Travel tips

© David Noton Photography / Alamy A recent study by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Corporation suggests there might actually be an optimal time to buy airplane tickets. Travelers often swap theories on the right—and wrong—time to book a flight. We've heard it all: The lowest fares are on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. ET. (No, Wednesdays at 1 a.m.!) You need to book at least two months before you fly. (No, you should look for a deal and fly at the last minute!) Websites li ...

Given our country’s vast, stunning landscapes, it has been extremely hard to limit a list of its best treks to just 10. To make this easier, I based my selection on three criteria. First, the views. A trek should have great views every day and not just on one or two days. Next was variety. A trek needs to spring surprises in scenery and settings every other moment. Finally, the trek must be accessible and not too physically demanding, doable by the average trekker. So here, from 10 to o ...

Packing is a very popular travel topic, so of course there's a lot of packing advice floating around on the Internet—some good, some not so good. The bulk of these expert packing tips help us master the art of traveling light. But not all tips are created equal. Want to avoid hobbling through the streets with a fat suitcase filled with superfluous garbage? Here are five of the most common packing "tips" that you can safely ignore. Photo: Westend61/Getty Images The B ...

Ronnie Kaufman/Larry Hirshowitz/Getty Apparently gender affects destination choice. If you think you know how gender roles play out on the road, think again. Hitlist, the fare search site that got its start as the Tinder of travel—swipe right for a destination you want to visit; swipe left for one you'd rather reject—has just released data on what separates female travelers from their male counterparts. What they found after analyzing data from 75,000 travelers: gender ...

Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Photo:123Rf Minimise paperwork and planning with our guide to the countries where you no longer need to apply for a visa in advance. A world in which travellers can roam freely without the headache or expense of tourist visa applications may seem like a distant dream for Indian passport-holders. But visa-free travel isn't impossible. Here’s our guide to the countries that do not currently require an advance, in-person visa application for Indians&mdas ...

I don't know about you, but I don't travel as light as I used to. Between my books, magazines, phone, iPad, and a rat's nest of chargers, cords, and accessories, preparing for a flight is no longer a simple process. Guys, a good backpack or shoulder bag is a must—something that fits all your gear and looks halfway decent while you're carting it around the airport. Sure, you could borrow your nephew's hand-me-down Jansport, but you're a classy adult male, right? T ...

I recently flew for 21 hours from Boston to Tokyo. And I held up surprisingly well—even while sitting in coach. Some careful planning was required, so I documented everything I did. What techniques succeeded? What prep work failed? How can you similarly endure? Read on for my 10 tips for tolerating a long-haul flight, wherever your travels may take you.  Photo: Getty Images/Image Source Know your plane I'm always a bit confounded when someone says, "I was so b ...

India varies greatly between its 29 states. Yet there are some things you’ll discover no matter where you are or how long you stay in the vast Subcontinent. If you’ve been to India at least once, you’ll relate to a few of these lessons we’ve learned over the years… 1. The street food is incredible For 50 cents you can fill up on any number of delectable dishes, from masala dosa (rice pancake with chutney and daal) to pav bhaji (veg curry in a soft bread r ...

As any passenger preferring the window seat knows, looking at a destination from above can be the most rewarding way to experience it. That’s especially true for travelers flying into airports built on tropical islands, near active volcanoes, or in the middle of bustling cities. To that end, private jet charter PrivateFly asked a panel of judges (myself included) and more than 3,000 fliers to vote for airports with the most scenic landings in its Airport Approaches Poll 2015. Out of 147 ...

A city can't always speak for itself, but its locals can. Tokyo may be best known as a frenetic, uber-modern super city, but the people who live there want you to know it for more than that. Locals' tender, grounded pride hints at Tokyo's true depth—and its endless opportunities for surprising discovery. From navigation advice to why you should forget the movie Lost in Translation, here's what locals want you to know about Tokyo. Photo: Moyan Brenn via flickr/CC Attr ...

Booking a cruise for the first time? Here are nine rookie travel mistakes to avoid smooth sailling. Packing oversized suitcases Standard suitcases and duffel bags can be stowed under the beds, but oversized suitcases are too thick to fit there, or in slim closets. You’ll have no place to stow them except out in the open. moodboard / Alamy Not prebooking special shore excursions If you know you really want to do the ship’s flightseeing excursion over the Menden ...

Submerged chapels and unexplored caves—there’s plenty to discover, if you know where to look. Long Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Photo: Neelima Vallangi In a country as vast, geographically diverse, and steeped in legend as India, every place has a story to tell. Around every corner lurks a ruined fort to explore, a waterfall to swim in, a tiny eatery that serves extraordinary food. Here are some of our finds. Floating Chapel Shettihalli, Karnataka Shett ...

Tokyo's fabled Tsukiji Fish Market is among the city's most popular tourist destinations, but the frenetic pace of the inner market and the massive sprawl of the outer market often leave visitors with a lot of questions. Here are eight things to know about Tsukiji that will not only significantly boost your chances of survival but will make any visit better (and more delicious). Inner-market tip: Obey the rules As you make your way from the street toward the inner market, you m ...

Lots of globetrotters and backpackers have journeyed to the fertile and culturally rich Southeast Asia. Known for its beautiful beaches, mesmerizing historical sights and a touch of adventurousness, this comparatively inexpensive travel destination baits thousands amongst thousands of people every year with landmarks like Angkor Wat, Cambodia; the city of Bangkok, Thailand; and the scenic views of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. As much as we highly recommend you visit these places, the prudent travele ...

From Myanmar to Vietnam, Southeast Asia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for experienced travelers and those looking for a more adventurous experience. No matter your reason for wanting to explore these culturally significant destinations, here are a few key tips worth keeping in mind. 1. Learn how to layer It can get very hot in Southeast Asia. Steamy daytime temps mean you'll want a fresh change of clothes quite often, but nights can be much cooler. Lots of light l ...

You’ve just landed in Thailand, the most adulterous country in the whole world. And, while you've been following these top 10 Thai Instagrams leading up to your trip and have some semblance of a plan, you're still not sure what exactly to hit while you're there. Well, allow us to make your planning a little easier with these 12 things you gotta do in Thailand that do not involve recreating your favorite scenes from The Beach. Longboat on the beach / Krabi. Photo by Mi ...

Get ready to enjoy your hot dog in peace No trip is smooth sailing all the time. There are jellyfish stings. Bad weather. Bad moods. But with a few adjustments—some logistical, some attitudinal—you can at least set course in the right direction. Five experts weigh in on how to keep the storm clouds at bay. Photo by Mikkel Vang 1. Make sacrifices My daughter, 29, and I travel a lot together. I finally figured how to make the most of it with less conflict: Do what you h ...

Vietnam is a wonderful country to visit with the entire family. With some planning, your family will savour the adventures and embrace the culture that Vietnam has to offer. Many families have travelled to Vietnam and loved it. Here are some tips to help you plan your vacation. 1. Ensure your travel documents are up to date. Check to see if you require a Visa to visit Vietnam, and that your passport is up to date. 2. Use local currency. While some vendors may quote in US dollars, ...

We western people are so attracted to indigenous and exotic cultures, that when we face them in reality, we are often shocked, disappointed or even disgusted by what we experience. This is not because we are spoiled and cannot stand dirty streets, smelly food and “strange” rules where we are not allowed to wear whatever we want or speak whenever we wish. We are, however, more surprised to realise, that the “west” has an incredible impact on the “east”…a ...

Many misconceptions about safaris turn out to be just that. Here’s how to stop worrying...and (finally) book that great African adventure. Maybe you considered it too expensive, too time-consuming, too difficult to plan...a once-in-a-lifetime trip that you kept putting off until, well, never. But the truth is that there’s never been a better or easier moment to take a safari. Here are six of the biggest myths about safaris, debunked. MYTH #1: YOU NEED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO ...

Everybody likes to get some luxury vacation. Enjoy every 5 stars amenities and services. But the fact is not all of us have enough money to get all the luxury things. Most of us has limited budget to spend on vacation. The fact is how to plan a cheap vacation or no vacation at all. The term cheap vacation is not meaning you can't have some fun on your vacation. It just means that you have to smarter with your money. Use your money wisely. Get a simple life on your vacation. These are some ti ...

We've got a secret the rental car companies would prefer you didn't know. This won’t come as news to commuters and frequent road trippers, but drivers are encountering more and more toll roads, as well as higher and higher tolls on the existing ones. The latest example is I-10 in Texas, where plans called for the maximum toll during peak travel hours to shoot from $7 to $10 as of May 30. [UPDATE: At the last minute, the planned road toll price hike on I-10 was suspended, though ...

Since I’ll be going to Ho Chi Minh City in October for vacation, I thought I would find some interesting facts about the city that I hope you enjoy as well. See more Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) travel guide at here. With the help of explorefacts.net and the blog Odysen, I found 24 facts that you might find useful if you travel around Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchi ...