TravelAdvice

10/12/2015

This times TravelAid isn't the usual ,to the point or undersized. Reason ? Its Spain & you just cant leave the details !

Check it our and let me know if you need any more help for a Spaintastic Trip !!

http://www.tripoto.com/trip/spain-trip-changed-my-perspective-5667d36f640ba

My first solo euro-trip to Spain turned out to be a debunker of sorts. Since my childhood I’ve always been inclined in...

18/11/2015

This is Amsterdam, Netherlands, certainly Europe’s & also the world’s top party place!
As a destination, Amsterdam, undoubtedly gives you all the things you need in a vacation! Don’t have a preconceived notion that it’s only a bachelor party destination (though many top 10 lists do put in top slots); Amsterdam has soooo much to offer and for just about all ages!

Some really cool Adventure rides near the central station, Biking along the jaw-dropping canals ,getting amazed by art & architecture in the Museums ,exploring super scenic & historic wind-mills in the country-side ,boat rides & dinners in the canal route ,Trips to space via the coffee shop space cakes , walking through the rather infamous RLD ,the Heineken experience , the cosmopolitan atmosphere & the amazing weather should make up a bucket list for an ultimate Amsterdam Trip !

Best time to go: I did in late October which is considered to be the onset of winters, some possibility of rains is always there but I recommend in or before October! (Relatively less crowded than the peak summer season and still awesome)
No of days & suggested itinerary – I’d planned a total of 5 nights in the Netherlands, of which I’d taken out 3 for Amsterdam and rest for Belgium or other places in Netherlands. So essentially I mean that although you can do most highlights in Amsterdam in about 3 days but I recommend to stay longer and absorb everything in your pace –say 5 nights ( which is in no way an upper limit ,staying longer would be even better ! )

Where to Stay: The Bull Dog hostel – Hands down a great pick! I would love to stay there again any day – there are branches of bull dog, so choose the one in the central area-book earlier (20-25 days in advance to get a bed)
Other places I stayed and recommend are – Stay Okay Hostel –central branch
Although I would recommend hostels over hotels any day for staying in Amsterdam (good hostels have clean & hygienic washrooms, breakfasts included and clean beds and damn cheap!) But if you want a luxury stay then check out the college hostel – a different property –an erstwhile college converted into a hotel managed by students!
Things to Do:
1. Wind-Mill Country side tour
2. Bike rides all over Amsterdam
3. Rijks Museum & Iamsterdam sign.
4. Boat ride through the canals
5. Exploring the RLD
6. The Heineken Experience
7. The Flower market

Travel Aid on Amsterdam :
1.Take Train from airport to central station for 5 Euros – cheap & convenient
2.Stay in hotels – be in a couple ,friends or solo – it’s a great call – don’t book from booking.com but prefer www.hostelworld.com
3.Book bike in initial days itself ; to get a hang of all places– about 12 Euros a day
4.SHARE the Space cake if you decide to have one ; DO NOT have more than one by any chance and don panic when the effect kicks in ,might last for a day or two even
5. Make up your mind to walk more and explore –always better
6. No need to buy an umbrella before hand; buy cheaply there only.
If you have any questions or you have a Amsterdam experience to share, let me know in the comments!

08/10/2015

Quick Mini Mytravelaid !
When Planning a budget euro trip ,book Bus's (https://www.alsa.es/en/) & Train's (http://www.raileurope.co.in)
well in advance !
Unlike India ,the prices fluctuate and can cost a bomb if you decide spontaneously ( spontaneity has its own charm ,but so does saving :P)
Learning from planning of the upcoming Amsterdam & Spain trip !
Let me know if you have had a similar experience !

07/10/2015

If you're planning a backpacking trip abroad & you know travelling low makes sense but not sure about how to choose the right travelling backpack !
This Article would surely give some good perspective , helped me for sure ! take a look


http://snarkynomad.com/5-of-the-best-travel-backpacks-for-global-adventures/

One of the most important things a backpacker can find is a great travel backpack. It holds all your gear, it’s with you almost all the time, and in some bizarre, anthropomorphic way, it& #821…

14/09/2015

This is Lansdowne, yet another hidden gem in the Himalayan belt.

Lansdowne is comfortably doable weekend getaway destination from Delhi ,and yet totally unexplored vis-à-vis the usual ( read ; a respite from Mussoriee ,Shimla ,Manali ,Mcloedganj and other highly crowded and over loaded with retail showrooms, hill stations we usually head too )

It offers well carpeted roads, ideal for a road trip (ref. Garhwal Rifles Cantonment) -fog along the hilly terrain makes the drive even special. Pre-Independence Roman Catholic Churches (St. Mary’s Church) & St. John’s Church with stained glass windows that exude the colonial charm (will remind you of the movie 1920 – not in the horror sense though: P ). Scenic hiking and trekking spots ,surprisingly good food joints , lush green surroundings & a completely relaxing vibe are amongst all that the place has to offer.

Best time to go: Summer is peak season and hence crowded, winter gets rather much cold, I recommend September to November as it’s the best time for nature lovers with greenery all around & breathtaking views of the grand mountains.

Route, Stop over & suggested itinerary – If have your vehicle I’d surely recommend a road trip (bike or car; both not an issue, depends on the number of people in your group) –it’s JUST the perfect distance , where you feel you’ve driven more than the regular Karnal getaway but less than what would make your back ache
Road Route: Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut – Kotdwar – Lansdowne – 250 km Appx.
- Total – 6 hours (including lavish 30 mins for pakoda/parantha breakfast & 30 mins for Photo Opportunities once the mountains start :D )
Alternatively you can also take train ride from Delhi to Kotdwar and take a taxi from there on. But I think, if you factor in time from home to railway station & rail journey it’d be somewhat the same.

Where to Stay: Accommodation is not an issue at least in Sep-Oct-Nov, as it’s not too crowded, but if you want a certain property I recommend booking in advance. The Jungle resort and Mayur Hotel are good options (most places would range in between 1500-2000 for a night, for a room in which an extra bed can be easily negotiated :D (Y))

Things to Do: Food Check-list – Food is good at Tipsy Restaurant & Mayur Restaurant,
Must see places in order of time available are Tip & Top point, St. Mary’s Church & St. John’s Church, Bhulla Tal Lake and 35kms ahead of Lansdowne is the beautiful Tarkeshwar Temple sited amidst dense deodar woods.

Travel Aid on Lansdowne :D :
1.Start early from Delhi –around 5-5:30 am (it makes great sense to leave the city before it’s up),
2.Try Chocolate Burfee (local sweet dish),
3.Take time to appreciate just the Nature,
4.Early morning walk/hike is surely worth the effort,
5.Buy beer/breezers available at the shop in the main market (no need to stock up in your vehicle)
6.Buy cool Lansdowne souvenir T shirts from army shops and check out handmade cards shops supported by the Army wives association.

If you have any questions or you have a Lansdowne experience to share, let us know in the comments!

11/09/2015

This is KASOL & TOSH, INDIA!

Kasol & Tosh are just Crazzy! This destination is the place that would give you “stories” to cherish for a lifetime. I had not even the slightest clue it would be that good!

This destination has incredible scenery in all directions, lots of German bakeries serving amazing food, hiking as well as the trekking spots (e.g. Kheerganga trek) and all this can be easily done in about 2-3 days time from Delhi .A few names that this area is associated with are mini-Israel and “stoners-paradise”, the former because of the substantial Israeli tourists and cafés and the later for the hash brownies which are definitely amongst the once in a lifetime experiences! You have got to do em once!

Best time to go: May to October (I did in May)

Route, Stop over & suggested itinerary – Delhi to Kasol/Manali Bus from Kashmere Gate. This is Overnight bus take about 14 hours to reach Kasol-Make sure you take the bus with Bhunter enroute and get down at Bhunter and take a taxi till Tosh !
Where to Stay: Accommodation is not an issue in Kasol or Tosh; you can stay in any of hotels in Tosh. I highly recommend Alpine guest house in Kasol ,great value for money and one of the only hotels with private section of Pārbati river –picture relaxing massage by the river just outside your room !

Things to Do: Food Check-list – German Bakery ,Maria Café , Bhoj Café ,Little Italy all have good things to offer ,the Kasol-Kheerganga Trek –which has a natural hot water spring pool at the top of the trek !, you can also visit Manikaran Gurudwara which also has hot water springs , optional oil massage post the trek ,Ginger lemon tea at more or less any place

Travel Aid: Share the Hash-brownie! It’s not a donut :P. Half a brownie is good enough to transform you into an astronaut . Book the Volvo bus from Kashmere gate ,Delhi early to get front seat for better leg room .Drink plenty of water with Glucon D on the trek and avoid fried Israeli food rest you’re all set for a killer trip !
If you have any questions or you have a Kasol /Tosh experience to share, let us know in the comments!

04/09/2015

Happiness is getting a Schengen Visa!
But how do you ensure you get the Visa smoothly & timely?

Travel Aid for Schengen Visa- Your Comprehensive List and Tips from my experience

List When you’re a Salaried Person
1. 3 photos - background, Matt Finish with 80% Face
2. Valid Passport - do check expiry
3. Six months bank statement signed & stamped by bank officials
4. Last 3 years Salary slips OR from 16 – last three years
5. No objection certificate letter from your company stating your name, passport no & date of resuming work.
6. Travel Insurance
7. Flights (can be dummy or holded flights)
8.Hotel bookings (can be dummy or no cash booking as well)
9. Insurance/Fixed Deposits/Mutual Funds/Property Papers anything on your name to support that you would surely come back – this can be supportive not mandatory though (helps surely )

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List When you’re not salaried yet and your parents are supporting you;

1. 3 photos - White background, Matt Finish with 80% Face
2. Valid Passport – do check expiry
3. Six months bank statement signed & stamped by bank officials
4. Father’s 6 months bank statement signed & stamped by bank officials
5. Father’s/Companies Income Tax Return for last 3 years
6. Letter of sponsorship from Father /Letter head of company (if father is entrepreneur)
7. Travel Insurance
8. Flights (can be dummy or holded flights)
9.Hotel bookings (can be dummy or no cash booking as well)
10.Insurance/Fixed Deposits/Mutual Funds/Property Papers anything on your name to support that you would surely come back –this can be supportive not mandatory though (helps surely )
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After you collect the documents you can visit the VFS office in Nehru place, they would cross check them & give you an interview date. The whole process would take a maximum of 15 days, but chances are you’ll get your visa within a week.

Tips for Schengen Visa

1. You DON'T necessarily need a travel agent to get your Schengen Visa ,if you can devote some time collecting the above documents (which you would in any case) there’s not much left for the agent to do and you not only save money but also a lot of stress & anxiety the agents would to give in the package :P
2. I won’t recommend booking actual flights before visa as most economical flights are non refundable and there is always a 0.001 % chances of rejections plus the Visa takes a maximum time of 15 days which won’t make much difference on flight costs( if planned a month’s time in advance)
3. All the embassy wants is to make sure that you don’t illegally migrate to their country (I’m assuming you don’t plan to).If you have all the above documents ready you would surely get your visa, so don’t lose sleep for it.

Have a blast planning for any of 26 awesome European countries!

P.S You can ask any questions you have regarding your visa or share some tips from your experience as well

01/09/2015

This is GOKARNA!
I’ve done Goa a couple of times .But in January this year I thought to explore Gokarna, and I was very happy I made that call.
GoKarna is peaceful, calm, beautiful, meditation-worthy place (everything that Goa is not: P)
There are a lot of foreign backpackers that I’ve just settled here (I consider staying above 6 months as pretty much settled). Food is good and beaches are clean and ideal for anyone to have a forget-all kind of a time.

the GOKARNA TRAVEL AID

Best time to go: October till March (I did in Jan)

Where to Stay: Not too many options in Om beach, we stayed at Namaste Café which was a good stay and right at the beginning. Decent rooms and service

Things to Do: Boat trips to Om Beach, Half-moon Beach, and Paradise Beach, make sand castles, soak up in the sun, have blackberry breezer's ( cafes here don’t have much hard liquor) and Dosa’s, have a traditional shirodhara oil massage (it’s pretty awesome even if you’re not much into getting massaged)

Route, Stop over & suggested itinerary – depends on how much time you have, if you have a week ,spilt it in about a minimum 2-3 nights in Gokarna and rest in Goa –nice blend of partying and relaxing. I’d recommend doing Goa first and a place you must go there is Thalassa in Vagator beach and try their tiramisu (best I’ve ever had) and other Greek desserts. Later take a train ride to Gokarna and enjoy!

Travel Tip ! : Before reaching Gokarna , take out money that you intend to spend in Gokarna from any Goa ATM itself ,there are no ATMS at OM beach and though café’s let you withdraw money from them (in lieu of swiping cards from their machines ) but they charge a high commission which is bugging.

If you have any questions or you have an Gokarna experience to share, let us know in the comments!

30/08/2015

This is AULI! , INDIA’S SKI CAPITAL
On many occasions while travelling abroad I have come across this common, stereotype about India as soon as I introduce myself.
“INDIA? It must be really hot there!” they’d say
I'd feel an urge to explain people about how BIG India actually is and the fact that there’s hardly any climate/terrain which cannot be experienced in India.
Auli has always had a special mention in such discussions, it’s just that good! (At this point I start to show off my Auli pictures & sit back and watch while perspectives change :D )
Add Auli to your bucket list if its not there already !

the AULI TRAVEL AID

Best time to Go: Mid January to Mid February (can expect snowfall easily then )

Where to Stay: Two good options depending upon your budget – 1. Cliff Top Club Resort (luxury resort) &
2. Auli GMVN (Garhawal Mandal Vikas Nigam) Resort.

Out of the two, I stayed in GMVN and recommend that again because its great value for money.

Things to Do : Hike up the Snow trails , various snow sports -Skiing , Sledging , Skating etc ,experience snow fall , give a shot at making a cool snow man ,ride on the trolley ,Ice Wars :D etc

Route, Stop over & suggested itinerary -Start early from Delhi, take a night stop at Rishikesh (I’d recommend Ganga beach resort) and then start for Auli early next day. Stay for a minimum 2 nights, same route to come back
P.S - Stop in Rishikesh is not mandatory on either side but I’d recommend while your on way to Auli

If you have any questions or you have an Auli experience to share ,let us know in the comments !

27/08/2015

So I did Leh last month ( first week july ) .it was an amazing trip .
We had Nubra ,Pangong Tso and Leh and some unforgettable biking exploration in Leh across the magnificent Ladakh.
Enroute Nubra and just before Khardungla Pass we experienced snow falls ,rainbows as well as a couple of avalanches , due to which we got stranded for over 3 hours.
A few people did experience AMS-acute mountain sickness but this can be avoided by having Daimox tablets a night before and in the morning before staring for Leh. Eat light and drink lots of water and you have a great time .
Check out the video of the snow Avalanche right after the first one got us stranded and we were out of the car to capture this

27/08/2015

Planned for the Oct 2-4 weekend yet ?
We've planned a Mcleodganj-Truind Trek expedition for it .One of the best Treks we've done with the least no of days required.
If you feel like making this much anticipated weekend really count with your best friend or better still if you want to ride solo and make new friends along the journey, comment with your email id to get the detailed itinerary :D