26 April 2014

Top 5 Destinations To Travel Solo

Many travelers these days opt for solo vacations. Let’s have a look at the top 5 destinations to travel solo:

COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA: Quench your thirst for adventure in Costa Rica. It is a place where lazing on beaches is a lifestyle and where surfer-culture flourishes. The sluggish and slow pace of life in this place will get you addicted to it. Stroll at the ‘Cloud Forest’ on one day, then visit ‘Active Volcano’ the next day and finally relax by lounging on a beautiful beach. Step out of your comfort zone and also walk through the tropical-treetops.

CHILE
CHILE: This city of South America depicts extreme beauty and stunning contrasts. Gaze at the Volcanic Peaks of Andes and dive into the breathtaking beauty of the country or just roam around in the orchards. To get a view of the brilliant suburban parks, move on to Santiago and for an exotic night life visit the majestic beach resorts. An easygoing and a calm nature run in the nerves of this country and will make you feel like home.

BERLIN
BERLIN: It is a hub of modernity, history and glamour. Traveling solo forms a great way to understand the exciting part of Berlin without any distractions. Germany is an ultimate place to get a taste of design, art, fashion and music. Go on a shopping spree in the largest mall in Europe and walk leisurely on the roads at night and get swayed away by the riches of this exhilarating city.

NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand is abundant in beauty and its easy going people make the country a superb destination for solo travelers. With humongous choice of campsites, hotels, backpacking joints and resorts, the country will offer its visitors a feel at home. For dolphin and whale watching, visit the North Island and for Queensland, waterfalls and glaciers, visit the South Island.

BHUTAN
BHUTAN: Bhutan is a medieval kingdom that edges its way into the 21st Century. The country is visited by multiple tourists from across the globe. It permits tourists who can pre-book their tour prior to entering the country. Travel solo here with just a personal guide teaching you everything about the roots of the kingdom and having your meals, transport and accommodations taken care of. Bhutan forms a deeply Buddhist place where monasteries form a segment of the mainstream. It is a perfect destination to relax and enjoy and the people here are educated, vibrant and fun loving.

Book an affordable flight from tripbeam, pack your bag and get ready to fly solo to these attractive destinations. 

22 April 2014

Globetrotting for Chocolate Lovers

One such delicacy that everybody craves for is Chocolate! Let’s take you on a choco-filled tour across the planet:

Chocolate
  • Flanders, Belgium: People of Belgium just love chocolates. They are fond of innovation and quality and look for the same in their chocolates. Flanders in Belgium swanks some of the most creative and finest chocolate makers. Check out for the amazing creations of Hans Burie in Antwerp and the orient inspired contributions of Laurent Gerbaud in Brussels. Brussels and Bruges both boast of the museums where one can learn more about the production and history of chocolate.
  • Ghana: Now when you take a bite of your favorite Dairy Milk, say thanks to Tetteh Quarshie. He is the person who first planted the cocoa seeds in Ghana, thereby giving birth to the chocolate industry. This made the country of Ghana the main exporter of cocoa in the twentieth century. Visit the first plant of cocoa at the Quarshie’s farm in Ghana and also learn about the production of chocolates at ‘Tafo Cocoa Research Institute’.
  • Switzerland: This lovely nation has the largest per capita consumption of chocolate in the world and has produced some of the famous makers: Nestlé, Toblerone and Lindt. To have some fun in the factory, visit the ‘Nestlé Calliers’ site near Gruyères. For handmade top truffles and pralines, check out one of the Sprüngli outlets. This company is known for making cocoa since the year 1836.
  • Paris, France: Paris forms the heaven for chocolate addicts. A visit to any one of the outlets of ‘Robert Linxe’s Maison du Chocolat’ will set you drooling. Learn to make chocolates at the cocoa cooking class in ‘Lenôtre Culinary School’. If you are left with some time then go and try some scrumptious chocolates at the ‘Salon du Chocolat’ festival.
  • Bourneville, Birmingham, England: Birmingham’s world of Cadbury feeds our need to drool over huge vats of dark brown yummy liquids and see the bars come out through the wrapping-machines. Go and take the tour in Bourneville and get crazy in the largest Cadbury shop of the world.
  • Hershey, USA: Go and visit this place filled with the sweet aroma of chocolates. The headquarters of Hershey’s empire has produced a complete resort of choco-themed entertainment. Sip some choc-martinis in a themed restaurant at Hershey and also get smeared with the healing cocoa at the Chocolate Spa of Hershey. So sweet.

Get ready to swim in the luscious brown fantasy. Visit these exquisite destinations and ensure for yourself a fun filled and chocolaty vacation. 

16 April 2014

Best River Rafting Places In India

Best River Rafting Places In India

River rafting forms one of the most thrilling and captivating water sports of the world. The excellent places for river rafting in India are nested in the beautiful hills of the North. Rivers emanate from the Himalayas and flow downwards in the plains rushing between the heavily forested hills and steep-gorges. This forms a wonderful view and also a perfect hub for river rafters. Toppling down in fast currents of these gushing rivers provide a stimulating adrenaline rush. Below are some of the exotic river-rafting destinations of India: 
  • Rishikesh: River rafting in the beauty of the Ganges is a lifetime experience. Rivers like Alaknanda and Bhagirathi also offer high gushes of streaming water. Rishikesh, however forms one of most exquisite places to raft on the Ganges. The stretch of 16 kilometers from Shivpuri to Lakshman Jhoola contains some high-grade rapids which include Roller Coaster, Double Trouble, Golf Course and Three Blind Mice.  Hard-rafting and skilful maneuvering is essential to survive the strong currents. 
  • Sikkim: The turbulent Teesta and the rugged Rangit of Sikkim offer a great dimension of rapids ranging from grade 1 to 4. Some of these thrilling rapids are difficult even for the experienced rafters. Melli forms the starting point of river rafting which can be easily accessed from the road of Gangtok. Teesta and Rangit serve both professionals and amateurs. First timers get an option for a half-day rafting over the low waters and amidst the picturesque beauty of the North East. The expert hands can go for rougher and bigger rapids. The gushing streams over crags and rocks, frothing and churning their way down to plains make it excellent for both paddle and oar water rafting. The river gushes through dense forests that are hindered in patches by small villages or terraced cultivations. 
  • Ladakh(Zanskar): The land of Ladakh is packed with daunting grey mountains and snow capped peaks. This isolated landscape is dotted with colorful monasteries, hamlets and lush green meadows. Ladakh presents many swift and scenic flowing streams and rivers. Lately, this beautiful place has become one of the finest destinations for lovers of river rafting. Some say that this is one of best places for rafting in the world. The gorge of Zanskar is spectacular with its walls rising thousands of feet from the bed of the river. The river provides rapids to a maximum of grade 5 and traverses through some remote and rough-terrain places. The river Indus offers famous rafting points from Upshi to Kharu, Phey to Nimo and Upshi to Nimo. Nimo forms the union point of river Indus and Zanskar where the green waters of the former mixes with the mud colored waters of the latter. River rafting in Ladakh is an ultimate method to experience the scenic beauty of the place. 
  • Brahmaputra: Brahmaputra forms one of the most challenging rivers for river rafting. Weaving its course from Tibet, the river cuts its way through the mightiest mountain-range of the world making treacherous gorges and deep-trenches along the way. The stream of water pours down at an enormous speed to arrive the plains of Pasighat where it finally becomes placid. Rafting experience at Brahmaputra provides a deep insight into the tribal life and the river-valley. 
Rafting in the white-waters of the wild rivers is an unmatchable experience. The powerful rivers gushing down from the unsurpassed height of the Himalayas across the high valleys and bordered by beautiful greenery make India an ultimate destination for river-rafting. Become a traveler and pack your bags to test and tame the waters of these mighty rivers. 

7 April 2014

Top 10 Travel Mistakes To Look Out For

Top 10 Travel Mistakes To Look Out For

Even the most well planned tours can cause some issues when you fall prey to stupid travel-traps. Plan your tour in a manner that doesn't leave any scope for hassles and last minute changes. Making the most of your journey depends on how foolproof your travel plans are. So before you start gearing up for your next vacation, let’s have a look at the 10 travel mistakes that you should avoid: 

  1. Not booking sufficient time of connection between the flights: Travel experts have a say that one should leave a gap of minimum one and a half hour between connecting the flights. This will help in significantly reducing the chances of missing the flight and losing your luggage.
  2. Making an assumption that your passport is travel ready: Few countries want the passports to be valid for three to six months past your date of flight home. Keep a check on the expiry date of your passport before designing your holiday. As routine processing off passports takes around four to six weeks, it is advisable to apply in advance for your passport.
  3. Buying flight tickets at the wrong time: The most difficult part is realizing when to stop looking out for fares and buy the ticket. The sales can help you save a significant amount of your money but make sure that these sales are genuine. Mostly, the price of the flight tickets tends to spike in the final two weeks before flying. It is advisable to make your calls before the deadline appears.
  4. Not utilizing your frequent flyer points: Paying a fare is unnecessary when you have frequent flier points at your disposal. For redeeming these points, you are required to book early for your flights. A limited number of seats as flier points are provided by the airlines on each flight as a reward for traveling. 
  5. Selecting cheap over suitable hotel: Check and recheck the description of your hotel when it says things such as ‘near city market’ and then consider it for your stay. The word ‘near’ is eligible for expansive description. A costly hostel in the middle of the market will be way more convenient than choosing one that is in the interiors of the city. This will save you from the taxi fares required for commuting from the place of visit to your hotel.
  6. Not getting the money changed before leaving: It is always required to conduct a research regarding the matters of currency exchange in your city and go for the one that offers the best deal. The most prevalent myth of an international trip is that only the amateurs are required to change currency at the airport. This they owe to the notion that the exchange-rate of a foreign currency will be better in the destination city. It may not always be true as you won’t always find centre for currency-exchange at nearby-spots. The problem gets worse when the city is an unknown one. Therefore, it is beneficial to carry a requisite amount for the taxi fares and other petty expenses before you leave your city.
  7. Not purchasing a thing as soon as you see it: If you see a funky and cool shirt at the beachside shop then go for it. Don’t think that you may find a similar one or a better-version elsewhere. It is a rare case that you will find a similar stuff somewhere else. And not having that stuff may haunt you afterwards.
  8. Handing over your precious belongings to strangers: It can be the case that the passengers are forced to get their luggage gate-checked. In such a case keep your valuable possessions such as camera, mobile-phone, jewellery etc. in a ziplock or a pouch inside your carry on. 
  9. Depositing high credit-card fees: Some credit cards tend to charge extravagant amount for foreign transactions. If you are withdrawing a foreign currency, the exchange-rate can be drastically high while others may charge nominal fees or simply nothing. So conduct a thorough research and go for that card that doesn't disturb your pocket. Quite many credit-cards offer big added travel-perks and charge absolutely nothing for the first year. Go for such cards.
  10. Fighting with local logistics: Sometimes you may not choose to stay at a luxurious hotel but you still need a good concierge to help you with booking your tours, devising restaurant and theatre reservations, instructing your taxi-drivers in local-language etc. What you should do is head on the desk of the concierge of the nearest good hotel. They will be happy and satisfied to help you even if you are not staying in their hotel. Just remember to tip them.