Travel – Page 9 – Frogpondvillage

How To Make Hassle-Free Travel Plans To The US With ESTA?

Did you ever imagine flying yourself to the U.S. without a visa? Stunned? Yes, it could really happen to you when you take a step forward to apply for your ESTA visa under the VWP or Visa Waiver Program, a smart initiative by the U.S. Government for your smooth takes off for your dreamland. Why even crowding yourself in a shoulder rubbing queue of the sweaty visa applicants when everything can happen in just a matter of a few minutes with a few clicks only?

Get ready to deck up your plans for a U.S. visit uninterrupted, with your ESTA that you could even apply sitting right from your living space. But you should know when to apply for ESTA to avoid any unexpected procrastination over your U.S. itineraries. Read more of this article for some tips to cut out the wide swath of hassle and catch your U.S. flight as soon as possible.

What is ESTA

Planning for a flight to the U.S. in a jiffy? Nothing could sort it any better or sooner other than the ESTA permit that you could grab in minutes. ESTA is your one-stop online authorisation to fly to the U.S. for the next 2 years without a speed knock if you belong to a country that falls under the VWP. With ESTA, you can always plan for a hassle free approval for your U.S. flights over a very short notice.

What next

Are you ready? Just get off the couch and get into the game with your system online. The steps are quite simple and end-user friendly. Just go to the original ESTA website, fill up the form and your ESTA visa will be just a few clicks away. Make sure you put all the correct information as this web-centric interface takes a screening of your biographic information to verify and cross-verify your readiness to board a flight to the United States. Having said that, the final decision for your U.S. landing rests with the U.S. government only. If you don’t know already when to apply for ESTA, let me tell you the best time to apply for it is just before boarding your flights. The best time is at least 72 hrs before your flight takes off.

The final bell

So, you have done a real good job! Sit, relax and expect the approval to arrive your way in less than 30 minutes, unless an exception occurs. Remember, this authorisation holds some restrictions as well. For example, you can’t make any of your U.S. stays more than 90 days at a stretch.

In a nutshell, ESTA is the easiest way to make sure that your U.S. travel plans work with zero hassle. There is no paperwork, no lines, no waiting and no extra payments. Only make sure that you retrieve your application number from the website post your application and check the status or review your ESTA application online to make the process more flawless and faster.

Moving in Shanghai, Hotel Tips

It is safe to say that you are a lavish inn hoping to extend your business in the Chinese market? In the event that that is the situation, I am almost certain you will incredibly value this present article’s substance managing distinctive devices you can use to advance your different star inn to draw in more Chinese clients.

LET’S Begin FIRST WITH AN Outline OF THE CHINESE Lodging Business sector

From 2010 to 2015, the lodging business in China has been developing at around 9% every year. The Chinese neighborliness showcase which created US$44 billion of income in 2013, was in 2015 up to US$53.2 billion as indicated by Ibisworld. An examination performed by McKinsey expressed that in 2013, there were 2.5 million inn rooms all over China. In contrast with other more develop advertises in Europe or the US for instance, China has a truly low lodging infiltration with around 4 spaces for 1,000 individuals. By 2023, these figures are required to achieve US$100 billion, 6.3 million rooms and 8 rooms for each 1000 capita.

The inn business in China has very profit by the 2010 Shanghai Expo: Remote vacationers and Chinese originating from other Chinese urban areas.

Concerning lavish lodgings, as indicated by China Web Watch, they are chiefly situated in enormous and medium measured Chinese urban areas, for example, Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen. Additionally, 6 out of 10 lavish lodgings Chinese visitors are men who used to gain a normal pay of 5,000 – 10,000 RMB.

A Decent Site (IN CHINESE)

With in excess of 660 million web clients in China, having an online nearness keeping in mind the end goal to pull in potential Chinese visitors for your inn is an unquestionable requirement have. The most straightforward approach to construct an online nearness is to possess a site, particularly regarding a few stages in the event that you choose to make a site starting with no outside help. Be that as it may, no site can fit in the room. It should exhibit few highlights that will significantly engage the Chinese top of the line client:

A decent “vibe and-touch” site

A crisp yet tasteful plan

A site interpreted in Chinese (China positions 47th/100 in EF English Capability list)

Amazing pictures and recordings to stress mark narrating

Important substance about your administrations and valuable data for the Chinese guests

An implicit web based booking structure to empower the Chinese guests to straightforwardly book on your site

Tributes and criticisms from fulfilled clients (China’s assertion of-mouth is getting more grounded and more grounded, along these lines it is shrewd to facilitate the new Chinese clients’ questions)

The Benefits of Staying in Hostels Rather Than Hotels

If you wish to go travelling as a backpacker, you may have considered using hostels rather than hotels. There are many benefits of staying in a hostel if you think you can share a room with other people you may not know. If you are travelling with someone else, staying in a hostel may be an even easier choice as you will not be alone. Here are just a few benefits of staying in a hostel rather than hotels whilst travelling.

Cheaper

The main benefit and the most obvious is that hostels can work out a lot cheaper than hotels even when booking well in advance. When travelling, this isn’t always an option and most of the time you can pay for a hotel room to only be in it to sleep. If you are going to be travelling to a few places, save as much money as you can for experiences rather than where you rest your head at night. You will remember memories, not where you slept.

Meeting Others

Hostels are a great way to meet like-minded travellers and you may make a few friends who can show you the best spots or who are visiting the same places you are. It is always great to make friends whilst travelling, as it can save you from being alone and you may make a friend for life! Exploring a new city with a new person can bring you close very quickly and you may find you have more fun. This can increase your confidence and open you up to new experiences; perhaps you wanted to try something, but you just needed a push from your new friends to go and do it. Many hostels are close to bars or have game rooms to meet others and have a chat.

Central Locations

If you want to be in the heart of the action, many hostels are right in the centre or very close, for a fraction of the price. Not only does this save on hotels, but also transport after a night out or if you don’t want to walk home alone in a new city. Many hostels are a lot nicer than you may think and there are many updated hostels that are just as nice as any hotel, such as the luxury hostel Bangkok. With hostels becoming more and more popular in backpacking destinations, there are many new hostels being opened constantly, therefore there has never been a better choice of central location hostels.

When staying in a hostel in any country, it is best to check online first for reviews and ensure you do not leave any valuables in the room. Although staying in a room with people you do not know is a new experience, you may find it beneficial in boosting your confidence and you may feel safer than sleeping in a hotel room alone. There are many backpackers who are experiencing the same emotions as you, so talk to others and you will soon learn to love the hostel experience.

Top 3 Destinations to Visit in 2018

If you want to know the best places to visit in 2018, then this article was written with you in mind. Our experts were able to choose the top destinations worth visiting in the coming months.

So, without further ado, here are the top 3 places worth visiting in 2018 and our reasons why.

Italy

This country has some of the most beautiful architecture, delicious cuisine, incredible art and tasty wine. It is a place where many people in this world would like to visit. Rome is always beautiful whenever you visit regardless of the time of the year.

Walk the streets and get a little lost as you never know the kind of views you may find. Visit Florence and take in the skyline views such as this one from a church above Florence. Florence is home to art and history buffs mainly because of the Uffizi Gallery which has some of the most spectacular art from the Italian Renaissance.

See Michelangelo’s Statue of David at Galleria del Accademia di Firenze and the Duomo Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s famous dome. And since the whole city of Rome is a work of art, you will not have to visit a gallery or museum to soak in the glory of the Italian Renaissance.

If you like charming details, then I can assure you that you will just love fountains that are intricately designed, cobblestone streets, statues on all corners and rickety thatched rooftops and colorful shutters of homes.

Borneo, Malaysia

Borneo is just a mysterious and incredible country, where things go bump during the night and it is a rare and exotic creature. Rainforests drenched in mist, craggy mountains, winding wide rivers and relaxing times are all waiting for you and are just a click away with Borneo Dream.

Many people consider Borneo a place worth visiting mainly because of the fact that it has a natural beauty that will amaze you including those beautiful orange monkeys known as the Orangutans.

The River Kinabatangan in Sandakan which is the second longest river in Malaysia and flows from the southwest mountains to the Sulu Sea is a place worth visiting for its bustling wildlife. While a boat ride will see you picking out rare birds, gibbons, rhino, proboscis monkeys and so on, the reason as to why they are all so visible is quite sad.

Sepilok Jungle Resort is a large accommodation that sprawls the jungle and weaves around the natural landscape. Walk over bridges and high walkways which will take you above green ponds. In addition, the Resort has a refreshing pool that will provide relief from the scorching midday heat.

Chile

Brazil was the best destination to visit in 2017 but in 2018, Chile takes the number one spot of the places to visit. Chile, which is the most overlooked wonderland in South America, is becoming the most desirable tourist destination. In fact, it picked up last year’s World Travel Awards.

Why? This is due to the fact that it is 2,650 miles long, yet never more than 150 miles wide and has a lot to offer including biodiversity, ecosystems and topographies. Chile has 36 national parks, some of the most extreme environments on this planet, including deserts, fjords, sub-polar islands and so on.

It also has footpaths, roads and the infrastructure required to make a place easy to access. Its capital has newly built boutique hotels with Magnolia and Luciano K being the latest. You can also get fine dining in the capital, including 4 restaurants in the popular San Pellegrino Top 50 ranking for 2016.

Borago which took the 4th position was above any other in Buenos Aires. The south of Napa is Chile’s most developed place for wine tourism. The Maule valley welcomes visitors with a beautiful new 5 room boutique hotel in Casa Bouchon.

Now that we have sort out the urban pleasures, why don’t we head for the extremes such as the Atacama Desert and Patagonia? In the Atacama Desert found in the north, you will see and enjoy hot air balloon flights over the salt lakes while at Patagonia, escapists can be able to enjoy a slow drive along the Southern Highway (always a lonely highway) along Aysen and spend the night at Parque Patagonia which is the least crowded, newest and protected area in Chile.

Cycling Beyond Leisure

Cycling is a desirable thing in many countries. If you think that cycling is only for leisure then you may have gone wrong. With many cities around the globe flocked with traffic congestion, it is good to lay safe. Use of bikes has an upper hand in this same regard. Bikes are both user and environmental friendly. Their design is simple and you can always enjoy transacting with them be it for leisure, sports or as a mean of transport.

It is good to admit that bicycling is an old tradition. However, with many companies specializing in their production, you can rest assured that style and design have their way in modern bikes. The Danish bike is one of the many such bikes. Craving for class, simplicity, or a multipurpose bike then you may have found it.

These bikes serve a wide range of applications. They are for both young and the old. Besides having a typical design, they are also very popular. This is a sure proof of why it quite deserves to get one. As compared to many other types of bikes Danish bike also comes in many forms or rather a type. These forms are usually associated with the functionality of the bike. The different functionalities for which it is built also take into consideration, various users.

Struggling with what type of bike to choose from to realize your aim or meet your needs should not be a bother. Look at some reputable forms of the bike. A beach cruiser is an exceptional type more of a human extension that you can opt for when moving from one point to another especially if working in the city. With a curved frame, wide tires and handlebar together with a soft seat all make the bike simple in its design. It also enjoys other enormous features in its design that makes you ride in style.

Another luxurious type is the city cruiser. It is both comfortable and elegant bike. Foot breaks and its three or seven gears are among the striking specialties. An extension of the city cruiser is the city lady cruiser that has its frame curved to allow female gender to cycle more easily. This is not different from the city cruiser. They share same features but differ in functionality.

Even though the Danish bike is simple in its making it is not just a bike. The bike also has some stunning exceptions that have met the expectations of modern design that you all want. They have a chain protector with clean lines that curve around the chain discretely. The protector is visually appealing with minimal interruptions.

The bike is also equipped with a high-quality leather seat. In extension, the leather also has a place in the design of the handlebars to give the cyclist a comfortable grip. Also of equal note in this type of bike is that it is hand built. With this hand-built nature, it is comfortable to assume that all cyclist heights are put into consideration keenly during the making.

As we all know in design, safety is an important consideration to make. The emphasis of the same is notable in the making of the bike. It is light and made with strong frames to endure tough times. In spite of all this, safety begins with you. When doing your cycling it is good to be cautious and vigilant about everything.

Trailing around with a bike feels stylish but integrating with other means of transport is also important in allowing pace for all persons. However, whether you are for leisure or beyond it is good to seek maintenance of your bike. This makes it remain outstanding at all times.

Why Should You Book A Limo Rather Than A Local Taxi?

You should never book a local taxi when you are landing at an airport. There are various reasons why you should not do it. First of all, booking a local taxi means you are not pre-booking them. You are leaving it too late and if you are landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, you have to wait in a long queue to get one as there is always a huge traffic. Furthermore, if the driver turns out to be wicked, he can charge you excessive money once he starts the ride and you can be subjected to harassment and much more. That is why you need to book a limo from Newark Airport to Princeton NJ as it is the most reliable and safest means of transportation available.

Security – The personal security is the biggest concern when you land in a place where you have not been before or you hardly know well. You should choose a trusted and reliable transportation service company like ABC Taxi Limo to pre-book a limo from Newark airport to Princeton NJ or any other part. Therefore, you do not have to take any tension after landing as the driver will be present to receive you and guide you to the place where he has parked the limo. Furthermore, the drivers are very user-friendly and highly experienced who will make you feel like home and take you to your destination in the safest and most comfortable ride.

Comfort and Transparency – You can choose any vehicle such as a limo, minivan, or taxi as per your budget, comfort requirement, and number of your companions. The rates are affordable for all vehicles. The prices are fixed and you will know it beforehand before you can book. The prices are also displayed on the website with all inclusive charges no that it is absolutely transparent and convenient. The interior of the vehicles is luxurious for providing ultimate comfort. Your companions will be super impressed with your arrangement and you can have a gala time while traveling to your destination. There are music system, video players, AC, heater, cozy seat cum bed and whatnot.

You can also cancel the booking at any point and all the latest technology and gadgets are available to the drivers to take you to the destination swiftly. You can also call the customer support to arrange a custom plan for yourself such as visiting landmarks on the way and halting midways as per your requirements.

A Cheaper Way To Experience The Luxury Of A Yacht

Yachts are often compare to boats but only bigger in size. What we need to know yachts, though looking like a big version of the boat is loaded with many more facilities compared to it and is much more in cost. Yachts have always been linked with the tag of royalty, i.e., yachts are often so costly that they can be afforded only by people of the royal class. Yachts are power driven motorboats that are used for the different purposes such as travelling or sports. A Yacht is very similar to a boat but is definitely much more advanced than the former.

The using purposes of a yacht differ on the basis of its kind. Small yachts ranging from 30-50 ft are motor driven and are used for racing in a sports activity. The history of yachts Yachts are believed to have been first used by the Dutch Navy long back in time as a means of a bigger boat. But yachts in its real term is said to have been used by Charles II as his personal vessel. It represented his royal status. We already are aware with the fact that yachts are basically used as a sign of royalty and for other purposes such as sports activity, celebration purposes and for travelling.

There are number of types of yachts depending upon their size and purpose. Yachts are usually believed to be of great size ranging from 30-100 ft. However, this is not the limitations of their size. A yacht can extend up to 200 ft and more.

Yachts and its types

Skylounge- Skylounges are large size yachts that have a sky view space along with extra lodging spaces and lounge. It also consists of a viewing spot.
Sedan Bridge- Sedan Bridge is very similar to Skylounges but only smaller in size.
Express Cruiser- this types of yachts only have a single deck and single living space.
Megayachts- these are the biggest type of yachts present and can stretch up to 200ft and more. These are multi-loaded with facilities such as the cockpit, Skylounge, additional living spaces, and all other kinds of facilities present in a luxury yacht.

How do you buy a yacht?

It is almost impossible for an economical person to purchase a firsthand yacht as it costs too much. However often, people who own a yacht tend to sell it at a later date when the yacht either becomes less attractive or outdated. These yachts for sale come at a much cheaper price and are readily available for anyone interested. Purchasing a yacht is not a choice of a novice as it requires detailed inspection and the help of professional experts. If you’re looking to purchase a second hand yacht, you can look up ‘yachts for sale’ on Google and get a list of available yachts for sale. It is still recommended that you take assistance from a professional before finalizing the deal to avoid regretting your decision later.

The Changing Face of the Indian Railways

The Indian Railways were conceptualized in 1832 at Madras. India’s first train, the Red Hill Railway ran from the Red Hills to the Chintadripet Bridge, back in 1837. The first passenger train, however, ran only in 1853 between BoriBunder located in Mumbai and Thane. It travelled a total distance of 34 kilometres and carried 400 people, spread across 14 carriages and was hauled by three locomotives. It was a glorious day. Since then, the Indian Railways has come a long way.

Presently, more than thirteen 13000 trains run daily. There are 7349 train stations scattered across the country. Another 9200 freight trains run every day, transporting goods and other commodities. Over 120000 kilometres of tracks have been laid out, making it the 4th largest railway network in the world. Over the year starting from March 2017 to March 2018, it carried an unprecedented 8.26 billion passengers.

Our forefathers, who had the vision to build this network across the country, way back in 1832, could not have dreamt of the volume that the Indian Railways would transport every day. Even though a significant amount of progress has been made, there is still a long way to go.

Some proposed plans and advancements:

Hyperloop: A Hyperloop system has been proposed between Mumbai and Pune. The route has been surveyed in detail, and the conclusion is that it is feasible. Implementing such a system will reduce the travelling time from about 3 hours currently to a mind-blowing 14 minutes. It can carry about 10000 passengers per hour. With over 3 lakh people commuting between the two cities every day in over 1.1 lakh vehicles, the project aims to reduce the traffic. It will prove to be a godsend for those who travel on this highway every day.

Technology: The advent of technology in the Railways has been hailed as one of the best initiatives taken up. Options such as online ticket booking, irctc train enquiry between two stations, and running status of trains have completely changed the dynamics. Previously, buying tickets used to be an exhausting endeavour. Standing in the long queues, early in the morning to book a train for a month in the future was the norm. Nowadays, you can even book a ticket for a train ticket on the next day from the comfort of your home.

The Indian Railways in collaboration with Google has made over 400 stations across the country Wi-Fi-enabled. CCTV cameras are being installed in some of the trains from 2017 onwards. By the end of 2018, over 963 stations will be monitored through CCTV cameras.

Fuel and Power: The Indian Railways, in an attempt to harness renewable sources of energy, have introduced rooftop solar electricity. As solar energy becomes more accessible, efficient and affordable, solar power has the potential to completely replace traditional sources.

All stations will have LED lighting by March 2018, in order to reduce the electricity cost.

Such steps are sure to ensure a more seamless experience for the passengers. With all the plans that have been laid out, the Indian Railways are sure to make progress.

Top Tips for Travelling with Kids

Going on holiday with your children may sound like a mission at first. Yet, with more practice you may become a well-seasoned in travelling parent. If not, don’t worry. Whether you’re own children, your nieces or nephews or your friends kids – when you bring kids on holiday it’s changed everything. When I started fostering with a private foster agency 2 years ago, I learned quickly that I needed to adjust my travel plans. I understand it can be very overwhelming, so here are some tops tips for travelling with your kids!

Staying organised

This may sound like a typical advice, and there is nothing more worse than realising your child’s passport is out of date when you have reached the airport. So, stay ahead by checking whether all your family member’s passport dates are up for renewal. Leave at least 4 weeks for the renewal process.

Other tasks includes checking the climate of where you’re travelling to, and whether you have packed the right clothes for your children. Also, it helps to be clear with your partner on who is responsible for which bags before the trip to avoid any stressful arguments. Remember it’s okay to ask for help from family member or child carer with your kids too.

Keeping your kids occupied

It may be hard to fit some of your kids’ favourite toys into the luggage. How about trying some child friendly apps to keep them busy on the plane, or even a child friendly camera to allow them a different perception of their surroundings.

These photos may surprise you on what your child of at that age, and they will be a great memory to look back on. Give them a journal as well to write in, and to keep their thoughts stimulated. Try not to give your children sweets otherwise you may have to deal with their sugar rushes!

Acquiring a child locator

As a parent, we are prone to mindless panic when our child has wandered off too far out of sight. Perhaps, it is worth buying a child locator in case they are beyond your pre-set boundaries and track their location so you know where they are at all times.

Relax

You are on holiday. It is no fun playing the bad cop all the time. Loosen up with the rules, take your time, and allow your children some freedom to explore as it is their holiday too. That way everyone gets to enjoy themselves. Try allowing your children to pick some activities for the itinerary and you never know what new experiences you may have as a result!

Can Airbnb Split Payment Increase the Booking on Your Listing?

Airbnb split payment is simplifying guest’s experience without having to get involved in embarrassing payment conversation between friends.

Do you hesitate to ask your friend to go Dutch on a bill? Have you found yourself tongue-tied on a date while splitting the bill?

Airbnb has recently introduced a system that takes the awkwardness out of fun-lodging.

Now, you can book a room on Airbnb and have the total fee split among you travel buddies without having to put your foot in your mouth. By using the new split-payment system, you can book a listing on Airbnb and have it equally paid by your travel partners.

It is as simple as a snap of a finger, all you need to do is book the listing that you like. Once you select a listing, Airbnb split payment grants you with 72 hours to settle the bill amongst your friends. At the end of three days, if all your travel partners including you make the payment, your dates are locked. However, the maximum number of people that the payment can be divided into is 16.

Alternatively, if none of your partners pay, Airbnb split payment does not instantly cancel the booking but offers a maximum 24 hours stretch for you to pay the whole amount. So the crucial check-in dates are not lost and are still available if you choose to confirm the reservation.

Therefore, instead of you having to seek each buddy to pay for the reservation, Airbnb draws an invoice and split the cost equally.

Now if you have a listing on Airbnb, which is quite a privacy, or you are an Airbnb expert, this new payment system can mean a lot of new bookings to you.

Payments amount can be split equally or as a proportion of your choice

By default, Airbnb split payment the total amount equally amongst the number of companions. However, it does offer an option to adjust the payment differently. For instance, if one of the couples decides to pay more in comparison to the other then such a partner may double their payment.
This happens for instance when you have an apartment with different rooms.

An alternative to third party booker

In order to cater to the gaping demand by corporate travelers, Airbnb also started to offer a different variation of payment option. Under this system, a designated person can book on behalf of someone else. Such person is called Booker within Airbnb platform.

A booker is the point of contact at the initial stages of a reservation namely; reservation request, introduction, and payment for the reservation. Once this is complete, the onus shifts to the person on whose behalf the listing has been reserved also known as a guest.

At this point, booker and guest join the message room with the host. Therefore creating a three-way communication channel.

Alternatively, if you’re a host, you’ll have the titles ‘booked by’ and ‘booked for’ differently appear in your chat interface linked to the concerned listing. This makes management of reservation by the corporation as easy as pie.

However, this option was stopped in some countries due to the fact that Airbnb claims its platform is based on trust and people booking on the behalf of someone else will break the trust circle.

On the other hand business travel it is still available, therefore, for instance, a manager assistant can book for his manager, paying with the company credit card.

Airbnb users have doubled since the launch of split payment settlement

Considering the stats, split payment option has been a successful move for Airbnb. At the beta stage, this payment settlement system drove new users to the platform. Out of the 30% of booking that used split payment, there were tens and hundreds of new users who joined the platform.

Being the consumer-centric brand Airbnb is, its founder Brian Chesky instantly incorporated the split-payment because of a tweet exchange he had with one of Airbnb user. In one of his super popular tweet dated December 26th, 2016, Brian Chesky asked this question to his followers.

With only less than a year after this tweet, Airbnb launched split payment that made cost-sharing convenient and graceful.

What was the secret sauce in making split payment a reality in 11 months?

In order to speed up the developmental process of split payment, Airbnb made a major acquisition in February 2017. Tilt, a social payment start-up app that specialized in peer-to-peer money transfer and it was acquired by Airbnb. Investors at Tilt were grateful and counted their blessings which came in the form of unexpectedly large-sum of acquisition money.

What further sweetened the deal was money because tens of millions of dollar were paid only to ensure employee retention. From the onset of this acquisition, it was clear that Airbnb split payment was headed for the kill. Like most acquisition where the team is replaced, existing team was retained. Departments were operational and functional as if it were before the acquisition.

In the end, the strategy seems to have paid off.

What are the implications for hosts?

Basically, Airbnb hosts, who have to deal with this group buy the system they have a booking left on hold for a longer period than the 24 hours, as it happens for singular booking. On the other hand, it may bring many advantages to property owners who have big apartments or expensive one. To sum up this split payment on option on Airbnb can definitely increase the sum of the money exchanged in every transaction within the platform.

It seems Airbnb has tons of ace up its sleeve, let’s see what’s next?

Truly, Airbnb is a company that exploded into fast-track growth because of its aggressive drive. It turned over new leaves on its track, and also left no stones unturned when it came to innovation. This millennial-focused start-up never failed to up the ante while causing disruption.

Category: Travel