Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Important Travel Tips No One Follows

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A London tourist stall on Whitehall selling fl...

The internet is peppered with so many articles that give out various kinds of advice and tips regarding travel. But while these tips may be important, nay, crucial to ensure that your trip is safe, enjoyable and worth it, still, many people choose to ignore many of them.  This only ends with a lot of disappointments and “what ifs” when something goes wrong that could’ve been prevented if they had just followed the travel tips they’ve read.

Here are some of the most common and important travel tips that people do not follow: [Read more…]

Asian Countries You Must Visit (At Least Once)

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It is the largest continent, the home to 60% of the world’s population, the origin of modern civilization, and the birthplace of major world religions. Now who says it is okay to miss travelling to Asia?

But it’s so huge. How can you choose which of its 48 countries to visit first? We’ll make it easier for you. Here are the top four must-visit Asian countries before you die.

 

 

Thailand

 

Thailand is known for it’s pristine sandy beaches, spicy food and tranquil Buddhist temples. Some of the major sights and destinations are Phuket Island, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun, and the Royal Palace. If you get bored, stroll around the palaces and then eat jasmine rice. Just don’t touch anyone on the head or point with your foot or you’ll be finished with Muay Thai.

 

Book your Treasures of Thailand Tour here

 

India

 

You don’t know the meaning of overcrowded if you haven’t gone to India where more than 1.2 billion Indians are living in a million square-mile territory. Well the hassles will be worth it if you can take a picture with the Taj Mahal on the background, ride an elephant, taste the Indian curry, watch field hockey, and say “Namaste.”

 

Experience the best of India and Nepal with Friendly Planet Travel

 

Japan

 

The Land of the Rising Sun is more than just Cherry Blossoms, big-eyed anime characters, sushi, and weird hairstyles. It has a lot of everything. It’s the third largest economy, the best on environment preservation, and has the longest life expectancy. The same balance reflected on Mt. Fuji is Japan’s secret to own almost everything.

Explore the wonders of Japan with the Japan Panorama Tour

 

China

Even the moon doesn’t miss the Great Wall of China, so why would you? Aside from that, go and head to the Forbidden City in Beijing and see the world’s largest city of ancient buildings. Complete the ancient experience by dropping by the thousands of two-millennium-old life-size Terracotta Warriors. Don’t forget to get an authentic Chinese lucky charm or you’ll be in bad luck.

Make sure you also indulge in China’s rich cuisine with the Taste of China Tour.

 

Surviving the overwhelming blend of Asian culture, nature, history, and people is something you should brag about when you get back home. But before that, you’ve got to plan for the ultimate Asian adventure first. Do it with the best travel deals on the internet at Friendly Planet Travel.

 

Itching To Discover Saigon

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In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!

So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), and banh mi (French baguette with all sorts of stuffing). I am fairly new to their cuisine, so we’ll see what else I will discover! Oh yeah, I shall let Anthony Bourdain’s Vietnam feature guide me for a week.

I also read this article in the New York Times about “following the beer trail in Vietnam.” I didn’t know it, but Vietnam has quite a good selection of beers, many of them local! I wouldn’t call myself a beer connoisseur but I can appreciate a good brew anytime! Now I have printed out the article and will go around HCMC looking for some of the best beer in the city.

Of course, there is shopping. From what I hear, I can find tons of shawls, bags, and other apparel for dirt cheap.

I seriously am beside myself with excitement now.

Philippine Travel Alert Extended By US State Department

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Before any of my fellow Filipinos react, let me say that I am in no way in agreement with this extension. In fact, the reason for my writing this post is to express my disagreement with it! This travel alert against the Philippines was issued late last year after the egregious issue of the Maguindanao Massacre hit international headlines.

We all have to admit that that was a horrible affair and that it did nothing to improve the image of the Philippines. Everyone condemned – and continues to do so – that incident. However, that does not mean that the Philippines is an unsafe country. In fact, in the past months, I have interacted with numerous foreign visitors – and each one of them have all their hair in their heads untouched.

For one, Maguindanao is in the southernmost island of the Philippines. There are many tourist attractions in other parts of the country that are totally safe – both for foreigners and locals alike. That massacre is not an ordinary happening in our country and not everyone is like whoever those people behind that massacre are.

Indeed, I went on a trip in December – to a province that is not very touristy. This weekend, a group of my friends are on a weekend trip to another isolated island in the northern part of the country. They are perfectly safe.

This travel alert is a prime example of how the news can be exaggerated and how mountains are made out of mole hills. Primary lesson: don’t believe everything that you hear or read. Not even when it comes from the government. Maybe especially when it comes from the government.

India’s Festival Season Begins: Good Travel Deals On Offer!

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taj-mahalIndia is home to some of the best attractions in the world. Some of the world’s nicest beaches, the Taj Mahal, and of course, their numerous festivals attract countless visitors year in and year out. And speaking of festivals, this season is right around the corner. As such, this is one of the best times to travel to India!

Contrary to what you might expect, there are actually good deals to be found during this season. More often than not, you would expect hotels to jack up their prices during peak season, right? The good news is that many hotels in the country are actually offering lower prices, especially for package deals. The Hindu Business Online reports:

“Average room rates have declined by approximately 30 per cent. However, the decline at leisure hotels has not been that significant,” said a spokesperson for Oberoi Group of Hotels.

On the occupancies, the leisure hotels are expected to see a 15-20 per cent increase over Dussera last year. “More so, this year with Dussera falling on a Friday, there is the advantage of a long weekend,” she added.

To capture the festive mood at luxury properties of Oberoi you could head for a 2-night stay at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur priced at Rs 35,000 exclusive of taxes. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra and The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur would cost Rs 36,500. The offer will be valid till September 30. Some offers extend up to December 31 too.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the travel industry has been hit by the recession as well. Hotels and airlines have been forced to adjust to the difficult times and offer more attractive rates than they did before. Whatever the reason, here’s something that travelers can take advantage of!