5 Fuss-Free Travel Ideas For The Whole Family

Giving your parents or your kids their dream holiday? Multiple generations of your family members travelling together? While a two week skiing holiday at the French Alps might be ideal for you, it might be challenging to control a large group of people and find activities that are guaranteed to please everyone.

If an efficient and relaxing holiday sounds preferable to fast-paced adrenaline-charged adventure, it’s time to look at family-friendly ideas that are more convenient and yet still packed with fun and excitement for the whole family!

Take A Bus Tour Around Melbourne

Joining a bus tour is the best way to explore all of a city’s top attractions and landmarks without having to do much walking.

Book your place on a tour around Melbourne, and enjoy all the must-see spots in one go, including Victoria Market, SEA-LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, the Melbourne Star and St. Kilda beach.

What’s more, getting on a hop-on, hop-off bus service allows you to decide which spots you want to explore in depth and which you just want to snap a few pictures at. Want to take a visit to the aquarium with the kids? Simply jump off and get stuck in!

Even better, the City Circle tram in Melbourne is free and takes you to many Melbourne attractions including the aquarium, Federation Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Treasury Gardens, Parliament House and Flagstaff Gardens.

Cruise Down The Nile or Danube River

A river cruise is another exciting way to go on holiday whilst keeping both kids and grandparents happy at the same time! In most cases, it can be more comfortable and more convenient too, as you can take in the sights and sounds of a city right from the deck or window of your cabin. As food is also served on-board, you have everything you need on the ship, leaving more time for sightseeing. 

With packages available from a few days to a few weeks, your cruise down the river Nile will most probably start in Luxor, taking you past ancient Egyptian temples including the Hathor Temple, Kom Ombro and Philae, before stopping in Aswan. Further along you will see part of the Sahara Desert and the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan, the Aswan Botanical Garden, and the ruins-filled Elephantine Island.

Meanwhile, in Europe you can take a cruise down the river Danube, which will take you from Budapest, the starting point, down to Bratislava in Slovakia, then on to Lower Austria, to Salzburg, and then to Vienna. A cruise like this, which may take around eight days, will usually round back to the starting point, making it convenient to book your return flight home.

Relax At An All-In-One Beach Resort

When all the fun, food and lodging are in one spot, there is no need to run around catching trains or buses, travel to restaurants or wake up early in the morning to beat the tourist crowds.

Bring the parents and kids to an all-inclusive resort such as Club Med Cherating, about a 2-hour’s drive from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur or a 45-minute taxi ride from Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan. All buffet meals – yes, breakfast, lunch, dinner and even tea, are included in the price, and there is a host of fun and relaxing activities for everyone to enjoy including golfing, water aerobics, salsa dance classes, snorkelling, yoga and zumba. There are so many activities here, just don’t forget to actually visit Cherating beach!

Please contact us for your economical / budget-friendly / worry free packages !!!!

Travel Smart: Interesting places within India - ANDHRA PRADESH

HOPE ISLAND:

Hope Island off the Kakinada coast (Andhra Pradesh) is located in the Bay of Bengal, a short distance out. Hope Island is so named for providing a natural haven to sailors against the forces of wind and tide against the weary traveler. In doing so, it has made Kakinada one of the most affluent natural ports in the region. Visitors to Hope Island will be presented with excellent views of the bay and the opportunity to explore the many protected species of plants and animals which grow and flourish there.

Hope Island - just 7 kms from Kakinada Town Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh

SRISAILAM:

Perched on the Nallamala Hills which are wrapped up by thick deciduous forests, Srisailam or Shrishailam is an important pilgrimage center in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. Located on the banks of River Krishna, Srisailam was mentioned in Skanda Purana and Mahabharata as “Sri Parvata”. Srisailam which is the holy abode of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy”, has four sacred gateways in all four key directions. The four gateways are likely “Tripuranthakam”, “Siddhavatam”, “Alampur”, and “Umamaheshwaram”.

Early in 102 AD till 130 AD, Satavahanas Dynasty ruled Srisailam after which the place was ruled by Pallavas, Reddy Kings, Vishnukundinas, Kakatiya’s and Vijayanagar Empires. Besides being a holy place, Srisailam has scenic landscapes and gushing river Krishna flowing through it. The natures work in Srisailam will definitely entices us.

You can opt for Haritha Hotels, Punnami Srisailam and Velema Choultry which offers pleasant stay in Srisailam. Government and Srisailam Devasthanam run accommodations’ are cheaper and tidy places to stay in.

Only vegetarian restaurants are available in Srisailam it is a pilgrimage center. Smoking and Drinking are prohibited.

You can visit the Chenchu Lakshmi Tribal Museum where you can get pure tribal honey.

Srisailam Dam Vista Point-212 kms from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam or Vizag:

The much famed port city in Andhra Pradesh State of India, bags the honor of being the second largest city of Andhra Pradesh State as well as the third largest city along the East Coast. Visakhapatnam is the only natural harbor on the east coast. Most of heavy industries of Andhra State are housed here. Also, the state’s steel plant is located here. Being named after “God of Valor” (Visakha), the city is sandwiched between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal. Since the city has panoramic beaches, scenic landscapes, laterites (soil rich in iron and magnesium) hilly regions, etc. it is also sometimes mentioned as “Goa of East Coast”. Indian Navy has its naval command center for eastern regions in Visakhapatnam.

The history of Visakhapatnam dates back to 5th century BC. During 5th century BC, the city was under the control of Kalinga Dynasty. Later it was captured by King Asoka, the Great. During his rule, Buddhism was spread across the region and tourists can see many relics, ruins and statues of Buddhism in Vizag.  As per Hindu mythology, the city was also mentioned in two great epics of India namely Ramayana and Mahabharata. Ruled by almost every kingdom, Visakhapatnam came under the rules of French and British as well. Under British rule, the current districts namely Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam prevailed as one large district then.

There are varieties of hotels in Visakhapatnam ranging from Novotel, Taj Groups etc. to budget hotels. Thus, tourists can have pleasant stay within their budget. The cuisine of Visakhapatnam is the blend of Southern and Northern Cuisine. However, tourists should taste some of the local delicacies like Avakaya Pickle, Gongoora green chutney, Murku, Booralu, Appadams, Anabshahi and Pulihara. The Eatery restaurant offers some authentic food along with great starters. The Square Restaurant is where the tourist can enjoy the food with an excellent view. Tourists who want to taste some hot kebabs then opt for Zaffran Restaurant. Visakhapatnam offers some delicate artifacts made up of sea shells and beautifully designed jewelry. There are many shopping malls and complexes in Visakhapatnam.

Vizag Coastal View

Vizag Beach View

Warangal:

One of the sensational districts in Andhra Pradesh State. Warangal, Kazipet and Hanamakota constitute the Warangal District. The airport in Mamnoor village on outskirts of Warangal was once served as biggest airport during 1947 serving the Nizam’s of Hyderabad. Warangal is the center for the major political movement demanding separate Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. Famous freedom fighter Kaloji Narayana Rao was born in Warangal.

Kakatiya Dynasty played vital role in developing the Warangal as the city served as headquarters for Kakatiya Dynasty in the time period raging from 12th to 14th century. The city has numerous monuments, forts, and temples etc which were established during the Kakatiya dynasty. The famous traveler Marco Polo described about the cultural and administrative skills of Kakatiya’s in his writings. During 16th century, Warangal was ruled by Golconda Sultanate. It was also under Mughal Empire for a while. Currently Warangal is the declared as “Red Corridor” as there are sumptuous Naxalite Activities.

 “Sammakka Saralamma Jatara” an important festival is celebrated in Medaram, on the banks of stream Jampana Vagu, which is 90 km away from Warangal. This festival is second largest festival in Asia next to “Kumbh Mela”. This festival is the accretion of tribal communities in order to honor the intrepid fight which took place between mother-daughter duo (Sammakka and Saralamma) and a Kakatiya King demanding justice. Nearly 6 million people take part in this festival.

Hotels: Ashoka Hotel, Hotel Landmark, Hotel Suprabha, Lahospin Hotel provides pleasant accomodation to tourists.

Restaurants: There are many restaurants in Warangal starting from roadside Dhabas till posh restaurants. Cuisine would be typical Andhra Food with more spice including Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian foods. Jalebis available in roadside stalls are mouthwatering.

Shopping: Scroll Paintings, Brass wares are major attractions for a buyer as far as shopping is concern. Lepakshi Emporium, Subedar, DCWRA Bazaar and Hanumkonda offers wide ranges of souvenirs to be purchased. Hand worked Durries can be purchased from Kothawada.

Warangal - Beautiful ruins

For your budget packages within India, you can contact us.

2015 Travel Horoscope - interesting article. Thanks to HolidayIQ

  Must See Places for 2014 (with just 21/2 months to go)

CRIMEA, UKRAINE

Travel Tips

When to Go: May-October

Where to Stay: Newer (opened in 2011) Crimea Breeze Residence is a posh, southern peninsula oasis with low-rise stucco-and-stone luxury villas, seawater pools, and a helpful English-speaking staff.

How to Get Around: Marshrutka (minibus) routes crisscross the region. Private and public bus and train routes connect most cities, and taxis are readily available. Luxury train tour options include the two-week Crimean Express Railway Journey from St. Petersburg to Yalta.

Where to Eat or Drink: Sample traditional Crimean Tatar dishes like lagman (spicy noodle soup), chee-börek (meat turnover), and plov (rice pilaf and lamb) at Harem in Yalta, Kafe Marakand in Simferopol, and, in summer, at the small beach stands and cafes in Koktebel and Sudak.

Cultural Tip: English isn’t spoken widely outside the major tourist areas. Bringing a Russian phrase book and learning a few basic phrases before your trip will make it easier to ask directions, order food, and interact with locals.

What to Read Before You Go: Lady With the Little Dog and Other Stories (1896-1904), by Anton Chekhov (2002). The legendary Russian playwright and modern short story master penned these 11 tales during his final years, spent living in a Yalta villa.

Fun Fact: Joseph Stalin stashed wines confiscated from the tsars’ palaces in the Massandra vineyard cellars, located in underground tunnels. Temporarily relocated during the 1941 Nazi invasion, these rare vintages remain the jewels of Massandra’s estimated million-bottle collection.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE

Notre Dame Cathedral, Marseille

 

Travel Tips

When to Go: June-August for beaches, April-May and September-October for comfortable temperatures and lighter tourist traffic.

Where to Stay: Walk to the Vieux Port from the sleek and affordable Mama Shelter Marseille or see the boats from your private terrace at the luxurious Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port.

How to Get Around: The Régie des Transports de Marseille public transportation network includes metro, bus, and tramway lines. Consider a tourist City Pass for one or two days’ travel, museum admissions, and tours. March-September, a batobus (water shuttle) runs between the Vieux Port and Pointe Rouge. Kitschy, blue-and-white tourist trains wind through the streets of the oldest districts.

Where to Eat or Drink: Bouillabaisse is the homegrown culinary art form. Try Le Miramar in the Vieux Port or Chez Fonfon or L’Epuisette in Vallon des Auffes.

What to Buy: Wander through the maze of indoor and outdoor stalls at the Marché aux Puces and the daily Prado Market. Shop for santons (clay crèche figures), olive and lavender soap, olive oil, navettes (small, rowboat-shaped orange or lemon cookies), and pétanque balls.

What to Watch Before You Go: The Fanny Trilogy (Marius, Fanny, Cesar), 1948 (DVD 2004). Beloved 1930s French films (English subtitles), adaptations of the plays by Marseille’s preeminent writer, Marcel Pagnol, are considered national cultural treasures.

Fun Fact: France’s newest national park, Parc National des Calanques, is located on the outskirts of Marseille. Created in April 2012, the land (lagoons, cliffs, beaches) and sea (dolphins, turtles, seabirds) preserve is accessible only by foot or boat.

RAJA AMPAT ISLANDS, INDONESIA

Raja Ampat has been dubbed the Amazon of the Oceans. Is that hyperbole? Not really. There are single reefs here containing more species than the entire Caribbean. A mini-archipelago of rain-forest-clad islands, cays, mangroves, and pearlescent beaches off the coast of West Papua, Indonesia, this marine frontier brims with life.

Travel Tips
When to Go: Late September through early June. Be aware that mid-June through mid-September is monsoon season, with rains typically contained to the afternoon.
Where to Stay: Exclusive Misool Eco Resort is a secluded tropical hideaway on the remote, private island of Batbitim. Book your personal water cottage-on-stilts (veranda stairs lead directly into the translucent lagoon) to snorkel and dive in one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine environments.
How to Get Around: Travel by boat from Sarong to Wasai. Longboats, speedboats, motorboats, and dive boats connect Wasai to other islands. Outside the resorts, on island travel is primarily by foot or ojek (motorcycle taxi).
Where to Eat or Drink: If you’re not staying in an all-inclusive resort or on a dive boat, Raja Ampat dining options are limited to the small stores, outdoor markets, and warungs (family-run cafés/stores) in Wasai, Raja Ampat’s capital. Another option is to stock up in Sarong before traveling to Wasai.
What to Buy: In the established tourism villages Arborek and Sauwandarek local women make and sell wood and orchid bark nokens (string bags), pandan leaf hats and bags, and wood or banana fiber skirts.
What to Read Before You Go: Raja Ampat Through the Lens Of, by the Raja Ampat Research & Conservation Centre (2009).This coffee table hardcover is a 288-photo journey above and through the Realm of the Four Kings. Proceeds support local conservation efforts.
Fun Fact: On Raja Ampat’s Um Island, bats circle the blue skies by day and seagulls take flight at night. The compact island (one lap around takes about 15 minutes) is dotted with caves, home to the diurnal bats that feast on ripe fruit.

Please contact us for arranging these packages & more !!!

Unique Beaches Around the World You Need to See to Believe

AMAZING BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD ....

1. Hidden Beach, Mexico (Marietas Islands)
Swim through a dark tunnel to this secret spot

2. The Baths, British Virgin Islands (Virgin Gorda)
Hidden pools are nestled between majestic boulders

 3. Maho Beach, Caribbean
Watch planes fly right above your head

4. Boulders Beach, South Africa (Simon's Town, South Africa)
See the famous penguin colony



5. Driftwood Beach, Georgia, US (Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA)
Snap photos of the amazing driftwood and ocean views

6. Glass Beach, California, US (Elm Street and Glass Beach Drive, Santa Maria Ca, Fort Bragg,CA)
Enjoy the colorful glass stones that cover the beach

7. Liaohe Delta, China (Liaohe Delta, Shuangtaizi District, Panjin 124000, China)
Seaweed has turned this beach incredibly red

8. Zlatni Rat Beach, Croatia (Bol, Brac Island, Croatia)
Nearly 580 yards long, this beach extends into the sea

Enjoy your Holidays by going off the grid when you travel....

Ever yearn to travel old-school style, without the screens, gadgets and multitasking stress? Do away with worrying about chargers, adapters, cables, cases, insuring all your devices, and organizing foreign wi-fi plans and roaming. Instead, enjoy the moment, get out of your comfort zone, generate new ways of thinking and build stronger bonds with your family and friends. Naturally you’ll still want to remember your trip, but you can achieve that with a simple checklist: pen, paper, book, film camera.

Local faces, not Facebook

Why

Do you really need to know what your friends and barely-friends are doing while you’re away? Leave behind the need to be validated by their ‘likes’.

How

Ask the woman selling mangoes in the market about how the area has changed, or the man at the ferry stop what sights he recommends. If language is a problem, bring a phrasebook, or try universities or bookshops, which often have conversation corners with eager locals who want to practice speaking your language and will share stories about their lives.

Paper maps, not Google Maps

Why

If you have grown used to planning everything with a digital map, you might find that a paper map is actually easier to use. You can personalise it and write on it, it doesn’t take time to load or require the internet, and it can be tucked away and pulled out quickly. Best of all, looking at a larger area gives you a much better idea of where you are.

How

Most tourist information booths and some hotels offer free local maps, often with points of interest marked on them. Or you can try wandering around without a map and speaking to locals – you may get lost at times but you may also get to know an area properly and discover some unmapped gems.

Film cameras, not digital selfies

Unlike digital, every shot taken on a film camera costs money, so is valued and considered.

Digital cameras take multiple, deletable, quick-fire snaps that mean you can spend more time seeing the world through the lens than living the experience. When we take shots on a smartphone, our minds seem even further away from the trip, experiencing it for the sake of social media.

Why

Taking digital photos has become the experience, and sometimes even the point of the trip. In contrast, film photos let you look back at your trip – there is space between having the experience and reliving it because you have no idea at the time what the photo will end up looking like. There is a certain thrill about collecting your prints from a photo shop (the real thing, not the software) and seeing how they turned out. A surprise great shot is something to pin up or hand to somebody. Even the failed shots are not something to be deleted but are a natural captured moment.

Higher resolution

Have you ever wondered how a high-definition Blu-ray disc can be produced from an old movie? It's because a film that was shown in cinemas 30 years ago is still of a higher resolution than most modern digital movies. The same goes for still photos. The common 35mm film of yesteryear produces shots equivalent to 25 megapixels – double the resolution of most digital cameras today. Film photos just look better.

How

Film processing hasn’t disappeared; in most cities you can still turn a roll of film into photos in a day, and sometimes in half an hour. In the same stores you can buy film in different speeds and ISO (sensitivity). To get that Instagram look, Holga cameras can easily add fancy effects, and in a stylish case too.

Real books, not Kindles

Why

A book has a paper-thin display that boots instantly and never has a flat battery. You can take it to the beach, get sand and splashes on it without breaking it, and leave it unattended while you swim with little fear of it going missing. Not something you’re likely to do with an iPad or e-reader. Plus, books have that unique tactile experience – you can easily flick back and forth and know how much is left. And nothing evokes travel memories months later like picking up a book off the shelf and coming across the local bus ticket you used as a bookmark.

How

Yes, they weigh more than e-readers, but real books are something you can share, passing on to other people on the road, thus lightening your load. On your travels you can swap one book for another on a book-swap shelf in hostels or book exchanges. Think of that one novel you are reading as personal to your trip, and forget about the stress of a multitasking e-reader or tablet.

Post real letters, not instant messages

Why

Staying in touch with people electronically while abroad is instantaneous but often shallow and rushed in fleeting moments, limited by texting fingers. And your two-line status message might be read by a bunch of people that you have only ever met once.

So don’t go near Twitter, Whatsapp, SMS, blogs or emails. Give somebody that flutter in their tummy when they hold a real letter from you in their hands, complete with colourful local stamps and your excited handwriting and doodles. Your letter is a little piece of another country and something for your friend to sit with at full attention, not wanting it to end, and rereading it when it does.

Meanwhile, you'll keep your head space in the country you’re visiting.

How

As with tweets, there is an art to fitting the words onto that postcard or opaque airmail paper – the lighter it is, the cheaper it will be to send. Leave some space for a Par Avion stamp for airmail delivery and ask to choose which postage stamp design you’d like, especially as many post offices now use an uninspiring white label.

Receive snail mail abroad, not digital likes

Why

You can also receive real letters while overseas, to make you feel more connected with home and spur you on for the rest of your trip. It will give you a stronger form of validation compared to a few ‘likes’.

How

Poste restante is available in many countries: a local post office will hold mail addressed to you for you to collect, usually for up to 10 or even 30 days. Your friends and family just have to write ‘Post Restante’ on the envelope after your name, followed by the name and address of a post office in your city. In Canada and the USA (for national mail), instead of writing ‘Poste Restante’, the letter should be labelled ‘General Delivery’. In other countries the wording is different and uses the local language, so check with the post office before telling people to start writing you perfumed letters.

--by Phillip Tang from the Lonely Planet

Indian citizen? Here’s where you can go visa-free ( a list of 58 countries !!!)

Good News for all of us Indians....!!!

Minimize paperwork and planning with our guide to the countries where you no longer need to apply for a visa in advance:

NO VISA REQUIRED

1. Bhutan (only ID card is required - No need for a passport)
2. British Virgin Islands
3. Cook Islands
4. Dominica
5. El Salvador
6. Grenada
7. Haiti
8. Jamaica
9. Montserrat
10. Micronesia
11. Niue
12. Nepal (only ID card is required - No need for a passport)
13. Saint Kitts and Nevis
14. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
15. Trinidad and Tobago
16. Turks and Caicos
17. Vanuatu

 VISA ON ARRIVAL

1. Cambodia
2. Cape Verde
3. Comoros
4. Ecuador
5. Ethiopia
6. Fiji
7. Hong Kong
8. Indonesia
9. Iran
10. Jordan
11. Kenya
12. Laos
13. Macau
14. Madagascar
15. Maldives
16. Mauritius
17. Palau
18. Samoa
19. Seychelles
20. Tajikistan
21. Thailand
22. Tuvalu
23. Uganda
24. Myanmar
25. Timor-Leste

 VISA NOT REQUIRED IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN OTHER VISAS

1. Albania: Valid multiple entry Schengen visa (Type C or D)
2. Andorra: Valid multiple entry Schengen visa
3. Costa Rica: Valid multiple entry US, Canadian, Schengen (or any European Union member country visa) or Japanese visa
4. Guatemala: Valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa
5. Honduras: Valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa
6. Ireland: Valid UK visa, and entry through the UK
7. Macedonia: Valid multiple entry Schengen visa (Type C)
8. Montenegro: Valid US or Schengen visa
9. Nicaragua: Valid multiple entry US, Canadian or Schengen visa
10. Taiwan: Valid US, UK, Schengen, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian or Japanese visa

 VISA ON ARRIVAL FOR US VISA HOLDERS

1. Dominican Republic
2. Mexico
3. Puerto Rico

 ONLINE VISAS REQUIRED

1. Dubai (only if you’re flying emirates)
2. Sri Lanka
3. Turkey
4. Vietnam

PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL, AS THE IMMIGRATION RULES MAY CHANGE ANY TIME.

For your enjoyable holiday to any of these places, contact us:

GoWorld Holidays - Ph: 91-44-42145808 / 9025802720 / 9043019109

URL: http://www.goworldholidays.com

Mail: contact@goworldholidays.com