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Bangalore Weekend Getaways
Bangalore, India s Silicon Valley, has much more to offer than being the IT hub of the country. A glorious past and scenic beauty make Bangalore one of the much sought after holiday destinations too. Truly known as the Garden City , Bangalore is a picturesque land what with its temperate climate, vibrant culture, beautiful gardens and eating joints that provide the perfect ambience for a great holiday. Some of the places that you can visit in Bangalore include the beautiful Vidhana Soudha (Sunday evenings is the perfect time to see it, all illuminated); the lovely Cubbon Park which runs through the heart of the city; the Government Museum on Kasturba Gandhi Road which houses a great collection of miniature paintings, sculptures and exquisite jewellery that dates back a few hundred years. The Bangalore Palace which was built in 1880 spreads over an area of 13,700 sq. m; this magnificent structure is another of Bangalore s great landmarks. Old Bangalore remains quite untouched by the developments that the rest of the city has witnessed. It has retained its old world charm and houses several monuments that speak volumes of the city s glorious past. Here there are some beautiful structures that are amazing works of architecture. While here do visit the Palace of Tipu Sultan that was the summer retreat of the Great Hero; The Venkataramanaswamy temple built by the Wodeyars; Lal Bagh  the scenic Botanical garden which is spread over 240 acres and houses several varieties of flora; the Gavi Gangadhareshvara temple that ranks amongst one of the oldest temples in Bangalore. Around Bangalore also there are several beautiful locations that can be a great Bangalore weekend getaway. Away from the hustle and bustle of the fast city life of Bangalore is the BRT Wildlife sanctuary popularly known as BR Hills which is only 235 kms from Bangalore. Spread over 525 sq km BRT wildlife sanctuary houses a variety of fauna and here one can see animals right from elephants, sloth bears, bisons and a number of varieties of birds. It can be accessed from Bangalore by road or rail. A scenic 5 hour drive from Bangalore or a 3 hour rail journey would take you to the picturesque location. Some of the activities you would truly enjoy here is the jeep safari, the elephant ride right into the jungle and trekking in BR Hills for the true nature lovers who are ready to rough it out. While here you can visit the Biligiri Rangaswamy temple and the Doda Sampige Mara (which is a place of worship that has a huge Champaka tree and at its foot is placed more then 100 Shiva lingams). The Bandipur National Park is another beautiful place that can be enjoyed as a wildlife resort near Bangalore. Located at a distance of 220 kms from Bangalore, the Bandipur wildlife sanctuary is 5 hours by road from here. Located in southern Karnataka, Bandipur is the creation of the Maharaja of Mysore in the year 1931 and was later taken over by the Government as a Tiger Resrve. The national park is a treasure house of a variety of flora and fauna. You can enjoy the natural beauty of the park either on foot being a part of the trekking groups or take a ride on the jeep safaris and look out for the animals. The elephant ride is another great way to venture deeper into the forest and see animals in their natural habitat. A good place to stay at both places would be Jungle Lodges and Resorts You can have Bangalore as your base and visit many of the spectacular weekend getaways like Nagarhole National Park, Mudumalai, Yercaud, Wayanad, Tirupati to name a few. These places are just a few hours away from Bangalore and you can quickly be transported into a very different peaceful and beautiful world.<b>Author Bio: </b><br> William Nickel traveler and nature enthusiast, experienced in arranging enchanting wildlife tours in India with knowledge on <a href="http://www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com/safari.asp"> elephant safari, tiger safari, jeep safari, trekking India</a>, <a href="http://www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com/">economical <b>accommodation in Mudumalai</b> wildlife sanctuary, <b>Bandipur national park and Masinagudi reserve forest in Nilgiris on the Ooty Mysore Bangalore road</b></a>
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

How To Choose A Tour Operator
Choose a tour operator can be a difficult process. Who do you choose? What questions do you ask? How can you be sure that this tour operator will give you the right vacation at the right price with the right level of service? The answers all come from the right questions. By asking the right questions, you will find out all that you need to know in order to choose the right tour operator. What Is Their Reputation? This is among the first questions you should ask. Of course, being this general may not produce the information you desire, but it is the underlying goal of this line of questioning. A company’s reputation can be identified by how many years it has been in business, how it ranks in crucial areas compared to its competition, and any awards it may have won. These aspects may provide some insight into what kind of company the tour operator in question is, although there is no better review that can be given than a word-of-mouth critique. If you have any friends, family or co-workers who have used a specific tour operator that opinion is a great place to start. If no one you know has used this company, then find out if the tour operator has any affiliations with business organizations that are held in high esteem. Any awards or similar recognition for excellence is another telltale sign of a company that could be a winner and worth looking into further. Other important questions are: Is this company small or large? How does this affect its service on the personal level? How does this affect the choices it offers when it comes to tour packages? The answers to these questions can indicate what kind of experience you will have if you choose to make your plans with this specific tour operator. A small company may work harder to keep you satisfied with personalized service, and a large company may offer more options. Of course, a large company may work just as hard to make sure you are satisfied, and a smaller company may have just the tour package that you are looking for. You just have to do some research to find out. Rest assured, the more time that you take to become informed about the company, the more comfortable you will be when you make your final decision. Check Their History Another aspect you may want to consider is the company’s track record. Has the company been in business for a long period of time? The answer to this important question can be an indication of stability and reliability of the company. If everything else you have found out about the company is adding up, the length of time the company has been in business could be what finalizes your decision. The more questions you ask, the more information you can learn. Is the company well connected? If the company is a partner with other reputable companies then it may be able to offer you special discounts on related services. Also, does this company specifically have a long history of tours like the one you are looking for? An established tradition of tours may have led to improvements to the tour over time. You want to know what they have done, how well they have done it, and how long they have done it for. What Is Their Relationship With Their Customers? This is a big question and a telling aspect about the level of service the company provides. Although price is very important, customer service is important as well. How friendly is the tour operator? Are they available for questions, concerns, and anything else you may need? Can they tell you everything about the tour that you are considering, and can they send you thorough information which pertains to tours and attractions? Remember, the tour operator you choose will work for you. Providing you with all of the details and the level of customer service you require is important to your eventual happiness with the vacation itself. Find out if the tour operator in question has a website or not. If they do have a website, how helpful is it? If you prefer to do most of your communicating online then this can be an important factor. While you want to be able to get someone from customer service on the phone at any time, a website that allows you to do everything you need to do online can be a big plus. You want the website and all other interactions with your tour operator to have a user friendly feel. The act of choosing the right tour operator starts with asking the right questions. You will trust this company with your vacation and travelling arrangements so you want to make sure that they will go above and beyond to make this the tour of your dreams. By learning as much as possible about the company’s reputation, history, and their relationships with their customers, you can make sure that you have chosen wisely. After that you can focus completely on enjoying your tour.Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry and vacation deals, often discussing specific tour operators such as Globus Tours at http://www.flightcentre.ca/tours/globus/.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com

Planning A Family Vacation On A Budget
Family vacations can be a costly endeavor, but they do not have to be. An experienced bargain shopper knows how to research deals and investigate other angles which can be used to reduce the cost of a family vacation. Taking your family on a vacation while not losing an ounce of fun is very possible, especially if you have some help. There are several tactics that you can employ which can help you take a little off some costs here and there. Read on to find out how this can be done. For starters, the more prepared you are the better chance you and your family have to take a great vacation on a fixed budget. The More You Know, the More You Save Planning ahead is the best way to put your family in a position to save money on a vacation. Before you leave for a vacation, you plan for someone to water the plants and pick up your newspaper. Most likely, you also plan ahead and pack enough clothes for every day and night you will be gone as well as clothing options for several different kinds of weather. Many families plan their itinerary or at least have some idea of what they want to do when they arrive at their destination. Considering all of the planning that goes into a vacation, you should plan a budget as well. Shopping around is a well known tactic used by smart shoppers. In order to find the best deals, doing as much research as possible can put your family in a great position to save money on your next vacation. Before you make a final decision on flights, lodging and even rental cars, find out who has the best deals on trips and vacation packages. In the internet age, shopping around is fast and easy. Websites compete for your business and a family looking to book a budget vacation can use this to their advantage. Using the internet to find deals is not the only benefit. Make sure you look into what discounts may be offered. Being flexible about when you leave for vacation or how many stops your plane will make can reap rewards as well. Leaving on days that are less busy can grant you fantastic price reductions as well. How Close Is Too Close? Choosing lodgings that are slightly outside the city or major tourist destinations can save you money while keeping you close to the action. It will also give you the benefit of being close to main attractions during the day and away from the tumult of a downtown area at night. This is an easy way to save money without sacrificing any fun to be had in your vacation destination. Ideally, you want to plan your trip with plenty of time to spare. Although last minute deals are a possibility, planning ahead will give you enough time to conduct research online to find the best deals available. If you wait until it is close to the time you want to go on vacation, your options will be limited, and some deals may no longer be available. The Complete Package? Another thing to remember is to target specialty travel agencies or sites when you are shopping for the best deal. Prices on flights and hotels change often, so the more time that you can commit to finding the best deal the more likely you will be able to find it. When a travel service specializes in a certain type of vacation or just in good deals, this can often lead you to savings. Still, it is a good idea to shop around in order to make sure you are not missing an even better deal for another company. Depending on the specifics of your trip, you may save some money booking your flight separately rather than purchasing a vacation package. The opposite may be a better deal as well. Again, the more time you give yourself the better position you will be in to find the lowest price. For instance, a vacation package may include most or all of the activities and accommodations that you seek at a lower price because of their grouped presentation. Both booking separate flights and full vacation tours have their merits, so you will want to see which will prove to be the most cost effective option for you. Planning a family vacation on a budget is all about conducting research and giving you enough time to locate the best deals. There are many deals available and taking the time necessary as well as putting forth the effort to find them, is the best way to ensure success. Use the internet to shop around and find the family vacation that is perfect for your family and your budget. A budget vacation can be just as good as one which costs much more. Many travelers feel that getting the same vacation for less money makes the vacation an even more enjoyable experience.Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about topics and tips involving the travel industry and vacation deals, often discussing specific subjects such as hotels and cheap flights at http://www.flightcentre.ca/flights/.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com