Tag: travel
Germany visa for Indians: The 2016 process
If you’re applying for a Germany tourist visa (which is actually a visa that lets you travel to all the Schengen countries), you can either apply as a tourist or as someone going to visit family or friends.
I prefer the second because in that case, you do not have to furnish the details of all your hotels bookings. Consequently, this lets you be more elastic about your trip. Since I do not have any family in Europe, I requested a German friend to send me an invitation letter and she agreed. Things went pretty smooth from there. Continue reading Germany visa for Indians: The 2016 process
Newleaf to charge for carry-on
January 6 (TravelAndy): Canada-based budget airline Newleaf, which starts flying on February 12, will charge for carry-on luggage.
The airline is not going on third party online booking sites in order to keep costs down. It will sell tickets through its own site — Flynewleaf.ca.
The Winnipeg-headquartered airline will fly out of secondary airports at Halifax, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Regina, Winnipeg and Abbotsford. The costs of tickets, including taxes, are between CAD89 to CAD149. Continue reading Newleaf to charge for carry-on
The audio guide at Golkonda is a good idea
One day during my stay in Hyderabad when I was feeling particularly touristy, I decided to spend several hours at Golkonda Fort. I discovered that making use of the audio guide there is a great way to explore the historic site as a solo traveller on a budget.
Human guides cost around INR700 and that’s probably not a bad deal if you are in a group. But as a solo traveller on a budget, I thought that was a little too much.
I read the advertisement about the audio guide right next to the ticket counter. When I asked them where I could get it, they said it would be right at the main entrance of the fort. As soon as I got there, several guides approached me, but when I told them I was looking for the audio guide, they left. The place where they rent out the audio guides is bang opposite the main entrance. Continue reading The audio guide at Golkonda is a good idea
Water tourism starts at Hanumantiya
December 27 (TravelAndy): In a bid to develop water tourism in the state, Madhya Pradesh has constructed ten bamboo cottages and pine wood huts in Hanumantiya, Indore, The Times of India said.
Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation opened these cottages for tourists on December 26.
Hanumantiya, located near Indira Sagar dam and along the bank of river Narmada, will host anumber of water sport activities for tourists staying in the cottages. Continue reading Water tourism starts at Hanumantiya
What is AC First on Indian Railways about?
What is it about travelling AC First on Indian Railways? I mean, how different was it from say, 2AC (I had travelled 2AC)? That’s one thing I had always wondered about. So, when I realised I wasn’t in a hurry and the AC First fares were exactly the same as a flight to Hyderabad, I chose the slower option.
For the uninitiated, AC stands for air-conditioned. 2AC is the second-most luxurious options on long-distance Indian trains each cubicle has 2+2 berth configuration; apart from two more berths on the other side of the passage. (In 3AC and Second Class, the configuration is 3+3, plus two berths on the other side of the passage). Continue reading What is AC First on Indian Railways about?
Countdown to Trip #next
Which do you like more — the sea or the mountains?
That’s a question I hear often. Way too often. And I just cannot devise an answer to it.
To me, it doesn’t matter that much if it is a popular beach, a sleepy village, a snowy mountain peak or a vibrant city because what my heart craves the most is just to be on the move. Continue reading Countdown to Trip #next
How to travel London on a budget
A month ago, UBS Wealth Management named London the fifth-most expensive city in the entire world, which often scares off young and budget travellers who are inclined to believe that they can only afford backpacking-friendly destinations. Truth be told, there are actually plenty of ways around all those expenses that the English capital is notoriously known for.
To survive a holiday in London on a limited budget, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Continue reading How to travel London on a budget
How travel sets you free
In many parts of India, if an unmarried Indian couple went looking for a hotel, they would encounter problems.
Many hotel-owners would flatly refuse or say they had no free rooms. However, if the traveller couple is from a foreign country, the hotel owners couldn’t care less if they were married or not.
There are a lot of people with double standards everywhere. While they see themselves as moral guardians in case the travellers are from the country, they believe foreign couples were governed by a different set of moral values and it was not their responsibility to implement that. Continue reading How travel sets you free
GoAir offers fares from INR601
October 29 (TravelAndy): GoAir has joined the host of airlines offering discounts now.
The airline is offering fares starting from INR601 excluding taxes for bookings till November 1. The travel dates for these tickets are from November 23 to December 16.
These fares are available across all channels and are non-refundable. Continue reading GoAir offers fares from INR601
Tourists stranded after snowfall in Pakistan
October 26 (TravelAndy): Thousands of tourists, both from across the country and foreign, are stranded in the scenic Naran valley in north Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following heavy snowfall, said reports.
This is the earliest snowfall in the area in 40 years.
Reports quoting officials said efforts were on to clear the roads. Though some stranded tourists have been rescued, many are still stuck there. Continue reading Tourists stranded after snowfall in Pakistan
Durga Puja comes to an end
October 22 (TravelAndy): The festival of Durga Puja came to an end today.
Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengalis and it usually takes place over four days in or around October depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. Though the core of the festival is religious, it has now developed into more of a Bengali cultural carnival.
At the end of the festival, the idols are immersed in water bodies. While the idols of private pujas have started today, that of the community pujas will have be immersed either today or Sunday. No immersions will take place on Saturday because the Muslim festival of Muharram falls on that day. Continue reading Durga Puja comes to an end
Sikkim to get airport in Dec 2016
October 20 (TravelAndy): The Himalayan state of Sikkim in India is set to get its first airport in December 2016.
The airport is being built at Pakyong, 35km from Gangtok, the state’s capital.
“Improving connectivity is the key to promoting tourism.” said India’s tourism minister Mahesh Sharma. Continue reading Sikkim to get airport in Dec 2016