Travel Story

How To Get The Best Price For A Cruise
You’ve wanted to take that cruise, to experience the excitement of new ports and places with your family. You’ve daydreamed about your place in the sun. You’ve made a million excuses to yourself why you can’t. Perhaps you’ve thought that the cruise of your dreams is out of reach financially. You’re in for a surprise. The cruise industry is one of the fasting growing of the vacation/hospitality industries today. With the popularity of sea cruising growing by leaps and bounds cruise lines are growing and are able to offer more discounts to their customers. You also have the cruise industry at your fingertips through the use of the Internet. Every cruise line has a website where you can check cruises, dates and deals. Each cruise line offers what they call theme packages. These packages are mean to attract a people of a certain lifestyle or age group. If you are traveling with your family you may qualify for a family discount, or, depending on your age, a senior discount. Some cruise lines offer honeymoon discount. It is a little known fact that many cruise lines experience last minute cancellations. When this happens they are eager to fill the empty slots. If you are flexible you may be able to get an excellent last minute deal. Call the cruise line a few days before the ship is set to sail to see if there are any last minute deals. If you become a frequent cruiser you may be able to get a discount as a repeat customer. Many cruise lines give discounts and a good percentage off if you book with them year after year, or, if you are planning more than one cruise in a year, if you book both cruises at the same time. Along with checking for cruise deals online, don’t forget that sometimes a travel agent is worth his/her weight in gold. Check with an experienced travel agent who may be able to help you get deals that aren’t offered to online customers. This travel agent may also be able to help you get the best airfare price . The cruise of your dreams is out there, and it’s within your reach. Do your homework. The information is out there, it’s up to you to find it. This article courtesy of <a href="http://www.cruise-holiday-guide.com" target="_blank">http://www.cruise-holiday-guide.com</a>
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Bangalore Weekend Getaways
Bangalore, India s Silicon Valley, has much more to offer than being the IT hub of the country. A glorious past and scenic beauty make Bangalore one of the much sought after holiday destinations too. Truly known as the Garden City , Bangalore is a picturesque land what with its temperate climate, vibrant culture, beautiful gardens and eating joints that provide the perfect ambience for a great holiday. Some of the places that you can visit in Bangalore include the beautiful Vidhana Soudha (Sunday evenings is the perfect time to see it, all illuminated); the lovely Cubbon Park which runs through the heart of the city; the Government Museum on Kasturba Gandhi Road which houses a great collection of miniature paintings, sculptures and exquisite jewellery that dates back a few hundred years. The Bangalore Palace which was built in 1880 spreads over an area of 13,700 sq. m; this magnificent structure is another of Bangalore s great landmarks. Old Bangalore remains quite untouched by the developments that the rest of the city has witnessed. It has retained its old world charm and houses several monuments that speak volumes of the city s glorious past. Here there are some beautiful structures that are amazing works of architecture. While here do visit the Palace of Tipu Sultan that was the summer retreat of the Great Hero; The Venkataramanaswamy temple built by the Wodeyars; Lal Bagh  the scenic Botanical garden which is spread over 240 acres and houses several varieties of flora; the Gavi Gangadhareshvara temple that ranks amongst one of the oldest temples in Bangalore. Around Bangalore also there are several beautiful locations that can be a great Bangalore weekend getaway. Away from the hustle and bustle of the fast city life of Bangalore is the BRT Wildlife sanctuary popularly known as BR Hills which is only 235 kms from Bangalore. Spread over 525 sq km BRT wildlife sanctuary houses a variety of fauna and here one can see animals right from elephants, sloth bears, bisons and a number of varieties of birds. It can be accessed from Bangalore by road or rail. A scenic 5 hour drive from Bangalore or a 3 hour rail journey would take you to the picturesque location. Some of the activities you would truly enjoy here is the jeep safari, the elephant ride right into the jungle and trekking in BR Hills for the true nature lovers who are ready to rough it out. While here you can visit the Biligiri Rangaswamy temple and the Doda Sampige Mara (which is a place of worship that has a huge Champaka tree and at its foot is placed more then 100 Shiva lingams). The Bandipur National Park is another beautiful place that can be enjoyed as a wildlife resort near Bangalore. Located at a distance of 220 kms from Bangalore, the Bandipur wildlife sanctuary is 5 hours by road from here. Located in southern Karnataka, Bandipur is the creation of the Maharaja of Mysore in the year 1931 and was later taken over by the Government as a Tiger Resrve. The national park is a treasure house of a variety of flora and fauna. You can enjoy the natural beauty of the park either on foot being a part of the trekking groups or take a ride on the jeep safaris and look out for the animals. The elephant ride is another great way to venture deeper into the forest and see animals in their natural habitat. A good place to stay at both places would be Jungle Lodges and Resorts You can have Bangalore as your base and visit many of the spectacular weekend getaways like Nagarhole National Park, Mudumalai, Yercaud, Wayanad, Tirupati to name a few. These places are just a few hours away from Bangalore and you can quickly be transported into a very different peaceful and beautiful world.<b>Author Bio: </b><br> William Nickel traveler and nature enthusiast, experienced in arranging enchanting wildlife tours in India with knowledge on <a href="http://www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com/safari.asp"> elephant safari, tiger safari, jeep safari, trekking India</a>, <a href="http://www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com/">economical <b>accommodation in Mudumalai</b> wildlife sanctuary, <b>Bandipur national park and Masinagudi reserve forest in Nilgiris on the Ooty Mysore Bangalore road</b></a>
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Queuing in Spain More a Social Event
Going to the bank, post office or any government building in Spain is not for the feint hearted, especially if you think it will be a quick visit! We have a number of banks in our small village and I try to avoid going to mine if possible . .The first thing you notice as you enter are the seats on the right hand sidewall, usually fully occupied Not a good sign, as the queue in front of you is at least four or five long “who is the last” I ask, only for a hand to be raised from one of the people sitting down? “Thank you” I say and look at the clock on the wall I calculate it will half an hour or more before, I am served . .Have you ever noticed that when you visit the bank or post office yours is a quick transaction, it can be done in two minutes or more? Whilst everyone in front of you brings sheaths of papers out of their bag, and your heart sinks! . .One of the things that I do like is the way the Spanish people will automatically make eye contact with you and say “hello” whenever you are out and about Whether walking along or entering an establishment, it is the protocol to acknowledge strangers . .Queuing is no different, as you arrive, so everyone will turn and say “good morning” to you, and you in turn reply the same Unlike the British who will stand in a queue, quietly and patiently in Spain they will strike up a conversation Soon from the counter clerk to the pensioner, heads are nodding, arms are waving You stand there smiling and nodding as though you knew everything that is going on , “yes, yes, of course” and glance again at the clock The hands are moving, but not the queue! . .At the counter, the clerk Javier is dealing with each client, then the phone rings and he immediately answers Somebody needs information on their account, and so he stops dealing with the client at the counter and checks the computer for the caller “No”, I am screaming inside, as this event is repeated constantly “Please I only want to deposit this money” Meanwhile the heads are nodding and the arms are waving, nobody is in hurry, but me . .Eventually I arrive at the counter, Javier smiles, and “how are you”? he asks, I reply that I am fine and hand him my money, the phone rings Oh no! not again, but I smile and wait and once he has finished he deals with me Two minutes, I am done, leaving, saying my goodbyes to everyone and vowing never to go in there again! . .If you visit the butchers, bakers or fishmongers in most villages and towns, there are always seats inside This I do think is a lovely idea and something that could be adopted in the UK For the weary person, no matter what age, it is good to be able to sit whilst the people in front are being dealt with Not only that but you are entering a social arena, where the main focus is not the transaction but the verbal interaction . .The atmosphere when you go out shopping is of a continuous social network Very much like the humming of bees that float in from the street into the shop and then out again, only to be picked up as you enter the next establishment People have time for each other and speed does not really matter . .Having painted a picture of social charm and relaxation please be aware of one of the most cunning queue jumpers known to man, The pensioner still wearing slippers, is quite a common sight in Spain Pensioners, both male and female to go out in their slippers, comfort being everything, and certainly in the south of Spain, climatically not a problem . .My husband was the first of us to become a victim to such a person in a local supermarket Having collected what he needed, he arrived at the cash desk and was waiting in a long queue Eventually as he moved closer to the checkout, he became aware of an elderly woman hovering close to him As he was about to put his shopping on the counter, she gratefully looked at him holding a few bananas in her hand Him being the gentleman, proffered her to move in front to be served Quick as a flash she was there and suddenly produced a shopping trolley from nowhere, laden to the top with groceries! When he came home, he told me” I have just been mugged by a little old lady”! . .This guilt trick is something I have experienced as well, “I only want to ask a question, do you mind” What can you say that would not make you hated by all onlookers, and as you wait and they conclude their transaction, you stand there smiling but knowing . .As with everything in life experience is your greatest teacher and guide and over the years, I have learnt how to adapt from the retiring “English rose” who stood there whilst all and sundry mowed me down We are brought up that it is impolite to jump the queue and wait to be acknowledged Not now, when I go to my local Sunday market, I pick my goods, then bag them and put them in front of the stallholder “Who is next?”, “Me” I call out and with money in my hand, I am served I walk away, knowing that I have been absorbed into the culture, knowing how to play the game and win . .As for visiting the bank, that is something I have not yet mastered, but that is life .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

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