effective planning for enjoyable & economical foreign tour april, 2010 by mrugank kapadia...
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Effective Planning for Enjoyable & Economical
Foreign Tour
April, 2010
By Mrugank Kapadia ([email protected])
Conducted Group Tours Preferable for first time travellers to Europe; may get lost in different/
automatic systems without human involvement
Very cost effective for Central Europe (France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Austria, Holland) due to economy of scale (Cosmos may be
booking 1000 rooms throughout the year in Europe & negotiating
hotel tariffs @ 40% of normal); Value for Money
Many tours covering differing no. of days and countries
English speaking guide
Optional tours & free time
Coverage of many places in limited time (rather hectic)
Very professional especially Cosmos & Global; strict discipline &
punctuality (Indian tours emphasise on food & company)
Peculiarities of Europe Multiple languages; English not common in Central
Europe especially with older generation
Food habits & taste; usually bland food; more difficulties
for vegetarians
More formal and not so friendly and helpful as in Japan
Most travellers either have their own / hired cars or go by
conducted tours
Different lifestyle of Europeans and peculiar Indian tourist
requirements of comfort, servants and casual approach
Tailor Made Tours Designed per your requirements May combine with conducted city tours Can do some portion of your own; city maps, metro
charts, tourist information centres Suggested for countries like China (22 days tour
covering 12 places with English guide, domestic travel & hotel stay in 2007 booked with a local China travel agent thru Internet for $ 4000 for 2 persons), South America, Africa
Should book all international & internal flights not covered in the tour
Without a Tour Operator -Advantages Tour can be planned as per individual taste; advisable if
you are travelling second time to Central Europe
Conducted tours are very expensive for Scandinavia
(Northern Europe) and Japan where some people do speak
English and are very helpful
Lots of adventure; rent a car requiring an international
driving license can be fun (Turkey, Black Forest &
Yellowstone National Park, USA experience)
Can combine with conducted day tour of the city
Avoid holiday club membership; rigidity of plans & places
Use Eurail /Japrail/ Combi pass & night trains (save hotel)
How to Plan Lonely Planet or similar books which give practical advice about
things to cover , mode, etc
Discuss with friends who visited before or known locals
Study travel plans of conducted tours & discuss
Internet- information on temperature, festivals, events, rains, maps,
etc and hotel/s booking advisable if plans fixed
Make your itinerary but keep it flexible per ground realities
Travel light, be adventurous but cautious
Food : carry some & visit 9-11 type of stores for fruits, milk, etc
Intelligent & economical tour routing of all flights (package) ; check
fares with agents before booking thru net
Hints Avoid shopping & craze for Indian food Do not waste money on expensive hotel stay Go for unusual adventures (Bungy, scuba, hot air balloon,
helicopter, dog sledge, float plane, para sailing) Carry adapter for electric plugs Carry ‘Ready to Eat’ food & plastic raincoat Local simcard to save communication cost; use internet Passport valid for >6 months with enough blank pages Apply for visas well in time Overseas travel insurance thru net (policybazaar.com…) Credit and debit cards, forex card, TC & local currency Copies of important documents to keep separately; precautions
for safety of pass-ports & valuables Pics, videos & daily notes for life long memory
What to See? Japan for discipline, cleanliness, automation Kenya & Tanzania for animals; Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls Egypt for 4500 year old pyramids, mummies & Nile cruise Brazil for carnival, Amazon river jungle & Iguassu Falls USA for Disney, Grand Canyon & Alaska Australia & New Zealand for natural scenery Turkey for Bosphorous cruise, Cappadocia & Pummukale Europe for history & richness Scandinavia for pfjords, lakes, islands & 24 hour Sun China: natural beauty of Guilin & Longji and terracota
warriors at Xian apart from Great Walls Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius, Malaysia,Thailand ideal for
beginners
Our Unusual Experiences Travel to S.America without UK transit visa Rio Carnival (9 pm to 6 am) Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) without visa 2800 km drive in Turkey without any hotel reservation 3 week tour to Scandinavia without any hotel, train or
bus booking(difficulty in Stockholm) Penguin parade after the tour bus left Bad experience at LA Grey bus terminal Sweet memories of New Zealand, African safari, Vic
Falls Language problem in China (Beijing taxi, breakfast)
Questions ????