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Beach Honeymoon

Lazying out in the endless coastlines, soaking in the clear turquoise waters and a sunset dinner cruise is your perfect honeymoon destinations, then here are some beaches that will make you so “AWW”.

Glacier Express – A train to fall in love with

Some of the most spectacular train journeys one can make is in Switzerland. Topping the list is the “Glacier Express”. During this 7 ½ journey, expect to see gorgeous villages, soaring steeples, red sloped roofed houses, brown cows munching away the lush green grass, ice melting into little water falls, green forests and wild meadows. This St. Moritz/Davos - Zermatt panoramic train journey, crosses 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the Oberalp Pass which is 2033 meter above the sea level.

Hong Kong Highlights

Hong Kong is a vibrant never-say-sleep city. Neon-lit skyscrapers, tightly packed sidewalk, molasses-slow traffic, steam-filled eat outs identifies this overwhelming harbor city. In addition to the Cantonese Chinese and British influence, one can notice a diverse influence from Vietnam to Vancouver making Hong Kong a unique destination

Paris Highlights

Paris, the city of lights and city of fashion, has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic city in the world. History, art, culture, food or fashion, one can have a variety of attraction to see in this city.

Adventure Sport: Zorbing down the hill

For Adventure Sports enthusiast, Zorbing is a must do. Simply saying, Zorbing is a recreation activity of rolling down a hill inside a inflated ball. The experience is more like throw inside a washing machine. Though you might think with all the movement inside the zorb, you would end up black and blue, but Zorb is incredibly safe. The Zorbing site was first established in Rotoura, New Zealand.

World Famous Cuisines

The history, climate, geography, religion and culture have a deep impact on any cuisine in the world. The origin and migration of food have in turn influenced the history, culture and culture. For any traveler, tasting the world famous cuisine with its authenticity is indeed a great opportunity. Here are some of the world famous cuisines in no particular order: Lebanese Cuisine, Greek Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, Mexican Cuisine, Thai Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, French Cuisine, Italian Cuise...

Where to Travel: This Halloween?

Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:14 PM TOIP
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Halloween is an annual Holiday observed on October 31, primarily in US, Canada, Ireland and UK.

All Hallow’s Eve literally means the eve, or day before, all hallows, or "holy ones." The Lord’s Prayer, used by many Christians, contains the phrase, “hallowed be thy name.” Medieval Christians hallowed, or honored, not only God, but also all the saints who worked for God’s work in the world and glorified the Church with their prayers and service. For centuries, Christians celebrated the eve before a major feast or holiday, also known as a vigil, with prayers, candles, and offerings to the saints. All Hallow’s Eve was the vigil for Hallow-mas during that time.


Places to Visit During Halloween:

New York City, USA: Prepare to be terrified at the grotesque, gory and brain-scarring Halloween haunted houses in New York City.
  • Village Halloween Parade – The nation's largest public Halloween celebration and has been a New York institution for years. It's crazy, crowded and chaotic and must be experienced at least once.
  • Blood Manor Haunted House - It is 5000 sq. ft of terror. This bloodcurdling labyrinth takes you through 20 themed rooms of horror.
  • Nightmare Superstition – This haunted downtown house is back for its 17th year of terror.
  • Haunted House – Tagged as NYC's newest, cheapest, and scariest haunted attraction, this haunted house is for grown-ups only.
  • Annual Haunted Forest and House at Inwood Hill Park – Its a free event and expect to see Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy and the werewolf.
London, England: London is a terrific city to visit and if you go at Halloween there's extra fun: ghost walks, creepy Family cruise, London dungeon and great deals (its off-season in London).
  • London Eye and Creepy Cruise – This giant Ferris wheel will be themed as a spooky witch and the river cruise on the Thames turns into “Tales of Two Witches Cruise”
  • London Halloween Ghost walk – What better time to do the Ghost walk in London than Halloween?
  • London Dungeon – beneath the London Bridge station is this house of horror. Various macabre bits of history is recreated with live actors, shows and special effects.
Disneyland, California, USA: Lots of decorations and activities at Disneyland. Don't miss the Halloween decoration and character costumes, haunted mansion, space mountain ghost galaxy, Halloween Screams fireworks, Mickey's Trick and treat party and Disney's happiest haunts tour.


Beach Honeymoon

12:49 PM TOIP
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Lazying out in the endless coastlines, soaking in the clear turquoise waters and a sunset dinner cruise is your perfect honeymoon destinations, then here are some beaches that will make you so “AWW”.




In no particular order:
  1. Thailand: Thailand has some beautiful sun kissed beaches, serene islands, colorful culture and delicious Thai Cuisine that attract newly wed couples from all over the world. Krabi, Pattaya, Phuket and Kon Samui islands are the major honeymoon places in Thailand

  2. Langkawi, Malaysia: Langkawi is an ideal destination to start your journey. This archipelago is truly marvelous with its stunning landscape and aquatic and adventure sports.

  3. Bali, Indonesia: Bali, a tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago is so picturesque and immaculate it could almost be a painted backdrop. It has rice paddies tripping down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soaring up through the clouds, dense tropical jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue water, crashing surf and friendly people who don't just have a culture but actually live it.
     
  4. Mauritius: If you are looking for a vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world, then your search ends in Mauritius. A small island, Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean, approximately 900 km east of Madagascar. Nature has blessed Mauritius with a beautiful countryside, consists of unspoilt beaches, clean aquamarine waters and boundaries of coral reefs.

  5. Maldives: If a honeymoon is meant to be a celebration of love in an intimate,secluded, and most importantly, beautiful setting, then the Maldives is the world’s best backdrop for all these things. There are endless ways to let the magic of the islands dazzle you on your holiday as a couple.
     
  6. Seychelles: Seychelles is a tropical paradise of outstandingly beautiful granite and coral islands fringed by sparkling white sandy beaches and encircled by coral reefs teeming with colorful marine life. In this natural haven, renowned for the friendliness of the people, romance is in the air, making the islands an ideal destination for an unforgettable honeymoon.
     
  7. Santorini Island, Greece: This fabulous island shrouded in myth, is believed by many to be the lost Atlantis and has an exciting history that goes back centuries. Brilliant sunsets and spectacular views of the volcanic islands on the west side, where towering cliffs are crowned by tiny white houses curved into the rock, make it a lover's paradise and a favourite honeymoon destination.
  8. Venice, Italy: From its fabulous setting and architecture to its rich history, art and music, Venice spells romance. You've seen it in films and photos, but the experience of actually being here yourself will exceed your imagination. Its intimate atmosphere, tiny bridges and piazzas, along with the Venetian celebration of love in song, makes this the perfect place to kindle the flame of love and commitment. 
     
  9. Caribbean Islands: The Caribbean, with its perfect beaches and palm trees, has long been a popular honeymoon destination. The azure waters of Barbados, secluded powdery beaches of Aruba, night-life of Jamaica and white sand beaches of Bahamas are the few destinations that will take your breath away.

  10. Goa and Kerela: Our own Goa and Kerala with their beautiful beaches and landscapes, makes your honeymoon not less than any of the above locations.

TOIP Take: Sentosa Island, Singapore

10:11 AM TOIP
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A former fishing village turned into British Military Base, Sentosa was transformed into an island resort, tag lined as “Asia's favorite Playground”. Just minutes away from the city buzz, this fun island is filled with entertainment. Sentosa with variety and versatility, attracts millions of visitors from around the world every year.

About Sentosa: Less than half a kilometer from the mainland Singapore, this slice of paradise has 50+ attractions, beaches, thriving greenery, hotels & spa, dine & shop and an awarding winning golfing arena. Entertainment is endless in this place.

Getting In: Sentosa Express, Jewel Cable Car Ride, Public Buses, Sentosa Rider, By Taxi and By Car

Getting Around: Sentosa Express, Sentosa Bus (Three colored Shuttle bus services – Yellow, Red and Blue Line connect Imbiah Station to various point on the island) and Beach Tram (Shuttles people between the beaches every 15-20 mins. 2 Services, one between Beach Station – Siloso Beach and another between Beach Station and Palawan and Tanjong Beach)

Visa: Singapore Visa should be arranged prior to travel. No on-arrival visa for Indians.

Attractions:
Imbiah Lookout: Situated near Mount Imbiah on Sentosa, Imbiah Lookout is the latest cluster of new and exciting attractions that will appeal to all. Adventure-seeker, nature lover or history buff, there's always something fun and exhilarating for you!
Activities: Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, DESPERADO, Images of Singapore, MegaZip Adventure Park, Sentosa 4D Magix, Sentosa CineBlast, Sentosa Nature Discovery, Skyline Luge skyride, The Merlion, Tiger Sky Towers

Beaches: Take your beachfront lifestyle to new heights with Sentosa's beach attractions! Ride roaring waves, master different water sports, be mesmerized by fireworks, lights and water displays, get up-close with friendly animals, or simply stroll along in search of solitude. You'll find it all on Sentosa's 3.2km stretch of sandy white shores – Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach.
Activities: Animal & Bird Encounters, AZZURA Beach Club, Gogreen Cycle & Island Explorer, Gogreen Segway Eco Adventure, MegaZip Adventure Park, Skyline Luge Sentosa, Songs of the Sea, Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, The Flying Trapeze, Wave house Sentosa

Siloso Point: At Siloso Point, you can literally walk through historical forts and dive into incredible underwater experiences. Siloso Point is home to many edutainment attractions that promise to impart knowledge in a fun and engaging way!
Activities: Fort Siloso Tours, Underwater World Singapore and Dolphin Lagoon

Resorts World Sentosa: Resorts World™ Sentosa offers a whole new world of truly rewarding experiences. Worlds apart from anything you’ve ever known yet familiarly Asian at heart, Resorts World Sentosa is the ideal resort destination where everyone can come together for moving experiences and lasting memories.
Activities: FestiveWalk, Marine Life park, Universal Studios Singapore, Voyage de la Vie

Nature: Home to 45 hectares of natural coastal and secondary forests, you can find some 170 species of birds and animals, and a surprising amount of Heritage Trees in Singapore!
Activities: NatureWalk, Mount Imbiah, Sentosa Nature Discovery, Southern Islands

Hotels & Spa: Sentosa's hotels and spas offer something for every budget and traveller. Beachfront romantic resorts, classic modern rooms, and exquisite hotel experiences await you on Sentosa.

Dine & Shop: Sentosa, the ultimate Island Dining Destination, where meals are always served with a splendid view

Golf: Tee-off at a world-class, award-winning golfing arena: Sentosa Golf Club!

TOIP Take:
Though this fun island has so much to offer and a must visit in Singapore, not all the attraction are worth the money. Unless you are in a mood to splurge, Sentosa can be done in a day. The TOIP recommends the following attractions:
  1. Songs of the Sea
  2. Underwater world Singapore and Dolphin Lagoon
  3. Sentosa Luge & sky-ride
  4. Images of Singapore
  5. Universal Studios Singapore
  6. Southernmost point of Continental Asia
  7. Bring your swimming to chill out in the beaches
Source: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/

Getting Around a new place

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 11:38 AM TOIP
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Taking Taxi everywhere seems much easier and safer option but did you know the most common tourist rip off in any country is the taxi. Any taxi driver can clearly identify you as a tourist and may try to squeeze out as much money from you as possible. 


There are dozens of ways to travel around any country/city, so make the best use of it.
  1. Trains: Most of the major cities have metro/trains/trams/tubes/subways. This is how the locals travel. You can avoid the traffic jams and also save a lot of money. Information regarding the routes will be available in most of the trains itself. In addition, you can also get maps in various websites prior to your travel so that you can plan your itinerary accordingly.

  2. Buses: Most of the major cities have websites to find the bus routes. If you cannot find one, they the best option is to ask the bus driver. Additionally, many cities have Hop-on Hop-off buses which is intended for tourist purpose and generally route the main tourist attractions. You can hop into these buses anywhere and hop off anywhere according to the type of ticket.

  3. Car Rentals: It is a great option for long holidays. There are many car rentals available which allows  you to pickup a car in any destination and drop off at a same/different destination. From 2 seater to 7 seater, you can get any type of car with/without other car gears. Please note, international driving license might be required in some countries and road rules are strenuous. Though car rental is a great option to travel between places, it is inefficient in cities since traffic jams and parking spaces might be a problem.

  4. Bike rentals: Conventionally, Bike would mean cycle in another countries especially in Western countries. Bikes can be hired or can be found free for use by paying a fee. Bike docks will be available near the tourist spot which allows you to pickup and drop off bikes as you wish. It is a great and faster option compared to walking.
In addition to the above means of commutation, there are cities with water taxis, boats, ropes, etc which help you enjoy the authenticity of the place.

Travel Cards:
In many touristy cities, travel cards/passes are quite popular. This can be purchased for some period of time say 1 day pass, 2 day cards etc. which can be used extensively in that period. These cards permit one to travel in 1 or all the means of transport in the city by just showing the card. In addition, sometimes these cards will also include entry into many tourist spots. Travel Cards/Passes is a time saver and economical option for independent travelers.

Being a local in any place will make your trip more authentic and enjoyable.

Everything about Package deal

Monday, October 25, 2010 4:51 PM TOIP
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In this hustle and bustle life style, planning out a vacation is demanding. Not all have the time and energy required to sort out the perfect plan. Hence, the package deals seems like an attractive option. General myth is that “package deal doesn't require any research, just pack the bag and go”. To spent wisely and get the most out the trip, it is necessary to do some research regarding the package deal.



Deciphering a Package deal:

First collect following details about the package:
  1. Flight Information (airlines, timings, airport departing and airport arriving, ticket class)
  2. Hotel Information (Hotel name, Room type, number of days)
  3. Visa Information (Charges for the Visa)
  4. Entrance Ticket information (Type of attraction)
  5. Food and beverage information (When and what meal is included)
  6. Inclusions and Exclusions in the package

Once all the information is collected, try to find out the cost of each. Flight fares can be found in the particular airlines web page etc. Once you have collected all the costs, separately note down the prices that are included and excluded. Add all the inclusion and exclusions separately. Say the package was for 35000 per person. The inclusions is 25000 and exclusions 10000. Ideally you will be paying 45000 per person at the end of the trip in addition to your other spending.

More about Package deals:

Other than cost, you might also need to do some research on the following:
  1. Number of free days
  2. What to do on the free days?
  3. Am I seeing the Must-see places?
  4. Is the places part of the deal, really worth a visit?

Doing the math and understanding the destination will help you to get most out of your holiday.

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