The Best Way to Travel: Group or Solo?

It depends! There is no one size fits all answer. The best way to travel depends on many things, but here are a few key factors.

• Your REASONS for travelling.
• Are you going solo or with friends from home?
• The duration of the trip.
• Your personality.
• The location.

Reasons!

If you are going to travel to finally take a long deserved break from your 60 hours weeks in a stressful job. Then I highly doubt you want to spend your break cramming your brain with loads and loads of new information. This can be in the form of a new language, new ways to function, new food, and figuring out a new public transit system every other day. In this case you would be far better off going somewhere you are semi-familiar with or travelling with a group. In a group you'll get to chill out. The company guide will take care of all the logistics, bargaining, scams, hotels, bus tickets and taxi rides. You are just there to clear your mind, not play Indiana Jones.

Are you going solo or with friends from home?

If going solo, nothing is stopping you from meeting people on the road. While traveling, you'll meet tons of people but they aren't always going your way. You could meet new people in Bangkok that seem like they are an awesome bunch but they are going to Chiang Mai... the city you just came from. That can be kind of a drag. Unless you are lucky and meet the perfect traveling partner, you'll have to get used to short term friendships. If you want to stay with the same people for the duration of the trip, develop better, longer lasting relationships and start developing inside jokes and all that fun stuff, group travel is definitely the better option.

The duration of the trip

If you are leaving for a very short period of time like 1 or 2 weeks. It would be better to go with a tour because they have years of experience in making the perfect itineraries. You might go solo, hoping to see this and that during your week only to find out that the bus only leaves every other day to that destination. The group travel businesses know this! And they plan for it way in advance allowing you the opportunity to see everything they said you would see... GUARANTEED! On the other hand if you have 4 months, go solo! Take your time, missed the bus? Oh well. Now you know, you have months ahead of you.

Your personality

If you're a very stressed out individual, dislike being out of your element, not a huge fan of change but still want to see beautiful places, going solo might just give you a long headache. You don't want to come back home with anger and new prejudices! Obviously, the group tour option would be a good one for you. If you are easy going, don't mind looking stupid in public, think that getting lost or scammed is part of life and love the growth you'll get out of bad experiences, go solo.

Location

If you are going to hard to reach places where you either need a car (or worse a 4x4 truck) to get to. Going solo is pretty much out of the question (unless you have tons of cash on hand!). Some national parks require a 4x4 vehicle to get around. If you show up with just a tent, and hiking boots, you won't see much! I speak from first hand experience. I tried to visit Kaeng Krachan national park in Thailand by foot. I thought they had hiking trails. I was wrong! I had to turn back. Think also of things like safaris, some last for a few days, some for a few weeks!.

Now if you are heading to an easy access location where you know you'll find someone that can understand you, find English menus etc. Nothing wrong with going by yourself!

So take this into consideration when daydreaming about your next trip. So many things are a factor in determining the perfect vacation. But these are the main issues that should help you figure out what the best way to travel is for you.  Cedric Cobban

Fun Adventures in Bali

The beautiful island of Bali conjures up dreamy images of a tropical paradise, and despite being fairly compact it's the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. Its appeal is drawn from many sources including the blissful climate, gorgeous beaches, unique culture, delicious food, and relatively inexpensive living costs. Beach lovers could easily while away their entire stay simply soaking up the rays, sipping cocktails out of coconuts, and splashing about in the warm sea, but there's also plenty on offer for more adventurous travellers...

Volcano trekking

A two-hour climb to the summit of active volcano Mount Batur to watch the sun rise is an incredibly memorable experience, and your local guide may add to the fun by cracking and cooking an egg on some lava-heated rock - reminding you just how active the volcano really is. It's a fairly accessible hike if you're reasonably fit, and you're rewarded with views of the sunrise over Bali's tallest mountain, Mount Agung, while to the north you see several steaming, active cones. Registered guides should be members of the Association of Mount Batur Trekking Guides, which has an office in Toyo Bungkah village where the treks begin.

Diving and snorkelling

The best time of year for snorkelling and diving around Bali is from May until September, when the water tends to be clearest and you can see the live coral and tropical marine life in all its glory. At Tulamben, one of Bali's most famous dive sites, you can even explore a sunken World War II ship - the 120-metre-long USS Liberty wreck. On Bali's far east coast there are also some great locations such as Candidasa and the nearby islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. For more experienced divers there are excellent sites around the rocky islets of Gili Kambing, Gili Biaha and Gili Mimpang.

White water rafting

In central Bali, the island's cultural heart, Ubud offers a good base for white water rafting excursions outside of the dry season. After exploring the town's historical sites and temples, including some of the most beautiful on the island, you can head west to Sayan near the lush Ayung gorge. Whitewater rafting operators will take you for a day on the Class II and Class III rapids, which aren't the most challenging in the world but are set against a spectacularly beautiful backdrop.

Surfing

One of the island's best-known resorts is Kuta, once a sleepy fishing village but today a popular backpacking spot, particularly amongst Australian surfers. The village can get very busy and the surf overcrowded at some times of the year, though, so surfers may prefer to venture to quieter spots elsewhere. With more than 30 surf locations across Bali, once you get chatting to fellow surfers you'll soon hear about favourites such as Ulu Watu for more experienced surfers, and nearby Padang Padang.

These are just a handful of the activities on offer across Bali, and with a bit of research you can have a go at para-sailing, riding an elephant, jungle or rice paddy trekking, fishing, wakeboarding or water skiing.  Joseph Z Williams

A Guide to Chiang Mai Temples

Chiang Mai, Thailand, should be your prime destination if you are a traveler looking to experience Thai culture to the full: not only is it a city that retains much of its pre-modernization charm and shows minimal influences of industrialization, it is also home to over three hundred Buddhist temples. Most of these temples are centuries old, dating back to the early days of the Kingdom of Lanna, which was founded in 1292 and became part of Thailand in 1774. More than religious centers, the wat are sites of culture that have accumulated different architecture styles, relics, and artworks over hundreds of years. You may find yourself overwhelmed, however, by the sheer number of temples (also known as wat in Thai) to see in Chiang Mai; the following guide gives you a starting point of which ones you shouldn't miss.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is located on the mountain Doi Suthep and is one of the most prominent historical sites in the province; as such it is a must-see in any traveler's trip to Chiang Mai. Roughly 15 kilometers from the city center, it consists of a beautiful gold-plated chedi (pagoda), the famous white elephant shrine, countless murals, and an exquisitely made naga stairway-with 309 steps-leading you up to the top (though you can always opt to take the cable instead for a small fee, 60 bht at the time of writing). At the lofty height of 1,053 meters above sea level, it also offers a fantastic and panoramic view of Chiang Mai that'd be perfect on any postcard. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep began in 1371 as a single chedi, but was expanded several times by various Chiang Mai monarchs and is still being added to today. The most recent addition, a glass tip for the golden lotus on one of the pagodas, was donated by the current king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Wat Chedi Luang presents a different style of architecture, being of a purely Lanna origin. Built in the late 14th century to enshrine a king's remains, Wat Chedi Luang had the distinction of being the tallest structure in all of Chiang Mai for five centuries until an earthquake in the 16th century reduced its former height of ninety meters to the present-day sixty. Its compound encompasses the Mahamakut Buddhist University, a monks' campus. This temple is located in the Old City area, near the Thapae Gate. From here, many other temples can be reached within walking distance, among them the famous Wat Phra Singh.

Wat Chaimongkol is a riverside temple located on Chareon Prathet Road in the city center, north of the Night Bazaar. The temple is over six centuries old and quite remarkable for its shrines and collection of relics; the style of its architecture shows influences from ancient Lanna as well as those of Myanmar and Laos. One of the most popular temples in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) and the Buddhist tradition of freeing animals into the Mae Ping River, Wat Chaimongkol perfectly complements a sightseeing stroll through the city.

Wat Suan Dok distinguishes itself by having a dedicated "Monk Chat" center (technically that hosts lectures and talks for English-speaking foreigners who are interested in Buddhism and/or conversion to Buddhism. Monks also make themselves available for less formal dialogue and discussions; there are also courses provided by the University of Chiang Mai. Even apart from this feature, however, the temple is set in a large compound that houses many pagodas, one of which is said to contain one half of the relic that founded Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Wat Suan Dok is located on Suthep Road to the west of the Old City, close to the Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital.  Joanne Chong

Pattaya: All About Walking Street

Pattaya's most titillating (and some would say infamous) tourist attraction is simply called "Walking Street." And like other red light districts around the world - think Amsterdam's de Pijp or Mexico's Zona Norte - Pattaya's Walking Street is full of as much sex and sin as you would expect from any area demarked by legal brothels and street prostitution.

But what sets Walking Street apart from most other RLDs is the over-the-top nature of this street, and the wide variety of fun, and for the most part, wholesome set of activities offered.

From the south end of Beach Road (highlighted by a huge Samsung signboard) to the Bali Hai Pier terminus, you will find foreigners as well as Thai nationals all enjoying what Walking Street has to offer from 6pm to 2am - 365 days a year. This unique part of Pattaya houses some of Thailand's best seafood and international cuisine restaurants, discotheques, sports bars, night clubs, go-go bars, and beer halls.

Here you will find street entertainers, souvenir shops, and a night market filled with everything imaginable, as well as bars filled with Thailand's most amazing ladyboys, as well as clubs blaring some of the best live music available. In short, Walking Street is one huge party zone.

Despite the wrap that Walking Street gets for being dangerous and sleazy, it is really a friendly place where even the shyest of visitors will be forced to smile by the outright forwardness of the local girls and boys. Pickpockets and bar scams do abound, but no more then in any other nightlife area of Thailand, so Walking Street is by no means a place to be avoided (but should be a place where you do watch your personal belongings at all times).

And the once notorious MapJack geomapping company has stopped the practice of photographing street views of Walking Street that included such images as tourista men dancing wildly in the street with, well, women of the street. So there is no longer a need to watch for candid cameras snapping images that wind up on the Internet.

But for camera-clicking tourists, the neo signs and sights of Walking Street offer a kaleidoscope of photographic possibilities. From the glowing main gate to the ocean waters reflecting Walking Street's flickering lights, there are images to be had like no other. The entire street becomes a pedestrian mall at night, and unlike Amsterdam's alluring window displays, taking snaps is quite ok here.

Walking Street's best of the best include the following: for disco, Mixx on the south end (located in the Bali Hai Plaza Shopping Center, 3rd floor) has great music and a separate hip-hop room for visiting DJs; and for an adult couple bar (where the entire club is not filled with lusting male patrons) try the Anglewitch Club.

For the best go-go bars, visit What's Up Agogo, Heavens Above, or the Beach Club. If it's a date that your after, dates abound in the Lucifer or Insomnia clubs. And for a new twist, try one of the many online Thai dating websites, where you can get a date even before you step one foot on Walking Street.

One of the more interesting new clubs on Walking Street is the Casino Club with its line-up of singing and dancing Coyote Girls. This style of bar dancing was made famous by the movie "Coyote Ugly," which in 2000 starred Piper Perabo and John Goodman in a tale of an aspiring singer coming out of her shell to tease men singing atop the bar, all the while serving drinks during the routine. Well, none of the Casino Club girls will ever get a Grammy for Best New Singer, but they will tease the heck out of anyone within reach.

And for any club that offers a show, Coyote or otherwise, here are a few tips: get a table or chair on the main floor nearest the stage, and don't be afraid to offer a 100 baht tip for that privilege. Also, ask for the common offer of "you buy a bottle of booze at the door, and all entrance fees are waived for your party."  Richard Hearne

The Best Time to Travel to North India

The weather of India is diverse like its demographics. The option to holiday comes with a dish of variety in climate conditions in various parts of the country.

Sometime there is a blanket of snow in Ladakh, while the lash of monsoon rains wet the northern zone between July-August. The best time to travel to North India depends on the destinations visited and the climate there. Tourists coming to North India experience three distinct seasons of summer, monsoon, and winter. In most parts of North India, especially the cities of Delhi NCR have extreme temperatures during winter and summer. The North-central region is even more hot and dry. For foreign tourists touring India, the best time to travel to North India is during winters. This is because it is pleasant for day trips. The humid summers are from March- October with mild spells of rain.

Delhi, Agra, Jaipur tour, the Golden Triangle is best made in October to February if you want to avoid the heat. Winters come as a blessing in mid-November to beginning of December. It is pleasant then for an India Golden Triangle tour. By December end, the temperatures tend to dip much below the normal and chilling with 4-5 degree Celsius. Yet, the cold seems never to deter the spirits of the tourists who enjoy the many festivals, fairs, exhibitions, and food fests across the region. Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan has cold nights than the days.

Ladakh in North boasts of a wonderful season during monsoon, this is because the roads are clean with no traces of snow and roads open up from April. So, the best time to visit Ladakh region would be between Aprils to September.

Hill stations have excellent climate during summer months on the lowlands. There is no snowfall in Nainital or Shimla in May-June, yet the climate is perfect for a romantic North India tour. There is fresh air that would allow you to explore the region well without wiping off sweat. The national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are overcrowded with tourists. The animals are always out in the open under the mild sun there. 

 

 The stunning landscape of Shimla during summer offers a picture perfect backdrop after a little drizzle. Typically even Jammu and Kashmir is paradise in summer more for the cool breeze you would enjoy along Dal Lake. It is hard to miss Jammu and Kasmir during North India tour packages. Popularly called the "Paradise on Earth", the charm and beauty gets enhanced on a sunny day. In winter, you will wake up to find the Dal Lake frozen to the core. The "Shikara" or houseboat experience will be nil between December- January. The popular time of visiting Kashmir Valley is from May- November.

Allahabad and Varanasi are the North-cultural zone of the country. Varanasi is heated up in May-June. The temperatures vary from 35 degrees to up to 42 degrees with dry winds making day trips uncomfortable. It is better to plan for Varanasi from October to December. 

 

Moving to Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, the neighboring places of Delhi, the monsoon is never heavy. The rains instead make these major cities pleasant for a tight night sleep. April to August is however the off season, but good to bag a great hotel or shopping deal at discount prices.  Vidushi Arora

5 Great Places to Travel to in Europe

Everyone that has traveled extensively to places in Europe forms opinions of the cities that become their favorites, and become places that have a special meaning for them.

 

The personality of a city goes much deeper than tourist destinations. They go into the identity of a city that makes it unique, and that uniqueness is not found just in those places that make it famous but on the streets and venues where the locals inhabit.

London: A great walking city, much of London can be seen by keeping in close proximity to the Thames. Home to four World Heritage Sites, London's charm is its important historical sites, such as The Tower of London, whose history goes back almost 1000 years, to upriver to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey (over 1000 years in history), and Buckingham Palace in the City of Westminster. Because the city street patterns have not changed much in centuries, there is quite a haphazard way they are laid out. But that is part of the charm in walking this city, and the extensive Underground Tube system is perhaps the best mass transit system in any city in Europe, providing you a break if you can walk no further. The second great aspect of London making it one of the great places to travel is its large theater district, one of the largest of any city in the world.

Paris: This city obviously has many charms, but to me the greatest asset which makes this one of the best places to visit in Europe is the architecture, thus making this the best walking city, even topping London. 

 

Keep close to the Seine, then at the Eiffel Tower walk in the direction of the main street of Paris and the Arch of Triumph, and you will witness some of the greatest architecture anywhere.

Vienna: One of the great places to visit for the music is Vienna. You can experience much of this great city by walking, from the area around St. Stephan's Cathedral to the old palace area. There are many concert venues to be found, plus multiple great museums making Vienna a great place to travel for its culture.

Amsterdam: Similar to Venice, Amsterdam's charm is in its canals. The city is virtually a web of canals, and there is a boat of every size or shape, and for any occasion you may have. The downtown area is a place of great Dutch charm, but the waterways are really what make this one of the great places to travel. Also, as with all large European cities, a great amount of culture can be found in the form of museums of the great Amsterdam artists, among them Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

Barcelona: This city with the small town feel but the progressive attitude is really a hidden gem when looking for the best places to visit in Europe. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea in hilly terrain that gives it character, this second city in Spain gives the attitude that it can provide anything that the great cities of Europe can provide, but still gives off the feel of a smaller metro area. For food, you really must experience the Tapas Restaurants.

This is obviously just a small sample of the great places to travel in Europe, but every one of these places offers a rather unique trait that make it special from other places. If you are contemplating a trip to Europe soon, we hope you will try to take in one or more of these remarkable places.  Glen Wheaton

Holidays in France

European countries are reputed throughout the world for being the major tourist pullers. France, a west European country is one of the wonderful tourist destinations of the world.

France is the largest Western European country. Its area is about 213,000 square miles. France's population is about 58 million. The country is gifted with some wonderful cities like, Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Avignon, Cannes, along with the capital of Paris. The tourists coming to France will be able to savor on some of the fine tourist attraction of the country.

Coming to France is quite easy as the tourist can fly directly to the popular international airports like Paris, Lille, Marseille etc. The tourists, who cannot afford to pay the airfares, can opportunity to travel by rail. Those coming from other parts of Europe will have the privilege of availing the direct service of Eorostar, the French rail company extensive in Western Europe after the German one. It is operated by the SNCF, and high-speed trains include, the Eurostar. The railway network of France, which as of 2008 stretches 29,473 km (18,314 mi). The Eurostar, along with the Eurotunnel Shuttle, connects with the United Kingdom through the Channel Tunnel. Rail connections exist to all other neighboring countries in Europe.

If you follow the France Travel Guide, you will be able to decide on taking the bus facilities offered by Eorolines. But the best way I suggested Eurostar because not only in France but you can also get the opportunity to see the London (UK). Eorostar will take only around 2hr to London from Paris. France can both be visited in summers and winters. The tourist planning to come to France will mostly experienced a temperate climate with cool winters and mild summers prevailing throughout the territory. The tourist must be aware of the cold winters with heavy snowfalls in the mountainous regions like Alps, Pyrenees, Auvergne, etc.

Those who are looking to tours to France must known that this West European country is gifted with a well-developed system of highways enabling the travelers to move around by hiring a car.. The country has a rich architectural heritage. If you have the interest to know something about the history of France, it will be a memorable experience of visiting the Roman monuments in the cities like Orange, Arles, Nimes, Ellen and Poitiers. This is a country of fun and frivolity. 

Cannes Film Festival and Music Festival in Strasbourg are popular events in this particular country. There are theatre and Jazz festivities too. Depending on your preference you can be a part and parcel of these festivals. You can even bask in the rural festivities of France. There are loads of color and mirth in these small regional celebrations. The country will offer you all the facilities to make your vacation an unhindered one.  Nitish Kumar Sharma