Discover Switzerland this Holiday Season

 Chateau De Chillon (Chillon Castle), Lake Geneva

Picture Source - Flickr , Author - Werner Kratz [Bephep2010]

Two years ago I had written a series of articles over the best destinations a family or a couple could go to and Switzerland came on top of the list. It was no mere co-incidence. Some of the many reasons why it pipped destinations like Italy, France, Mauritius e.t.c. were because it is an all-weather destination, it has a superb ambience (thanks to the Swiss Alps), is serene, has the ability to provide you an out of the world experience, security is not an issue here, the people are broad-minded and it makes your holiday look like a fairy tale.

Panorama of Swiss Countryside
Picture Source - Flickr , Author - Tambako the Jaguar

According to me the opulence and grandeur of a destination cannot be measured by the number of articles which have been written over it but by observing whether those articles have been able to encapsulate, to the fullest, the charm of that destination.. And the answer (in the case of Switzerland) is No..

No matter how much I or any other author writes about Switzerland there will always be something new for you to discover there. And it is this aspect which makes visiting Switzerland an out-of-the-world experience.

 While in Switzerland a ride in the Glacier Express is always recommended as it takes you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.

 Picture Source - Flickr , Author -Kevin Poh [kevinpoh]

In Switzerland the main places which are recommended to tourists and travelers amongst the many options are Lake Geneva, St Moritz, Mürren, Arosa, Interlaken, Zurich, Zermatt e.t.c. Folks in Switzerland Tourism use the sub-heading 'Get Natural' which aptly explains their country and its incredible natural beauty. Newly-wed couples considering a Switzerland Honeymoon should look no further as Swiss Summers are one of the best times to explore the country and feel the real magic of classical Switzerland

Arosa

 Picture Source - Flickr , Author -Kecko

Contrary to the popular perception, Switzerland is not that expensive a place to visit and if you scour the internet you would come across economical packages which wouldn't burn a hole into your pocket. One of the leading travel sites 'Make My Trip' is organising a contest and they are giving away a Free Swiss Trip as a prize. So do participate because if you get lucky you are in for the time of your life !

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Picture of the Week #32 - Rumtek Monastery (Const. 16th Century)

Picture © Rohan A Singh

(Tsurphu Monastery (Const. 1159 AD) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which serves as the traditional seat of the Karmapa) 

(Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth - Gautam Buddha. Path Rarely Taken - The Travel Blog wishes all its wonderful readers a blessed Buddha Purnima)

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Finding Best Airfares during Holiday Season

With the advent of summer, and the vacation season in full swing, families and other folks would be looking forward to travel to international shores for their summer holidays if they are not already there yet. People get in touch with travel agents or start searching the internet for best deals on hotels, sightseeing tours but most-importantly flights. But, it is a well-known fact that during peak travel season flight prices become anything but affordable and people end up shelling-out more money than they usually have to, over airfares.

Some of the popular destinations which families prefer to visit to enjoy their holidays include Malaysia (with destinations like Kuala Lumpur, the Duty-Free Langkawi islands, Malacca e.t.c), Dubai (the home of Burj Khalifa, white sandy beaches and endless shopping), Switzerland (the home of the Alps) amongst others.

So how do we get affordable flights to popular destinations during peak holiday season ? Here are some tips -

1. Looking for airports close to your destination (for example Sharjah is an airport which is only a 30 minute drive from Dubai). Sharjah is the hub of Air Arabia, (one of the best low cost airlines in the Middle East).

2. Keeping an eye over airlines, especially national carriers like Malaysia Airlines,  which provide affordable airfares to destinations (in Malaysia) as compared to other carriers.
3. Being flexible with dates of travel (+/- 2-3 days). There are always chances of you getting affordable airfares for flights taking off during weekdays (Mondays to Thursdays) than weekends
4. Catching a red-eye (night) flight. While flying in odd hours or avoiding rush hours can be a bit tough it could be a lot easier on your wallet
5. Booking in advance (if possible, although i would recommend you to book flights only when your travel plans are confirmed as Air Tickets are usually non-refundable)
6. Managing your Frequent Flier Miles to your benefit
7. Using internet tools for airfare tracking

Travelers and Tourists flying to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi e.t.c. could save on their budget by keeping an eye on the airfares being provided by Air Arabia. (It is considered to be one of the best low-cost travel airlines in the Middle East).

Travelers and Tourists flying to Malaysia should keep a track of airfares being provided by Malaysia Airlines as it not only is the national carrier of Malaysia, it also has one of the largest aircraft fleets in the world (which effectively translates into more seats and hence affordable airfares)

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Picture of the Week #31 - Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah

Picture © Rohan A Singh

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Picture of the Week #30 - Temple inspired by Dravidian (South Indian Style) Architecture

Picture © Rohan A Singh

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Picture of the Week #29 - Footprint of the Buddha

Picture © Rohan A Singh
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Picture of the Week #28 - Sher e Punjab (Tiger of Punjab) Steam Locomotive

 Picture © Rohan A Singh

(Sher e Punjab was the last steam engine to run regular services, on the vast broad gauge network of the Indian Railways, until the year 1995 AD)

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