Travel can be lurking with dangers – but this should not stop the intrepid traveler! Here are some tips to make your travel escapade a fulfilling one!

READ USER REVIEWS:

There are numerous travel review sites nowadays that offer reviews on hotels by hands-on travelers. These serve as useful tools for judging hotels, restaurants, spas, resorts and tourist attractions in general. The things to watch out for are how recent the posts have been – ancient reviews are not of much use, as things change rapidly. Also, keep a watch on the pictures posted by the reviewers- one picture speaks more than a thousand words do – heard of this one, right?

HAVE AN UPDATED STATUS:

Do not forget to update your status on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. This way you can continue to access help and suggestions from friends even when you are on the move. “Where can we get the best tea in Darjeeling?” “Does anyone know where you can shop for cheap handicrafts in Kutch?” You will be amazed at the number of replies that you will get!

KEEP INSURANCE HANDY

Even if travel insurance is non-refundable it is worth buying anyways – insurance covers medical expenses, baggage loss and flight delays substantially. Always choose a reputed insurance company, small time companies or the ones you have never heard of before could pose to be a risk.

Happy travelling!

An important part of a vacation, business trip or travel itinerary is to decide where one will be staying.

Although price is typically the main determining factor there are other features that one should keep in mind while selecting the destination hotel. Here are some pointers:

1. Location: Location comes into play depending upon which reason you are travelling- business or pleasure? If it is for business then you will need a hotel in a convenient vicinity, but if you are a tourist then you will need to drill down onto a hotel that is centrally located. If you need to get away from it all then you could look for something that is situated away from the crowded areas.
2. Parking: If you are travelling by car then a parking space will be very necessary. Things that have to be considered here are if the hotel offers parking facilities then you will have to ascertain how secure the parking area is.
3. Number of stars: The star rating is one of the common ways by which hotels are demarcated. Actually, more the stars, the better the quality of the hotel is. This is a good way to make comparisons between hotels and also determine whether you are looking at something more economical or luxurious.
4. Onsite facilities: Onsite facilities offered by a hotel are also very important – you may be looking out for a pool or a restaurant or you may be looking at other offers – such as a spa or a golf course.

The word “Pol” is a Gujarati word, for enclosures housing individuals along with interconnecting, living spaces. The pol has been an interesting addition to the urban living space. The earliest pol in Ahmedabad is believed to be “Mahurat Pol”, and is now aligned with  the famous Manek Chowk.

There are a number of Pols in the old city of Ahmedabad, and it is an interesting experience to go walking through them. In fact the pols have become so popular that they have become a tourist attraction and also a part of the Heritage Walk that is being organized by the Tourism department.

The pols still exist today because they were built using wood and lime mortar. This proved to make them strong and also, considerably earthquake-resistant, due to the use of the above materials. The facades that were built can still be seen today, adding to the beauty of the entire structures. The pols had entrances, and these always were built of heights that could allow carts and horse carriages to enter them, this made it easy for easy transport of goods and of course, people. A concealed drainage system too was used, this is in use even today. Rainwater harvesting was done at the rooftops, and the water was taken down through the use of copper pipes, into the storage tanks below.

The pols also featured delicately created windows and balconies. In fact these were also exported to European countries and managed to have an impact on architecture in the west.

Are you getting enough of iron in your diet? Iron deficiency is a common ailment in today’s world, so it is good to replenish your daily iron requirements from the following foods:

CHICKPEAS: Along with a good dose of protein chickpeas are fortified with iron too! This makes them a smart option for vegetarians. You can add them to salads and pasta dishes, or even have them the Indian way – in the quintessential “Chhole”! A blend of chickpeas is made to prepare the famous “hummus” too.

FORTIFIED CEREAL: Go in for a fortified version of your daily cereal – packed with iron and other nutrients like zinc, fiber and calcium. Check the labels for the daily recommended value.

PUMPKIN SEEDS: Did you know that the common seeds of the pumpkin are iron-boosters? A cup of whole seeds contain more than 2 mg., so they are an easy way to pump up the iron. Add them to cakes, salads or use them in toppings. A crunchy, nutritious snack!

SOYBEANS: A half cup of these power-packed beans contain over 4 mg of iron, plus they are rich in protein too. Use them in stir-fries or add powdered soybeans to your daily flour, for making nutritious rotis. 

It can be super-stressful if you are travelling with young children and staying in a hotel –check out these tips to help you keep your cool without fretting!

Not that it can’t be done, but it requires just a teeny-weeny bit of planning:

1. THE ROOM SHOULD BE CHECKED THOROUGHLY

A lot of things are left around in room by adults, and these could prove to be unsafe for your child. So give the room a good inspection and remove sharp-edged objects or stuff that can prove to be dangerous.

2. SET UP A SPECIFIC AREA FOR THE BABY

Once you arrive in your room, set up all the necessary things on a table or shelf in the room. This way you will not have to run scuttling for diapers or the feeding bottle in a panic. Wipes, baby lotions, diapers etc. should be kept handy and should be easily accessible.

3. PORTABLE CRIB

If your baby is very small then it would make sense to carry a portable crib. Some hotels have these handy, others don’t. And it is always hygienic to carry your own crib.

4. LOCK THE DOOR

Children always, for some reason fancy hotel locks and latches, so it is best to keep the hotel room door locked from above, to avoid any mishaps.

5. CARRY SLEEPING AIDS

Hotel rooms could be noisy sometimes, with noises coming from the surrounding areas – it is best to bring along some sleeping aids, like a night lamp or a white-noise machine, to help your baby sleep peacefully.