Top Wellness Resorts for 2014

Health usually makes a prominent presence in most people's New Year resolutions. Here are the top wellness resorts across the globe to help you stick to your resolutions.

Can Amonita, Ibiza: - A plush, six bed room finca that overlooks the beautiful San Lorenzo Valley. The complex has a beautiful pool and a large wooden deck for meditation/yoga. You can rent out the retreat for B&B stays, for special activities around the year (Joel Rice's Life Drawing sessions are popular). The place is owned by Lizzy Webster who is a certified therapist who offers in-room holistic treatments. Her husband, Dominic conducts retreats for people in recovery.

Serenity Retreat, Greece :- Setup by Kim Bennet, a Zen Buddhist meditation teacher, this is great anchor point for pottering around the village, relaxing on the beach, interact with like minded people and  go on quite walks. Kim radiates and infectious energy and sense of humour and somehow telepathically knows when you want company and when you want to be left alone. Located on the island of Lefkada, the retreat is open from May.  With rising number of airline carriers to the country, it is easier than never before to book cheap air tickets.

Joie de Vivre Retreats at Yobaba Lounge, France: - They conduct five day breaks in an artsty, rustic chateau in southern France. Conducted by former fencer and massage therapist Gertud Keazor, you can choose from yoga, meditation, nutritional consultation, local wine tours and gourmet healthy meals. The rooms in the chateau are comfortable and beautifully decorated. Book early as they accept only 8 people for one session.

Mobile Mermaid pilates retreats, Spain:-  Managed  by Susie Mermaids, a hove-based pilates teacher and holistic therapist, this place organizes six retreats every year for only six people. The program is held at Finca Amorosa, a beautifully renovated farmhouse and comprises of 90 minute pilate sessions, evening walks, massage treatments and cultural excursions. They prepare their meals from locally sourced ingredients using their own olive oil.

Discover Your Depth retreats, Egypt:- Run by four times free diving world record holder, Sara Campell who also happens to be a kundalini yoga teacher.  The retreat is located in the tranquil village of Dahab floating on the Red Sea. Every from the last week of March to the first week of April, she and Danish instructor Joern Noertoft offer a mix of yoga, meditation, snorkeling sessions and safari into the Sinai desert.  Participants stay at the beautiful beachside Amanda Hotel and Art Cafe which serve vegan food. Sara conducts year around yoga, meditation and life coaching sessions in her own villa in Dahab. With numerous online travel portals opening up in the country, you can do online air ticket booking to Egypt at some of the lowest ever prices.

Yogashala, India:- This unpretentious retreat in Kovalam offers both private and group sessions on a  palm thatched rooftop platform near Light House Beach. Owner Padma Nair combines iyengar, sivananda and ashtanga in her teachings and practices. The 10 day programme includes chavutti thirummal, the famed Indian foot massage which is supposed to leave you brimming with energy. You can either opt to stay in the simple Pink Flowers guesthouse or Padma will help you arrange more luxurious hotels in India.

Things to do in Melbourne

Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia and probably one of the easiest cities in the world to fall in love with. What's more? The increased airliners operating to the city has resulted in cheap flight tickets.  Here are a few tips to help you balance between exploring the coast and the urban adventures. 

Federation Square :- The good thing about starting your trip from Federation Square, apart from the fact it is the heart of the city, is that you can meet a lot of Red Shirt Ambassadors who will give you helpful advice on how to spend your time in the city. The best way to ensure you get cheap air tickets online to Melbourne is to browse multiple portals before booking your air tickets.

Culinary Scene: - Melbourne is home to numerous immigrant communities mostly comprising of Chinese, Greek and Italian. The good thing about having a thriving immigrant scene is the chance to experience some lip smacking world cuisine without having to set foot out of the city. Start your trip at one of the Italian bistros in Lygon Street and end it at the Queen Victoria Market where the entire city's cuisine comes under one roof.   

Coffee Tour: - Melbourne is crazy about coffee. The espresso culture brought in by the Italian immigrants evolved over time into a city that is obsessed with coffee and currently its home to more than 2500 cafes and roasting houses. Try out the best ones by taking the coffee tour with Maria Paoli of Coffee Tours Melbourne, or you can wander the city and randomly explore on your own.

Victorian Queenscliff: - Catch a ferry to the other end of Port Philip bay and spend some time at the historical Queenscliff. This is a quaint Victorian village situated at the mouth of a harbour and used to serve as a weekend getaway for Aussie aristocrats.  Drop in at the impressive roof top bar in Vue Grand Hotel for an impressive selection of craft beer.

Surf in Torquay: - If you are into watersports, make your way to Torquay, the legendary home to some of the best surf spots in the world and the Bells Beach. You can sign up for a lesson with the Great Ocean Surf Tours where you will be taught the basics like stand-up paddle boarding.

Budget Travel Tips for 2014

Here is the low down on taking the sting out of high airfare prices and bagging the perfect deals for your vacation in 2014.

Higher airfares: - Probably the most restrictive factor for travelers this year will be the sky rocketing air ticket prices. Apart from rising prices of crude oil, the other major factor pushing up the prices is the consolidation of airliners. As of today, only four major airliners fly in the United States; lesser players mean less pressure on them to lower the prices and consequently fewer deals for the customers. Sadly, there is no solid strategy to evade the situation. Travelers will have to forgo luxury accommodation, fancy restaurants and expensive sightseeing to offset the cost and travel within their budgets.

Skip the hotels: - Take advantage of vacation rental sites like airbnb, FlipKey, HomeAway and Rentalo which allows you to stay in an apartment at a fraction of the cost of a fancy hotel.  The sector is in its nascent stage and is plagued by few issues, however, the massive amount of savings more than compensates for the minor discomforts. Hotels in India are increasingly suiting up to counter the trend by lowering the prices. Hotel booking in India has also become significantly easier thanks to numerous online portals competing for the traveler’s attention.

Watch your currency: - While hunting for an overseas vacation, consider how far your currency will go. Last year, the Indonesian Rupiah took a whopping 7% plunge against the dollar, rendering Bali one of the best value vacation spot for the Yanks.  Even the Japanese Yen fell significantly against the dollar making the once expensive island an affordable travel option.

Chasing India's Hippie Trail

While India's best known hippie spots like Goa and Varanasi are getting choked by the tentacles of commercial tourism, travelers are migrating to smaller, quieter towns in their quest to self discovery, relaxation and the ever elusive 'shanti'. Here are the top spots for those who enjoy a laid back vibe flavored with a splash of alternate consciousness.

Hampi :- Monuments like Virupaksha temple has earned Hampi a spot in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list. However, unlike other destinations steeped in history, Hampi has managed to carry off a hammock swinging, motorcycle riding, laid back vibe. A 26 sq.km village located on the banks of Tungabhadra River, Hampi was once the capital of the medieval kingdom of Vijayanagar. Though primarily visited by architectural geeks and pilgrims, the town has seen a steady rise in the number of hippies who have settled in shacks across the river.  Most hotels in Hampi accept online hotel booking so you won't have a hard time finding an accommodation here.

Tosh :- Located in the far reaches of Himalayas, the village is a secluded settlement where modern influence is  yet to creep in. The village comprises of a group of houses built into the mountains and overlooks the serene Paravati River.  The region is inhabited by a close knit farming community who tend to their fruit orchards, sheep and marijuana plantation.  Tosh is accessible from Barshaini town (two hour trek or half an hour taxi ride). While Tosh may not have some of the best hotels in India, rest assured you will find a clean, comfortable place to retire for the day. 

Kasol :-  Located below Tosh, on the banks of the Parvati River is the quaint little town that serves as the base for trekkers to Pin Parvati Pass. The Hebrew signboards and numerous dreadlocks that navigate its street is a dead giveaway of its reputation as a hippie paradise. Cheap accommodation and delicious food has lured many a traveler to Kasol into becoming permanent residents. Evergreen and Little Italy are the two popular cafes where you can have some freewheeling spirituality discussions while sipping cappuccinos and munching on an apple crumble.

Vashisht :- Located about 3 km from Manali, Vashisht is popular amongst families who come here to take a dip in its hot springs. But a cursory glance around and you will see the Rastafarian colours in the rooftop cafes and groups of didgeridoo wielding backpackers. For a change in scenery, head out to the Jogini waterfall, accessible via a trek through a village, this serene spot rewards you with stunning views.

Gokarna :- The three beaches of Gokharna – Om, Kudle and Paradise with their Rastafarian cafes and dreadlocked backpackers is a picture perfect hippie beach town. Om beach is named after the Sanskrit symbol it resembles and is home to the most popular shack in town, the Namaste Cafe. Paradise beach is home to long term settlers and is quieter than the other two.

Global Travel Trends of 2014

The travel industry saw a whole of changes in 2013; today we extrapolated the trends to predict upcoming travel industry trends in 2014.

Rise of the digital traveler: - The rapid proliferation of digital channels has empowered travelers to use online tools and mobile apps to find his way around town. We are rapidly witnessing the growth of a new breed of travelers who shun hand holding by the hospitality industry. It will be interesting to see how the industry evolves to fulfill the needs of the new age customers.

Curation gains prominence: - Travelers are getting bombarded by a huge amount of data and advertising and they are getting tired sifting through them to find what they want.  As a consequence, many travel portals are adopting intelligent curation powered by big data and analytics. HotelTonight has adopted an interesting curation algorithm whereby it displays a set of same day deals for each market. For 2014, expect a whole lot more intelligence to creep into your search listings. As portals become more intelligent, they are expected to lure more travelers to book cheap air tickets online rather than through their agents.

Weightage to Visual: - The stratospheric rise of Instagram and photosharing on Facebook is a clear indication of the power of visual in the digital age.  Over the past year, Visual Content Marketing has been fast gaining prominence; with even corporate brands like American Express utilizing imagery to communicate with their audience.  Brands like Starwood are increasingly utilizing their customer's photos, videos and social network to create marketing collateral that are more likely to resonate with other potential customers in the same demographic.

The march of the Low Cost Carrier (LCC): - Low Cost Carriers (LCC) are expected to continue their glorious march onwards in decimating every other aviation sector.   With the success of the sector, many more carriers like Norwegian, WoW Air and West Jet are set to enter the LCC sector; further increasing the competition.  Expect international air tickets prices to plummet further in 2014.

Relaxed Visa Regulations: - Many nations around the world are realizing that visa fees and complicated processes is stunting inbound tourism.  The realization has led to the introduction of visa on arrival by numerous Asian and European countries.  Even traditionally closed countries like Russia, China and India are slowly seeing the benefits of easing their visa regulations. The changes could serve as a huge impact in driving tourism from previously untended sectors.

South India Temple Tour in 2014

The southern part of India is peppered with some outstanding temples that inspire sheer awe. Even travelers who are not religiously should make it a point to visit these ancient marvels just to soak in the exquisite architecture. Easy bus ticket booking has made easier than ever to cover all of them within a week. Here the must see temples in the southern part of the country. 

Madurai: - Madurai is home to some of the impressive and majestic temples in the country. The most important of them is the Meenakshi Temple. This temple complex sprawls over 15 acres and features 4,500 pillars and 12 towers. The highlight of the complex is the intricate sculptures. The best time to visit the temple complex is during the 12 Chithirai Festival - a reenactment of the celestial nuptial ceremony of the temple's god and goddess held every April. Online bus tickets to Madurai can be easily booked on any of the popular travel portals.

Thanjavur: - Thanjavur's golden days was during the eleventh century when the Chola King Raja Raja I ruled the kingdom. The Chola dynasty built more than 70 temples all over Thanjavur with the most famous and biggest of them being the Brihadeswara Temple. The temple completed 1,000 years in 2010 has been tagged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the exemplary symbol of the might and ingenuity of the Cholas and is constructed solely out of stone.


Kumbakonam: - Located around 40 km from Tanjavur, this tiny town is crammed with more than 15 temples. If you are just using the town as a stopover and don't have too much time, make sure not to miss the Sarangapani Temple (dedicated to Lord Vishnu). Another must visit temple is the 12th century Airtesvara Temple which is renowned for its exquisite carvings and sculptures.

Rameshwaram: - The specialty of the Ramanthaswamy Temple is its surreal pillared highway, hailed to be the longest in India. The ceiling that runs through the pillars are painted with mesmerizing colours and is truly a sight to behold. The temple is located just 100 meters from the sea and pilgrims take bathe in the sea before entering the temple. The complex features 22 wells whose waters are considered to be holy and purifying to the mind and body. The town of Rameshwaram hold special significance to Hindus as its the spot from where Lord Rama built a bridge across the sea to rescue Sita.

Tirupati: - Easily one of the most popular temple in the country, it is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwar (Lord Vishnu). Located in southern tip of the state of Andhra Pradesh, ardent pilgrims of the Lord undertake a walk along 4,000 steps up the hill to reach the main shrine. Tirupati is the wealthiest temple in India and is apparent in its gold plated dome and the adornment of the main idol. It has been patronized by numerous kingdoms and rulers over the years and is a favourite amongst present day politicians and celebrities.