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Bangkok Sightseeing Vacation - Frugal Tips

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Have you been planning a Bangkok sightseeing vacation but always holds it back because of budget constraints? Don’t worry because there are many ways to enjoy Bangkok even with limited vacation funds.

Bangkok is really one of the best places to visit if you want quality but inexpensive vacation. It has numerous tourist attractions that are usually accessible by public transportation. So before you cave in to the luring sales pitch of the tour guides that charge hefty fees, it is worth to read the following frugal tips for your future Bangkok sightseeing vacation plan.

Use the Map. You can ask a free copy of Bangkok map at the hotel concierge. If you cannot find any, though rarely, you can always refer to the maps located in the public transportation stations of the metro train or express boats.

Also, majority of the tourist attractions have tourist information booth nearby that you can approach.

Research Earlier. Guided tours are always expensive because you pay for their service and knowledge. Tour guides will provide you with the history, its significance and other related information of the sights you wish to go.

But why spend a dime for information that is widely available with no cost at all. Before you pack your things, do some little homework. Research and read about those famous tourist attractions that you plan to visit. This will save you a substantial amount of money while you will enjoy the thrill of exploring unguided Bangkok sightseeing tours.

Take Express Boat. This is the great way to get around in Bangkok because it is cheap and fast, away from the congested roads. Express boat is also known as the public boat. With regular trips and several routes, you can visit major tourist attractions using express boat.

Here are few local tourist attractions that you can reach through Express boat.

• Emerald Buddha & Grand Palace
• The Golden Buddha
• The Reclining Buddha
• The National Museum of Royal Barges
• Wat Arun

Tour guides will approach you in every sightseeing site. Don’t succumb to their overcharged fees as most of the local attractions are just walking distance from the pier (where the express (public) boats dock).

For instance, Wat Arun is located just across the pier Tha Tien where you get off for the Reclining Buddha. There is available ferry that will take you for five minutes or less to the Wat Arun from the Tha Tien pier for only 3 bhat per way.

Bangkok Mass Transit System. It is also known as BTS Sky train, a quick and convenient way to reach shopping malls and other tourists destinations. Aside that it gives you a top view of the city, BTS Sky train is also clean. It will cost you between 30-40 baht per trip per way.
Here are few places you can go using the BTS Sky train.

• Siam Square (Bangkok’s shopping heartland)
• Victory Monument
• MBK Shopping Mall
• Chatuchak or Weekend Market

Pack Extra Traveling Bags. Bangkok is always associated with shopping because there are so many things to buy at reasonable prices from clothes, shoes, silk, tailor-made suits, jewelries to souvenir items. You will definitely end up with an extra travelling bag on your return.

To pack all these new shopping goodies, you will need an additional suitcase on your return but why you have to buy an extra suitcase when you can pack some old folding traveling bags you keep in your closet back home.

Now that you know few Bangkok sightseeing vacation frugal tips, it’s about time to let go your travel qualms and enjoy the thrill of exploring frugally the various local attractions in Bangkok.

Cyra Miles Valdez is a freelance writer living in Abu Dhabi, UAE and her areas of interest are travel, events & holidays, health, culture & society, human interest stories and education. Contact her for all your article and web content writing needs. You can visit her at www.cyramiles.com or read her journey as an expat in Frugal Expat

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/bangkok-sightseeing-vacation-frugal-tips-1650002.html

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Pushkar TraveL Information

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

14-km from Ajmer, Pushkar is legendary among travellers looking for new experiences. It offers much more than most weekend getaways can hope to pack in: temples, ghats, street bazaars, cafés, and of course, desert safaris. As a religious site, Pushkar practically sells itself: it is home to one of the two Brahma temples in the country. The region is a labyrinth of 500-odd temples, 52 ghats and palaces clustered around a holy lake.

According to legend, the lake sprang up at the spot where a lotus fell from Lord Brahma`s hands-and has curative properties. Religious site notwithstanding, Pushkar is an artsy hippie region peopled with sadhus, hippies and pilgrims. On the one hand, it attracts the flower child. On the other, it is a sanctified spot characterized by temples and ghats. Whether you detoxify in a heritage hotel, take part in religious rituals, study temple architecture, or simply do touristy things like shopping, eating out and camel safaris, Pushkar has much to draw you in.

For the uninitiated, it has been on the hippie circuit for years is easily available in this vegetarian and alcohol-free town! The town is very small and as someone put it, “you could pretty much cover it in about an hour”. Pushkar has all requisite distractions; visitors can purchase florescent shirts, a set of drums, paintings, books, trance and reggae CDs, religious paraphernalia, silver jewellery, sequinned and embroidered sandals, blankets, and handmade weapons; try multicuisine delicacies at cafés littering the marketplace; and party at night-long desert raves. More surprises awaited in the form of Salvador Dali! Emporiums in Sadar Bazaar either hawk paintings, wall hangings, diaries and T-shirts of his works or inspired thereby.

If Rajasthan is a land of diversity, Jaipur is its most sublime expression. The seduction`s easily explained. Jaipur is a city of vivid and unforgettable images: Jal Mahal [a palace in the midst of Man Sagar lake], ochre-pink buildings, camels standing astride a Mercedes Benz at traffic lights, theatres showing  films in a busy marketplace[!], artisans engaging in block printing, gem cutting, and puppet making.

The staggering maze of old-world palaces and forts-the city`s archaeological treasures-are for many the sole reason for traveling to Jaipur. I began my odyssey at a vantage point in the city-Amer fort, Jaipur`s grand icon and showpiece. A centre of royal pomp under the reign of Raja Man Singh, Amer was initially a palace complex within the original fort, which is today known as Jaigarh fort. Connected with Amer through fortified passages, Jaigarh fort is renowned for the world`s biggest cannon on wheels, Jai Ban.

By 10 a.m., the tourists are out on the streets, battling crowds and traffic as they wind their way from palaces and baroque buildings to the ruins of antiquity. Indeed, Jaipur often appears to have two populations: one of locals and another of visitors. The old city is a fascinating place to wander around, with its quaint bazaars [there`s a market that only sells bangles!], artisans` digs, and the Hawa Mahal [it is part of the City Palace and has 953 windows]. During the winters especially, it plays host to a horde of sightseers who converge on it with guidebooks and cameras in hand. To all-Americans, Europeans, Indians-Jaipur extends a warm welcome … wining, dining, and entertaining them in its inimitable fashion. The traffic, unfortunately, is worse than ever.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/pushkar-travel-information-1648628.html

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Are You About To Book A Skiing Holiday?

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Lots of people opt to spend their holiday time on skis every single year. Even the thought of slicing down a hillside on skis is enough to send them scurrying to look at the latest snow reports and holiday destinations.

Supposing this is your first skiing holiday, what should you be thinking about before you head off to the slopes?

Perhaps the most important thing of all is to think about where you are going to go. There are dozens of ski resorts all over Europe, the USA and Canada and beyond, and some are better for beginners than others.

A good way to explore the various resorts is to do this virtually. Hop online and look up some of the most popular ones for beginners. You’ll probably want to have skiing lessons to get you off on the right foot, so make sure the resort you’re considering offers those as well.

Don’t make the mistake of focusing on the skiing to the exclusion of all else. One thing a lot of new skiers find is that it can really make you ache – particularly if you habitually fall over! That means you won’t want to be spending all day on the slopes. In turn, this means it is good to have some other things to see and do while you are away.

Most resorts have a good range of cafes, restaurants and shops you can go to throughout the day. If you plan to explore as well as ski you might want to see what else they have locally which might be of interest.

You need to think about your accommodation as well. You’ve got everything from the most expensive hotels to the cheapest chalets to choose from, so find something within your price range in the resort you like the most. Similarly, think about whether you will want to cook or not. If you don’t you won’t want to book into a self catering apartment.

Don’t forget all the necessary equipment either. If this is your very first time on skis there’s no point buying them before you go. Instead, rent them when you arrive. If you decide that skiing isn’t for you, you won’t be stuck with a pair you have no use for!

Finally make sure you book your travel insurance in plenty of time for the holiday. The policy should cover skiing, so make sure it does before agreeing to it.

With all those measures and preparations in place you can look forward to the holiday itself. And you will finally get to see just how good you are on skis as well! That will certainly be something exciting to prepare yourself for.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/are-you-about-to-book-a-skiing-holiday-1644851.html

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Australian Tourist Information

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

The adventure of going to international cities like Brisbane or some other area in Austrailia has the possibility for many wonderful experiences. Here is some good information you should know as you make your travels into this world renowned area.

A trip to Australia will require a flight of considerable length and will usually require many mandatory stops along the way. Be advised that the rates for airfare can vary considerably and therefore shopping around thoroughly is a requirement if you want to get a deal. Begin by contacting all the major airlines, and not just those that boast flights to that region, after all with many stopovers along the way you can always switch carriers at the last leg of the trip that can take you into the part of Australia that you are visiting anywhere from the Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. If you still feel that you haven’t gotten the best possible rate on your airfare, you can consult with a travel agent as they will usually know about the going rate on a flight of this magnitude.

Transportation to and from the airports in Australia is pretty simple as they have a public transportation system in place to help you get to and from your accommodations via bus, train or taxi. Shuttle buses are usually available for neighboring hotels as well.

Jets are not the only mode of transportation in order to reach the shores of Queensland Australia, there are many cruise lines who go into the many ports all over the country, a lot especially in summertime. So if you want to you can catch a ship into your chosen port, have a nice vacation and then fly back out. Doing this may reduce your airfare costs, something else to investigate.

A visa is required to enter Australia but you can apply for a travel visa with your valid passport before you leave home. You can gather more information about paperwork and travel visas through the Australian Government website on visas and immigration to ensure that you have the proper documents for your international travel.

 

Travel to the Sunshine Coast and see the most fabulous beaches! Go to sunshinecoastinformation.com to reserve your sunshine coast accomodation and see all the attractions. Sunshinecoastinformation.com can help you with reserving space at Mooloolaba Hotels.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/australian-tourist-information-1640924.html

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