When it comes to planning a trip away, naturally you want to organise the more luxurious and relaxing trip possible. There is no point heading off abroad on your next vacay without spending the time living in luxury and unwinding from the stresses and strains of everyday life. After all, rest, recuperation, and luxury are what travel is all about.
Of course, while you might dream of having the most luxurious trip possible, your bank account may not have the funds to support it. Holidays are meant to relax you, but if you head off abroad on a trip that you can’t afford, you will spend the entirety of your time away focusing on that, which will effectively ruin your trip.
That's why it is important to understand that travelling in style does not have to mean breaking the bank. Believe it or not, it is possible to travel in luxury without breaking the bank, it is just a case of knowing what steps you need to take to make luxury travel more affordable, that's all. In this article, you will learn about travel hacks you didn't know about. Read on to find out more.
1. Take advantage of deals and discounts
One of the very best hacks for making travel more affordable is to always take advantage of any deals or discounts that you come across. The fact is that when it comes to travelling abroad, if you want to cut costs and travel without breaking the bank, you can find some amazing discount codes online. Take your time looking around for deals and discounts before booking your trip, to ensure that you are getting as much for your money as possible.
2. Book early or super last minute
Are you wondering on how to get cheap flight? A well-known hack but not one to be overlooked. When it comes to booking a trip and saving money on it you have two options: book extremely early or book super last minute. These are the two times when travel tends to be far cheaper.
By booking last minute you could save up to 80% off the cost of a trip, that is an amazing saving. Of course, last minute booking has its downsides, but if it means you get a luxury trip for a fraction of the price, it is definitely worth it.
This doesn't just go for your flights and your accommodation, it also goes for your day trips and the sights and attractions that you want to see while you are travelling. For instance, say you are desperate to go on a party cruise, booking it in advance could cut the cost.
Or, say you are really keen to visit a certain theme park, the earlier you book, the cheaper you should be able to get your tickets for, which is what makes taking the time to book in advance so important.
3. Go self-catered
Don't book a hotel as this will always cost more than booking self-catered accommodation or couchsurfing. Instead, book a rotel hotel, boatels or beautiful villas that comes with its own private garden and pool - what is more luxurious than a private pool? By going down this route, you can significantly cut costs, making your trip far more affordable.
Plus, you won't need to eat in the same hotel every night, you can go out and explore the different restaurant options open to you. Just think, one night you could eat in a seaside restaurant, the next you could be in a themed restaurant. By going self-catered, you allow yourself to really explore the area and enjoy a far more authentic trip.
Luxury travel does not have to be expensive. It is just a case of ensuring that you know what hacks to take advantage of to cut costs and make your trip more affordable. Hopefully, the tips and advice above will help you to do that effectively.
4. Pack Smartly
Yes, you might have read a lot about packing light and avoid packing too much but no one might have told you how to pack smartly. Start off by accessing your needs. Visualize what activities you will perform when you reach your travel destination.
Once you are clear about what you should take with you and what you should not, it is easier to pack only the essential items and leave out the unnecessary ones. Invest in the right luggage carriers and stay inside the limits of allowed luggage so you don’t have to pay more for additional luggage.
5. Go For TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Programs
Don’t get me wrong. No one likes to stand in the long queues at the airport. Unfortunately, most travelers have to go through this ordeal because they don’t invest in TSA Pre Check or sign up for global entry programs. Yes, these programs might cost you some money but they will save you from a lot of hassle too at the airport.
You can quickly pass through airport security and board the plane much faster than other travelers. This means that when they might be standing in the airport security queues, you are comfortably seated in your seat. This can come handy especially when you have to fly for an emergency meeting.
6. Get More Space in Economy Class
Yes, you read that right. You might be a bit surprised to know that you can get more space even when you are traveling economy class but how? There is a website called Seat Guru that very few people know about. It can provide you with real time information of your flight seats.
You can find everything from customer reviews to photos to even inside information such as whether the seat has extra leg room or whether the seat recline or not. Such information can come in handy. You can also get valuable insights such as Boeing 767 has fewer middle seats so if you are planning to book a seat in that airplane and want more space, you are less likely to get it.
7. Stay in The Middle
Some travelers might go for the premium option and travel business or premium while others might prefer to save a few bucks on travel and go for more pocket friendly options such as economy class. It is highly recommended that you find a middle ground because traveling economy class means that you have to make a few compromises and traveling business class means that you will have to pay much more.
Spend some time online comparing flight options, do your research and you could find a premium package that cost a few hundred dollars more than economy. Choose one of these options as it provides you business class features at a price of a economy class and for a traveler, there is nothing better than that.
8. Avail Discounts Globally
Forget about visiting the exchange and trading your local currency for the currency of the country you are traveling to. Stop worrying about carrying cash all the time and getting robbed. Carry a credit or debit card with you and make payments through it. This will help you avail discounts, get cash back and earn reward points in the process.
9. Shop when you are there
There is no need to pack anything you will be able to buy when you get to your destination. I am not talking major expenses here but more like essentials such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap and other toiletries. Of course, you might not have to buy anything like this if you are staying in a hotel as you can use the freebies provided.
10. Dress 'heavy' on planes
Your carry-on luggage will only hold so much, but what you can get into your pockets or wear on your body does not count against any size or weight restrictions. Do not pack jackets, big jumpers, boots or anything else that is heavy - wear them on the plane instead. That way you will be saving space and weight in your case and have another load of clothes and footwear to fall back on when you arrive.
You can also redeem those reward points to make future purchases. I am not saying that you should stop carrying cash. You should carry cash only for instance where credit and debit cards are not accepted. Collect coupons and vouchers few months before traveling so you can avail extra discounts when you use them. You can also avail discounts on the best desert safari or a cheap yacht charter in Dubai if you choose wisely.
Which is your favorite travel hack that you use every time you travel? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.
So do not miss the opportunity, take ideas and get ready to enjoy a true banquet and immerse yourself a little more in the culture:
Chicken Tikka Masala with green curry rice is an ideal dish for Diwali that demonstrates without doubt the abundance of spices of traditional Indian cuisine like cilantro, cardamom, coriander, ginger, basil. But do not be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, as the preparation is very simple. And the result is worth it! In addition, once you have taken the trick to spices you can prepare many other recipes with chicken as a protagonist in Indian cuisine. Dare to try them all!
Diwali can be a good excuse to try something different than what we are used to. While the traditional cuisine of our country bets for tasting the lamb almost in its purest form, the biryani widens its possibilities and reveals the flavors that can be extracted from its meat leaving it to slowly marinate in spices. Next to him, the aroma of basmati rice puts the soft and subtle touch to an intense dish full of flavor.
If you're fed up with so much meat and prefer a different flavor with a touch of the sea, Basmati rice with red curry and prawns with honey is the ideal dish. A recipe full of contrasts, made for daring palates and where spicy, sweet and salty combine perfectly. Do you dare to try it?
Naan is a flat bread, typical not only of India but also of countries like Iran or Bangladesh. It is traditionally prepared in the tandoor oven, cylindrical and with charcoal, but you can also make it in the electric oven at home or even in a frying pan. The recipe varies from one to another, but basically you will need 300 grams of white flour, 10 grams of baker's yeast, 100 milliliters of milk, a yogurt and a little salt.
What to do with that? Mix and knead everything well, let it stand and grow in a bowl greased with oil until it doubles its size and then cut it into flat and oval portions of about 60 grams. As a finishing touch, you can paint the bread with ghee or melted butter. Preheat the oven to about 230 degrees, and let it cook for 10 minutes. As you can see it is very simple and besides being a great accompaniment to any dish, it goes very well with different fillings, like nuts and raisins or potatoes.
So you know, choose the option that suits you best or try them all. Light up your house, enjoy the sunset, think about all the good things that are coming this fall, and bring a little bit of India to your home.
Banana Puri or kele ki puri are fried banana based sweets. If you think that the banana cannot be used for delicious and irresistible recipes, you must read our 10 best recipes with bananas. This fruit is generally eaten raw but, with a little skill in the kitchen, it can be cooked together with other ingredients to prepare delicious recipes.
Banana Puri
INGREDIENTS:
a banana
a cup and a half of sugar
a tablespoon of Ghee
cardamom
salt
5 cups flour
18 almonds finely chopped
PREPARATION:
1) Peel and crush the banana, add the sugar, almond powder, ghee, salt and cardamom, then mix well.
2) Add the flour and knead for 5 minutes until you get a soft dough that you leave to rest for about 2 hours.
3) After two hours, spread the dough well and with a biscuit mold or simply with a glass to make the shape of your puri.
4) At this point, fry in hot oil and cook (turning them from time to time) until they are browned.
Kele ke chips
One of the main dishes of Navratri and Diwali is the kele ke chips. Banana chips are a genuine and delicious snack that will accompany your afternoons and those of your children. A festive dish, cheerful and definitely out of the norm to enjoy those bananas that never mature. And if you need an appetizer instead of a snack Why not try kele ki sabji, all made with banana!
INGREDIENTS:
5 unripe bananas
2 tablespoons of salt
½ teaspoon of pepper powder
1 pinch of turmeric
Oil for deep-fried frying
Very cold water, to taste
Salt, as needed
PREPARATION:
1) Peel the bananas and immerse them in cold water for about 10 minutes.
2) Slice the bananas into thin slices.
3) Dry the washers with the kitchen paper.
4) Sprinkle with chilli powder and turmeric, making sure that all are flavored properly. At this point, separate them one by one and let them rest on a tray for 1-2 hours, making sure they can dry out a little.
5) Heat the frying oil.
6) Fry the washers for about two minutes, or until they have a golden color and look crisp.
7) Place them on kitchen paper to dry the oil and sprinkle with salt.
8) Serve with a fresh drink.
Do you want an aromatic dessert, delicious and different from the usual? We recommend the preparation of the banana cheesecake. The classic combination is with chocolate, as a filling of a cake or a crepe, but also goes well with fresh cheeses such as ricotta, to create soft dough. If you love experimenting, bananas are also perfect for making original versions of famous sweets, like tiramisu. Try it and it will win you over your mother-in-law!
Want a dreamy wedding among the clouds or on a sandy beach but do not live near either? Well, you can always have it with a destination wedding! In India, the land of diversity (be it in scenic locations, cuisine, language or culture), you can choose any location to your advantage. And your guests won't ever forget how you blew their minds away in the exotic Indian weddings.
We have included some extra tips to keep your epicurean guests happy. So taking it from the top, we start our list of exotic wedding locations with the crown jewel of the country.
1. Srinagar, Kashmir
When you are in Kashmir, you realise how rightly it is called the heaven on earth. And hosting a wedding here gives you the opportunity to let its scenic beauty add to your own beautiful Indian destination wedding.
Planning a wedding in Kashmir:
It is the little things that matter, from the Shikaras in Dal Lake to the famous Pashminas. Add these flavours with local wedding vendors - be it getting fresh flowers from the flowers markets on Nageen Lake or having a pre-wedding photoshoot with background of Gulmarg.
Make sure you include the mouth-watering mutton delicacies like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Kabargah, Rista and Gostaba. We can vouch for the fact that your guests would not be able to forget the essence of your destination wedding for years to come.
2. Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand
Imagine having a luxe wedding but right in the middle of the jungle. Sounds fun and adventurous? Then the Jim Corbett National Park may be the destination for you.
Planning a wedding in Jim Corbett National Park:
Book a luxurious wildlife resort and add the local Pahadi elements and Kumaoni wedding rituals to your wedding. Even a rustic wedding at the national park gets a whole new meaning. You never know, you might even get the wild animals to attend your late night events.
And the cuisine? Get your resort to serve a customised Pahadi menu with Gahat ki Dal and Sisunak Saag while including sides like Kumaoni Raita and Bhang ki Chutney.
3. Udaipur, Rajasthan
If a palace wedding is your dream wedding, then host one at Udaipur. The majestic palaces which overlook lakes, will bring a regal charm to your wedding.
Planning a wedding in Udaipur:
Plan a royal wedding, even with Rajwadi tones. If you feel up to it, you can even have the bridal entry in a palanquin and feel like the queen of the world.
There is more to this land than its majestic gems. Host your reception under the starry night and prepare for the gastronomical ride that is authentic Rajasthani cuisine. Do not believe us? Find it for yourself.
Even Gordon Ramsay could not resist the charm of the Rajasthani goat curry and Laal Maas. Include as many vegetarian and non-vegetarian gourmet options as you can. Trust us, your guests will thank you for it.
4. Goa
Lets make it easy for you, hire a wedding planner and ask them to plan a phenomenal beach wedding in Goa. Trust us, you will be amazed at what all a Goa wedding can encapsulate.
Planning a wedding in Goa:
This place offers it all - from the fun, lively shacks and markets of North Goa for a bachelorette party to the serene churches of South Goa for the holy ceremony.
For your bachelorette (or Bachelors), opt for bar hopping or beach hopping. Include the local cashew-based drink Feni in your wedding reception menu. And you cannot miss Konkani must-haves like Vindaloo with Poee bread or Goan prawn curry.
5. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
As you start to walk down the aisle on a secluded isle, you realise how perfect those few moments are! This magic will shine through your beach wedding in Havelock Island, if you choose the Andaman & Nicobar islands as your wedding destination.
Planning a wedding in the islands:
As the islands are sparse in population, it is perfect for an intimate wedding. You can get all the arrangements done at your beach resort. Host pre-wedding parties for your guests to relax before the big blast at the main ceremony.
Surprise the food palette of your guests with Andamans steamed garlic prawns, grilled lobsters and other seafood variety specific to the islands.
6. Munnar, Kerala
Surrounded by scintillating tea plantations, Munnar can be the perfect, exotic location for your destination wedding in God's own country (away from the conventional backwaters).
Planning a wedding in Munnar:
Your wedding can reflect the local culture in the attire, decor, food and more. You can have the music of traditional Chenda to sanctify the ceremony, have Kathakali dancers entertain your guests and have your bridesmaids and groomsmen dressed in white silk sarees and Mundu respectively.
You can also arrange for a tea tasting spree for your guests at the local tea estates or drive up and down the winding picturesque roads.
Get local chefs to introduce you to flavours and aromas of the Western Ghats with recipes like duck curry, beef fry and fish masala with breads like appam and malabar paratha for the reception ceremony.
Now that you know how to make sure your foodie guests are always elated, it is time to plan everything according to a set budget. What better way to get the best prices than take the help of the locals! Hire a local wedding planner or have a local friend help you out with the entire process. Hope that your destination wedding becomes a night to remember!
When most travelers talk about road tripping along the great river road in the USA, they usually mean that they are going from coast to coast, from the Atlantic to the Pacific or vice versa. While that is an incredible way to travel in America with all its cultural and geographic glory, another route to consider is one that follows from north to south.
The Great River Road, which is a collection of state highways and country roads, follows the path of the Mississippi, the mighty river that divides the country into east and west. The Mississippi River flows from its source in northern Minnesota for 2,340 miles through 10 states until it reaches southern Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.
The fourth longest river in the world, the Mississippi is divided into three sections. The upper, middle, and lower sections are determined by the river's confluence with other rivers along its route, including the Missouri, the St. Croix, and the Ohio.
Because of the Mississippi's enduring significance to trade, there are a number of historic landmarks and several large cities along the Great River Road. Following is a state-by-state guide to some of the sites to see along the Great River Road. If you are considering following the length of the road, consider the seasons.
During cooler months, particularly in the autumn, follow the route from north to south. In summer months, try a south to north route. Note that while spring travel along the Mississippi may be beautiful, it can also be the most disruptive as river flooding is more likely during this time of year. However, flooding can occur at any time. So stay tuned to NOAA for river forecasts while you pack your bag and clean your travel shoes.
1. Minnesota
The headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi begin at Lake Itasca. Travel east to Grand Rapids, and meander down the state of Minnesota through Brainerd, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities until reaching the border of Iowa. The total mileage for the Minnesota portion alone is 590 miles. Give or take 140 miles as the national route for the Great River Road crosses over into Wisconsin at Hastings in order to follow the Mississippi's eastern shore.
A state route along the western shore runs from Hastings until the Iowa border. So it's useful to visit the websites about travel along the Great River Road of Minnesota for details on breaking up the route. You can also explore the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area for itinerary ideas. Must-see attractions along Minnesota's Great River Road include stores in Mall of America, Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, and Minnehaha Park, a 193-acre parkland in downtown Minneapolis.
2. Wisconsin
The Wisconsin portion of the Great River Road, also known as Wisconsin's Highway 35, borders the Minnesota side from Prescott, at the confluence of the St. Croix River, until reaching the Illinois border at Potosi. It totals approximately 250 miles, gently curving past 33 riverside towns, including La Crosse, and tree-crowned bluffs.
3. Iowa
Scenic bluffs paired with small town sights characterize the experience of traveling along Iowa's Great River Road route. Passing on the eastern border of Iowa, across 10 counties for a little over 300 miles, the Great River Road takes in scenic byways; archaeological sites (Effigy Mounds National Monument); museums; and wildlife refuges. In Dubuque, you can see the widest part of the Upper Mississippi River at Eagle Point Park and learn more about the river at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
4. Illinois
Spanning 550 miles, the Great River Road of Illinois follows the state's entire western border from East Dubuque to Waterloo. Highlights on this portion of the River Road include Galena, a historic Illinois town known for being the home of Ulysses S. Grant and its historic Main Street. Additional historic sites of note along the Illinois route include archaeological and natural sites, most notably the Cahokia Mounds.
5. Missouri
One of the best known stretches of the road trip along the Mississippi River in the American imagination is the one that skirts the eastern border of Missouri. Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) grew up in Hannibal and wrote about rafts and steamboats along the Mississippi in such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Further down the river is one of the nation's most famous river towns. In the late 19th century, St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the United States thanks to its importance as a Mississippi port. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, also known as the Gateway Arch, explains St. Louis's role in western expansion, including the significance of the Mississippi River in the Louisiana Purchase, and also provides visitors with an amazing view of the city and the river. Learn more about the sites along Missouri's Great River Road.
6. Kentucky
The Great River Road is at its shortest in Kentucky, where it touches four counties. Attractions along and near the route include Columbus-Belmont State Park, an integral outpost during the Civil War; the Warren Thomas Black History Museum and Church, a church built by freed slaves in 1890; and the Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross, an impossible-to-miss cross located on the bluffs above the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
7. Tennessee
Approximately 186 miles of country roads along the eastern side of the Mississippi River to form Tennessee's portion of the Great River Road. Near the end of the Tennessee route is Memphis, where Mud Island River Park and its Mississippi River Museum explain the geography, biology, and history of the fabled waterway. Of course, Memphis is another well known river city, famous for its music scene, barbecue, and role as one of the major sites of America's Civil Rights Movement.
8. Arkansas
Arkansas's Great River Road Byway covers 362 miles passing through wetlands and forests in the Arkansas Delta. Travelers will find national wildlife refuges in Big Lake, Wapanocca, and White River. Other sites along this western stretch of the Mississippi range from an archaeological site at Parkin to Johnny Cash's boyhood home in Historic Dyess Colony.
9. Mississippi
In the state with the same name as the river, the water meanders for 382 miles, forming the entire western border. Two significant destinations in this part of Mississippi are Vicksburg, site of the Civil War battle that left control of this section of the river to Union forces, and Natchez, a small but historic town that once served as the capital of the American Mississippi Territory.
10. Louisiana
Louisiana is the final stop for the Mississippi River as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The river splits here, allowing travelers to follow the Mississippi on its left or right banks. Most opt for the east side, which flows past the capital of Baton Rouge to New Orleans and just beyond. Among things to do, the route offers access to numerous historical sites, including the majority of Louisiana's antebellum plantation homes and slave quarters; culinary byways informed by Cajun and Creole cooking; and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, a Civil War battleground that is also of ecological importance.
So, why are you waiting? Prepare for the exiting road tour along the great Mississippi - get your travel kits ready, load fully the jeep trunk. Never miss to carry your favorite flip flops, small cooker and other travel gears. Have a great girls trip.
If you are a keen traveller, you will know that it is often difficult for the initial idea of what you want from a trip to marry up with the actual reality once you are travelling as a hobby for real. This feeling of disconnect is something which can often be disappointing, but it is just one of those things.
It is likely that you are resolved to it at least a little if you have been travelling for a particularly long time or many times in the past. However that does not mean that you need to just accept it. If you do want to change it, there are actually many things you can do to make it a little better on yourself.
The truth is that getting what you want out of any travel experience is something you can always achieve, so long as you know what you are doing. In the post, we are going to look at that very process in plenty of detail, so that you can do that on your next trip abroad.
Knowing What You Want
It might sound obvious, but the fact is that you need to actually know what you want first if you are to be able to get it, and this is something which you need to think about long and hard in order to make sure you are really clear on it. Knowing what you want means being able to have a clear image in your head of the kind of experience that you are likely to want to have, and that is something a lot of people struggle with.
If you struggle with that, you might need to spend a little more time on it, which could include some of the things we are about to mention too as a means of getting clearer on that. As long as you know what you want, you are that much more likely to get it, so this is important to remember.
Researching
In order to be able to get that clear image of what you want, it helps to know your prefered destinations and activities inside out, and that generally means carrying out lots of research. The more research you carry out, the clearer this will be, and the easier you will find it to put the trip together in just the right way. When researching, be sure to use only those sources which you actually trust.
If using the internet, make sure that you are aware of which are trustworthy sources and which are not. For instance, you will obviously find that Lonely Planet and so on are trustworthy, whereas many other sources are not. As long as your research is qualified by real sources, and you do plenty of it, it will be that much easier to get to know what it is that you really want from your travel experiences.
The Itinerary
In order to make sure that you fit everything you want into your trip, it can always help to make an itinerary. If you do not like over-planning, that is fine. You could still think about at least having some kind of loose itinerary, so that you can have a rough idea of what you are going to do, when, and for how long.
That will mean that you can then look over the plan and double check that you are actually at least going to do all of the things that you want to do. It is the main thing when it comes to trying to get what you want from the experience on the whole. As long as you can do that, you will find that you can get what you want from the travel experience. So it is definitely a good idea to think about that first and foremost.
Outsourcing The Hard Work
If you don't actually want to do all the research and planning yourself, you can of course get the professionals to do it for you. This has many benefits, including saved time and the likelihood that their expertise will find you even better deals and more fulfilling experiences on the whole.
If you go with a agency, you will probably find that you are much more likely to have a truly personal and professionally-planned experience. It is one which has everything that you are looking for in that particular foray. This is definitely a great way to save some time, and sometimes even some money, and ensuring that you are going to have exactly the kind of experience you have been dreaming of for a long time.
Back-Up Plans
There will always be the little things that go wrong like cancellations, weather problems, even political issues beyond your control. These are always going to affect your holiday plans, so it is important to always make sure that you have a back-up plan. Back-up plans are a great way of solidifying the travel experience.
It ensures that you are still going to be able to have a great time no matter what might happen outside of your control. As long as you plan for all eventualities, you will certainly find it easier to enjoy your travels, and to actually be able to do all the things you want to be doing. Back-up plans ensure that your travel plans are as safe as possible from the chaos of the world.
Compromise
Sometimes you have to compromise to get what you want, even if that sounds like a cop-out. That might mean compromising with another individual whom you are travelling with. It might even be compromising with your own plans if they are a little out there or unlikely to work as well as you would hope.
By compromising, you make it actually more likely that you will be able to make the travel plans you want, and that you will still have the best time of your life in the end. So this is a very important thing to think about when you are planning your next trip.
