Tuesday, November 12, 2013

10 Resons Why Travel

Even if you live in a city and have an amazing life out there with your family and kids, still, nothing can replace traveling. Traveling exposes you to the different cultures of the world. You meet different people, see their lifestyles and taste new food. Traveling opens up your mind and you see how rest of the world functions. 

1. Reduce Stress: Traveling can take away all the stress from your life. When you travel, you are away from the boring daily routine of your life and you see new things which give your mind peace.

2. Experience new culture: When you go outside and travel to a completely different city or country, you meet people whose lives do not revolve around McDonald’s or MTV. Your mind will change accordingly and you will start accepting the different cultures and people instead of criticizing them.

3. Make new friends:You must have often seen that while you are in the train or the plane, you often start a conversation with the person sitting right next to you and at the end of the journey you realize that you have made a very good friend. Yes, going out and traveling has more chances of meeting new people and thus making new friends.

4. New cuisine:When you visit a new country or city, you are bound to come across some food that you have never eaten before. Sometimes the new food that you try is so amazing that you end up asking the recipe for it. The more you travel the more variety of food you will come across

5. You will become more active :When you go out for a vacation you are more likely to indulge in activities like rafting, rock climbing, playing on the beach etc. I am sure you do not want to go out on a vacation and stay at the hotel all day. Even if you don’t indulge in all the activities mentioned above, you would at least be walking more than usual

6. Learn new languages:While traveling to new places, you will surely pick up the local language. Today we live in a world where becoming bilingual or multilingual can benefit you very much. It will prove to your benefit in your office or the company you work for. The vacation will not only be fun for you but will also turn out knowledgeable for you.

7. Get to know you better:If you are traveling alone at a peaceful place for example a hill station of a place which has beaches, it might be a good way you to get to know yourself and reflect upon yourself. You might write a journal while you are traveling and you might be amazed to find out some characteristics about yourself

8. Appreciation: Traveling to places less fortunate then where I come from always makes me appreciate what I have more.

9. Education: Travel helps us learn more about the world we live in, the people, the places and our history.

10. Confidence: There’s something awesome about going somewhere for the first time, the great fear of the unknown and coming out the other side.




Canada Travel Guide

If you are a U.S. citizen, ensure you carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification.For all modes of entry, its  recommend that you carry a valid passport for all travel abroad, including visits to Canada from the United States. A passport may be required by your airline or alternative transportation authority, as it is the only universally accepted identification document. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs may present their membership cards to the CBSA as proof of identity and as documents that denote citizenship, when arriving by land or marine modes only.
All visitors arriving from or transiting through the United States are encouraged to visit www.cbp.gov for information concerning the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the requirements to enter or return to the United States.


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Flying with children checklist

The general rule is to pack light for a flight, that is, unless you are traveling with children. It is not easy for a child to sit quietly for hours at a time. As their parent or guardian, it is up to you to provide them with enough entertainment to make it to the end of flight.
Here are some items you may need or want to bring with you on the plane:
  • stroller (check with your airline for related policies)
  • diapers (enough for the flight and a few extra)
  • wipes
  • changing pad
  • change of clothes
  • bottles (enough for flight plus 2-3 extra)
  • powdered formula (in pre measured container)
  • snacks
  • sippy cup
  • bib
  • medications
  • favorite soft toy
  • new small toys
  • 1 or 2 favorite books

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Top Ten Tips for Traveling Smart in Europe

1. Fly "open-jaw" (into one city and out of another): Save time and money by avoiding a costly return to your starting point. Try to start your itinerary in "mild" countries and work into the places with greater culture shock  to minimize stress.
2.Plan everything: If you want to keep your costs down while traveling in Europe, leave nothing to chance. Build an itinerary to follow, noting how many nights you plan to stay in each place. This schedule will help you book your travel arrangements and accommodations in advance. Develop your itinerary carefully, however, as once it is in place, you will need to stick to it to keep your costs low. 
3. Use ATMs rather than travelers checks: You will get your cash cheaper and faster using an ATM. Just keep in mind that while ATMs give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees.
4. Shop cheap and interesting: Do most of your shopping and gift buying in the cheaper countries where gifts are more interesting and your shopping dollar stretches the farthest.
5. Consider driving as a group: Four people sharing a car travel cheaper than four individuals buying four railpasses. Even at $6 a gallon, cars get great mileage and distances between sights are short. A single two-hour train ticket can cost you the price of a full tank of gas.
6. Pay with local cash: While credit cards get you a good exchange rate, many places offering Europe's best deals from craft shops to bed and breakfasts  accept only cash.
7. Explore no-frills flights: Europe's highly competitive no-frills airlines can get you from one city to another faster and cheaper than the train. You generally book the flights yourself by phone or Web.
8. Don't over-tip: Only Americans tip 15 to 20 percent in Europe, even tipping when it is already included or not expected. Ask locals (who are customers rather than employees of a restaurant) for advice. Generally, 5 to 10 percent is typical if service is not included.
9. Buy museum passes: Passes save time and money. The Paris Museum pass, for example, pays for itself in four visits and saves you hours by letting you skip long lines. With a pass you can also pop painlessly into sights that might otherwise not be worth the expense.
10.Couchsurf: Couchsurfing is a website that connects travelers with locals who are willing to offer free accommodation for a day or two. It’s great site that isn’t just for young solo travelers. There are many families, couples, and older people on the site who offer rooms to travelers and many couples and families who use the site.  Free accommodation is the best kind of accommodation.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Researching Your Trip

It’s so important to be aware of cultural differences before you head overseas as the last thing you want is to accidentally offend someone simply through ignorance of their societal norms. Read travel guides and be sure to use internet searches to clarify any points you’re unsure of  your question is bound to have been asked before and the answer is likely out there somewhere. If you’re ever in doubt when you’re there, excuse yourself and ask your host if certain behaviors are appropriate. This is not a situation where it’s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.Bearing these tips in mind, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy yourself when traveling into a different culture. It just takes a little preparation for your trip to go smoothly.

How to Be Safe in a Foreign Country

  • Research the country you are going to before you go. The best and fastest way of researching is to search on the Internet for legal information, and things you should know well in advance of traveling to that country. Learn how the locals dress. If the locals are dressed in a moderate way, you should dress the same. You don't want to draw unwanted attention to yourself, especially at sites of religious importance.
  •  Make three copies of everything before you leave. Make copies of your passport, travel itinerary and tickets, credit cards, driver's license, and any other important documents. Copy the back of everything, as well. This can make it easier for you to recover if any of your documents are stolen.
  •  Get the addresses and phone numbers of your country's embassy and any military bases (if applicable) before your arrival to the foreign country. For some countries, such as the USA and Australia, it is possible to register with a consulate online, ahead of travel. Once you have done this, if there arises any kind of natural disaster or military conflict, the consulate will know that you are in the country, which is the first step in being able to offer assistance.
  • Be polite and non demanding. If you are quiet and respectful, you are less likely to draw attention to yourself through your behavior. Depending on the local customs, however, do not assume that being extra friendly is beneficial -- it may be interpreted as an invitation that you never meant to offer, especially if you are female.

Places to Visit In Europe

Every year people go on a holiday vacation in Europe to experience all its majesty. From Amsterdam in the north to Rome in the south, Vienna in the east and Madrid in the west, Europe has a lot of attractions be it the beautiful mountains and hill peaks, European cuisines, farmyards, roadside taverns, and the glorious beauty of its palaces and monuments, Europe always has something to show to the curious traveler. 
                                                                                                         



1. Historic Center of Vienna









2.  The Colosseum in Rome






3.  Amsterdam canal ring in Amsterdam                                                                               
4. The Prado Museum in Madrid                             

Plases to Visit In Asia and Pacific

If you want to travel in a different part of the world where people have different sets of facial features and different sets of culture, then Asia is worth visiting. Asia, since the dawn of time, has been a favorite destination because of its warm weather, tropical ambiance and exquisite spices. Considered to be as one of the most popular destinations in Asia and Pacific, Australia seems to welcome more and more tourists every year. When planning a visit to Australia, make sure you do not miss interesting sites like the Opera House and Darling Harbor in Sydney. Nightlife in Sydney is also said to be amazing so make sure to experience it! 

Opera House  In Sydney

















                             Darling Harbor in Sydney

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Family Vacation

As many parents know, traveling with kids can be hard work. Even, the thought of planning our summer vacation causes us to break out in a cold hard sweat. To keep you from feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation All you need to do is work by a smart travel planner, and shortcuts like all-inclusive resorts, and family vacation can be fun for everyone. However you can prepare  some children games and activities for the road that will help reduce the “tough times”.  Make sure that the kids have a set of games and activities suited for their age for them to draw, write, count, stimulate their creativity and brain development. A good mix of games and activities for the kids can help a lot to have a good time when traveling with kids.

Tips For Traveling Around the World

Visiting to a new places  whether for business, or fun  can take a lot out of you. And you want to be at your best when seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. Follow a few easy tips to stay well as you take your travels around, the world.
  •  Make sure to stay hydrated while you are traveling. Dehydration makes you more prone to viruses, and can make jet lag symptoms worse.
  • Keep Your Meds Close.The chances of your bags getting lost are slim, but to be on the safe side, keep a supply of enough medication to last you the duration of your trip with you. That way, you won’t miss key dosages of antibiotics or your daily prescription, if something were to happen to your luggage.
  • When you are on long flights, it's important to get up and move, stretch and walk the aisle to avoid blood clotting and joint pain.
  •  Jet lag is disorienting, and it can falsely mirror the feeling of being sick. To stay well and rested while you travel across time zones, follow these quick steps:
  1. Get as much rest as you can before you leav.
  2.  Stay away from alcohol.
  3. Drink lots of water.
  4. Rise and set with the sun

Great Tips for Keeping Travel as Simple as Possible

Many of the tips are about packing, how to pack light and what items are essential or useful. What follows are some of the best, but be aware that there may be contradictory tips  choose the ones that will work best for you.
  • Pack as light as possible. Ask the simple question: “Do I want it or do I need it and if I need it am I will to cart it around?” There is little you really need when you travel.
  • Pack only what you can carry on to the flight.
  • Put everything you want to bring in a pile and slowly strip away things that aren’t necessary.
  •  Leave the laptop behind, as well as blackberry and any other tech gadget. For computer addicts, being away from the internet’s constant flow of data for a few days recharges and relaxes you in ways that you never experience at home.
  • Bring a small amount of foreign currency to cover incidental expenses upon arrival, then change the rest in your destination country, as exchange rates are usually more favorable.


Lets Travel

Ask anyone what they wish they could do more of, and the answer is literally always the same: “I wish I could travel more.” Yet when you remove all the excuses, few people actually do. I don’t have enough vacation days! It’s too expensive. My friends don’t want to go with me.Here are some tips on traveling affordable.There are flash sale sites such as Groupon Getaways (www.groupon.com/getaways), SniqueAway.com and Jetsetter.com constantly have tempting hotel deals, but make sure you understand the fine print. Can the travel dates be changed, and is the deal nonrefundable.