Wednesday, March 1, 2023

LOOKING FOR A ROAD TRIP OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN THE USA? VISIT CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST

Central Coast is one of California’s most beautiful and underrated road trip destinations.

As someone who has road-tripped through many of California’s star attractions, I decided to go off the grid this time and explore some lesser-known places. I chose the Central Coast of California because it offers a great combination of epic and diverse beaches and coastal valleys, bountiful agriculture, wineries and cuisine, unique historical attractions, and the authentic rural California experience, making it the perfect destination for an epic 8-day road trip.

On the way from Monterey to Paso Robles, California

The region is blessed with mild, balmy weather with 284 days of sunshine, miles of scenic coastal drives, surf-friendly beaches, lush vineyards, and ocean adventures like no other. However, during my visit, a series of powerful winter storms hit the area and caused flooding and mudslides that the region hadn’t seen in over fifty years, so I had to activate Plan B. Despite the change in plans, I could still experience the beauty and diversity of the Central Coast in a different light, indulging in indoor activities such as wine tasting, museum visits, spa treatments, and even bowling.

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Places I covered in the Central Coast of California

I visited four stunning destinations during my road trip — Santa Cruz, Monterey-Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, and Oxnard. Each place offered its own unique charm and attractions, making me realize why California is known as the Golden State. In this article, I’ll share my experiences, focusing on the highlights of each destination in Central Coast, California.

Storm battered Capitola Wharf, Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz: A Seaside Paradise (2 Days)

My first stop was Santa Cruz, a seaside paradise located only an hour’s drive from San Jose. Although the drive was a bit dreamy with partly rain-soaked and foggy weather, it was well worth the journey. Santa Cruz is known for its high-stoke surf culture and expansive beaches, but there is so much more to this laid-back strip of shoreline.

Read more About :- Santa Cruz Wharf, California travel guide

Travel Guide for California
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Wednesday, January 18, 2023

HOW TO SAVE ON CAR RENTAL COSTS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP ABROAD

The cheapest way to rent a car is by planning ahead of your travel.

Yes, we know everyone is getting fed up with all the bad news about how prices for everything are spiralling. The holiday season is here, and so are the dreams to book that bucket list trip we have been dreaming of forever. Before you book your next holiday, you should know that car hire costs are going through the roof. In this post, I’ll share tips on saving on rental cars and avoiding the worst.

How to keep car hire costs under control on your next trip abroad

Analysis suggests that car hire rates in many popular European destinations have at least doubled in the past 12 months. This happened because many car hire firms sold off vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep their overheads down while business flatlined. As the covid situation has come under control and people started travelling again, the need for car rentals has increased. Unfortunately, the number of cars available for rental is still low — there is more demand and less supply, which is why car hire has become so expensive. Add the soaring petrol prices on top of that.

Of course, with the cost of living pressures putting the squeeze on people in so many other areas, the last thing you want is anything that will push up the cost of your next holiday.

In an ideal world, you would say avoid hiring a car. But that only works for some. You may have a young family and want the convenience of getting around quickly and independently. You may be heading somewhere remote where public transport options aren’t great, or you may be on a road trip with your family or friends. In that case, car rental is the only option left.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to hire a car, it makes sense to start planning how to keep costs down now. Here are some tips on how to save on rental cars.

Book early and pay in advance for your rental car

The days of rocking up at a car hire desk straight off the plane are over. Well, at least if you want to avoid paying well over the odds, they are. Whether it is Hertz, Enterprise, Avis or any other budget car rental firm, know that anyone walking up to a desk looking to hire a car is a captive audience. You need a car; they have all the power. Don’t expect any deal.

If you want to find the best deals on car hire these days, you can’t afford to leave booking online for a few days or even a couple of weeks before you depart. The competitive early bird markets are being pushed further and further back. So as soon as you confirm your trip, get online and start looking for car hire deals.

Although it flies in the face of most money-saving advice, it’s also a good idea to pay for your car hire in advance in the current climate. That’s because there have been stories of hire firms cancelling pay-on-arrival agreements. After all, they know they can get a better price last minute. Look for deals that ask for at least a deposit to be paid to lock in the price.

Friday, December 9, 2022

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 – WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WATCH LIVE MATCHES IN QATAR

Ever since I was a kid and whenever I saw the FIFA World Cup being telecasted on television, I dreamed of attending a FIFA World Cup Match live at a stadium amongst die-hard crazy football fans from Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. And Qatar World Cup, happening so close to India, gave me a chance to fulfil this dream. I always felt Qatar was the closest country I could get to watch the World Cup, and in this rush, I made my last-minute bookings to Doha to witness the spectacle. I am not that big a fan of football, so my major objective in attending the World Cup was to experience the massive fandom for the game and also the transformation of Qatar from a conservative middle eastern country to a progressive nation focused on healthcare & sports it has envisioned itself to be. While FIFA World Cup is still on its way, no one can predict who will win the Qatar Fifa World Cup 2022.

How to Reach Qatar from India?

Doha is the capital of Qatar, and all the planes land at Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways is the national Flag Carrier and the Best Airline in the world as per my experience of flying in after 100+ Airlines. And I was lucky enough to get an Rs.28000 Delhi-Doha return flight via Qatar Airways. Top Notch service and the most comfortable seats.

Visa Requirements for Qatar

Qatar had made Hayya Card as a substitute for Visa for World Cup 2022. Otherwise, Qatar offers visas on arrival to Indian Passport holders. The Hayya Card was issued to every passport holder who had 1 Match ticket for the World Cup and accommodation booked in Qatar for three nights in advance. The process is simple, you present your Match Ticket voucher code and accommodation booking number and a Digital Hayya Card is issued in your name within 24 Hours. This Hayya Card is mandatory for entry into Qatar, gives you unlimited access to public transport in Qatar, and is issued free of cost.

Accommodation in Qatar

As expected, the room tariffs were touching the roofs during the World Cup Schedule, so I was not able

To find any accommodation less than 500$ a night and even hosting Couchsurfing and Airbnbs were not allowed for World Cup without the government permission by citizens of Qatar. So I finally figured out the concept of Fan Villages that had been established especially for the World Cup. And finally managed to get a one-bedroom apartment for me at 128$ a night which is around Rs.10,000 a night for three nights.

Booking Match Tickets

One of the most important questions on every football fan’s mind who plans to watch a FIFA world cup match live in the stadium is, “how much is a ticket for World Cup Qatar 2022?” I thought the tickets would be very expensive and the process to get them would be quite complicated, but it turned out to be one of the simplest processes. One should only purchase tickets from the Official FIFA Ticketing website as all the other platforms might not issue you ticket vouchers even after payment deduction. While there was a long list of matches that I could have watched from the FIFA world cup 2022 list but , I went on to the FIFA website, looked up the Qatar world cup 2022 schedule, zeroed in on the matches I wanted to watch live in the stadium, scouted for their tickets, and secured two tickets for two different World Cup 2022 Group stage matches.

1. Uruguay vs South Korea — Category 3 ticket -Cost 250 Qatari Riyal equivalent to Rs.5500

2. Brazil vs Serbia — Category 2 Ticket — Cost 600 Qatari Riyal equivalent to Rs.13000.

Category 2 offered better views than Category 3, and I will specify more about this below in the blog. I also got two tickets at the last minute through the FIFA Resale platform.

3. Argentina vs Mexico — Cat 2 tickets — Cost 630 Qatari Riyal equivalent to Rs.13500

4. Australia vs Tunisia — Cat 3 tickets — Cost 280 Qatari Riyal equivalent to Rs.6000.

Read More About:- FIFA world cup 2022 in Qatar

Monday, November 28, 2022

An Epic 10-Day Iceland Roadtrip Through Spectacular Landscapes

Hitting headlines, attracting adventure seekers, and wooing nature lovers and photographers alike– Iceland has become a top bucket list destination for millions of travellers around the globe of all age groups and ethnicities. In this complete Iceland Travel Guide, read about my Epic 10-day Iceland Roadtrip through spectacular landscapes of stunning waterfalls to otherworldly volcanic landscapes, from bubbling mud pots to curious lava towers, from sparkling beaches to geothermal Lagoons.

What made me plan a 10-day Iceland Roadtrip?

I first heard of Iceland when I used to play video games in childhood on those game consoles with cassettes. My Formal introduction to Iceland happened in 2010 when our Family Trip to London got postponed by two weeks due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The smoke took over European Airspace and forced us to postpone our flights.

Finally, I went to Iceland in 2016 for my 100-Day Europe Backpacking Trip. Iceland was my final country on my Marathon European Journey, spanning over 25+ Countries and 50+ cities. My Mother wanted to join me specifically for Iceland as she had seen some pictures of Iceland on the Internet. So I decided to rent a car and do a road trip across the Ring Road Circle in Iceland. And it turned out to be the most beautiful experience of my life.

How to Reach Iceland

There are two ways to get to Iceland — by airplane or by ferry. I chose to fly in. Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik, Iceland, is your gateway to the country. Most European Cities have a direct flight to Reykjavik. Iceland Air is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, while WOW Air is the budget airline which offers fantastic deals. Around 20 airlines have regular flights from destinations in Europe and North America to Keflavik airport all year round.

Best Months to Visit Iceland

Summers are the best time to visit Iceland as the roads are clear of snow and the weather is not that harsh. So you get to witness the beautiful landscapes while travelling around the country. It would be best to visit Iceland in December — January to see Northern Lights. I suggest visiting in May-June or September-October when the skies are clear and there are few tourist crowds in the country. Also, the days are longer so you can travel more during the day.

Saturday, September 24, 2022

THAILAND TRAVEL GUIDE – THE BEST AREA TO STAY IN BANGKOK

Are you visiting Bangkok for the first time and unsure where to stay? Here is a list of the 11 best areas to stay in Bangkok, ideal for luxury travellers to backpackers.

If you have been to Thailand, you’d have heard the infamous phrase, “same same, but different.” This Thailish phrase sums up Bangkok accurately, a city of contrasts where the familiar and the unusual collide like the flavours of Pad Thai. The contradictions provide the City of Angels with its complex, multifaceted personality. Bangkok has it all. Bangkok has everything from high-class shopping malls to wholesale markets, striking ancient temples to glitzy skyscrapers, and from luxe fine dining to cheap street food. You’ll never get bored when you hit the streets of Bangkok. However, one crucial decision that can enrich or ruin your experience is the neighbourhood you choose to stay in Bangkok.

I have a simple philosophy when choosing an accommodation – a central location when it’s a city stay and an offbeat location when it’s a scenic stay. So, I followed the same rule this time as well. After my relaxed stay at Phuket, my main agenda was shopping and easy connectivity to major attractions in Bangkok, so I decided to stay at Amari Watergate Bangkok. You can read more about it here.

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Where to Stay in Bangkok?

Despite being a popular tourist destination figuring out where to stay in Bangkok can be overwhelming. There are 50 districts (khet) in Bangkok and an infinite number of options available. Still, it’s not always easy to know what to pick. So, in this post, I’ll try to help you make that decision. Here’s a list of Bangkok’s 11 most popular neighbourhoods where you can stay, depending on your interests and budget.

Sukhumvit

The best area to stay in Bangkok for shopping, dining and nightlife

Sukhumvit is a great area in Bangkok for sightseeing and shopping

If it’s your first time in Bangkok, you will find Sukhumvit very charming and perfect for your stay. You will be in the heart of the most dynamic area for tourism with easy access to other districts. Sukhumvit is a lively neighbourhood with an excellent array of historical and cultural attractions along with a strip of skyscrapers housing great bars, fine restaurants, lifestyle shopping malls, green spaces for recreation and a vibrant entertainment and nightlife scene, making it the best area to stay in Bangkok for first-time visitors.

Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain runs along Sukhumvit Road. You can easily catch it at stations in Ekkamai, Thong Lo, Phrom Phong, Asok and Nana.

Bangkok Riverside

The best area to stay in Bangkok for families looking for a scenic stay

Bangkok’s Riverside is the historic core of Bangkok

When I first asked my friend where I should book my stay in Bangkok, her answer was – Bangkok Riverside. And, why not. After all, Bangkok’s riverside is the historic core of this magical city. Home to some of Bangkok’s best five-star hotels offering resort-style accommodation with incredible river views in a romantic setting, Bangkok Riverside reflects a constantly changing scene day and night. The area comes alive, especially after dark, with its glittering temples, shrines, and the Royal Palace.

Although some of the plushest condominiums and corporate towers have been built over the past decade, the area has retained its unique cultural identity, exclusiveness and seductive charm. You’ll find many of Bangkok’s finest luxury hotels straddling the river, with generations-old restaurants and shops hemmed in between. It’s undoubtedly one of the most atmospheric neighbourhoods in Bangkok.

However, due to its prime location, Bangkok Riverside charges a premium over other areas for hotels and restaurants. Also, the district does not have Subway MRT and only one Skytrain station, Saphan Taksin.

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