Posts Tagged ‘Itinerary’

What to Pack for a Walking Holiday

April 20th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Footwear:

Probably the most essential thing to make sure you get right on a walking holiday is your choice of footwear. You will probably have a detailed itinerary of how far you will be walking each day and over what type of terrain. You should use this to plan the type of boots you will need. If you are doing less than 10 miles a light, mid or trail show will do. For day long hikes then choose a thicker boot with a higher cut. If you are walking for a number of days then choose something with arch support and a strong toe box. The best thing to do would be to visit your local outdoor store and have a chat with them. If you are buying new boots for your holiday then make sure that you do so well in advance so that you have ample time to break them in. Always take a second pair of shoes (something like sandals) to change in to for after your walk for comfort.

Underwear:

If you are carrying your own gear then it is essential that you pack light. A minimum of three pairs of socks and pants will be required but it is probably best to play it safe and go for four. That way you can wear one, wash one, have one drying and one spare. Choose socks with an elastic support so that you are not constantly stopping to pull them up. Women should wear a well-fitting sports bra for walking holidays as undulating terrain and climbs can put strain on the chest.

Sun Protection:

You must protect yourself from the sun when walking. Even if it doesn’t appear to be a bright day you can still end up with sun burn and so a hat should be worn at all times. Choose a hat with a large rim to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun. Some caps will have flaps that can be let down to cover the ears and neck and protect you from the wind & rain as well as the sun.  Choose a sports sun screen that is water resistant and keep it will you at all times as you will need a number of applications during the day.

Other essentials:

-A signalling device such as a whistle and a mobile phone

-Blister plaster

-Water

-Insect repellent/bite cream

-Plastic bag (for rubbish)

-Torch

-Maps, compass and any other navigational devices

-Camera

Vicky loves to go on hiking tours, especially in the UK and Spain. She is also a passionate writer and likes to combine the two and write useful travel articles.

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Fundamentals of flying

July 25th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

The fundamentals of flying by plain are a simple list of things which one needs to have a safe, most economical and pleasant flight.
As its known the ticket pricing is a very complicated and messy business. The plane is divided up into fare classes also know as the buckets, some are cheap, some expensive. The fundamentals which should be kept in mind for flying are as follows:
• Last-minute flights are really expensive. It’s better to book a flight early to avail best deals. • Quick trips are expensive comparatively.
• As also keeping in mind the case of business timing. In the Monday morning and Friday evening flights seats are hard to find. • Holiday seasons are not a good decision to fly, if not planned in advance. • Direct/non-stop flights can really drain you out hence make sure you plan well.

It is also important to know the paper and electronic ticketing in the electronic world. As from history we know most tickets have been issued on bits of paper. Even till today most of the airlines use paper ticketing.
An up-and-coming trend in air travel these days is electronic tickets (e-tickets). E-ticket is an electronic record of ones booking details. It is used to store the details in the airline’s computers database. The physical paper ticket is not received.

But still in most airlines, an itinerary receipt having the flight details is made. The e-mailed or printed of this detail is what is considered as reference ticket. The itinerary receipt may contain a unique six-character also called the Passenger Name Record (PNR).
The fundamental of the health and security concerns is also very important. It is important to check official government flight travel warnings before boarding the plane.
As the airplanes fly at high altitude, so the cabin pressure is lower than the pressure on the ground. This condition can be particularly very uncomfortable and can lead to ones nose or ears to block especially if someone is suffering from common cold. Hence it is important to note that one should avoid flying when sick. As per suggested by the doctors it’s really important to circumvent flying for fifteen days after or before surgery. Same is applicable for the broken bone condition. The reason being for that is the low air pressure can cause tremendously uncomfortable inflammation in the affected area.

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Arriving in a new city

June 30th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Traveling to a new and exotic city can be very exciting. Arriving in a city that is brand new and exciting to you is always a sure bet for adventure. When the big day finally arrives, here are some pointers to ensure a relaxing and fun trip. The bad side to arriving to a strange environment is that simply everything IS new. You are not familiar with your surroundings; receiving and understanding directions to the motel, restaurant, etc. can be very difficult; and you will likely have a complete feeling of loss and panic.
One important step to help cut the feeling of helplessness is to gather information regarding landing times from your airport and select a departure flight that coordinates with a daytime arrival time. Usually an early check in can be arranged with your hotel. This way you are not caught at the airport/bus station at four a.m., praying for daylight. Another topic to cover is cash. Being in a new city, you will not want to wander all over to find an ATM. Always have cash on hand, and preferable smaller bills. Some hotels and taxi cab drivers will not break a $100 bill. Also, trade in some ones for quarters, for water bottles and such. This will ensure that whatever situation you find yourself in, you will be monetarily prepared. Researching how much time and money it will take to get to your motel is important also. You do not want to reach the end of the taxi ride, only to find you are short the fare money. In addition, knowing ahead of time the duration of the trip will come in handy also, especially if on a time itinerary.
Another survival guide on your journey is to either bring a map with you, or purchase a detailed, specific map of your city. Wandering to find your way is one way of becoming familiar with the layout of the city, and asking directions from a local always is not very reliable either. If you have printed directions for mapquest.com or a store bought map, this will ensure less time trying to find your way and will free up more time for sightseeing.
By keeping these few tips in mind the next time you set off for an adventure, you can be sure of saving time, money, and your peace of mind.

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Ready Mady Itinerary in Sicily

May 2nd, 2009 Tushar Mathur

I have to say I was awfully excited about heading to Sicily in September… we would finally visit a part of Italy neither of us had seen and we would be going without relatives. A good plan! We booked our reward tickets, came up with a whole itinerary and made all of our reservations.

Ai Lumi – 5 nigts at Ai Lumi in Trapani. Now, some might ask, why Trapani? Simple… the ferries run very frequently from Trapani to Favignana. If you catch the hydrofoil, you’re there in 20 minutes and the hotels cost 1/2 of what they would on the island. Trapani is know for excellent cuisine and it’s also close to places like Erice. But Favignana… that’s what we were looking forward to visiting. A gorgeous island know by few Italians and pretty much no Americans. It would’ve been a dream.

Casale Corcella – 2 nights in Scopello. Now, this simple farmhouse not only had an amazing view of the Golfo di Castellamare, it was a nice property, had beautiful rooms and was near the very charming town of Scopello. Everything I had heard about this area was fantastic – beautiful bays in which to swim, small trattorie and the nearby Riserva Dello Zingaro. Scopello is well known for a famous tonnara where one can swim in a gorgeous setting. The town, while tiny, is supposed to be a perfect little place. I was excited about the two days we would spend in this town. Segesta was just around the corner, too.

Casa Ruffino – 1 night in Balestrate at a very highly reviewed B&B. We thought… why stay at a mediocre hotel near the airport when we could stay in another seaside town in a B&B that sounds simply charming. Ahh… another tough one to pass.

Well, conflicts are conflicts and we just won’t be able to go in September. In the future, we do have ready-made itinerary all in place. The hotels are selected, the towns are picked out… all we need are new tickets.

Now… that doesn’t mean we’re out of luck. We will get to go somewhere else…


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Prepping for a trip to the Middle East

December 30th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Given that I will probably be traveling to Dubai on business in the coming months, I thought I would pick up a copy of Customs & Etiquette of Arabia and Gulf States from my local Barnes & Noble. Fascinating little book. I really found it interesting to read about the protocols and etiquette when visiting someone’s home, insight on hospitality, Bedouin culture, etc. Since Saudi Arabia may be on the itinerary, as well, I want to make sure I’ve brushed up on the proper way to behave and interact with my business colleagues. Oh, and speaking of Dubai, rumor has it that a new hotel, Palazzo Versace, will soon open… the hotel, owned by that Versace, will likely have, get this, an air conditioned beach. Is this any surprise in the resort town that brought us the world’s first seven star hotel or the world’s largest indoor ski resort?

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Preparing for Vacation: Three Helpful Tips For a Smoother Vacation

November 19th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Are you preparing for vacation? Do you have everything you need including your tickets and your bags? Packing too early… you might forget essentials such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, shampoo, medicines, etc. However, if you wait too long to get packed, you start to worry you will forget those items. What you need is a middle ground to help you out when you are preparing for vacation. Here are some tips you can utilize as you prepare to go on vacation?

Preparing for Vacation Tip One

Make a List – The best thing you can do for yourself is to create a list several weeks ahead of your trip. If you plan to do some camping, you’ll want to write down those obvious items that have to go but you don’t use on a regular basis. You should also write down things you’ll want to bring but could forget. Such things include but are certainly not limited to:

Charcoal or wood;
Bathing suit; and
Toilet paper.

For your plane ride, you should bring with you some of these items:

Towels;
Bathing suit;
CD player or IPOD (any kind of entertainment electronic item)
Batteries; and
Sunglasses.

Preparing for Vacation Tip Two

Start Packing Non Essentials – As you are preparing for vacation, start packing items you aren’t going to need right. You’ll also want to keep your itinerary near your bags so you don’t leave them behind. In fact, place every bit of important information regarding your trip in an envelope in or on your suitcase. On the day you leave, you want to remain calm and make sure you have everything. Make sure your last list day as all the essentials you need such as personal hygiene related items.

Preparing for Vacation Tip Three

Create Travel List – Be sure you write down everything you think you’ll want to bring and use. For instance, it is pain to buy extra can openers if you have several sitting at home. While you may remember things like robes or sandals, place your sunglasses on the list so you don’t forget them too. When you are preparing for vacation, always check your list to be sure everything is marked off. You’ll need to double check those must have items like wallets, money, passports, etc.

Remember, when preparing for vacation, it’s good to have a list of things to do and get weeks before you go on vacation. This ensures you don’t forget anything that you wanted to bring.

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