The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes ‘sight-seeing’. – Daniel J. Boorstin

Practical information

If you want to get inspiration for what to see go to a place that sells postcards an check out the things which seem interesting.

Take some snacks (e.g. an apple) with you while sightseeing to keep your energy level going.

You can sometimes pay entrance fee only once and then return on consecutive days without having to pay again. In order to be able to do this you may have to get a special stamp with the date or write your name on the back of the ticket. In some destinations such as Cancun, Mexico there are time share agents. They can offer you free food, discount tickets or even cash if you go and listen to a presentation (and to the endless argumentation from sales guys afterwards). If you can handle this it can be a good way to save money, but you have to look reasonably rich in order for them to give you the offer.

Personal Experience – The Punjab Plague Ploy

In Dehli a very nice gentlemen approached me as I was trying to find a place to buy train tickets. He kindly informed me that he came from the “Official Tourist Office” – something the metal badge strapped around his arm ensured. Perplexed by his badge and a being a newcomer in India I nicely took a stroll to the “Official Tourist Office”, which turned out to be nothing more than a regular travel agency. I said I wanted a train ticket to Punjab. People in the office were shaking their heads. “No, no, you can’t go to Punjab. People are dying there!” They were referring to a plague of some kind. And quickly offered a 10-day sightseeing tour to Rajastan instead. Well, I realized in time this was a bunch of crooks and found my way down to the official ticket office. Not surprisingly situated at the railway station, a few steps away from where he hooked me up.

In general, showing up at times when there are few people there is usually rewarding. Going to Taj Mahal in India in the early morning can offer great photo opportunities, while going there in the afternoon will give you a tourist invasion to cope with.

Tours

If you plan to visit sites which are visited on day tours (e.g. Petra in Jordan) but would like to avoid the crowds you can consider taking the tour day 1, stay overnight in a local hotel, go to the site early before the tour buses arrive day 2 and go back with the tour company on day 2. If you want to take tours the advice from fellow travellers is worth a lot more than that of the tour operators (who will try to sell you the tour where they get the highest commission).

If you travel alone going on a tour is a great way to meet people and to get advice on other things to do.

Personal Experience – The Balaton Blunder

I was staying in a private home near lake Balaton in Hungary. The house consisted of two floors with a common entrance door. The owner of the house showed me around the place and left me the key before he left. I was preparing for a nice afternoon sightseeing trek but when I tried to open the front door I found it locked. I tried to unlock it but the key did not work, the owner had left me the wrong key! The windows did not open and here was no back door. I gave up trying to pick the lock (I am an honest guy after all) and proceeded to yell out the window and wave. There were several people passing by but they all just smiled at me and waved back. After one hour the neighbour started to wonder what all the noise was about and finally got hold of the owner who came back and unlocked the door.

Family Easter breaks to one of the UK holiday parks in the UK are very popular mainly because of the variety of activities that are available there. There are many reasons that family trips here have been so popular in the past and continue to be to this day and one of the main things is the customer service that is provided there.

The fact that there is something for the whole family also encourages families to go there. What other holiday could we say the same about that toddlers, older kids, teenagers and parents all have a great time there? A holiday to a foreign country always is stressful especially if you have little ones as the easily become agitated and get easily restless. The long wait at the airport is usually more hassle than its worth and the problems with the flight delays that are becoming more common make it even more difficult.

Many families need to stick to a budget for all luxuries and holidays definitely fit under that banner. The larger your family, the stricter you have to be with your budget which is why cheap UK holidays have become increasingly popular during the past few years. Staycations, as they are now called, mean that travelling distance is cut down as you can drive or take the train and before you know it you will be at the holiday park enjoying your break.

If you choose to take a half term holiday here then you need to book soon as deals are fast running out but you should still be able to find one that suits the requirements of your family. The weather in the UK is starting to pick up at the moment which makes these family breaks even more enjoyable as you will find a beach in attendance to right by the holiday park in places such as Minehead and Skegness.

Once you have arrived at the holiday parks you will be welcomed with a smile and there is some great entertainment for you to look forward to as well. With some of the leading acts from popular shows such as the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent on show you will never go bored and these shows are a great way to end a fun-filled day at the holiday park. These acts are good fun for all ages so there is no need for anybody to be bored!

If you are on the hunt for a bargain then find the best deals on family Easter breaks online where there are also a range of short breaks available.

VAT refund for tourists

All Non-Thai nationals who travel to Thailand and departy from an international airport are able to submit a VAT refund application. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat –Yai, Phuket and U-Tapao are all participating international airports.

After filling out the short application, witch can be found at the airport, your purchased goods must be presented to the airport’s Custom officers for inspection. Original tax invoice (receipts) must also be presented at this time. VAT refunds process is to be done before flight check-in.

While in Phuket you have probably seen stores displaying a ‘’ VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS’’ sign.

There are thousands of shops and businesses throughout Thailand where you can receive VAT refund for your purchases. Phuket alone has over 136 stores. An extensive list of these shops can be viewed at the Revenue Department of Thailand website.   

On the purchasing day, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at the store to complete the VAT refund Application for tourists form (P.P10) and attached the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P10) must show a value goods of 2,000 bath or more. Purchased goods must be taken out of Thailand within 60 days from the date of purchase to be eligible for a VAT refund.

There is a small fee of about 100 Bath applied to refund requests. Airline crew members departing Thailand on duty or those who carry a diplomatic passport and reside in Thailand are not entitled to VAT refund.

 Sponsord by : www.allphuketrealestate.com

Organising a surprising and unforgettable stag trip is pretty a challenge in today’s fast running time. Even there are a lot of stag weekend destinations all across Eastern Europe, nobody will judge a Saturday night at a dance club full of other drunken lads as a perfect stag party climax. On the other hand travelling to a place in middle of nowhere without a proven track of record of amazing nightlife could be another unwanted experience.

A capital city with 3 million people, sharp concentration of great looking babes, good selection of fun activities, high quality restaurants and bars as well as night venues of top class are excellent prerequisites of ideal stag trip preparation. Kiev, the host of 2012 European football championship, is still a stag trip destination that was not captured by crowds of Western travellers and keeps nearly a virginal illusion of untouched party venue.

The first stags organised in Kiev during 2006 and 2007 by local tour company have been a huge success. Anya Kirilenko, the young booking manager of KievStag.com says that of the more then 20 stag tours all have been amazed by the gorgeous girls in Kiev and they praised the preparation and perfect organisation of their Kiev stag trips. She added that the most popular activities during the day were the Kalashnikov AK 47 shooting, followed by Dynamo Kiev football games and go-carting. The night was dominated by stag classics like pub crawls, striptease clubs visits and night clubbing.

“We have some original surprises,” Anya continues with smile “like stag kidnapping. Every group that booked this shock action for their stag had lot of fun. Some of victim-stags stated that they will remember their kidnapping better then their wedding. Because of the stag mafia-style kidnapping is so popular we added the Unexpected Wedding event which we predict to be a great success as well.”

The first stag trip company in Ukraine, KievStag.com, provides fully organised stag weekends in Kiev starting from airport welcome, transfers (if needed in limousine and with strippers), accommodation (from hostels to luxury hotels) and broad choice of activities. Experienced female guides are taking care of the groups and provide valuable advices on where to find the best night clubs and where to party with local girls. Service of Kiev Stag.com embraces 24 hours on-call local support, Survive-Card with most important phone numbers and addresses as well as discounts in reputable restaurants and bars.

To book a stag trip (or even a hen trip) to Kiev check the website Kiev Stag Trips that includes the full offer of hotels and activities that can be arranged in Kiev for your stag do.

Bangkok is a highly metropolitan area that is unreserved in the expression of its brilliance and excellence. A city with an unquenchable thirst for the greater, the larger and the enhanced that forces one to take on the attention thrown around by the most recent innovations and advancements. Tradition and culture is a very important part of the day to day lives where courtesy and hospitality are key, and a smile says a million words.

Eating in Bangkok is an interesting experience and is often the highlight of a visit to this city. Mouthwatering sizzles, grills, stir fries are almost everywhere. Sidewalks, restaurants, resorts, roof tops and boats that serve a variety of cuisine is the expression of Bangkok’s passion for food. For the more daring adventure seeker “food on feet” might be an experience.

Thai delicacies of roasted or fried bugs bring in the ultimate satisfaction of the Thai culinary skill. For the senses of this acquired taste, fried grasshoppers, beetles, water roaches, crickets, bamboo caterpillars, scorpions, frogs, ants and ant eggs known as a high source of protein, vitamins and minerals are often of popular demand. With Bangkok being home to some of the most excellent forms of Asian cuisine the Thai gastronomical pleasures are a treat to not be deprived. Whatever the craving maybe, whatever the pallet may desire, the pleasures of a taste of paradise are at the fingertips of this city that never sleeps.

Life in the heart of Bangkok is designed to make every traveler from around the world feel at home. The Bangkok President Park is a facility that bridges the rat race of life to the soul’s yearn for serenity. Situated in the midst of the most happening forms of entertainment, travel, shopping and business this Bangkok service apartment facility will mould itself around any life style and schedule. If the need for a home away from home is priority a Bangkok Apartment of this nature will prove to paramount all expectations far and beyond.

Make your New Year special by exploring Orlando, one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations that gives you more reasons to smile. The place welcomes you to its colorful lifestyle, a perfect place to enjoy with your family, and a memorable experience of reliving the kid in you. Lets explore fun now!

Orlando has numerous reasons as well as varied choices to make you happy. You can relax your mind and body with the spirited massage service at the Mandara Spa or simply opt for a romantic meal with your spouse at Hemingway’s. There are numerous shopping arcades to enjoy a wonderful shopping experience. Or you can visit the Universal Studios Florida to get animated with the interesting characters of The Simpson’s. Make sure that your spouse and kids have fun too.

When it comes to enjoying a holiday with its true spirits, Orlando has a lot to offer. Its unique outdoor adventures include paragliding, hot air balloon excursion, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc. Orlando has a scenic landscape accompanied by a number of beautiful lakes and mountain views. The most exciting getaways offered by Orlando are the exotic wildlife safari tours. Make sure you get sufficient time to explore Orlando in every possible way.

Booking your air ticket to Orlando involves a pretty simple procedure. You can check on the Internet and browse through various travel websites to grab the best deal to visit Orlando. The luxury and comfort provided by your Orlando vacation will definitely be a thing to remember for a long while.

Your stay in Orlando will get you involved with its life and culture in so many ways. You can experience exotic delicacies of the place while going bar-hunting and indulging yourself in the exciting nightlife of the place. So hurry and book your air ticket to Orlando to have a great vacation this New Year with your family.

Are you planning a trip to any city of India with your family and looking for a website that offers flight booking? Look no further and choose Indian Airlines to travel within the country. While you fly to your destination, enjoy a memorable journey and experience the comfort and luxury of travelling with one of the best carriers in the world. The airline merged itself with Air India in the year 2008 and has been offering world class flight booking and travelling services to all its customers.

While you travel, it is important to keep a check on the Indian airlines flight schedule before you make a flight booking for Indian airlines ticket. When you wish to know when and at what time you have your flights, come to Indian airlines. All the information you need about flight booking, is available with Indian airlines. The flights cover 18 international and 59 domestic destinations and this is why there is no better option than Indian airlines for flight booking and travel across the country in a comfortable way.

If you are travelling to India, you need to know that Indian cities have numerous tourist sights and you should pay them a visit to witness the real natural and archaeological beauty of India. Whenever you plan a trip, remember making your bookings with the help of Indian airlines if you want to make your journey the most memorable and affordable one. One can get every type of Indian airlines flight ticket on this one website which is better than the rest and aims at the customer’s convenience and comfort.

Flight booking process for Indian airlines ticket is easy and you can even find last minute airfare deals and offers. All you need to do is to select your destination and check the availability of the Indian airlines ticket. After this, you can make flight booking easily. Your journey in the skies will never be so wonderful and amazing. The cabin crew makes sure that everyone gets on and off the flight with a smile. Fly high in the skies with Indian airlines ticket and make sure that you make your flight booking with the best in the industry.