Train Routes

Most people dream of roaming around the Avenue des Champs-Elysees but they are not willing to risk their future to finance the trip. However, traveling to Europe may not really cause you to mortgage your future. Anyone can have a cheap holiday vacation over the place. It doesn’t mean though that you have to hitch free rides to strangers or go backpacking. One way to help you reach that European dream is to go for a packaged bus tour.
Because of the tour operators’ ability to secure group rates on hotel accommodations, sightseeing attractions, and ground transportation, packaged bus tours only offer the best value per day. This is actually hassle-free because you don’t need to get any international driver’s license, or rent a car and memorize those streets and roads so that you won’t get lost, or experience the difficulty of reading train schedules in foreign languages. Everything is all set for you. All you have to do is enjoy!
For a more enjoyable and hassle-free European bus tour, here are some helpful tips:
- Prepare Your Camera – Secure the number of batteries you have and bring in some extras. You will get to see many attractions on packaged bus tours. They are usually for one stop only because as you move along, you won’t be able to go back on a certain sight. So take pictures for yourself while you’re on the spot.
- Keep an Open Mind – European culture is rich in history. Touring around Europe can help you enrich your mind by learning about local culture and traditions, interacting with some locals and even with some passengers to share some ideas and interests with them.
- Bring Some Gadgets and Stuffs – You will have a lot of traveling on your packaged bus tour to Europe so you may have downtime between attractions. Bring your iPod, PSP, or any thing that will keep you from boredom. A book or a magazine may also preoccupy you while en route to the next destination.
- Eat Wisely – Prices are usually high on major sightseeing venues, so take advantage of any meal inclusions available in the hotel. Also, bring with you some snacks to munch while on the bus as you may get hungry.
- Dress in Comfort – You will do a lot of walking, sitting, and riding a bus. So dress sensibly and appropriately. Wear something that you will be comfortable of during the entire tour. You already have the idea on what kind of tour it is so you know what to wear.
- Always be ready – bring some necessary things that you may think will be useful in case of emergencies. First aid kit, extra clothing, extra cash, and the likes.
The tips given can really help you enjoy your European packaged bus tour. It is a cheap way to explore Europe and you also get to see a lot of tourist attractions compared to just staying in one place and do things on your own. So while on tour, make the most out of it and enjoy the things that Europe can offer.

LUXURY TOUR TRAINS OF INDIA

Depending upon your budget and preference, the Indian Railways offer you a plethora of options when you choose to explore India by train with. There are exclusive and royal luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels, the Royal Orient Train, the Deccan Odyssey, the Heritage on Wheels and the Fairy Queen. Traveling India with an authorised India Travel Agent by these luxury trains is an experience of lifetime. Some of the famous Luxury Trains of India are:

1. Places on Wheels

Palace on wheels is a journey worthy of kings with its cream saloons, with a border of flowers, forbidding fortress, fairytale palaces, fully vestibule and centrally air-condition, truly a Palace on Wheels.

2. Heritage On Wheels

No other region in India, or perhaps, even in the world, has such a large concentration of high quality frescoes as the region of Shekhawati. The Heritage on Wheels, a luxury tourist train on meter gauge enroute to the unexplored regions of Bikaner and Shekhawati, famous beholders of the Heritage of Rajasthan. Heritage on Wheels is a prefect royal treat for all those on board organized with restaurant and shopping facility.

3. Royal Orient

The Royal Orient train is one of the world’s most exotic trains where you get to explore two of the most fascinating and culturally rich states of India, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The journey by the Royal Orient takes you back to the times of Rajas and Maharajas which is fitted with all the modern conveniences you would expect in five star hotels like clean, comfortable and furnished cabin with spacious bath equipped with running hot and cold water and multi-cuisine restaurants, bar and library.

4. Fairy Queen

The Fairy Queen starts once in a month from October to February renowned for its oldest working engine in the world with the capacity of 50 passengers starts from Delhi to Alwar. The train stops at every major destination and the ambience inside the Fairy Queen makes you feel like a Maharaja as you take on the royal journey. The comprehensive two-day tourist package includes on-ground catering, lodging, boarding, transfer facility, visit to Sariska National Park, cultural programmes etc. In the package, the tourists would be taken to Alwar and would be lodged in Hotel ‘Tiger Den’ at Sariska.

5. Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey criss-crosses the Indian Deccan Plateau over 2400 km in Eight days covering beautiful beaches in Goa and Maharashtra, the grand forts and palaces of the Marathas, the Osho Ashram in Pune, the historic sites of Ajanta, Ellora, Aurangabad and the modern city of Mumbai. The 21 coach Air-Conditioned Deccan Odyssey offers combination of richly furnished Deluxe Cabins and Presidential Suites. There are two Dining Cars, One Bar Saloon with smoking lounge area, Conference Area/recreation saloon with small Business Centre, Spa Saloon with mini-gym. Each passenger Saloon has four Deluxe Cabins and is serviced by a private attendant/butler, who looks after tea/coffee service and housekeeping.

6. Konkan Train

Konkan Railways, one of the most luxurious train journey offers breathtakingly beautiful sights to the commuters, unexplored destinations with natural charm covers the length of 760 kms, with 1,798 bridges and 88 Tunnels on the route. Konkan Railways offers a mesmerizing picturesque from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram via Veer-Khed-Chiplun-Ratnagiri-Rajapur Road-Sindhudurg-Mapusa Road-Goa-Udupi-Mangalore-Kochi.

You are advised to plan French camping holidays well in advance. The rise in popularity among British families for French camping holidays means booking early is essential to avoid disappointed. Substantial numbers of British families are choosing French camping holidays for their summer break.

Days consist of lying by the pool watching your children play with newly acquired friends. When evening approaches the aroma of barbecues drifts around the campsite, all this complemented with inexpensive quality French wine. Enjoying your summer break is easy, here are six steps to make planning French camping holidays easy also.

1. When is the best time to travel?

If your children are below school age or you’re traveling as a group of friends, then months May, June and September are cheapest. Additional benefits of those months include quieter roads, resorts and campsites. When booking French camping holidays in peak periods, book early to avoid disappointed as popular campsites become full very quickly.

2. Selecting your Campsite

From Normandy, Brittany and the Loire in the north to the Cote d’Azur and Languedoc in the south, it is possible to camp in most regions of France . Choose a region that matches your interests, maybe an inland retreat, beach holiday or culture and sightseeing. For campsites, checkout the facilities available, the official rating and the number of pitches match your preferences. The local amenities will give you a good idea whether a campsites region can satisfy your interests.

3. Choosing your Accommodation

French camping holidays offer a variety of accommodation. Tents, mobile home and chalet style cottages are available depending on your preference and budget. If your children are teenagers, go for the larger accommodation where possible it’s well worth while having a little extra space. At most campsites bed linen can be hired, otherwise don’t forget to take your own.

4. Getting there by Sea, Air or Rail

The English channel makes getting to France a little more awkward. Most holidaymakers drive to their campsite taking either the cross channel ferry or the Euro-star through the Channel Tunnel. The ferry is slower but general cheaper and for convenience the Channel Tunnel takes only 35 minutes. Fly-drive or Motorail are alternatively options to driving all the way from the UK . In peak season book your channel crossing, trains and flights early or you may end up with more expensive traveling arrangements or no traveling arrangements at all.

5. Stopping En Route

The Cote d’Azur and Languedoc regions of France may take 12 hours to drive non-stop from the UK . In that case many holidaymakers on French camping holidays choose to stop En Route. There are hotels chains across France including Novotel, Ibis, Kyriad and Campanile who offer good quality rooms at reasonable prices.

6. Visit Disneyland Paris and the way home

The route of many journeys across France is via Paris . For a little extra expense consider a two day stay at Disneyland Paris. It is possible to stay at the Disneyland hotels, but money can be saved by staying at one of the many hotels very close to Disneyland . And finally, leave enough time to visit CitiEurope in Calais , it’s a vast enclosed shopping center where French produce at bargain duty free prices can be purchased.

Discover the charm, enjoyment and relaxation of French camping holidays for yourself next year. Plan and book early and you will not be disappointed.

Paris simply has that je ne sais quoi. While you may want to avoid the city in high season due to the high density of tourists, Paris is beautiful the whole year round and anybody who’s been there will tell you how there’s always something new to discover. If you’re planning a trip there or just looking for some ideas for what to do when you’re there, look no further…

Getting around

Getting around Paris is simple. Locals recommend taxis for the speediest way across town, but they can be expensive. A cheaper option is the Metro, which is cheaper and very extensive, although it can be crowded. Otherwise, you can go by foot or rent a bike as part of the city’s Vélib’ system. Paris is an incredibly pedestrian-friendly city and one of the greatest pleasures is simply strolling through the streets and seeing what hidden gems you find.

Weather

During summer, the weather is often warm and can be humid. In autumn, winter and spring, it is cool, with wetter winters. Still, even if it rains, there is a wealth of museums and galleries to see, or you could simply while away your time in a trendy cafe.

Museums and Galleries

The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue.

Le Musee d’Orsay is located on the banks of the Seine, housed in the former railway station the Gare d’Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts edifice. Houses works by greats such as Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and Degas.

Centre Georges Pompidouis a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais. It was designed in the style of high-tech architecture. It houses the Bibliothèque publique d’information, the Musée National d’Art Moderne, and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. It is named after Georges Pompidou, who was President of France from 1969 to 1974. The Centre Pompidou has had over 150 million visitors since 1977.

Palaces and Landmarks

The Eiffel Tower- a global icon, completed in 1889. Its first and second levels are accessible by lift and stairs, but you must take an elevator to the top, where you can look out over the entire city for a spectacular view.

The Palace of Versailles – known in French as the Chateau de Versailles. When it was first built, Versailles was a country village: today it is a suburb of Paris! The court of Versailles was the centre of political power from 1682 till 1789 and is a symbol of the Ancien Regime. Today it is one of the top tourist attractions in Paris.You can purchase a Passport for Versailles from one of the train stations that includes round-trip train ticket and admission to more than you’ll have time to see!

Notre Dame – is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world and boasts beautiful stained glass windows and a massive organ, which has an astonishing 7,800 pipes! The great bell, Emmanuel, is tolled to mark the hours of the day and special occasions. Astonishingly, the cathedral itself was never officially finished…

Arc de Triomphe – a famous moment that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Elysees. The triumphal arch honours those who fought for France, particularly in the Napoleonic Wars. On the inside and top of the arch, the names of generals are inscribed. The Arc is the linchpin of the historic axis (L’Axe historique) — a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre Palace to the outskirts of Paris.

Panthéon – was originally intended to be a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but is now most famous as a burial place for such famous names as Voltaire, the Curies and Rousseau. Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris. Head down to the catacombs for a particularly interesting experience. Its architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, died before his work was achieved, and his plans were not entirely followed. Nevertheless, it is one of the most important architectural achievements of its time and the first great neoclassical monument.

Cafes, Restaurants and Bars

Art Brut – fantastic setting and incredible decor (food isn’t bad either!)

Cafe Lacombe – perfect for brunch

Tribal Cafe – cheap pints and free couscous – need I say more?

Le Tambour – all night eating and drinking, for those who get a bit peckish around midnight…

Hotel du Nord – understatedly chic with a parisian heritage, fantastically romantic and peaceful

Point Éphémère – run by a non-profit organisation that converts wastelands into cultural centres for young artists, features a variety of interesting exhibitions and concerts.

Hotels

When booking a hotel, bear in mind that while most places in the centre of the city (1-6th districts), once you start getting into double-digits, you should take more care. Check out your hotel or hostel beforehand. Don’t just go for the cheapest one you find, or you might discover with a shock that it’s, for example, in the middle of the red light district! Hotel reviewing platforms and travel forums are a good place to check out whether your choice is a safe one.