no holiday no life! – Travel Guide, Travel Blog, Hotel Booking

Posts Tagged ‘tourism’

Selecting and booking a cheap hotel can be tough and time consuming and frustrating, especially if you’re going book a hotel for the place you are going to visit a place for the first time. There are so many cheap online hotels to choose from so you can have a hard time solving problems that will meet your needs and give you the most value for your hard-earned money.

The key factor in hunting for the right hotel is to be able to find the right a balance between quality and price. You want service quality and offers excellent facilities and is centrally located all in your allocated budget, you might have a bit of problem. Remember that a good hotel not only provides you with a cozy place to stay, but it must also improve and complement the purpose of your make my trip. It is therefore extremely important to do your homework and do some research so that you can come up with an informed choice when you finally make a online reservation.

One of the vital factors when choosing a cheap hotel is its location. It’s always better to choose one that is centrally located to all major places and nearer to shopping centers and famous stores. Although the hotels in the city center or those near major attractions, you can find them more comfortable as you can save time and money to take public transport to many other places. It is also advisable to choose a hotel which is located near the airport and railway station. If you favor a more relaxed ambiance or just looking for a good night sleep, try to stay away from areas with major traffic and night life activities.

Finally, before choosing a right hotel, try and go online and view the reviews of the property and place and the offer they give and the location of where the place is etc… Number of travel sites to make objective reviews of various hotels. Views from previous guests accommodation in a hotel always gives a full picture of what the hotel really has to offer. A few more important tips that are needed to be considered.

Your Budget:
Sketch a Budget graph with possible estimations on how high and low would u be spending for your accommodation, and think of the services that you want and how much you are going to spend on them. book my trip

Research –
RESEARCH! Every one dose a research on the web, to gather information for the destination that they are going to travel. There are plenty of forums out there to know about the destination that we going to travel. While reading and researching you should slowly form a good picture of the accommodation that you have decided upon. Also look into furnished apartments.

If you have never visited the island country of New Zealand, you probably think of the place as the sleepy set of the Lord of the Rings films, which is full of sheep and does not have much else to offer beyond its luscious landscapes and gentle rivers. Well prepare for your mind to be (semi) blown away by the following list of lesser known facts about “The Land of the Long White Cloud” (the English translation of “Aotearoa”, what the Maori – the islands natives – named NZ).

• Anyone aiming to book a NZ a fly drive New Zealand vacation should know that you drive on the left side of the road in NZ, and always give right of way to the cars on your right.

• Bungee jumping was invented on the island! Whooooooooo!

• Ninety mile beach which is very popular with tourists who take New Zealand holidays is actually only fifty five miles long in length!
• Ninety four per cent of the people in NZ jails are men. Looks like they’ve got their women behaving badly!

• We all know that there is a lot of sheep in the ‘Zealand but did you know that there is nine to every human? That’s a massive amount sheep!

• Of the world’s export of lamb meat, NZ exports over half (54%). Yummy¦

• NZ also has the highest amount of golf courses and bookshops per person than any other destination on the plante. This might sound Zzzzzzz but it is apparently enough to convince 1 person to move there every 25 minutes and 49 seconds!

• In order to become a New Zealand citizen, you must swear an oath of loyalty to Queen Elizabeth. Long live the queen!

• Possums and rabbits are treated like pests in New Zealand and as such, residents shoot them. The former I can understand but our rabbit friends are not vermin!

• Around 14,000 earthquakes occur in New Zealand every year. Ground breaking!

New Zealand tours are the best way to get the most out of your visit to New Zealand.

London’s Westminster area is packed full of the capital’s most famous landmarks. You’ll find Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the River Thames in this area. There are also lots of other attractions for tourists in and around Westminster.

To start with you could visit the famous London Eye, which is located on the South bank of the Thames. The world’s largest observation wheel was completed in 2000 and is an impressive 135 meters in height. From the very top and on a clear day you can reportedly see views of up to 25 miles in any given direction. You’ll definitely be able to spot a few of London’s landmarks from here like Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster. The wheel has a total of 32 viewing capsules and these take up to 25 people each.

Another place worth a visit in the Westminster area is The London Aquarium. Here you will find 3000 different types of aquatic and marine life housed in huge tanks. The impressive stingrays and sharks amaze children and adults alike, and shark-feeding time is a popular daily event. The aquarium covers 3 floors and daily talks about the sea creatures are given during the day.

Originally part of St Thomas’ Hospital, the Florence Nightingale Museum is a treasure trove of unique artifacts relating to the famous Lady of the Lamp. Here you will find fascinating items such as Athena, her pet owl that was stuffed by a taxidermist after it died, the medical chest she took with her to Turkey and of course the famous Turkish Lantern she carried when doing her rounds during the Crimean War.

Westminster Abbey has been used for every coronation in England since 1066 so this historical landmark is well worth a visit. The building as it stands to day was started around 1245 and has a mix of architectural styles. The organ inside the abbey is stunning and was built in 1937 and the nave is the resting place of notables such as Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton. This is a working abbey and it is possible to attend services here or you can choose to look around outside of service times.

The Tate Britain Gallery is another tourist attraction you can visit in the Westminster area. This museum opened in 1987 and you will find British art by Turner, Blake, Hockney and Bacon to name just a few of the artists featured here. There is so much to discover and wonder at in this fascinating art gallery.

If you fancy a break from the hustle and bustle of London’s busy streets then St James Park is a good place for a bit of tranquility. The park has a café and a children’s play area, peaceful gardens and the lake is home to birds including pelicans, black swans and geese.

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If you’ve had your flight either severely delayed or even cancelled due to the snow then here’s a guide to what you may or may not be covered for in terms of refunds and compensation.

Cancellations

Flight Cost Refunds
In the worst case scenario, if your flight was cancelled then the airline should allow you to rebook your trip on a later flight, on another day. Or, if you cannot take a later flight then airlines should allow passengers to get a refund.

Refund Time Scales
In terms of actually receiving the money for your refund, well that is different per airline. BA for example is currently saying they will try and reimburse refunded tickets as soon as they can but have not stipulated any time line. Ryanair have said around five days.

Transportation Cost Refunds
If you have arrived at the airport only to find your flight is cancelled and you incur costs to get home again these costs will not be refunded. It maybe that if you have adequate travel insurance any transportation costs will be refunded via your insurance policy so it’s worth asking as soon as you get home. If these costs are reimbursed then it is highly likely that you will need to have valid receipts or proof of travel so hold on to these. However, if you have a low grade travel insurance policy it’s unlikely that transportation costs will be covered.

Inconvenience Compensation
Do be aware though, however much you have been inconvenienced and however awful it was being stuck at the airport as a result of your flight being cancelled you will not get compensation for inconvenience. Airlines simply do not, never have done and never will compensate for this so don’t waste your time or energy on even trying!

Delays

Flight Cost Refunds
If your international flight or a simple flight has been delayed by such an amount of time that you consider it pointless going, a short city break for example, and you have booked your flight and accommodation independently i.e. not through a tour operator, then the airline should refund you the cost of the flight ticket only.

Hotel Cost Refunds
However, any other such costs associated with your trip will not be, for example hotel costs and car hire – this is something that the airline won’t budge on either, however hard you try to get refunds or reimbursement – the EU regulations clearly state the airline is not duty bound to compensate the traveller other than the flight. In this instance, check with your travel insurance policy under its ‘cancellation and curtailment’ section.

Package Holiday Cost Refunds
If you’ve booked your trip through an ABTA or ATOL tour operator, as a complete package, then you will have the entire trip compensated, or you will be offered a rebooking, whichever you prefer. This is the same whether your flight has been severely delayed or cancelled.

Citizens Advice
If you are having a lot of trouble getting applicable costs reimbursed from your airline or tour operator then it is worth contacting the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for help and advice. However, do be aware that claims may not be settled between you and the airline as quickly as usual. Hundreds and thousands of passengers were affected by the snow so an airline’s Customer Services Department is going to be extremely busy!

Package holidays are a great way to see the world without having to worry about things like booking flights, creating an itinerary and booking hotel rooms. What makes package holidays so great is that everything is included in one price, and that price is usually extremely competitive due to the nature of the tourism industry.

In order to make sure that there are no nasty surprises or unexpected financial expenses, it is advisable to plan your holiday to the nth degree. Even with a package holiday, there are numerous important questions to ask the holiday operator so you know precisely what you are getting for your money.

The most important question you need to ask your holiday operator is exactly what is included in the price of the holiday. Although some prices for holidays may seem high, if the price includes all meals, inland travel costs, and accommodation, then that price is probably justified. Most package holidays also include flights and/or ferry or bus travel expenses too.

You also need to find out if there is a particular theme that the holiday is based on, for example an archaeology theme or wine-tasting, or possibly an orienteering expedition. You really do not want to be paying for something that you and your family do not enjoy doing. Make sure you know exactly where you will be going and what kind of activities you will be doing or expected to do while you are there.

What is the average age of the holiday participants? The last thing you want to be doing as a young couple, going on a well deserved holiday, is spending your time with a group of elderly tourists. Not to say that you will not have fun, but it is expected that they want to take their holiday at a different pace, spending more time viewing things and possibly more time traveling also.

Some holidays are designed around a set theme such as wine-tasting or fishing and with these specific themes you need to be certain of other factors. If you are expecting to be escorted in groups, how big are the groups? How knowledgeable or experienced are the guides? Exactly what accommodation will you be staying in during the course of the holiday? It is also sensible to ask whether there are any additional expenses that you will be required to pay for during the holiday.

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As summer is so close, it is expected that you are probably already thinking about where to go and what to do for your next holiday. Probably the most popular and fashionable continent to visit right now is Europe. Europe has some very special holiday destinations that are only just being discovered by tourists, along with some already popular countries that provide slightly predictable, but ultimately great, holiday experiences. With so many different places to visit, it can be confusing deciding on that perfect place to go on holiday.

This guide has been compiled to help you choose a cool holiday destination that is up and coming in the European tourism industry.

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. With its sandy beaches, amazing coastlines and warm climate, Spain is an ideal place to visit for that relaxing holiday experience. Most people visit Spain because of the weather and the beaches, though Spain’s cities also have some fantastic architecture; one place that almost does not need mentioning is the Gaudi designed Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic Church which is only about 50% complete after being in construction for over 125 years.

If it is beautiful scenery that you are looking for and you prefer the combination of mountainous regions with sparkling lakes, picturesque chalets and winding streams then Switzerland is the place for you. Switzerland is a large country in everything but actual land size and for that reason, has something to offer everyone. The modern cities of Zurich and Geneva provide world famous restaurants, hotels and shops that will appeal to everyone.

If romance, culture, historical architecture and great food are what you are looking for, Italy is your answer. Once known as the capital of the world, Italy’s capital city, Rome, is today a cosmopolitan city that offers a very wide diversity of experiences. The Coliseum must be on everyone’s list of destinations to visit before they die, and it does not disappoint. Finished in 80 AD, the Coliseum was able to seat 50,000 spectators but now after a number of earthquakes it is partially ruined, though still a fantastic spectacle.

Although the next place is a bit of a wild card, it really needs to be seen to be believed. Croatia is a country that has been rocked by a huge number of wars over the years and thus its cities all show signs of previous destruction, but contrary to that, the countryside looks more like an untouched paradise. One place of particular note it the Plitvice Lakes national park which contains a total of 16 lakes, well-known for their distinctive colors which seem to constantly change with the weather.

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For most holidaymakers; the most important factor to deliberate on when planning a prospective holiday is the accommodation. What needs to be considered is not only the price, but a large number of factors that will make your place of stay as suitable as possible for you and your family. When planning a holiday or short trip to or in the United Kingdom, your choice of accommodation will have a great bearing on whether you will end up remembering that holiday for good or bad reasons.

The one thing that the United Kingdom is famous for can also be the reason why you end up disliking your holiday. Great Britain is famed for its picturesque countryside, its vast, rolling hills and its massive country estates; but that can also mean that some places are quite remote, with small villages that are long distances from anything resembling an activity or amenity. This means that you need to either get your own transport or research local public transport links.

If you are traveling to the UK on holiday then it is expected that you will be dependant on your accommodation being in close proximity to amenities. For this reason it is sensible to research the locations you wish to travel to so that you make sure you are not based in the middle of nowhere, with no transport links.

Whilst the cost of the accommodation tends to go some way in dictating the potential quality of an establishment, it should by no means be the only factor in deciding where to stay. Other things that you need to bear in mind are the amenities that the hotel or B&B offers, the propinquity to local services, restaurants and other attractions, whether the hotel provides activities and can arrange transport or tours or other services and also whether any promotions or seasonal discounts can apply to your situation.

Once you have narrowed down your choices, you must then spend some time cross-referencing the costs and services relating to each establishment. You best resource now is the internet; a quick search will not only bring up detailed prices and services, but also reviews and feedback from previous customers.

As with many things, if you spend time to research your options then you will end up with a pleasing and satisfactory result. When choosing holiday accommodation this is especially important as the experiences from that holiday you will probably remember for many years to come.

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Lombok is perceptibly contrary than its adjacent island of, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous and rich with tall tress and shrubs. The south, on the opposite handdeal is dry and covered by savannas. Large Asian mammals are gone and substitued instead by marsupials, lizards, cockatoos and parrots. The differenc becomes more pronounced as one moves more east, where dry seasons are more elongated and corn and sago are the basic food, besides of rice.

Lombok is the most fashionable and visited holidaymaker spot in the entirely of Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara province, the island of Lombok stands beside Bali and the Gili Islands. Fairly normal in shape and the size approximately 80 km / 43 miles in length and width, the island of Lombok proposes areas of lush equatorial jungles and rice paddies, different greatly with the dry landscapes on the south-east.

The beautiful island of Lombok has become favorites location of infinite diversities and enchantment. Lombok attracts tourists from far and wide, with trekkers coming here to reach the summits of Mount Rinjani (Gunung Rinjani) and surf boarders heading for the intense waves on the south part coast. It’s is a incomparable location and entirely different to Bali, which is only a short flight or ferry trip, outside, but alike something to accommodate all visitors no matter of what they wish.

Lombok is nowadays on the path to becoming a vacation hot destinations. With the commercialization of Bali over the past few years, and with it the accompanying congestion and decrease in open, green spot, many tourists are distinguishing the charm of ‘Undiscovered’ Lombok. If you are planning on visiting around the island and traveling small villages it is more considerable to wear slacks or knee length shorts, a shirt with sleeves or a sarong.

With the new interest arrives the construction of a number of posh boutique resorts on the island giving superior food and drinks, but only a stones throw away from rustic, unspoiled country side – much as Bali was decades ago.

Referable to Lombok’s relative reclusiveness, a villa vacation feel on the island ascertains highest privacy and a relaxed pace of life for guests to unwind and recharge. Holiday villas occupy an increasingly significant corner in Lombok’s growing tourists industry. They offer a degree of spaciousness and privacy which is not often found elsewhere. As opposed to a hotel room that caters for mass tourism, a fully serviced villa in Lombok comes complete with a swimming pool, ample space, as well as modern home comforts and conveniences.

Architectural styles frequently emphasize traditional themes and harmonise with the natural environment to create a park like setting. Guests have the freedom to come and go as they please, entertain friends and spend quality time soaking up the tropical ambience. Choosing villa accommodation on the enchanting island of Lombok is definitely a passport to tropical luxury. Uniquely, large groups can book an entire self – contained property for themselves, while couples can revel in the privacy they provide. So come to Lombok island and enjoy the true meaning of luxury and privacy. online trip deals

Honeymoon is considered as the golden time that arrives only once in the life of every one with rousing and warm hues of glamor.Honey moon is used as a pleasure booster that is celebrated just after the very first month after marriage, when there is nothing except pleasure, mutual affection and beauty. In short terms the holidays spent together by a newly-married couple to enhance love and affection, before settling down at home is known as sweet honeymoon.

Travel Corporation of India avails best Honeymoon Tour Packages to make your marriage life a moment of beauty.Here are some popular and exotic honeymoon destinations of India :-

1.Jammu and Kashmir:- Jammu and Kashmir Tour Packages is known as the crown of India. It is abundant in natural beauty that emperor Shahjahan quoted it as heaven on earth. Cool and decent climate,ice covered land,floating houseboats in Dal lake, natural landscapes, exotic flora and fauna makes Jammu and Kashmir aparadise for lovers and honeymoon couples. Honeymoon experience in Kashmir will be dubbed as lifetime memory for everyone. Simple and Uncompetitive lifestyle, intoxicating environment, vision of green hue and fresh air are the components that make Kashmir an ideal honeymoon destination.

2.Shimla  Kullu Manali:-Shimla Tours is also quoted as ‘Queen of the Hills’ in terms of tourism. Shimla is the most popular honeymoon destination in India. Decades back Shimla was the summer capital of British India and now the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla and Kullu Manali are popular tourist destinations located in the lap of charming land of Himachal Pradesh. They attract tourists & vacationers from all over the world. These are beautiful towns of Himachal Pradesh and most beautiful and amazing hill stations in north India. These destinations attract tourists with its heart touching landscapes and many attractive places of tourist interest.Bijli Mahadev Temple Raghunathji Temple, Vaishno Devi Temple are some popular tourist attractions and honeymoon destinations to make life gracious in Himanchal Pardesh.

3. Goa Holidays:-Goa is famous across the globe for tourism,Goa beaches and as one of most popular and drasting honeymoon Destinations. One thing that you will find strange here is that people across the globe come to enjoy their india holidays, vacations and honeymoon every year in handsome amount and this occasion seems like a great get together of people. In true words and senses Goa is a paradise for honeymoon couples.

4. Coorg Trip :-Also known as Kodagu, Coorg is a place famous for its timeless beauty and you can enjoy all luxuries and comforts that are beyond restrictions. It is also quoted as “the Scotland of India” . Hills of Brahmagiri and Iruppa Falls are best honeymoon destinations of Coorg that gives eternal and nonperishable peace and enjoyment to honeymooners.The best time for visiting Coorg is mid of September.

5.Andaman and Nicobar islands: – Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is situated in the Bay of Bengal. This is one of the union territories of India and comprises of 527 islands. The coastline of the Island extends to about 100 Kms. There are dense forests all around the island. The area of the whole Island is around 8,293 sq kilometers. The Island is divided in two parts Andaman and Nicobar. These 2 groups are a distance of 300 Km from each other. Port Blair is the capital city of the Island the land is covered with dense rain forest. Only 38 islands out of 527 islands are inhabited by the people.

6.Kerala :-”Gods Own Country” is one of the prime honeymoon destinations of India. It is a perfect destination for holidays, Honeymoon, culture, health care, yoga and Ayurveda. Enjoying the honeymoon in houseboats will be an exciting experience.

7. Kodaikanal:- Kodaikanal is one of the most peaceful and beautiful hill stations of Tamilnadu which is also famous as a Honeymoon destination. Kodaikanal is also referred to as “Princess of Hill Stations”. There are many high waterfalls and ubiquitous gardens and flower beds in bloom.

8.Ooty:- Ooty is the short form of Ootacamund,is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu in Southern India also quoted as “Queen of Hills”. It is located at a height of about 8000 feet above sea level and is a part of the famous Nilgiri mountain ranges. Ooty was founded by the Britishers in the beginning of the 19th century.Ooty Rose gardens, Wax Museum, Sims Park , Tea Factory, Boating at Pykara, Falls at Pykara, Historical Dam with Power station at Pykara, Hidden Valley, Echo Rock. Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, Dodabetta Peak, Lamb’s Rock, Kodanadu’s View Point, Madumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kotagiri, Kalhatty Waterfalls, Sim’s park, Dolphin’s Nose and Avalanche are the main tourist attractions for love birds and honeymoon couples.

9.Lakshadweep:- Lakshadweep is India’s smallest union territory far away from hustle and bustle of urban life, comprising of 36 small islandsout of which 10 islands are inhabited and rest are deserted.Lakshadweep is one of the most fabulous tropical islands and coral beach in the world having sparkling beaches,hollow blue lagoons,spectular cocnut and palm trees and buzzing air and striking waves. Some important tourist attractions in Lakshadweep are:-
Kavaratti is a beautiful lagoon and facilities for water sports.
Minicoy is Crescent in shape and having some beautiful lagoons.
Kalpeni is a solitary and deserted place having deep but beautiful lagoon.
Agatti is famous for its greenary and palm trees beauty.
Kadmat is an ideal spot for sunbath and water sports.
Bangaram is a teardrop-shaped solitary island has superb beaches and beautiful lagoons. 

As times are changing, the travelling style of people is also changing. People now a day prefers solo holiday as compared to family or group holiday. Over the last few years solo travellers have become a new trend amongst people of different age groups. This not only applies to singles in their 20’s or 30’s but also to older married couples wanting a break from their every life. Solo holiday is the ideal way to explore the exotic locations of the world.

There are many travel planners and agencies on the internet that have exclusive packages for solo travellers to places of their choice be it Paris, Las Vegas, Mexico, thialand or new Zealand. Solo travellers can also go for custom made packages where in they get decide their itinerary. With these custom-made deals the solo travellers can also decide where they would like to stay, places they want to see, and so on.

The basic problem that many solo travellers tend to face is cost of travelling. Solo travellers tend to become a victim of single supplement in the hands of many hotels who over charge them. In single supplement the solo traveller is charged for occupying a twin room. It is like being punished for having some quality time by your self away from the world.

There are many ways in which a solo traveller can enjoy a no single supplement holiday. Firstly, you can share your room with other solo travellers. You can travel in a solo group holiday, a great way to not only get to know new people but also saving your hard earned money. But for those do not like sharing room with strangers due to privacy reasons should travel during the off peak seasons. During this time period the hotels want to increase their occupancy rate and thus waive the single supplement or bargain with them for some good discounts.

Another way is to take up a holiday package deal from a reputed travel agency or planner rather than planning your holiday on your own. These agencies have the important knowledge to help you in your quest for cost reducing accommodation options. They also have tie up with many hotels and bed and breakfast, and thus they tend to let go of single supplement.

There are also bargain online trip deals available to solo travellers who can afford to take unplanned breaks or holidays. No single supplement holiday can also be availed by booking a cruise. A single traveller can have the times of their lives abroad some ship travelling to some captivating locales.

So with so many options to reduce your travelling expenses especially single supplement, it is hard to resists solo travelling.