Tag: road trip

Take the Road Trip of a Lifetime: Wayanad Guide

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Kerala is immensely popular for the holy trinity formed by Munnar, Kochi, and Allepey, thrusting Wayanad into the shadows. This is a good thing as it saves the place from experiencing a tourist stampede.

The area experiences decent tourist traffic with great hotels in Wayanad, but it is still considered as an off-the-beaten destination in Kerala. Are you thinking of a road trip? Then, Wayanad has the perfect balance of sports, hiking, adventures, and sightseeing to make the trip a once in a lifetime event.

The Travel Basics

One of the very first things you should know before you set out to Wayanad is that it’s not a town or a city, it is actually a northern Kerala district. The area is largely covered by forest and is located in the southern end of Deccan plateau.

In addition, you also need to know that visiting Wayanad means that you will be visiting either Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta (Wayanad’s capital) or Mananthavady towns. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be able to sample all that Wayanad has to offer you in a single weekend. So, carefully choose what you really need to see and do!

Planning Your Trip

Unless you intend on visiting the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, you should make Kalpetta your base. Kerala and Karnataka State Government buses can take you there from Bangalore and Mysore. There are no airports in Wayanad district, but you can use those in Kozhikode or Bangalore.

One of the best things about Wayanad is that it offers visitors an excellent local network of buses that are both frequent and very cheap. In fact, you can visit just about any tourist destination on public transport – the perfect solution for the solo backpacker.

Top Attractions in Wayanad

Sulthan Bathery is what can be considered as Wayanad’s gateway town, and the best location to stay if you intend on visiting the Mathunga Wild Life Sanctuary. The town’s name means the place where the king stationed his ammunition and army. Some of the top things to do and see in Sulthan Bathery include:

  • The Jain Temple
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Edakkal Caves

Kalpetta town offers you a bittersweet symphony of life that includes attractions like:

  • Chembra Peak, which looks over the Wayanad territory – but you’ll need permission and tickets from the forest department
  • The Banasura Dam, which also happens to be India’s largest earth dam and number two in Asia

Mananthavady town is home to Paskhipatalam, which is a protected forest area as well as a sanctuary for several bird species. The park is located in the Brahmagiri hills and is only 8km from Thirunelli, allowing you to enjoy two activities in a single itinerary item. Trekking reveals sweeping views of the Nilgiri hills as you pass through clear water streams, wild grass, and pristine forests.

The Thirunelli temple is another noteworthy ancient place of worship attraction in Mananthavady that features Kerala architecture. According to the locals, the presiding deity here is Lord Vishnu, and it’s also an important pilgrim center in northern Wayanad.

Locals believe that taking a dip in the close by Papanasini river takes away all your sins while freeing you from any karma debts you have. Literary translated from Sanskrit, the name Papanasini means the destroyer of sins.

Conclusion

Wayanad is the perfect way to catch a glimpse of rural Kerala with waterfalls, woods, and wildlife. The vast mountains covered in mist, blue lakes, unending green meadows and wild forests make Wayanad a true “God’s own country!” In addition, it’s the perfect place for those looking for a break from the fast pace of city life.

Travel Tips: Should You Fly or Drive to your Vacation Spot?

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There are countless considerations and decisions before taking your family on your next vacation. A fun, successful vacation may seem like a spontaneous event, but it requires weeks or months of planning, saving and preparing. You must decide on the best destination everyone will enjoy, how long to stay, where to stay, what to do and countless other factors within the larger overall picture.

As you and your family begin preparation for the next trip, you will almost certainly begin to consider the same age-old question that has challenged travellers for decades: Should we fly or drive to our destination?

Good arguments can be made for both sides, and the decision may be different for different families, depending on their specific needs and circumstances. To help you answer this question and get the most out of your next summer vacation, here are a few of the most important benefits for each mode of transportation.

Reasons to Drive

This option almost always has a lower initial cost than flying, and frugal families will be heavily influenced by this factor. Driving also presents a unique opportunity for a family road trip. When done correctly, these road trips can become just as exciting and memorable as the actual vacation destination.

However, this is where you will need to seriously think about your individual situation. Will you truly enjoy the prospect of being in one car with your family for several hours? Are you still going to be in the mood for an all-day sightseeing tour after many hours in a vehicle? If your children are older, road trips can be a blast, but parents with young children can quickly regret this choice once carsickness, arguments and repeated Disney songs begin to take their toll.

You will also need to consider the length of the trip when thinking of driving. Will you be able to reach your destination in one day of driving, or will it be necessary to stop for one or more nights at a hotel. Make sure you figure in lodging, gas and meals into your road trip budget, as these can quickly add up. You should also make sure your vehicle is in good order in terms of mechanical functioning, road legality and car insurance.

Reasons to Fly

The biggest benefits of flying over driving are immediately obvious and quite advantageous. You can reach your vacation destination in a fraction of the time, and with less headache. However, you will pay for this time and convenience, as airline tickets for an entire family will take a significant toll on your wallet.

If you are only concerned with reaching your destination as quickly as possible, and you are not intrigued by the idea of a family road trip, flying will provide the best option if you are able to fit the cost into your budget. But the costs do not stop at the ticket price, as you must also consider the price of baggage fees, airport parking and a rental car upon arrival.

These additional fees can actually be the deciding factor for frugally-minded travellers. If you are uncertain about the overall cost difference, there are helpful travel calculators online that can help you estimate the difference of flying vs. driving.

Another benefit is the fact that air travel is proven to be significantly safer than driving long distances. The National Safety Council estimates that the odds of accident in a motor vehicle at 1 in 98, as opposed to a 1 in 7,178 chance in air travel.

Your Decision

In the end, the choice will depend upon your own specific needs. For those who are concerned mostly with the cost, driving will clearly be the best choice. Even with the cost of gas, lodging and meals, driving will allow you to reach your destination at a fraction of the cost of flying. It will also present you and your family the unique opportunity to bond on a memorable road trip.

If the destination is more important than the journey, flying will be the best option– assuming it fits into your budget. Plane tickets, baggage fees, rental cars and other costs will add up, but there is simply no comparison for convenience and time-saving.

3 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog

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The only thing better than seeing the world is seeing the world with your best friend at your side. Many people don’t realize that they can bring their dogs along when they travel, as long as they plan ahead!

Of course, if you’d rather travel alone, don’t feel limited by kennels and other group boarding options. Rover.com has a wealth of experienced, reliable dog-sitters who offer flexible and affordable care for all dogs—including anxious or chronically ill pets, who you might be reluctant to leave behind. Remember that for some dogs, the stress of travel will outweigh the benefits of spending more time together.

Choose a dog-friendly airline

Carefully research the airline’s policies, and the experiences of other dog-owning customers. What guarantees can the airline make? How do they handle unexpected situations?

Smaller dogs can usually travel with you in the cabin, which is the safest bet. If you are traveling in extreme heat or cold, or have a very large dog, consider alternate modes of transportation.

Talk to your host or concierge

Before booking your accommodation, find out the relevant details for bringing a pet along. Are there restrictions based on breed or weight? If bringing a cat too, will you need a portable litter box? Will a pet deposit be charged, and is it refundable? Ask ahead of time, and get all necessary permissions in writing just in case.

Whether you’re staying in a short-term rental or at a traditional hotel, take advantage of your host’s know-how to navigate the neighborhood. The advantage of pet-friendly housing is that your host or concierge is likely to know the best places to walk, play, groom, or entertain your dog nearby.

Follow a routine

Bring along toys and treats that make your pup feel at home, and plan out your days to minimize disruption to your dog’s schedule. Sleep schedules and meal times have the greatest impact on circadian rhythm, which helps regulate your dog’s mood and health. Keep as much consistency as you can with walks, too.

If you have have to go somewhere while traveling and can’t bring your dog, consider hiring a Rover.com caregiver in your destination city to watch your dog for a few hours. Fido will have a lot more fun playing with a new friend than sitting in your room alone—and you’ll get to relax and focus on your plans. Everyone wins!

Awesome Malaysia Road Trip Tips

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With all the travel options out there, a road trip is probably more therapeutic if you think about it. Driving across states and cities, allowing you to see the little details that you might miss when you are on a plane – that is what you will experience when you go on a drive. It would not even matter if you bring an SUV or a family car, just as long as the trip goes smoothly.

For this to happen, you need to prepare well for it. A road trip is not just a simple drive to any destination, it has to be carefully planned. Of course, just because you need to plan it well does not mean you need to stick to plain road trips. If this is your first road trip, make it count and do it in Malaysia. Here you will experience seeing different kinds of places, from spectacular beaches, small French villages, the city centre, and even old-world architecture. These are the details you want to see on your first driving trip.

Here we have listed down tips to make sure your Malaysian road trip will be an awesome experience.

Choose the perfect car for the trip

In Malaysia, the objective of the road trip is important because it tells you which car should be brought. For instance, if you are going with family, an Innova might be the best choice. If it is a city trip, maybe you can choose a more fuel efficient car like the Camry Hybrid. It would be useful to know that Toyota cars are actually cool road trip companions because it offers lots of leg space and awesome features, so you might want to choose their cars for the trip.

After renting a car, make sure that it had been completely serviced – engine check, cleaning, and other maintenance services. This will ensure that your drive will remain safe during the trip.

Research the local food

One of the best things about Malaysia is their food offerings. In almost any corner you turn, there will be hawker centres filled with the most delectable local dishes. Try the char kwayteow, nasi goreng, laksa, and lamban when you visit one of the hawker centres. Make sure to learn about the regional specialities as well.

Bring essential items with you

Essential items include power banks, snacks, and drinks. The drive going from one destination to another might take you hours or even days, so make sure you have everything that you will need to stay connected, like an energy bank to look things up on Google, and something to eat and drink.

Map out your drive

Another thing people like about driving in Malaysia are the different destinations you can go to. You can plan a path from Kuala Lumpur up to the Cameron Highlands District. You can also carve a path from the beaches of Langkawi to the Colmar Tropicale French Resort.

Create an awesome playlist

Of course, a road trip will not be complete without an awesome playlist. Take this opportunity to listen to popular Malaysian songs and immerse yourself more in the culture. You can look up the playlist for Malaysia’s #1 Hits from Spotify like: https://open.spotify.com/user/sonymusicmalaysia/playlist/2SMHhx2EZg3RPhGitzIw6L.

These tips will hopefully ensure that your road trip will be an awesome journey across all of Malaysia and will add to the unique driving experience that you will have. So pack those bags, get driving, and have the best time of your life in one of Asia’s most beautiful places. Enjoy the trip!