Plenty Of UK Travel Options For Tourists

When you are travelling around the United Kingdom, one of the best ways to see as many sites as possible is through hiring a car. The UK has so many different cities of great interest and unlike some countries such as The United States of America or Germany; it is possible to drive between cities in a short space of time. London is obviously the main tourist hub in the United Kingdom and if you are heading into London, hiring a car will provide you with a great degree of flexibility in making the most of your trip.

If you arrive at Luton Airport, as an increasing number of travellers are, you will find that there are plenty of car hire options to choose from. Of course, if you are unable to drive a car or you do not feel confident about driving on British roads, you need to look into other transport options. There are a number of travel options available from Luton Airport and no matter where you are heading to or what your budget is, you will find that there is a viable option to choose.

Hiring a taxi is one of the quickest and convenient ways to get from Luton Airport to London. While hiring a taxi can be a more expensive option that other forms of public transport, it is often the simplest and most convenient method. When you hire a taxi at Luton Airport, you can rest assured you receive an affordable and direct method of travel. If you are new to the UK or you don’t know where your hotel is, a door to door service is highly valuable. This is where the value for money in hiring a taxi at Luton Airport comes to the fore.

You can arrive in London for an affordable price

Of course, many travellers are looking for a more affordable way to travel into the heart of London from Luton Airport. There are regular buses leaving from stances outside the main departures building which will take you to London. Given that Luton Airport is the main transport hub for Easyjet, it is no surprise to find that the budget airline provides additional services to the main tourist areas of London. There are also other travel options to select from when arriving at Luton Airport.

Travellers that prefer to take the train can do so from Luton Airport in London and surrounding areas. There is a free shuttle bus service running from outside Luton Airport to the nearby Luton Parkway train station. The shuttle service takes around 10 minutes and the connecting journey into London can take around 40 minutes. The main London train stations serviced on this route are St Pancras International, London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink and Farringdon. A taxi can be faster but if you are staying close to one of the stations or you have a connecting train to catch, taking the train from Luton Airport can be a sensible option.

Hiring a car in the UK can provide you with an extra sense of freedom but if you need to use public transport, you will find that there are plenty of ways to get around the UK.

Author:

Andrew Reilly is based in Scotland and regularly travels down to London for business and pleasure. He enjoys travelling and is keen to provide tips that will help to make travelling easier and more enjoyable for others.

The best gastronomy of the world might be in Costa Brava Spain

Eating is one of the great pleasures of life. If you add high quality food and a warm personal attention ... the result is magnificent. And this is something that especially people with traveling experience learn to appreciate over the years. So, here we present the best places to have a bite, either morning, afternoon or evening, on the Costa Brava.

First of all, is necessary to highlight the Celler de Can Roca Restaurant considered the best restaurant in the world of the top fifty restaurants, according to the British ‘Restaurant Magazine’, and awarded 3 Michelin stars. It is a restaurant run by the three brothers Roca which combine uniquely flavors, aromas, colors and textures in their most avant-garde cuisine.

This, ladies and gentlemans, might be the most sublime experience of your life!

If you like high end food but with reasonable price this is an option you might like. Although smaller and simpler, the Restaurant Platillos Can Climent offers one of the best gourmet tapas of the Costa Brava. The menu has 15 dishes between 5 € and 10 € , with which there is no doubt that you will be fully satisfied. It is Recommended due it is something totally different from other restaurants in the Empordà.

Castell d' Empordà stands out as a restaurant located in a medieval castle in the XI century, so be sure the ambient is going to be unique.  They serve the best dishes made with fresh produce harvested from their own garden and the best wine, according to the food you try.

The motto of the restaurant Aiguaclara, fet amb '' love '' ( made with love ) is not in vain, because apart from offering quality products , offers a friendly atmosphere and personalized service. Every friday night you can enjoy ''vinyl nights'' when both, hotel guests and the restaurant clients, intermingle to enjoy great classics of the past.

If you are looking for something completely out of the box an original, then try the Restaurant Gaviota (seagull), built inside a building shaped like a giant boat. Specializes in seafood, and the best thing is that you can watch from here The Medes islands.

We can say that the number of restaurants that the Costa Brava offers is wide, so here we present a mix of the best you can find. Anyway, there's no way I can tell you wich one you will like the most, so judge by yourself and enjoy your meal. Bon appetit!

10 Once-In-A-Lifetime Trips

Life is too short. And the world is far too a big place to explore in one lifetime. Every traveler has his own bucket list of “must see places before I die”. We have put together one such list of 10 once-in-a-lifetime trips. What distinguishes this list is the variety of experiences and destinations to suit every taste, from taking a cruise to Antarctica or the Trans-Siberian rail journey from Moscow to Beijing, from scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to trekking the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu, to experiencing the Northern Lights from Norway and even swimming in the Dead Sea!

Cruise To Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia is the ultimate Heaven’s gate to the less traversed white continent - the Antarctica. Famously dubbed as the end-of-the-world, Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, situated at the southernmost tip of Argentina. It’s at a hopping distance from the white continent.

Antarctica is a frozen desert of glistening white as far as the vision can penetrate. What is even more magnanimous here are the ice formations, resembling like sculpted monoliths - call it nature’s own art. See whales, seals, and sea birds worthy of seafaring poems. Rare animal encounters and opportunities found nowhere else, but here. This is ultimate exploration. Nature untouched, untapped. 

Your Antarctica cruise tour can last anywhere from eight - fifteen days, circumnavigating through the glacier rises and islands like Cape Horn, Georgia’s and Falklands.

Inca Trail Trek at Machu Picchu, Peru

Our next once-in-a-lifetime experience is the Inca Trail Trek at Machu Picchu which is an archeological wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of its existing archeological ruins along the trek route, there is a sheer sense of mystery and awe for anyone who treks this route.

At the fascinating city of Cuzco, one must halt for acclimatization as the oxygen levels here repress drastically. Cuzco has itself been recognized as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. The Inca Trail is an uphill trek that leads above 3000 meters, the highest point being at 4200m above sea level. The trail is inundated with many ancient colonial structures and frescos en route. The best time to take this trek is from April to October, with peak months being from June to August. And it is mandatory to book your trek with a tour operator, to make your effort seamless.

The route is serenely rapt enough to take you on a little soul-searching journey. Relish in this utmost bliss of composure. Take a trail through the time travel back to the past.

Sail the Greek Islands

One of the most pocket-friendly touring places in Europe, the Greek Islands make for an enviable holiday spot. If sapphire blue waters woo you and beaches entice you, served with drop-dead gorgeous sunset views in the background then directly head over to the Greek Islands.

The aquatic charm here is more than one can ask for, so much so that you may be baffled by the enormous range of prospects to choose from. Since most islands are sparsely situated from each other, as if sprinkled over the Aegean Sea, the best way to discover the Greek Islands is by chartering a yacht or even just a cabin in a yacht. Typically, a yacht used for cabin charters offer private cabins, washrooms, indoor and outdoor common areas and access to shore via means of gangplank or tender/dinghy. Your yacht is your luxurious accommodation and mode of transport while on your discovery of the Greek Islands.

Few popular islands are Santorini (a Honeymoon favorite), Crete (a trekker’s paradise), Mykonos (most vibrant and lively place for nightlife and beaches), Corfu (medieval architecture, a UNESCO world heritage site) and Rhodes (buzzing with cultural alibi along with scenic beauty). Step in any time of the year, the place will still be brimming with tourists, threshold limit surpassing mostly in the summers.

Northern Lights and Norwegian Fjords

Unarguably the most fascinating natural wonder Mother Nature has to offer, Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) are a magnificent spectacle to behold. When you personally experience this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you‘ll know it is a moment of sheer mysticism and awe regarded for nature.

Presumably, the display of the Northern Lights can be spotted all over Norway, but the surest place to catch them is up in the north, near the Arctic Circle. Best time of year being the autumn and the spring equinox i.e. from 21^st September to 21^st March. Whilst remembering to drape warmer, a lot warmer than normal, it will be wise if you stay clear of inhabited places as the artificial lights setting makes it hard to gauge the Northern Lights.

The other factor that makes Norway a part of this list is the unrivalled array of Fjords here. What makes a fjord a breathtaking sight is that it goes slicing between two vertical mountain terrains, deep-going bays uniquely swamped by celestial waterfalls, very common to this location only. Additionally, you could also go skiing, hiking and camping here, in the high rises of the Norwegian Fjords.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania and Masai Mara, Kenya

These two places are one big National Wildlife Reserve, except for the fact that in Tanzania it is called Serengeti while in neighboring Kenya the reserve is known as Masai Mara. This mammoth reservoir of extraordinary animal and bird species is flocked by thousand people every year for scientific, ecological and adventurous reasons. But the site is a major crowd-puller during the migration hours of the wildebeest and zebras from October to November (period of short rains) and from April to June (period of long, heavy rains).

For its habitats of diverse wildlife, this place is a perfect setting for wild safari adventures and getting up close and personal with some of the deadliest predators in the world like cheetahs and lions. The Mara River in Kenya is a hotbed for ruthless killers like crocodiles. The landscape exhibits varied topographies from lush grasslands and woodlands to sparse bushes and barren sands. You also have the pleasure of viewing the entire landscape from up above in a Hot Air Balloon safari.

Jeep Safari from Manali to Leh, India

Manali is a popular hill station in Himachal, especially in summers, for its cool weather and snow-clad peaks. With the Himalayas at the backdrop, Manali is a trekker’s paradise and adrenalin junkies for dare devil sports like river-rafting, paragliding and rock-climbing.

Leh, capital of Ladakh, lies in the land dubbed as heaven itself - Jammu and Kashmir. Leh has been featured in many Bollywood movies and has certain places recognized by the movies names themselves. Though the normal temperatures here are subdued, the absolute warmth of the locals here will keep you warm.

The linking factor between these places is the Leh-Manali Highway where you can enjoy the serene natural beauty en-route. The route roughly extends to a length of 490 km and has an elevation of 4000 meters. The route goes piercing through hilly regions on both sides. You will have ample opportunities to take photographic breaks with the breathtaking rock formations onroute. Glaciered peaks with flowing streams gets immediately swapped for abandoned and arid lands once you cross the Rohtang Pass. Yet even those barren landscapes seem soothing to the eyes. A brief route outline entails: Manali - Rohtang Pass - Keylong - Jispa - Sarchu - Gata Loops - Tanglang La - Leh. There are mainly tented accommodations available onroute and a typical journey takes 3 days with two overnight break journeys in Keylong and Sarchu. These breaks are recommended to prepare yourself for altitude sickness.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Railway, from Moscow to Beijing

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express is undisputedly one of the longest train rides with a stretch of 6,850 miles (11,024 Km). From Moscow (Russia) up till Vladivostok, the route covers the Russian terrain, there upon, off-shooting to Siberia, Mongolia and China.

Typically, the train ride takes around fifteen days and the train has special suites crafted, so while you are on-board you will experience true luxury. With a flamboyant diner room, the train also sports a lounge/bar compartment. At the departure, the passengers are greeted off by a glass of Champagne and a Military Brass Band. While in Russia, you get stoppages at monumental sites like the Red Square, St. Basils Cathedral, Kremlin Fortress, Lenin Square. Irkutsk, hailed as the ‘Paris of Siberia’ and the Lake Baikal, known as ‘The Pearl of Siberia’ are also on the stoppage list of the train. The train halts at major spots briefly for the tourists to enjoy the places.

It’s not so much the destination but rather the journey that is more accountable for once-in-a-lifetime event. This experience screams of pure luxury, pure class, and pure lavishness!

Swim in the Dead Sea, discover Petra in Jordan

The Dead Sea has the lowest point in the world - 394.6 m below the sea-level. It is called Dead Sea because of the excess salination levels in the sea. This salt lake has Jordan bordering its eastern line and Israel and Palestine on the western front.The Dead Sea is a tourist hotspot attracting thousands every year.

If you do visit this Sea, you will be thoroughly rewarded therapeutically and cosmetically. The mud along the sea is said to contain many minerals that act as skin-enriching tools. Tourists covered in dark mud are a common sight here. As souvenirs you could take home beautiful salt crystals and formations found lying on the shore, just like sea-shells. Because of its hyper-salination, you cannot drown in the water floating on your back. It’s a personal time of relaxing, of giving some physical and mental repose to your body.

Petra is a stunning city in Jordan, literally carved out of rock. The rock-cut architectures and colossal ruins make it eye-beholding for more than one reason. The city has been pen-named as Rose City, because of the rosy-pink color that the rock exhibits here. It’s an ancient site as old as the time itself. The city is full brilliant monasteries and alter-like structures, and is most definitely an archeological park. If you’ve particularly read the Old Testament from the Bible, you’ll be most fascinated to encounter the exact, same sites mentioned there. Surprisingly, you are allowed to get around the city in only two modes of commutation - either your own feet or those of horses, donkeys and camels.

San Diego to San Francisco, self-drive the Pacific Coast Highway No. 1

The Pacific Coast Highway is the second most famous highway in America. It is a thorough biker’s pleasure to sway to the zigzag curves offered by this route. Drive that convertible, race on your bike or paddle away your cycling enthusiasm, this route is a marvel with the shoreline bordering at one side and the beaming peaks of the other.

En route from San Diego to San Francisco, there are a million attractions and getaways on the way. Starting from the San Diego County you drive to the Orange County, then to the Los Angeles County, leading up till the San Francisco County.

Midway through the route after crossing the Carmel Highlands you are greeted by Big Sur. Sudden elevations at the coastline make you wonder in amazement at the red grooves kissing the sky and ragged rocks slashed by fierce waters. It’s a place of sheer nature’s dominance. You are simply awestruck.

In due recognition of US armed forces, the route is pen named as Blue Star Memorial Highway.

Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Located past the Pacific Coast of Queensland (Australia), a dive in the Great Barrier Reef is a pure bliss. For those wanting to romance with the aquatic world must drown in this trench of absolute celestial aqua. It is home to some of the most exotic marine flora and fauna, found in the world. Cairns, a cosmopolitan city, is the base to plan your scuba diving trip to the reefs.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most accessible dive regions and an easy-to-accomplish one. It won’t be incorrect to call it - Snorkelers Shangri-la. Underwater expeditions aren’t that common but you when you do take a deep dive, the under waters have more than simply blue to showcase. It’s true; the ocean does have many secrets locked up within its belly! And you don’t need to be an expert at diving – local dive operators provide an overall training and guides every step of the diving expedition for you.

The reef site also offer manifold day trips through the reef along the Queensland coast. Many petit islands are scattered in the nearby bay. You can halt overnight at any of the islands.

About Odyssey Tours and Travels

 
Odyssey Tours and Travels is a leading IATA accredited Travel Company, established in 1992. We specialize in planning customized holidays in India and abroad for our clients which includes air ticketing, worldwide hotel reservations, inclusive tours, sightseeing activities, visa assistance & travel insurance services. For further information or to make a booking contact 020-66442929 or visit http://www.odysseytravels.net/

Tips on Choosing the Right Packages for the Holy Pilgrimage

It is indeed a blessing and an honor to receive mighty Allah’s blessings and this can be done by performing Hajj this year. However, it is but important for you to choose the right Hajj packages, and while doing so, there are various things to keep in mind and consider. This would ensure that the deal you get would be the best, and would also show you the right way to go about performing the rituals too. Today we would like to share with you a few tips on how to get the best Hajj deals, so that your trip to the holy land is done well, without any hassles and efficiently. Let us help you determine what you need, starting with the budget allocation and going ahead with your plans as well.

Why keep all this in mind?

We all know that Hajj pilgrimage is a must for every self-respecting Muslim individual. And if this is your first time travelling to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, you would want to have all information in hand, prior to making that holy trip. If you take a look online, there would be many sources, willing and waiting to provide you with all the information you need, information essential and very valuable. Right from where you would be put up, to how you would travel, almost all would be told to you. But before you choose one of the service providers, it’s time you take a look at what they have on offer, compare the rates and services they provide and then choose.

Get to know your location of stay

The hotel you would be put up is of prime concern here, and finding one closest to the holiest sites should be your aim. This would be a great way to start off, since transporting yourself to and from the hotel to the holy sites would be less tiring and money would be saved as well. The destinations’ proximity to the nearest hotel must be chosen or provided by the service vendors. Staying close to the holy place would also mean, being in touch with the timings for 'namaz' and special prayers too.

The climate

Mecca and medina are warm places and the climate can be quite treacherous on you, especially if you aren’t used to the heat of the mid-day blasting sun. The temperatures can go way above forty degrees, and that’s why wearing light cottons and summer clothes would be the best thing to do. Indulge in a little more of Ihram when rituals are being performed while Hajj is on.

Even while you are at the hotel, ensure to stay in cool and comfortable clothes. Apart from this, one doesn’t need to have anything else to keep them cool. And don’t forget to carry your basic toiletries along, such as deodorants, soaps, shampoos and more. Also carry your medical kit, medicines and first aid, especially if you or someone travelling with you is unwell.

Be ready for the crowds

There are millions from across the globe that come for the Hajj tours, they gather at Mecca and medina to perform the rituals and offer prayers. Remember, the crowds would be massive, so ensure you stick with your guide at all times, even if you are in a group.

Moreover, some people may have ailments and special physical needs, be kind to them while they too bear the same strain as you are.

Author Bio

Pratik Joshi works for M.Zahid Travel and he says one should check if they have all their papers and documents for travel in place before they leave. Prior to booking with any of the reputed Hajj packages online, it would be wise to read more about the services available through reputed search engines. This would give you an insight on how to get the best deals without having to run around.

Prepare Yourself Well For the Ultimate Pilgrimage

If you are planning on visiting Mecca and Medina this year to perform Umrah and Hajj, we say you are lucky to do so. However, for that you should plan in advance and now is the time to get the act rolling. To begin with, you would need to choose the right Hajj packages which would not only be cost-effective, but would allow you to experience a journey, reliably and with full trust. There should be no compromises when comfort factors are spoken off, and for that, we ask you to check online for the same.

Why check online?

There are many reasons for us to tell you as to why you should check online for such packages and deals. To begin with:

1.       The options for such packages are numerous

2.       Budget wise there would be packages that would suit your needs and requirements

3.       You can customise your Hajj travel as and how you want it to be

4.       If you want you could choose to travel only to Saudi Arabia only and avail the Umrah package

5.       You can compare prices and amenities being given on each and every package

There would be millions of travellers from all across the globe coming to Mecca and Medina for the holy pilgrimage. This is how they show their love and solidarity towards mighty Allah. In fact, it is well known that every Muslim individual for once in all their life time would perform Hajj, irrespective of what status quo in society he hails from.

A little about Hajj

Hajj is known to be the largest and the most crowded pilgrimage done at Mecca and Medina every year on an annual basis. Millions from across the globe gather at the holy places to perform Hajj and seek mighty Allah’s blessings.

To make your trip a successful one, you should look online for service providers who would help you achieve comfort and convenience at the lowest costs possible. Genuine serve providers wouldn’t charge you a bomb for the holy pilgrimage and would book you on the best flights and lodge you at the best hotels too. However, with so many scams and fraudsters prowling the online world, it is tough for one to gauge, which Hajj operator online is genuine from the whole pack of agents out there.

1.       Reliable travel agents and service providers would always have everything under one banner, making the trip a cost effective one for you to avail of. This is why we ask you to check with at least four to five service operators and check their backgrounds too, so that you know you are dealing with someone genuine at the end of the day.

2.       Packages for Hajj that you find online are one too many to choose from, each with their own set of needs and requirements. The offers and discounts available too would be of varied nature and types, which means, you have to check which of them best suits your needs.

3.       Focus on making the trip a low cost one but without sacrificing on the quality of comfort and convenience too. Thanks to the internet, you can actually search through reputed search engines and look for reliable and trustworthy information on Hajj trips and deals.

Author Bio

Pratik Joshi works for M.Zahid Travel and gives a lot of advice to pilgrims looking for cheap and affordable Hajj packages online. The author says one can even talk to family and close friends; people who have availed online Hajj deal in the past. Alternatively, speaking to reputed travel agents too can be of great help, but ensure a comparison is made with at least four to five service vendors around.

Cities Must be Visited during Your Rajasthan Tour

Summer Season is the best time for a holiday tour, and you can choose either sand dunes of Rajasthan or the mighty mountains of Northern India, and even you can choose beautiful beaches of Goa and Kerala. So, where you want to go in this summer for spending your holiday with your family or friends? Rajasthan, OK then packs your bags and get ready to explore some of the outstanding tourist places of Rajasthan. 

Pushkar: A famous pilgrimage site is home to five dhams for devotees, especially for Hindu. Pushkar Lake is the major tourist attraction here and the lake has 52 Ghats where pilgrims take bath in the sacred waters of Pushkar Lake. Camel festival held here for five days between November and December, and the major highlights of this festival are camel race, exhibitions of traditional and handcrafted items, folk dance and music, etc.

Jaipur:  Also known as Pink City because the stone used in almost of the building is a shade of pink, and is also the capital of Rajasthan. The Pink City has plenty to offer to its visitors. Jaipur is the first planned city of India, and is the major business center for the people of Rajasthan. There are several tourist destinations here Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Birla Temple, etc. that you can visit during your Jaipur tour.

Mount Abu: It is the sole hills station in the state and visited by thousands of tourists and travelers both local and outsiders in the summer season for celebrating cool holidays. This amazing place is blessed with glittering natural beauty and tourist places. Mount Abu is situated at a height of 1,220 meters above sea level, and is the highest peak of the Aravali mountain ranges.

Udaipur: Also famous as the city of lakes among tourist and travelers has plenty of forts or other places of Rajputana era, and the most popular forts are Sajjangarh Fort and Jag Niwas come into the list of top places to visit in Rajasthan. Jag Niwas, which is most visited tourist spots here, and is built on the island within the Pichola Lake. Other famous places here are his Monsoon Palace, the Shiv Niwas and the Fateh Prakash Palace.

There are uncounted tourist spots in the state, and if you are on a tour for 4 or 5 days then it is impossible to cover all these spots. Notwithstanding, you can see and explore major tourist destinations laid within the state. In this article, we have mentioned some of the top tourist cities with attractions that you must see during your travel in Rajasthan.