6 Budget Destinations to Experience in 2014

2014 is coming around the corner and travel enthusiasts everywhere are already chalking out their travel plans for the year. Here is a list of budget friendly travel destinations to consider in the coming year.

Nicaragua: - Not the place for the casual traveler, but for those who love a splash of adventure and even danger to their travel escapades, Nicaragua is sure to impress. When done right, Nicaragua is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America, also the cheapest. You can easily spend two weeks here for the price of what you would spend on a two days in a European city. Head to San Juan del Sur, the upcoming surf town where the parties stretches to noon the next day.

Cambodia: - For a country still nursing its wounds from a rough past, Cambodia is one of the friendliest country in South East Asia. An added bonus is that their language is one of the easiest to pick up for English speakers. Base your itinerary around the Siem Reap, Phenom Penh and Sihanoukville.  It is rare to find cheap air tickets directly to the country, best bet is to fly to Bangkok and then take a bus to cross the border.

India: - Probably the country that is most talked amongst travelers and not without a reason. Visiting India is akin to visiting 4-6 countries all at once. The country can be overwhelming but those ready to brave the challenge will be rewarded with a unique and unforgettable experience. Hotels in India tend to stretch across all budgets so you will find a place to stay regardless of your wallet power.  The best way to hotel booking India is through the official website of the property.

US Virgin Islands: - Long a favored haunt for Americans without passport and those who can't afford a European trip. The Virgin Islands give you that remote and exotic feeling that you have gotten away but can be gotten to in a bearable flight duration. The recommended islands are Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix. Most of the hotels in the island accept online booking which makes it easier to find an accommodation online.

Portugal: - Easily one of the best budget travel destination in Western Europe, despite its diminutive size, Portugal is home to a diverse range of landscapes. From the pristine beaches in the south, to the sprawling metropolis of Lisbon in the center to the rugged mountains in the north – Portugal has enough to keep you coming back.  Whats more? You can order a bottle of wine in most of the restaurants for fewer than 3 Euros!!

Lithuania: - Eastern Europe has been witnessing a steady upslope in tourism and Lithuania is one of the destinations leading the way. Most tourists to the country head to the capital city of Vilnius, home to some spectacular architecture in the form of churches, town halls a medieval towns. Lithuania was one of the last countries to adopt Christianity and has several interesting Pagan remnants apart from World War II sites.

Top 5 Cities to Celebrate Christmas and New Year

Ring in 2014 somewhere new - from Valparaiso to Sydney, here are the cities which rocks the New Year with some of the biggest parties and firework displays.

Valparaiso, Chile :-  Chileans sure know how to ring in the New Year in style – Valparaiso organizes one of the biggest New Year bashes in Latin America and welcomes the new year with a 20 minute firework show in the Valparaiso harbour. The fireworks are fired from 17 points across the coast and signals the start of the dance party that lasts till dawn. The festivities start around the 28th and in the preceding 3 days, Valparaiso attracts almost a million people who come to experience one of the biggest party in the region. If you are looking to book cheap flight tickets to Valparaiso, make sure you check multiple online portals before making the booking.

Reykjavik, Iceland :- Iceland's capital has a  massive nightlife scene despite its diminutive geographical size and  New Year's eve is when the party freaks come out in full glory. The party starts of with community bonfires and firework display that symbolizes burning away of last year's troubles. For the best view, head to Pearl which offer panoramic views of the city, as a plus you get to gorge on delicious food and dance the night away. If you make it till 5 am then you can join the hotdog queue to curb that hangover. International flight tickets to Reyjavik is not cheap but the unique experience more than makes up for it.

Bratislava, Slovakia :- This quaint town hosts more than 10,000 people every New Year who come witness the amazing fireworks over the Danube, dance away in the open air dance floors and attend concerts. On the eve of the New Year the city gets demarcated into “concert zone” where music lovers gather to watch live music and “party zone” for those who looking to socialize and dance.

Edinburgh, Scotland :- No other city in the world celebrates New Year with as much zest as Edinburgh. The celebration lasts four days and includes a grand torchlight parade, open air concerts and  a crazy street party in Princes Street. Townsfolk believe in the tradition of “first footing” where the first guest to arrive in the new year brings in gifts; usually Scotch or shortbread. On the first day of the New Year, people gather to witness brave ones jump into the icy cold water in the Queensferry Loony Dook charity.

Sydney, Australia :- Sydney leaves all other cities in the dust in the race to be the first metropolis city to celebrate the New Year.  The city also hosts one of the biggest New Year parties- attented by a whopping 1  million people and wathched by more than a billion on television screens. The celebration starts on the morning of 31st  and features an air and water show, a Harbour Parade featuring more than 50 vessels and two brilliant firework display at midnight.

Expert Tips on How to Avoid Hidden Travel Fees

You have booked your flight tickets, reserved a hotel room, booked the cabs and even figured out where you will be eating. Having created an air tight itinerary, you assume that you have the entire budget figured out and nothing can surprise you, right? Maybe not.

As many people are finding out these days, the cost of trip does not equal the cost of the trip. During the trip a hundred different miscellaneous surcharges sneak its way into your itinerary.  And in some cases, it happens so frequently that you are pushing you budget even before you reach your destination.  The internet is your friend so before you make the bookings, check options for Cheap air tickets, hotel booking, cab agencies and online travel portals.

The human fee :- Booking your flight? Resist the urge to pick up the phone and make a telephonic booking. Many airlines charge a miscellaneous booking fee for talking to their representative and making a telephonic booking. The best way to evade it? Make your flight booking through one of the travel portals. Follow the same with online hotel reservation, booking through the web is a better option.

The rental car fee :- All over the world, many airports are using the cab rental counter as an easy way to dip their hands in to your wallet to fund construction projects. How to evade this? In most airports, you will find that tax is lighter when you book a cab away from the airport. If the destination you are headed to has a reasonably good public transport, you might be able to pick up a car near city center thereby saving on airport taxes.

Overpriced hotel parking :- Hotels in congested cities are starting to see overnight parking as a lucrative way to earn some extra bucks on the side. To avoid this situation, read the fineprint before you do your booking in cramped cities. Also, rent a car for single day from any service and return it when you retire for the night. Or if you are on a really tight budget, pick up a room in the suburbs and use public transportation. Make your online hotel booking, at least a week before your travel date.

The Great Online Shopping Festival 2013

The Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) which was intiated last year was a one of a kind online event which served as a massive platform where numerous online retailers banded together to give amazing deals and discounts on their products. The concept is in line with Black Friday and Cyber Monday in US and Singles Day in China. The idea is a win-win situation for both retailers and customers – the former will be able to leverage their presence and reach out to their target audience while the former get to enjoy some great discounts. The Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) is aggresively promoted by Google hence the awareness and popularity quotient is very high which ensures a higher ROI, traffic and visibility for the retailers.

The Google Online Shopping Festival is back with a bang and has garnered almost thrice as much traffic compared to previous year.  More than 200 retailers and 15 travel companies is participating in the three day shopping festival starting from December 11 to 13. The travel companies participating in this years GOSF include Via, Cleartrip, Makemytrip, Cathay Pacific, Jet Airways and Hyatt hotels.

In the travel domain, customers get to choose from numerous deals including discounted hotel booking, flight booking and bus booking. During last years GOSF, online travel portals received incremental spike in traffic while it didn't translate in to bookings. The primary reason could be that travelers are fairly rigid in terms of their travel dates and would not have the flexibility of prolonging their booking to fall within the 3 day period. However, there could be a segment of travelers who are flexible with their travel plans, especially backpackers and solo travelers who can definitely benefit from the event. It would be interesting to see how online travel portals fare in this years GOSF.

Top 5 Budget hotels in Jaipur

If you  are visiting Jaipur and don't have  the budget to splurge on one of those opulent palace hotels, then pick one of these budget hotels in Jaipur. The prime touristy areas in Jaipur tend to be expensive so its a good idea to book a hotel a little away from the city center.

Devi Niketan :- This is a family owned heritage hotel located in a quiet suburb of Jaipur. The fourteen rooms in the hotel are divided between two floors, apart from which the hotel features numerous shared spaces like courtyards,library and a rooftop.  There is a outdoor swimming pool with a massive deck. Despite its budget status, the hotel boasts of plenty of warmth and character and has garnered plenty of positive reviews. 


Baba Haveli :- Another affordable, gem of hotels in Jaipur that is extremely well maintained by the owner who started his career as a taxi driver. The most striking feature of the hotel is a captivating set of hand drawn murals across its walls. Guests in the hotel can enjoy the stunning sunset over the city from the rooftop restaurant. The sole drawback is the location, which is a good 30 minute cab ride from the city center. Prices start as low as Rs. 1200 per room night.


Sunder Palace Guest House :- This is a clean, comfortable and cheap guest house in Jaipur that has garnered massive amount of positive reviews amongst backpackers. The hotel is  strategically located in a by-lane away from the crowded streets yet is extremely close to the railway station and the shopping district. 

Hotel Anuraag Villa :-  The highlight of Anuraag Villa is the tranquil garden surrounding the property which is a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Jaipur. This is a simple, clean and unpretentious hotel with a friendly staff and delicious vegetarian food . The hotel is located in a quiet residential district close to the Old city.  If you are looking for a budget heritage hotel in India that offers extreme value for money, you won't find a  better property than this.

Hotel Pearl Palace :- One of the highest rated boutique hotel in India, Hotel Pearl Palace is cozy, family owned budget hotel in Jaipur.  The interiors of the hotel are decked with Rajasthani handicrafts and artifacts and the rooftop restaurant is a great place to take in the views of this colourful city. Prices start as low as $8 for a small double room to up to $24 for family rooms that can sleep six people.

Top 5 Off Season Destinations for Christmas

Avoid the crowds and bag massive bargains when you visit these destinations away from the peak seasons. 

Botwswana :-  Botswana is not a cheap safari option, many of the luxury resorts in the region can cost upwards of $800 a night. Whelp. But travelers willing to brave the downpour can grab a cool bargain after the tourist hordes have gone home.  November to April is referred to as the 'green months' – when the frequent rain drapes the region in lush greenery, inviting numerous birds. Malaria is prevalent is certain area of Botswana so make sure you exercise proper caution.  If you are looking to make cheapest flight ticket booking to Botswana, the popular airports are Francistown International Airport, Ghanzi Airport and Kanye Airport. 

Yellowstone National Park, USA :-  During the summers, almost three million tourists pile into the Yellowstone National Park. In contrast, only 14,000 people head to the park durig the winters. Visitors can watch elks, bisons at lower elevations that are grazing for miles out across the snow. Plus, you can enlist a guide to trample through the sparkling landscape and follow the trail of the evasive grey wolf. This one is probably the easiest destination to get through in this list due to the numerous online flight  booking options available to get there.

Lake Baikaal, Siberia :- Most travelers to this stunning expanse of blue prefer the summer. And yet,   Lake Baikal is far more fun during the winters, when the temperature plumets to a freezing -20 degree celcius. The mighty lake freezes over and you can walk over the transclucent turquoise blocks of ice which is almost 2 meters thick, but clear enough for you to see the seaweeds swaying in the bottom. Navigate this icy world on a sledge, snomobile or even a hovercraft.  Finish the day with a steam bath in a traditional banya (sauna).

Curaçao, Carribean :- The Carribean waters, so loved by travellers all over the world can draw in some serious storm from July to November. Usually, the islands receive at least one bad weather alert a year and will be in  the eye of the storm every 5-10 years.  However, not all of the Carribean islands witness the hurricane season and there are numerous islands which sits outside the 'hurricane alley'. Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire are safe havens which are home to classy colonial architecture, pristine sands and great diving spots. 

Hawaii, USA :-  The isle of Hawaii has two peak seasons, the deep winter when tourists flock in to escape the biting cold elewhere. And the high summer, when the island witnesses the inflow of vacationing  families. Both the seasons sees a price hike in the island but neither is actually the best time to visit. Actually, no time is awful in these volcanic outcrops, but the period from April to June (the start of the dry season) is outside the hurricane prone July to November months.

So there you go, the best places to visit away from the off season where you can make a cool discount on your international flight ticket booking.

Top budget hotels in Kerala

While luxury resorts in India are known for their opulence and majestic architecture,  the budget hotels in the country are often tagged  with less favorable adjectives like “dirty”, “filthy” and the likes. Well, a number of budget hotels in India are trying to change the scene by creating clean, comfortable and affordable lodging spaces.  

Bohemian Masala, Varkala Beach :- This place offers a twisty alternative to somewhat homogenised selection of guesthouses in Varkala Beach.  The  terracotta colored cottages maintained by Susan and Danesh offer  services like yoga, meditation and ayurvedic massage. A new organic restaurant is under construction within the premises. Prices for huts start as low as £12.50. 
 
Fort House, Cochin :- A charming little lodge by the water front that offers panoramic views of the harbour besides being 5 minutes walk from the Chinese fishing nets. The 16 rooms are set in a  rickety, Dutch colonial building with a tranquil garden in the courtyard.  You can indulge in a relaxing massage in the inhouse ayurvedic spa or gorge on some Malabar delicacies by the waterside restaurant.  With  prices starting from £35, it certainly is running for a spot as one of the cheapest budget hotels in India. 

Karikkathi Beach House, Kovalam  :- Run by the affable, informative Mr. Sajjad, these twin beach facing homestays are located south of the touristy Kovalam.  Each house has twin rooms which can also be booked together for family vacations. Home cooked food is served on the terrace. Prices start from £67 per night for 4.

Motty's Homestay, Allepey :-  Motty has a deep passion for the history and culture of Allepey and also loves meeting new people. He managed to bring both of them together by creating setting up Motty's Homestay. Much of the cottage is furnished with antiques and artworks that Motty picked up and refurbished to fit into the décor of the place.  Borrow Motty's cycle and take a trip around this lovely town with charming canals and a dilapidated  pier. Or  you can laze around  and gorge on delicious home cooked food made by Motty's wife, Lalli. If you are looking for economy hotel in India or Kerala, make sure you check out Motty's Homestay.

Waves Beach Resort, Adikadalayi, Thottada :- Traveling on a budget but can't shake off that urge to relax on a private beach? Waves Beach Resort might just be the place for you. The brainchild  of Seema, this pleasant and unassuming resort is set on a hilltop with a cliff path that leads to a private beach.  Guests can opt for one for the four octagonal shaped cottage or the large bungalow. The home cooked meals and a sea breeze wafting in through the windows render this a perfect vacation spot.

Kannan Beach Resort, Nileshwar :- Venture north of Kannur, and you will soon encounter secluded beaches, quiet rivers and glorious estuaries that seem a world far away from the touristy spots down south.  Kanan beach resort is located amidst a complex of white cottages with wood tiled roofs that looks out to a massive stretch of golden sands that ends at the beach. The criss cross pathways that connects the beach is riddled with coconut palms and is the perfect spot to relax on a hammock. The resort's 10 rooms open into wide decks from where you can walk to the pool or take an ayurvedic massage at the spa.