glued to the page as we come up with more travel information in our next blog. If there is anything you would like to know regarding traveling – do let us know!

Travel safe. Happy travelling!

Spotted!

We keep saying holidays bring best of times; these are the times which create most amazing memories & cherish wonderful relationships. But there is actually a lot more than these aspects! Holidaying is almost equivalent of entering into a parallel universe – where you don’t work, got no worries & just enjoy life! Few of our dear customers shared with us their unusual experiences they had while they were on vacations. So people, there is so much more to look forward to! Everyone expects something different, but even you will agree these off-the-record experiences are pretty remarkable, read on –

• Star studded: Spotting lovebirds at any gorgeous location isn’t a new thing, but spotting a star, meaning a celebrity – now isn’t this grand! Nothing can make your holidays more memorable than a surprise realization that you are sharing your holiday resort with one of your favorite celebrity stars! Not only does this make your holidays special, it always makes a great tea time story for your friends!
• The fun comrade: partying is fun indeed, but what gets funnier is the drunken fellow tourist. on more than several occasions we have witnessed ‘party people’ who make it a point to re-live their long lost childhood days, show off their unfathomable dancing skills & all sorts of other hidden and incomprehensible talents after they are few shots down. Our advice, keep your drinking level low & keep your eye open for the next show of ‘world’s got talent’ which can start any minute after someone gets drunk.
• Surprise, Surprise: we all love to get a little extra on anything & everything – extra discount, extra food in meal coupon, extra cheese in the pizza, etc. What makes holidays more unforgettable is when you are on the receiving end of extra ‘special’ experience! Imagine going to a new city known for its amazing history & artifacts and after a spontaneous exploring trip you realize the city has unbeatable natural charm as well! There is literally no end of surprising yourself when you are on the move.
• Home is where your heart is: Your age, gender doesn’t have to matter when it comes to holidays. Try going to different places & you may actually feel at home, even though you stand out. Travelling teaches you it isn’t about being same & known, it’s about being different & understanding, respecting the differences. Clearly taking a break from your normal life in a different way is what makes holidays stand out!

If you have got more unusual experiences &/or habits which can be spotted amongst travelers & tourists then we’d love to hear them!

Travel safe. Happy travelling!

Travel like a nomad, click like a professional!

Vacation is all about enjoying yourself and traveling is a fun way to make sure that you do enjoy. These are the best times, days you want to remember & cherish for years to come. You make sure that everything goes as per your likes & tastes, so how about also making sure that your imminent Facebook holiday album really makes a buzz amongst your friendlist members. Don’t just let your holiday destination be a temptation, let your holiday album pictures leave people gaping.

Here’s how you can click pictures like a pro in an easy Lights-Camera-Action way:

Lights:

• Before you click a picture, always check for the source of light, and various angles you can play with.
• Try to keep the sun behind you, this way you will expose your objects to proper light.
• Getting pictures in natural light brings out the best of features.

Camera:

• Needless to say better the camera, better the picture quality, but not necessary a good picture.
• No matter what shutter machine you are using – your mobile phone or a hi-res camera, know your device well. Realize & learn the features of your camera, and make note of the settings you like most – so that you can use it in future with much ease.
• Try out your own creativity – you can always try new effects for your pictures through any number of external sources, example: Covering camera lens with plastic gives a dreamy & fazed effect, etc.

Action:

• What do you want to capture, besides your family – beautiful sea & beaches or mesmerizing mountains & scenery beyond. Whatever be your object, be clear about it.
• Include locals in your photographs, it not only adds an authentic local touch but also gives a personal effect to it as well.
• Freak out! No seriously, the most cherished photographs, you must admit are in which at least one of the individuals is acting out of the blue or something unexpected is happening in the backdrop. Show how much fun you are having at your vacations – make funny faces, try different perspectives, click candid shots (natural reactions are best to collect).

So people, say cheese!

Travel safe. Happy travelling!

Holiday Recovery: Quick Fix to Fight Tiredness & Fatigue!

Image courtesy: www.thefourfountainsspa.in

Vacations are meant to be exciting, adventurous & exploratory. One doesn’t want to return from a vacation feeling something left undone. So let’s face it, no matter how relaxing or rejuvenating your holidays may have been, while being back in your old set up, you really wish to have another set of vacations only to recuperate from the fatigue of traveling (and to get out of that holiday mood).

Here are few tips which can help pull your energy bars to a whole new level – that too in a quick way!

• Run/jog: A 15 minutes running or jogging can help jolt your inner energy levels to max! Try brisk walking in your house for 20-30 minutes & if you cannot go out, try climbing the stairs real fast.
• Exercise: a power packed 10 minutes of cardio can be a real opener – skip ropes, few pushups, etc. even aerobics & zumba seem like a nice option. Just put the volume high & start the work out.
• Caffeine oriented drinks: maybe the most basic & common solution – coffee or soft drinks such as Pepsi & Thumbsup are known to be lifeline of all the over time workers & students burning oil in the midnight lamp.
• Good food: yes, true – food rich in fibers, water & sugar contents prove better at jolting your mind wide awake. Munch on some fruits, get some smoothies (fresh veggies) and you will instantly feel perked up.
• Shower: nothing like a hot shower after a tiring day. The hot showers relieves body of toxins & excess heat and also it sooths out muscles while enhancing recovery.
• Cold water shock therapy: splashing cold water on your face also does the trick. The cold water sends a shock sensation to brain which immediately alerts the entire body – resulting in a livelier you.
• Power nap: well we do have to agree tiredness is there for a reason – lack of sleep, body didn’t get proper rest, or any of the traveling routines which have left body still adjusting to new routine, any or all of this can be the cause of your fatigue. So shut down your computer, put your phones on silent, set your alarm clock & take a dose of undisturbed and peaceful powernap.

Fatigue & tiredness are not mandatory, but are still common effects after returning from travels. These tips provide temporary relief but you must consult doctors if any problems persist.

Travel safe. Happy travelling!