tour and travel

So, how to describe the way of traveling, pretty close to monk-style wandering around, mostly by foot or hitch-hiking, having just sleeping bag, some grains for food and a guitar for extra cash?

Not backpacking, as backpacking usually includes staying in cheap hostels or camping grounds, and having enough amount of money for meals in burger king… Also tramping somehow doesnt really describe that way of traveling.

A video tour that shows the unintentionally green credentials of this hotel which claims that being budget is good for the planet.

There are literally hundreds of guides on budget travel to be found on the Internet and in bookstores. Some are useful, some are not. It really depends on what you want and where you are going. Many web sites offer email subscriptions and regular updates on where the best deals are. So how do you decide which ones are the most useful? A lot of the sites are confusing, so how do you find the ones that are going to give you the information you need?
 
Online bookstores have sections on travel guides. Try Amazon or specialty travel book stores like the Globe Corner Bookstores. They have an amazing array of guide books for the traveler on a budget. The most important thing to keep in mind about published guidebooks is that once the information is printed, it is probably out of date. Although most of them are updated annually, you cannot take what is written as set in stone. Internet guides are preferable in this area because their information is updated sometimes on a daily basis so all the deals on offer are available when you see them.
 
The best guides seem to be the ones that give you specific information on either your choice of destination or the type of holiday you will be taking (family vacation, backpacking, students, seniors, etc). There are the well known guide books/web sites like The Lonely Planet that will give you information on just about every destination you can think of. Or you can contact the embassy of the place you want to visit or go to the library to find out more about your choice of destination.   Most web sites will also have links to travel deals that are from the site sponsors. Some of the deals look great but research them. Compare to other sites to get the best deal for you.
 
Some guides worth having a look at for the budget traveler are:
* ‘The World’s Cheapest Destinations’ by Tim Leffel
* ‘Europe on $70 a Day’ by Arthur Frommer
*  Any guidebook from the Lonely Planet ‘Shoestring’ series
*  Any guidebook from the ‘Cheap Eats and Sleeps’ series
 
If you are backpacking, getting a guide on hostels in the area you are traveling to is a good idea. There are many sites dedicated to finding hostels. You will be able to get prices and make bookings in advance.
 
Once you know where you are traveling you’ll be able to find a guide on just about anything. How to get there, where to sleep, where to eat, what to visit and how to travel around are all going to be available in a travel guide. And once you get to your destination go to the local tourist information stand and look at what other helpful guides are available.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com
 
 
 

Being the IT hub of India, Bangalore is also known for its rich cultural heritage. Bangalore is quite pleasing and is known for its historical places too. Since many foreigners come to live in this city accommodation is available everywhere. Hotels in Bangalore are classy and chic offering the tourists the best of Bangalore experience. There are other attractions for which this place is popularly known. Bangalore Palace, Lal Bagh Gardens, ISKCON are among few of its attractions. The hotel offers the perfect combination of uncompromising hospitality and amenities including comprehensive business facilities, an exciting range of food & beverage options, along with fitness centre facility complete with a salon, to cater to the needs of a discerning business clientele. You may also find a tourist guide in some hotels, who can ease your traveling. The beautiful flora, the garden also takes pride in its unique collection of botanical species. With a lovely ambience, cafes and refreshment stalls around you are sure to have a good time in this place. If you are an animal lover, there’s place for you as well. Read hotel reviews and compare their rates before you finalise on your hotel deals. The hotels in this serene place are located in close proximity to the tourist spot and near the center of the city. Hence tourists throng this place in huge numbers for several reasons which has led to the construction of many Hotels in Bangalore. Touring in Bangalore becomes easier with the wide range of accommodation option that the tourists can choose from. Based on your budget and preference, the tourists can choose from the wide range of accommodation that the Bangalore hotels have to offer. The hotels of Bangalore cater their service to both tourists and the business travelers. The accommodation facility provided at the hotel varies with the star credit of the hotel. Basic amenities and facilities are provided by all the hotels to its guests. Bangalore’s most significant highlight is the Bull Temple, which houses a massive stone structure of the Nandi Bull. The Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore is a popular picnic spot and has several recreation facilities. Well equipped with modern amenities and service Bangalorean hotels give the utmost pleasure of your visit to Bangalore. The best business hotel chain and a world of exotic locations, luxurious rooms exclusive service and fun filled moments for business as well as holidays, just the way you want them to be.

Citing examples of what happened on 26th November, Wednesday has really terrified innocent travellers and business men holding conference meetings, presentations and trainings at upscale hotels. It occurred in business hub of south Mumbai, at Trident hotel, Oberoi hotel, Taj hotel, Nariman point, hospital and railway station in mumbai. Television footage showed some terrorists, wearing dark colour T-shirts and holding automatic rifles, near some of the buildings under attack. Mumbai witnessed explosions at the Taj hotel, Oberoi hotel, Trident hotel and firing at a hospital where gunmen were surrounded One of the terrorist called up the media guys and revealed the agenda behind the terrorist attack who claimed that the attack was to avenge the “persecution” of Muslims in India. And also requested the release of Inidan Mujahideen militants who were jailed in India. Security experts say the standard safety measures in place at most upscale hotels in international business centers could not have entirely prevented what happened on November 26th, the invasion of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and Oberoi Hotel. But the attacks in Mumbai are triggering new discussions about the proper level of security that should be in place at hotels which are frequented by business travelers, which often attract large crowds with few limits on access. Hotels across India have made a significant investment to upgrade their emergency and crisis procedures in light of Mumbai events. Experts often say that other mild security practices can be adopted such as separate staff entrances, vetted staff, anti-shatter film on lobby windows and adequate lighting. More and more hotels are coming forward to take the appropriate steps necessary, including established emergency and security procedures. Vehicles should be kept at some distance from the building, checking identification of people entering the building and using bomb-sniffing dogs, to detect any bombs or alert system to check for weapons. There have been similar such occurrences before, where in upscale hotels have been targeted. In September, a truck bomb exploded at the entrance to the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, while a car bomb went off outside a JW Marriott in South Jakarta,  in 2003. In 2005, al-Qaeda executed a series of coordinated bomb attacks on three hotels — the Grand Hyatt, Radisson and Days Inn — in Amman, Jordan. So, it’s better to practice good security measures at hotels. Any thing suspicious when noticed should be immediately reported to the police.

Can you get a job over the summer while traveling? There are plenty around and many aimed at travelers specifically. Organize your work permit and check out the local paper for jobs for travelers. You’ll be amazed at what kind of work you can find to do.
 
1. You could become an au pair or nanny. There are many opportunities to look after people’s other kids while traveling. Try England, South Africa or Australia for starters.
2. You could teach English. In a number of countries there are opportunities for English teachers. If you are bilingual you’ll have a much better chance of scoring one of these jobs in places like Japan.
3. How about working in a pub? In England there are opportunities for free board in pubs where you are prepared to pull a beer. Hospitality jobs are relatively easy to come by in Australia.
4. Have you ever considered working at children’s holiday camps in the USA or Russia as a camp counselor?
5. You could become a fruit picker! Get to work in the fields all over the world.
6. What about a winter holiday job? Can you ski? You can get jobs as ski or snowboard instructors in many ski resorts all over the globe.
7. How about becoming a Jack or Jillaroo on an outback station in Australia? Immerse yourself in the culture of the outback.
8. Is there work available at the hostel you are staying at? It won’t hurt to ask. Sometimes you can exchange work for free food and board or at least a reduction in the price.
 
Apart from paid positions, you can also get volunteer work in many places. Volunteering your services can get you free food and board. How about volunteering on a farm? Or being a hike trail or tourist guide volunteer? You’ll get to see the sights for free.
 
For those of you who may be looking for a more serious work/travel experience there are other opportunities. For example, can you get a transfer with your current job to an overseas position? Or do you want to do something worthwhile in your gap year? Programs are available for students to travel in their gap year and get involved in some amazing projects all over the world. You could work in the publishing industry in India or teach children with special needs. There are many organizations set up to help place people who want to broaden their horizons by volunteering their services in foreign countries.
 
If you think working or volunteering while you are traveling would be a possibility for you, make sure you find out if you need work permits to do so. Using your skills while traveling is a great way to save money and meet people. You’ll be rewarded in many ways.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

Bangalore, also known as the Silicon City and the Garden city of India is a hub of people from all over the world. It is also known as the techno savvy city of India. It houses major software parks and national and global IT firms. It is also one of the few true educationally inclined cities in India. Bangalore houses some of the most prominent and internationally well known institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM-Bangalore), India Institute of Information Science (IISc Bangalore), etc. It also has a rich cultural heritage. Not just that, the city is also known for its active night-life with lots of discos and pubs that have come up in and around the city.  Bangalore also houses several beautiful gardens and parks, old monuments and other tourist attractions scattered all over the city. The city is frequented by visitors from all over the world. The number of hotels in the city has been constantly growing. Bangalore hotels offer online hotel booking in Bangalore at discounted rates. They also provide reservations and booking information of all luxury hotels in Bangalore, heritage hotels, five star hotels, five star deluxe hotels and budget hotels in Bangalore plus hotels near airport and hotels near famous tourist destinations. A visitor can also look forward to other travel services like tours package, car and taxi rental in Bangalore. One can find everything under the roof through them. A traveller can avoid all the hassles and get all the facilities quickly. The Hotels in Bangalore offer a wide range of hotels and resorts for the accommodation of the numerous tourists visiting the city all through the year. Ranging from luxurious Five Star Hotels and Four Star Hotels to medium-priced Three Star hotels, Spas and Resorts, and reasonably cheap Budget Hotels – Bangalore Hotels offer the right kind of accommodation and services for you and your family or friends visiting Garden City Bangalore. Located at close proximity to the tourist attractions, business areas and landmarks within the city, the hotels provide efficient services. The premier Hotels of Bangalore offer guests a plethora of excellent facilities and services that are international standards. With a myriad of tourist attractions, Bangalore attracts tourists from USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Central Asia and other parts of the world too. Your stay at hotel is made more enjoyable with a plethora of services. Jaipur, is also known as the Pink city and houses great monuments. It attracts huge number of tourists from all over the world. In the wake of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai on 26 November, hotels have beefed up security measures at the premises. Visitors can be rest assured of best services and upgraded security during the stay.  

One you can afford – seriously.  
 
Look at how much you earn. What can you put aside for a trip? What are you prepared to sacrifice to make your trip a reality? Maybe you’ve been saving for a while and have a few thousand dollars in the bank. You do? Great. Well that’s your realistic budget. If you want to fly to Europe tomorrow and you only have ten dollars in the bank then you are not being realistic. But it might be enough to get you in to the local museum for a few hours escape.
 
When you are setting your budget, be practical. Everyone has different needs for their travel experience and if your travel plans include overseas flights, you will need to budget accordingly. Sure you can find great deals and get there cheaper than you might have expected, but make sure you have enough money in your budget to not only get you there but to travel around, find a place to sleep, oh and have enough money to be able to eat! 
 
So how do you go about setting a budget? Following these steps might help:
1. Draw up a table with two columns.
2. Column A is for Expense Items. Column B is for Approximate Costs.
3. In column A write down all the things you can think of that will cost you money while traveling. These might include: air flights, car hire/fuel allowance, travel passes, sight-seeing tours, accommodation, food, insurance, immunizations, and souvenirs.
4. In column B write an estimate of how much you think these things will cost while on your trip. You can research your travel costs quite easily on the Internet. Food allowance might be a bit more difficult. If you are traveling alone, as a couple or in a family you will need to budget food costs accordingly.
5. Now add up the costs. This will give you an estimate of how much your trip will cost. Can you afford it? Yes – then this is a realistic budget for you. If not, then you may have to rethink your destination and the type of travel experience you want.
 
Remember that this table will only be an estimate of your travel costs. You must also budget for incidentals and prepare yourself for things to not go to plan. For example, have you got enough money in your budget to buy new clothes if your luggage goes missing? A realistic travel budget will have extra built in to it to cover emergencies. Setting yourself a budget of about sixty-five dollars a day, if traveling alone, is a reasonable amount. If you are traveling as a family or in a group, this number will be vastly different.  
 
Also consider if you will be traveling and working. If this is the case, then you may not need as much to start with, just enough money to get you to your destination and a place to live while you look for work. (And enough money to buy you food until you begin earning a wage. )
 
Start making your travel plans with your budget in mind. Don’t exceed your budget, always keep a little in reserve so you can buy that fantastic Italian leather handbag or go jet-skiing in Hawaii if the desire takes you!
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

Of course you can travel just about anywhere with your kids on a budget. Like any travel experience on a budget you need to research and plan well to make the most of your travel dollar. Many places, however, are family or kid friendly and will throw in added extras for the children. So whether you intend traveling at home or abroad, look for places that will cater to your family’s needs.
 
RV trips are a great way to travel on a budget. In fact, traveling with a car is almost essential for families. It is usually cheaper than buying rail passes or catching taxis everywhere. But more importantly, it gives you that ‘door to door’ freedom that is necessary when traveling with kids.
 
If you are traveling overseas, have you considered staying in a hostel with your family? This is a much cheaper option than staying in hotels and many hostels are family friendly and have no age limit (except in Bavaria where you can’t be older than twenty six). You can request a room with enough bunk beds to accommodate your family and you can cook your meals in the communal kitchen. Huge savings to be made!
 
In the USA there are many places to travel with your family on a budget. Consider these options:
1. Camping. The cheapest option around for any travel adventure. Many campsites have activities for kids and if you don’t like the idea of staying in a tent, many places have cabins to rent that are still cheaper than a hotel room. Camping gets you up close and personal with nature and gets the kids outside and running around.
2. What about spending some time at a Working Farm or Dude Ranch? Look around for reasonably priced holidays at these destinations and you will find plenty of activities and atmosphere for kids and adults alike.
3. Head to Disneyland in off peak season for big savings.
4. The same can be said for traveling to Hawaii. Check the packages available in low season and see how affordable it is.
5. You’ll also find some excellent deals in traveling to Mexico. Go for all-inclusive resorts, especially in the low season.
 
What about if you want to travel overseas? Where are some good places to take the kids on a budget?
* Although Australia is a long way away and can be a bit pricey to get there, it is a very child-friendly place with lots of cost saving adventures to be had for the kids. Australian off peak is different from North America so do some research.  
* Europe can be done on a budget with kids. Pick your destinations with the kids in mind. Get them involved in your itinerary. Stay in hostels and travel by car. You’ll be amazed at how much you save and how much you see.
* Some island resorts are very child friendly. In Fiji there are resorts where children under twelve stay and eat for free. Do your research!
* How about a family cruise? Cruises are great because they are all-inclusive, cater for families and you get to explore lots of places. There are some good family package deals to be found with most cruise companies.
 
So get planning and get packed. Plan your family vacation and check out the deals available. Going off peak is the best way to save money. If you are going to take the kids out of school buy them a journal so they can record their experiences. It’s amazing how much they’ll learn by traveling with their family.
 
This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru
www. stuartstravel. com

There are plenty of hotels in Delhi, India. Delhi Hotel prices and comfort levels differ, as they do in most other places. You can choose from guest houses, budget hotels and two, three, four and five star hotels in Delhi. Prices for budget hotels in Delhi range from 1000 rupees a night to 8000 rupees a night, between $20 and $160 a night; a lot depends on where the hotel is situated. Most of the mid-priced budget hotels look to be fairly basic but very comfortable. 2 star hotels in Delhi also incorporate some budget hotels like the Hotel Leo Continental. The price for the deluxe room is just over $40 a night, things like laundry, telephone and color television are all extras, which is something you need to take into account when booking budget hotels in Delhi. 3 star hotels in Delhi include the Apri Inn which is close to central shopping areas and main restaurants. Rooms at the Clark International hotel cost between sixty and a hundred dollars a night – 3000-5000 rupees – but are far closer to western notions of comfort. The Delhi Clark International hotel has its own conference room and a large restaurant that serves a wide variety of dishes and drinks. The Dahleez Hotel is also a 3 star hotel and accommodation starts at 3000 rupees or $60 a night, again, most other services as noted above are extra. 3 star hotels are certainly superior to many of the budget hotels in Delhi and the rooms are more suited to western tastes. 4 and five star hotels in Delhi India include the Hotel Connaught in New Delhi which promises luxurious surroundings and wonderful works of art to business people and travelers. The price structure for 4 star hotels in Delhi is a bit confusing as they range from 4000 rupees at the luxurious looking Avalon Courtyards Resort to a starting price of 8001 rupees at the Hotel Connaught. You may also find the Avalon Courtyards listed as a 5 star hotel so you need to do a bit of research to determine which level of accommodation would be best for you. Rates at the 5 star Centaur hotel start at 8001 rupees or $160 a night but this hotel is also rated as among the deluxe hotels in Delhi, India. The hotel has 376 guest rooms and suites each with direct dial telephone, television and refrigerator. The Centaur hotel is very close to the central airport in Delhi, which makes it popular with business people as well as tourists. The hotel has two restaurants, a bar that serves a range of Indian and imported liquors and a coffee shop where guests can get drinks and light meals around the clock. Some of the best hotels in Delhi, India, boast their own shopping malls, beauty parlor and barber shop. Hotels like the Centaur also have fully equipped health centers and sports facilities. If you really want to splash out then you might want to try the Taj Mahal luxury hotel, with one of the most famous names in the capital and 40 minutes drive from the international airport. The hotel is close to the seat of Government in the Lutyens area of Delhi and offers wonderful architecture together with modern facilities. Prices start at 17000 rupees a night at the Taj Mahal but come with all the facilities that you would expect from luxury hotels the world over. If you want to see the cream of hotels in Delhi then just one night at the Taj Mahal, could spoil you for life.