Wander bugs ready with summer bags

The early bird catches the worm. The worms here are the best deals. The early birds are those bit by wanderlust and in a rush to book well in advance for their summer holidays.

Summer is still a few months away. But demand is soaring and travel providers are wooing potential customers with their best deals, hoping to do big business.

Booking figures for the months of April, May and June, as obtained from leading tour operators, clearly indicate a surge of 10-15%, with most people opting for international destinations.

Europe is a favorite this year too, though new locations have made it to the itinerary. Turkey and Egypt are much sought after, as are South Africa and Australia. “Domestic bookings start happening only after March”, said Kawaljit Singh Narula, assistant vice – president, LPTI India.

“Europe’s rich culture and warm hospitality make it a popular destination. More travelers are seeking destination. More travelers are seeking to explore it and we’ve received substantial queries this season. We’ve also got good response for our packages to the US, Southeast Asia and Australia,” and Vishal Suri, deputy chief operating officer, tour operating, Kuoni India.
For those who’ve booked themselves on a long Europe tour with Le Passage to India, the perk includes a Mercedes pick up to and from the airport. Then there are heavy discounts and free cruises by SOTC which are being lapped up by holiday makers.

Considering that family’s holiday twice a year, child friend’s vacations are the order of the day.
Theme parks, animal farms and children’s park are part of the itinerary. Among the popular destinations are Universal Studios in Singapore, Lego Land in Malaysia and the Butterfly Farm in Penang. The Ostrich Farm in South Africa and Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage in Australia are equally sought after as they’re considered extremely child friendly.

Another niche package is for the youth. “We’ve brought in a new concept with a focus on young travelers ages 18-35. This is a completely new range of holidays and the highlights are affordability, night life and adventure activities,” said Neelu Singh, COO, ezeego.com.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has launched its signature youth-centric travel product range ‘Rock-on Holidays’. The itinerary includes components like bike tours and pub crawls in Spain, scuba diving at Ko Samet, elephant trekking and rafting in Bali, mountain biking, paragliding and Alpine trekking in Switzerland, horse trails in South Africa and a local village experience in Laos. “Youth is a real strong, segment, poised to grow at an exponential rate of 25-30%,” said Madhav Pai, director, Leisure Travels (Outbound), Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.




Courtesy: - Times of India.

Sri Lanka: The Best Beaches

Sri Lanka overwhelms the senses. The air is heavy with the scent of jasmine, the food richly spiced and the landscape one of utter beauty; the radiant green rice paddies, forests of swaying palm trees and mountains puckered in tea plantations are utterly bewitching. But for many people Sri Lanka can be summed up in two simple words: the beach.

No matter what kind of beach bum you want to be, you’ll find a patch of palm-backed perfection here. You can book in for pampering at one of the island’s chic boutique beachside hotels, dive across glowing coral reefs, learn to surf on gentle sandbars, or merely toddle off to find your own little undiscovered corner of paradise.

Here’s our guide to the best of Sri Lankan beaches.

 

Tangalla

 

Lapped by lazy azure waters, the coconut-coloured beaches around Tangalla are hands down our favourite Sri Lankan bolt holes. Tangalla itself marks the dividing line between the picture-perfect tropical coves that dominate much of the southwest coast and the long, wave-lashed beaches that you’ll find in the southeast corner of the island.

Mirissa

 

Crack open a coconut, slip into a hammock and rock gently in the breeze. Of all the bigger Sri Lankan beach resorts, Mirissa is the favourite of many visitors. In general, this is a place for sitting and being rather than doing, but if you need a shot of adrenaline then Mirissa is the best base for a waterborne safari in search of blue whales, the largest living creatures on earth.

Arugam Bay

 

 

 

Buddhist monks walk along Sri Lankas' southern coast by James Gordon. Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Lovely Arugam Bay is arguably home to the best surf spot in Sri Lanka. Even if you’re not a surfer there are plenty of other draws, including crocodile-filled mangrove swamps and elephant-packed national parks. But to be honest you’ll probably find lounging about beachside entertaining enough.

Uppuveli Beach

 

During the dark years of civil war the east coast was out of bounds and its beautiful beaches were confined to the subject of rumour. Peace has brought new opportunities for trailblazing sun seekers and stunning Uppuveli is fast emerging as the best place to dip your toes. Good as the beach is, the real attractions are the glittering coral gardens of Pigeon Island just off nearby Nilaveli beach (which could win a beach beauty contest in its own right).

Bentota

 

Surrounded by mega package resort hotels, you might expect the beach here to be overrun…but you’d be wrong. With a smattering of divine boutique hotels, a sublime stretch of golden sand, and barely another tourist’s footprint in sight, this is one of the best places to unwind.

Unawatuna

 

 

Unawatuna Beach by Moving Montevideo. Creative Commons Attribution Licence

It’s hardly undiscovered, but Unawatuna is popular for a reason. With moonstone waters as calm as a lake, beachside cafes serving up delicious food and just enough action to keep things fresh, it would be fair to say that most visitors fall for Unawatuna.

More advice

 

Like what you’ve heard so far but need a little more persuading? The following breakdown should help you reach the right decision.

• Best for snorkelling: Pigeon island off Nilaveli beach offers crystal waters, shallow reefs, colourful fish, and diving and snorkelling that’s great for beginners and the experienced.
• Best for whale-watching: whales can be seen all along the Sri Lankan coast but Mirissa is the best base for seeing blue whales just a short distance from the shore.
• Best for self-indulgence: Bentota beach has a great collection of  boutique hotels, and when you’re done with the pampering the beach itself ain’t bad.
• Best for children: Unawatuna and Uppuveli vie for the title of having the calmest, safest swimming.

Courtesy:- Lonely Planet.

The Most Photographed Places on Instagram are…

More than 100,000 photos were taken at Suvarnabhumi Airport just in the past 12 months, Instagram said on its blog. Heald noted that Thailand is a popular destination so many visitors likely want to show off to their friends that they’re actually there.

The gleaming airport, which opened in 2006, is massive, cool and modern, Heald said. Gary Leff, a frequent flier who often travels to Asia, called it “beautiful and functional.”

“Some people find Suvarnabhumi cold, architecturally and temperature-wise,” Leff said. “(But) there are plenty of good shops and restaurants, and one of the very best -- if not the best -- airport lounges in the world: the Thai Airways first class lounge.”

The second most-photographed place on Instagram’s list -- Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall -- is less known among tourists, but a huge draw for locals, Heald said. Leff called it a “shopper’s paradise.” 

The huge complex boasts luxury stores, such as Versace, Prada and Chanel, a “gourmet paradise” food court and an entertainment complex that includes an IMAX Theater. Many visitors also head to the mall to interact with finned creatures at Siam Ocean World -- the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, located in the basement level of the shopping center. 

“What they have there that’s quite unique is diving with sharks,” Heald said. “So that’s quite cool ... it’s a really fun mall.”

Looking for ideas to put together a fun and global itinerary for the New Year? Here is the full list the “most-Instagrammed” locations of 2012:

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand
Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand
Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif.
Times Square in New York City
AT&T Park in San Francisco
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
Eiffel Tower in Paris
Staples Center in Los Angeles
Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles

i-City, Selangor, Malaysia

I - City view, Selangor, Malaysia

 

i-City is the latest tourist spot in Shah Alam, Selangor. Dubbed the City of Digital Lights, it is reputed to be the first lightscape tourist destination in Malaysia. Showcasing state-of-the-art LED technology, i-City is an exciting and fascinating place to visit, especially during festive seasons such as Chinese New Year. The combination of the LED lights technology and traditional element presents a strong selling point for i-City.

 

Why i-City

 

As visitors stroll around the colourful forest that resembles a four-season park, they get to see dozens of wonderful sculptures. Besides that, many beautiful red and yellow lanterns can also be seen. The sculptures and themes, as well as the lighting decoration in i-City are changed periodically. Hence, there will always be something new for visitors to see and enjoy.

With beautiful scenery and unique display of dazzling digital lights, it is not a surprise that i-City is a haven for shutterbugs. It also provides a beautiful setting for wedding photography. With numerous bulbs lighting up i-City nightly, some people might be concerned about their effect on the environment.

i-City is quick to assure that the digital lights with total power consumption equivalent to about 4 shop lots, are environmentally friendly. i-City is open 24 hours a day as it has been approved as a technopreneur campus, where cosmopolitan lifestyle outlets can operate on a 24-hour basis.

Under this concept, i-City will be a gated but open zone where security, traffic management, landscaping, rubbish management and other township services will be the responsibility of i-City. This is in recognition of i-City as a night tourist destination and a knowledge hub.

 

Getting to i-City

 

30 minutes drive from PJ/KL, use the Federal Highway heading towards Shah Alam. Exit at the Batu Tiga Toll Station. Look for the BP gas station, and then turn left at the UiTM/i-City signage. Drive onwards till you reach the traffic lights and turn right. Drive on the left lane until you see Shell gas station and KFC. Turn left before the traffic lights. Go straight again and when you see a chrome ball turn left, and you will be able to see i-City.

Take the KTM Komuter to Batu Tiga Komuter Station. From there, take a bus or taxi to i-City.

 

Where to stay

 

Sheraton Hotels and Resort - The Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel welcomes you with warm Malaysian hospitality. We are conveniently located within the business and commercial district, making it easy for you to get to your workplace and city attractions.

Shangri-La Hotel - You wake up snug in downy soft beddings, with world famous skyscrapers, the Petronas Twin Towers, in sight, as Malaysia’s vibrant capital city bids you a fine morning. You feel relaxed and tranquil in the luxurious guestroom at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Your day begins with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel’s Lobby Lounge. Satisfied, you head out to the confluence of the ancient Gombak and Klang waterways. The trip rewards with access to the trendy mercantile and fashion centres in the city’s Golden Triangle.

You marvel at the fascinating juxtaposition between old and  ultra-modern. The winding, meandering alleys of this city reveal hidden surprises. Energized by these experiences, sundown reveals a night still too young for you. With one last look at the sparkling towers, you draw the curtains, and retreat behind lush covers to prepare for tomorrow’s adventures.

Enjoy your enchanting dreams, with compliments from Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The Westin Hotels - Stay in the midst of Kuala Lumpur's bustling Golden Triangle and enjoy immediate access to the city's most fashionable shopping malls and vibrant nightlife as well as KLCC Park, numerous multinational corporations, and top financial institutions.

Enjoy stylish, residential comfort in our 443 guest rooms and suites with splendid views. You'll discover efficient work spaces, High Speed Internet Access, 24-hour in-room dining, and always, peaceful slumber in a signature Westin Heavenly Bed.

Mandarin Oriental-Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world

Increasingly recognized for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides 21st century luxury with oriental charm. Above all, Mandarin Oriental is renowned for creating unique hotels through distinctive design and a strong sense of place, luxury hotels right  for their time and place. The Group regularly receives international recognition and awards for quality management and legendary service.

 

Cuisine

 

This year’s theme "Classical Chefs" represent pure and honest food, honouring the roots of a symphony of cuisines that include Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, French, Italian, Lebanese, South Korean, Cuban and Creole.

It’s so simple: present your tokens and be presented with a Symphony of Cuisines – with not much queuing or waiting for your change, either!

Malaysian cuisine covers a wide, unique spectrum, thanks to the melting pot of cultures that make up its population. Malays, Thais, Chinese, Indians and a host of other ethnic groups from near and far have brought their specialities to the table, and the result is a country that is a foodie’s delight.

 

Entertainment

 

I-City, Shah Alam, Selangor (30 minutes away from KL city center), ice slides are also available which allows visitors to slide on a tube. Further inside there is another slide which requires you to get on a toboggan like thing.

Temperatures in the building were said to be nearly minus five degree Celsius in there. Jackets are provided to keep you warm. However do make sure that you wear long pants and shoes during your visit. A glove would be a good idea too if you can’t stand the cold. Tickets-RM25 for adult, RM20 for children. Operating hours: 10 am till 1 am daily.