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How To Travel To Thailand in 2022 - iCynosure

Thailand has evolved to become one of South East Asia’s most popular tourist destinations for its beautiful white sand beaches, thrilling water sports, an array of shopping options and exciting nightlife. And add to these amazing features; low-cost airfare, inexpensive accommodation and even a huge selection of Indian food chains make Thailand a suitable getaway for just about anyone.

Over the years, I have travelled to Thailand for quick time off, a family holiday or a solo sporting trip and just early this summer we travelled to Thailand for a kiddie trip, an entire article coming up on it in a couple of days.

One thing that I've noticed is that the Thai Government has time and again tried making small but meaningful alterations to travel guidelines to make it convenient for travellers from across the world. However in the wake of the pandemic when we travelled to Thailand, I received a lot of queries so here's a quick update on the new guidelines to travel to Thailand in 2022:

Step 1 – Check Travel Eligibility

Thailand is open to travellers, however, it is a must to check your travel eligibility to the nation so that you can apply for the appropriate visa and understand the new Test and Go, Sandbox and Quarantine programs.

Step 2 – Apply for the Visa

Thailand offers visas by way of visa exemptions, tourist visas or special tourist visas with an option for extension, and also visas on arrival. Ensure you check with your travel agent or Visa Services to begin your journey fuss-free.

Step 3 – Confirm the Trip

The three current requirements for a trip to Thailand especially for a tourist visa are confirmed flight reservations, hotel reservations and proof of financial means for the duration of the stay in Thailand.

Step 4 – Insure the Trip

You probably never think about this, until it’s mandatory. However, seasoned travellers will reiterate that insurance is one of the most important, cost-effective things you’ll need during your trip. Insurance not only covers travellers against unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances but also covers:

~ loss of belongings, including loss of passport

~ medical expenses and emergencies.

~ minor mishaps re delays or overbooking

~ coverage for short-term adventure sports

~ unplanned situations re political unrest or legal aid

Step 5 – Buy a Forex Money Card

The money you set aside for Thailand never seems enough, and though you may have cash in hand and a credit or debit card, the advantage of a forex card is unparalleled. Forex cards allow withdrawals and use in local currency that is devoid of expenses of exchange rate and international charges.

Now that you have a document checklist, start putting your travel itinerary together.

Until next time,

~ Heena

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Planning on visiting the United States of America? Then here are the top things to do while in the country and and a few things to keep in mind while planning the trip.

10 Things to do in the USA for Indian Travellers - www.iCynosure.in

Image by Armelion from Pixabay

Requirements for a tourist visa for the USA from India
Keep the following things in mind when you apply for a Tourist Visa for USA from India.

» To holiday in the USA, one requires a B-1/B-2 visa which is approximately INR 10880.

» The visa can be applied for by filling the DS-160 via the USA Consular Electronic Application Centre website.
» Have valid IDs like the Indian Passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card and Voter ID card.
» Have no criminal background or history in crimes of any sort.

Fall in love with the City of Dreams
New York City - the financial and art capital of the world is a must-visit destination in the US, from Wall Street to Broadway, to the iconic Statue of Liberty to Times Square. NYC has a splendid variety of options for Indian travellers to explore and cherish.

Enjoy the charming city of Chicago from the elevated rail lines
After New York, Chicago is one of the busiest cities in the USA for its striking architecture, lakes, parks, and plentiful tourist attractions. Hop on the train or get the city pass to explore the sprawling city of surprises.

Take a scenic road trip and explore the natural wonders of Arizona
For a nature lover taking a road trip through Arizona will be amazing. Arizona is home to picturesque attractions from the Grand Canyon to the rock formations in Monument Valley, which are easy to explore.

Peek into fun and adventure in Orlando, Florida
Orlando is the theme park destination of the world, with more theme parks in this city than anywhere else. Discover the Magic Kingdom and beyond and enjoy Disney World with your family.

Get your adrenaline pumping at Las Vegas
From test driving fast cars like a Corvette and Ferrari to flying over the city in a helicopter, one can do it all and party in style at Las Vegas. This city redefines fun and has enough things to do for all types of travellers.

Hike and camp atop a volcanic hot spot
Admire the vivid colours of the hot springs and witness the world's largest geyser collection of at Yellow Stone National Park. Hike, raft, camp, and explore this park that spreads 3,500 sq across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. This park is incredibly beautiful and home to hundreds of animal species like bears, wolves, bison and antelopes.

Explore the exotic white sand beaches of Miami
Sun-kissed beaches, art, creative cuisine, and blazing nightlife make Miami an absolute delight to visit. This piece of paradise gives you a chance to explore several unique neighborhoods, each with a distinct style, culture and architecture.

See the President’s house in Washington DC
The capital city is a must-visit when touring around the USA. Visit the world-famous monuments like the White House and save your appetite for the city's famous buffets and mimosas.

Drive the Pacific Coast Highway, California
California is the third-largest state in the USA that offers so many memorable experiences with its diverse landscapes. You can see everything from mountains to redwood forests and beaches to deserts while you drive the Pacific Coast Highway road that stretches from San Francisco to San Diego.

Ride a hot air balloon in Napa
Napa Valley is known for its wineries. Flying in a hot-air balloon is one of the finest ways to ride into the sunrise. It's also one of the most unique and fascinating ways to appreciate the valley's lush, hills and breath-taking coastlines of the US.

List of things to carry when you travel to the USA from India
» Medicines: Some medicines are prohibited in the USA, so carry your medicines with the prescription.
» Documents: Don’t forget to carry your visa, passport, and air tickets.
» Apps: Make sure to install all the essential travel apps before getting on the flight.
» Insurance: Get your overseas travel insurance online while booking your flight tickets.
» Gadgets: Ensure to pack extra memory cards along with your camera and other electronic gadgets?

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With the festive season and the chilly winter months soon approaching, I’m sure the urge of wanderlust within every one of you is at an all-time high. These two periods are considered the best times to travel - either to beat the smoggy smoke of Diwali or the chills of the dreadful winter. Exploring and visiting exotic places does not necessarily have to cost you a bomb and you certainly don’t need to win some sort of lottery to travel the world – not if you know how to watch your expenses and plan out your trip wisely. I’ve compiled some of the best tried and tested tips to help you plan a holiday on a budget -

Choose Off-Season Destinations
If you’re looking to head to Goa this New Years, well, it would be close to impossible to plan out a cheap trip. Flight tickets would be at an all-time high and there are minimum solutions to this. Similarly, even hotel prices would be sky-rocketing at this point. Instead, you could choose to push your holiday by a few months when tickets would be relatively more affordable since it would not be peak season.

Compromise on Accommodation
Staying in the swankiest hotels and resorts is what we all dream of. However, if you want to travel on a budget - accommodation is one of the avenues which can help you save the most. Global platforms like Airbnb and Couchsurfing are popular options which allow you to simply book a spare room in a resident’s home. Or instead, you could opt for hostel dorm rooms. This option is increasingly popular with the youth - who are often on a budget due to lack of personal finances.

Explore Public Transport
Private transport facilities such as commercial taxis, hiring personal vehicles, or even global transport services such as Uber are sure shot ways of burning a hole in your pocket. To counter this, you could try using public transport in the form of trains or public buses. These are not only affordable options for transport but also completely immerse users into the culture and essence of a city. For example, cities like Tokyo and London are known to have some of the best subway systems in the world - and are used by the whole city for commuting. Similarly, on a national scale, travelling on the Mumbai Local is an enthralling experience in itself.

There are multiple avenues through which you can save up and enjoy a holiday on a budget. To conclude, if you’re looking to travel anytime soon – you may want to #JustEMI your holiday booking via the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network. The company has partnered with MakeMyTrip and is offering some amazing offers this Diwali. While transacting through MakeMyTrip, you can avail 20 percent instant discount on domestic hotel bookings up to Rs 10000 and flat Rs 400 off on minimum transaction amount of Rs 8,000 for domestic flight tickets using your Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card. If you aren’t a member of the EMI Network yet, you can apply easily via their Experia customer portal or check your pre-approved offer online.

So, what are you waiting for? #JustEMI you travel plans and book flights at your convenience along with choosing the most exotic resort of your choice! To know more, check out their EMI Network Town.

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We’ve noticed that most people tend to stick to one place when they plan their holidays, almost cramping to do a lot of things in a single place, one that they are to visit, not wanting to venture out. This is especially true if there are kids and parents in the travelling troupe. Yes, we are guilty of this since most of our holidays are with our parents and our kids. But, soon we realised that we were missing out on a lot of surrounding places that are travel-worthy as we never made multiple-location itineraries. However, it all is going to change for our upcoming holiday to Shimla.

For the uninitiated, Shimla - the Queen of Hills, is fondly known for its gorgeous landscape, colonial architecture and historical sites. The weather throughout the year is enjoyable enough to draw in numerous tourists, and more so during the winters when the city is covered in gorgeous layers of snow. A stay in the city isn’t complete without a stroll down the Mall road, a trek to the Ridge, and ride on the Toy Train.

However, in Shimla don't get stuck in the rut within the city, and venture out to visit some of the best weekend getaways from Shimla to add more dimension to your trip. We have been researching over the last few days and come up with numerous destination around Shimla within a distance of 10 to 25 kilometres that can be easily accessed by a local taxi. We have zeroed in on these must-visit places and added them to our itinerary.

Mashobra

At 13 kilometres from Shimla, Mashobra is a huge expanse of lush pine, oak and apple orchards covering beautiful hills which is accentuated with a picturesque stream gushing through the valley. It is a relatively untouched place, with very few tourists but flocked with travellers who love fresh natural surroundings in the lap of serenity. When in Mashobra do not leave without a visit to the Mahasu Peak and the Reserve Forest Sanctuary.

Kufri

At a mere 18 kilometres from Shimla, is Kufri - the most scintillating ‘lake’ place that is like a soothing breeze in the summers and an iced blanket in the winters. Kufri boasts of majestic panoramic views apart from the world-famous trekking and hiking trails. Though one would see many adventure-seekers interested in skiing especially in the winters, Kufri is a much sought-after family place for its Himalayan Nature Park and Fun World.

Fagu

The best surprise, just 21 kilometres from Shimla is Fagu, a quaint little town laden with refreshing green fields that offer a perfect sanctuary for peace and quiet. The picturesque countryside is dotted with a cluster of villages, fruit gardens and terraced fields, making it the perfect escape for a romantic day. Fagu, literally translated as ‘fog’ offers amazing experiences within the Reserve Forest Sanctuary, the Water Catchment Sanctuary and the Old Gurkha Fort.

Do you know of any other places that would interest us around Shimla, without having too much distance to be covered to reach it? If so do recommend in the comments below and should we happen to add that destination to our trip, be sure we shall bring back a local souvenir for you.

Until next time,
~ Heena

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10 Things You Must Have While Travelling To Thailand

Thailand has evolved to become one of South East Asia’s most popular tourist destinations. Whether it’s the beautiful white sand beaches, thrilling water sports, an array of shopping options or its exciting nightlife and cheap travel possibilities; it seems like Thailand is suited for just about anyone from solo back-packers and couples to families and friend circles.   Now, whether you’re travelling there for a quick time off, family holiday or a solo adventure trip; we guide you through the ten things you must take with you during your trip to Thailand:  

Sturdy Backpack 
Whether you’re going on a backpacking trip or not, you will still need a sturdy backpack that you can use on your trips to the temple, hiking trails, island hopping or even just when you’re going by to the nearest beach!  

Travel Insurance for Thailand
You probably never think about this, until it’s mandatory. However, it may just be one of the most important things you’ll need during your trip. One of the most cost-effective ones in the market includes the digital insurance company, Digit Insurance. For example, for a 7-10 days trip, it would cost you less than Rs 500 to insure yourself against all unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances that could arise during your trip. This broadly includes:

~ Cover for any loss of belongings that may happen, including loss of passport. Unfortunately, Thailand is home to many scams that could lead to loss of money or belongings.
~ If you fall sick during your trip, the travel insurance will cover all medical expenses and emergencies.
~ Minor mishaps like flight delays, delay of check-in luggage and baggage loss too are covered as part of Digit’s travel insurance policy.
~ Coverage for Adventure Sports such as snorkelling, scuba diving, zip-lining, etc; as long as you’re not going in for a long-term course or the like.
~ Other unplanned situations such as trip abandonment, political unrest, legal bail and bond, etc. would be covered as well.

Always go for online travel insurance that is easy to claim and access. Additionally, we also recommend you carry copies of your passport; you may need it at some places and it’s just safer to carry copies during your day trips instead of carrying your passport everywhere!

Slip-On Shoes 
Two of the most common places to be at in Thailand are the beaches and the temples. What’s common between the two, is that you’ll need to keep taking off your shoes while visiting them. Therefore, it’s necessary you carry a good pair of slip-on shoes or slippers you can use while moving around the many beaches and temples.  

Mosquito Repellent & Sunscreen 
You’ve probably already heard this before and it’s true, you’re going to need mosquito repellent during your time there! Whether it’s at your hotel, the beach or while you’re just meandering around town, it’s always better to be protected against bites that may only ruin your little holiday. 

Beach Essentials
 If you’re visiting Thailand, you just cannot miss the beaches! After all, that’s the highlight of it all. Beautiful white sand beaches and the quaint blue waters; Thailand is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and you want to make sure you make the most out of it! So, make sure you have all your beach essentials in place. Right from the right swimwear, water gear, hats and sunglasses to your beach towels, sunscreen, and beach slippers.   

Rain & Waterproof Gear 
Depending on what part of the year to plan on visiting Thailand, there can be occasional light showers even in the driest of weathers. Therefore, make sure you carry an emergency raincoat or umbrella, and some waterproof gear for your gadgets (works even when you want to capture your water sports!)   

Basic Medical Kit 
This is a must for all your travels, no matter where you’re going! You never know when you might just need it. Moreover, with all the street food and water activities in Thailand, you can be prone to minor illnesses like a common cold, cough, sea sickness, etc. Therefore, it’s always better to be prepared and carry a handy medical kit that includes basic painkillers, Band-Aids and medicines for the common cold, headache and sea-sickness.

Thailand Power Adapter & Portable Charger 
While you might just find this at the airport or the local Thailand stores, you may end up paying more than it’s worth. So, it’s always recommended you carry the required adapter and converter beforehand. Additionally, a portable charger can come handy as you’re mostly going to be spending your time outside and the last thing you want is a dead phone!  

Forex Card  Money
The one thing that will drive most of your time in Thailand. While you may already have cash in hand or, your credit/debit card...the advantage of a Forex card is that you can withdraw or use your car for expenses in the local currency itself. This way you save up on the exchange rate and extra international charges!  

Guidebook 
This may sound a little cliché, and you are probably like “what’s google for?”, it’s always nicer to have a guidebook while you’re travelling to a new place. Moreover, you won’t really have access to the internet all the time. So, before you travel- get a guidebook you like and let it help you make some beautiful memories on your trip to Thailand.

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Vacations are my life, but family vacations are getting stressful as they now mean planning and packing for a huge group. Our vacations are now overwhelming as we travel in a group of six, with two kids…one under the age of one. Of course, over the years I have accumulated a great deal of packing experience and my travel bags are ready almost two days prior to our travel date. But are they really?

Yes, they are! That was a moment of truth when I decided it was time to make a check-list with my packing wisdom, and separate the dos from the do not's. I am not going to detail out what you need to pack or with a list of must-have items, as that would be extremely individualistic. Instead, I’m going to share some packing tips that have helped me hold things together and I’m guessing they are going to help you do the same.

Make Lists
The easiest way to ensure you are getting everything you need is to make an essentials checklist for travelling with a child, then go on to make separate lists for everyone. Once the lists are ready, pick out the things and keep adding them to individual piles while crossing the same off the list. This will help you not to forget knee socks for your dad and a favourite blanket for your baby.

Use Cubes
The best way to keep your bags organised is to pack using packing cubes. Either you can keep organised by putting together daily outfits or by clubbing clothing you will need at a particular destination (assuming you are travelling to multiple places). This method also helps as you need not unpack everything when travelling and just need to pull out a particular cube and be sorted.

Emergency Set
The convenient way to be ready for any emergencies or delays is to have an emergency set at hand, tugged safely in a piece of hand luggage. An emergency set should contain a set of spare clothes and a cosy blanket or sweater for each of the family members and some toiletries and a few toys for everyone to share.

Individual Bags
The most tempting thought would be to pack all your kids things in one bag but that would be the most inconvenient and a sure shot way to get disorganised. Instead, have medium sized travel bags for each child, in which all their items go, making them partly responsible for their own stuff. If you do not have enough bags, you can check out travel bags online.

Keep Space
The simple method of packing will push you to fill your travel bags as best as you can, but I prefer to differ. Leave some room in every bag for ease of finding as well as for things that you may want to bring back from your holiday. More times than not you may have to otherwise pack in an extra bag for your souvenir shopping.

Is there something, in particular, you do when packing? Share your tips with me in the comments section and I shall have them added to the article.

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