Ecotourism | 17 May - Affordable Travel Tips

Rudragaira – The Best Place To Visit

Rudragaira is a place in Utharakhand, a state in the southern India. Utharakhand is often referred to as the “land of Gods” due to the presence of plenty of temples. It is well known for its natural beauty. It is located in Himalayan ranges and hence possesses many snow-covered peaks. Rudragaira is one among them. The best season to visit Rudragaira is April to June and September to November. There are many peaks, passes, and lakes accessible from Gangotri-Gaumukh (where the Ganges originates).Tapovan, The Bhagirathi Peaks, Mount Shivaling, Kedar Tal are some of the expeditions possible from here. You have to take permission from the forest department office at Kot Bangla, Uttarkashi, before setting out for any trek. Uttarkashi is the best place to stock up on supplies for treks, including gear and warm clothing. Do not attempt any of the treks or climbs in this areawithout the help of trained guides. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) at Uttarkashi imparts training in mountaineering and interested persons can join for regular courses too. NIM also hires out equipments.Never compromise on equipments-your life could depend on. It is common to experience headache, nausea, loss of appetite or slight swelling of fingers, toes, or face at high altitudes. However, if any of these symptoms gets out of hand, or if one of yourfriends experience lack of co-ordination in movements, head down to lower altitudes immediately. High altitude sickness can beavoided to some extent by allowing time at intermediate altitudes for the body to acclimatize. This is like any other place inIndia which can offer you the best sigh seeing. There are very few places in the world with such diverse scenery.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, Travel Tagged With: Altitude sickness, Himalayas, Uttarkashi

Save the Planet While Saving Money

Which kind of green are you interested in saving? The kind that is in your billfold or the kind that grows in forests and gardens? Surprisingly, if you travel correctly then you can do both at once. Simply riding a bicycle instead of driving or taking cabs can make a small but positive impact on your budget and the environment; however, the environment and your wallet are not the only things that will get a positive impact from bicycling on a vacation. Bicycling is great for your health and most bicyclists agree that after riding a bike the rest of the day seems more fun and relaxing. Also, bicycling can help give you a better feel of the area where you are. Whether you are in a rural village or a big city, there are few ways to better experience the atmosphere of the area than by riding your bicycle or even walking around the area. And, in some bigger cities, it can even be faster to ride your bike than it is to ride in a car, especially during rush hour. If you do not have a bicycle then it might be a good idea to get one. Used bicycles can be rather inexpensive if you look on Craig’s List or eBay, and even new bicycles can be very affordable as long as you are not looking for a world-class mountain bike.

You do not have to be an environmentalist or an athlete to enjoy bicycling. Light physical exercise, such as casual bicycling, is perfect for improving your health, improving your attitude, and saving two types of green: Money and plants. If you do not have a bike then you should consider getting one for your health, your enjoyment, your money, and your planet. After all, we are not given this planet by our ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, Travel Tagged With: Bicycle, Cycling, Mountain bike

Ensuring Your International Trip is Insured

: Image via Wikipedia

It’s often a dream of many people to be able to travel all over the world. While some international destinations do not require the use of a rental car because they are easily accessible via public transportation, some international destinations do require a car.

Whenever a traveler faces the situation of having to rent a car, there is the issue of insurance. When the car is rented in the United States, there is no need to worry about buying extra insurance as most companies, such as 21st Car Insurance, will cover any type of accident or damage that occurs. However, international travel can be different and accidents and damage caused in a foreign country may not be covered by an American insurance policy.

As every country has the right to make its own laws and regulations regarding insurance, some countries are not covered under a traveler’s United State’s insurance policy. It is a good idea if you are planning on driving any type of car in a foreign country to check with the rental car company or your own insurance company to make sure that you are covered.

In some instances, a traveler may need to purchase extra international car insurance. Many of these insurance policies are available at the rental car company itself. If the rental car company does not have an insurance plan in place, there are dozens of international insurance companies that will offer a temporary policy for the traveler.

Driving internationally is nerve-wrecking enough. There is no need to worry about being covered should an accident occur while you’re driving. Make sure that you have all the necessary insurance and paperwork before you get to the foreign country. The best plan of action is to make sure that you are protected ahead of time so you can have a wonderful and enjoyable vacation.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, General, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: Accident, Car rental, Insurance, Insurance policy, Renting, Tourism, United States, Vehicle insurance

Washington DC – City of a Nation

: Image by Skibum415 via Flickr

If you have never been to Washington DC, it is an inspiration in so many ways. You have to go there at some point in your life or you will never feel complete, seriously. This is a discussion of Washington DC, the city of an entire nation, the capital of the United States. It was originally designed to be huge and expansive, back in the days when horses and buggies were the primary means of transportation for the people who could afford such luxuries. For people walking down the streets that are large enough for modern streets, it must have seemed truly incredible to be a part of something so massive.

But of course, size isn’t everything. Just being a large city would not be an especially large accomplishment for a city in this world, or even in the States. Some of the architecture is just plain amazing here. They spared no expense in crafting the works of art that you can walk into, in this city. And if you should happen to love art, the Smithsonian has an art building that could take you a few days to go all the way through. The place just stretches onward and onward, filled with all different kinds of beautiful things crafted by masters.

You would think that a city built out of stone would seem like a crypt or a prison, but it never feels that way. When you get up next to a massive stone building, you can easily by awed by its presence. But when you walk the streets, so massive and open, you feel almost like you’re in a gigantic sculpture garden. The effect is very difficult to put into words, other than just saying “wow” over and over again (which probably wouldn’t be very helpful to you). One more thing worth remembering is to use a prepaid card, just in case of pickpocketing.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, Travel Tagged With: Dupont Circle Washington D.C., Travel and Tourism, Washington DC

Money Instructions for Traveling

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The most important tool you must have on you at all times while traveling is currency. Be it cash, an ATM or credit card or traveler’s checks, it is vital to have these methods of payment readily available. At the same time you must also take the proper steps to ensure these valuable assets are protected and you are stretching your money the furthest.

Contact Credit Card Companies Prior to Traveling

It is always advantageous to contact your credit card companies prior to traveling. If they see unfamiliar spending patterns because you are in another state or country, this may raise a red flag in their fraud protection department. This will stop all transactions and not allow future purchases from going through. Therefore, letting them know of your travel plans will prevent this from occurring.

The Benefits of Using an ATM Card

ATM cards are a wonderful travel tool. First, you will not have to carry around as much cash because you will have constant access to your bank account. Second, the ATM will issue money in the currency of that country which will usually give you the best exchange rate. As a side note, do not wait until you are out of money to go to the ATM as these machines can easily break down or run out of currency.

Protecting your Traveler’s Checks

Traveler’s checks are another excellent medium of currency for traveling and are accepted everywhere. If they are lost you can usually receive new checks or a refund. To protect your checks take the same precautions you would with cash. Also, learn all procedures for lost checks. Additionally, make copies of all checks prior to your trip and keep the following information handy; the serial numbers, the phone number to call for missing checks, the date and location of purchase and the denomination.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, Travel, Vacation Tagged With: Credit card, Exchange rate, Travel

Pets and Travel

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

There’s nothing quite as great as travelling with a friend, and what friend is better than your own pet? Taking your cat or dog along for the ride can be a great experience, one where you bond and just enjoy lots of down time together. This is an opportunity for you to give your pet lots of attention and love and take them to fabulous new places you’ll both enjoy.

When planning for your trip, try to take into account your pet’s personality and think of places you can take him that he would like. Maybe there are lovely parks or outdoor areas you can explore with your dog, or maybe there is a special person you’ll be seeing who needs to meet your cat. As you think about your trip, consider all your options and then try to plan based on what will make you both happy. And, don’t overschedule yourself. Many people find that when they go on vacation they get too ambitious about how many things they can do in one day and wind up running from venue to venue. If you do this, not only will you end up feeling frazzled and worn, but your pet will probably be unhappy as well.

Instead, think of your vacation as a time to take things more slowly than you normally do, and remember to keep quality in mind over quantity. Bring along all the things that will make your pet feel happy and secure, including his food, his sleeping gear (including special baskets, blankets, or pillows), his favorite toys, and special medications. It’s a good idea to visit your vet before you leave, just to get your pet a check-up and make sure that his health is in order. Talk to your vet about your upcoming trip and consider getting pet insurance.

Filed Under: Ecotourism, Family Travel Tagged With: Animal, Dog, Financial Services, Health, Insurance, Pet, Pet insurance, Shopping