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Top 10 Summer Places in South India

South India majorly consists of the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It encompasses the southern peninsular Deccan plateau and is blessed with the Eastern and Western Ghats which provide it with some incredible tourist spots where the weather is pleasant - not too cold and neither too hot, to handle. Let’s find out about the top 6 summer places in the region below: 1. Ooty: An astoundingly beautiful hill-town perched in the Nilgiri mountains, Ooty is just a picture-perfect start to your summer adventure. Exotic tea and coffee plantations and awe-inspiring gardens, waterfalls, and lakes make Ooty bring a long-forgotten feeling of peace to you. Get here by flying to the Coimbatore International Airport in Tamil Nadu. 2. Yercaud: Yet another Tamil Nadu hill station, Yercaud is a relatively less-touristy green haven in the Eastern Ghats. Named after the lake beside its dense forest, Yercaud offers visitors unparalleled trekking trails and exquisite British Raj buildings along with all the other breathtaking sights of a scenic hill city.  Fly to the Tiruchirappalli International Airport to reach Yercaud. 3. Araku Valley: The land of coffee, Araku Valley is nothing short of a superhero in summer vacation destinations. A sensational Elysium, Araku Valley is surrounded by mountains from all fours. Trek the exciting mountain trails or visit the tribal communities to know more about the place. Araku Art Museum, Coffee Museum, Chaparai Waterfalls, Borra Caves, Padmapuram Botanical Garden and Ananthagiri are sights to be astounded by in this gorgeous Andhra town. Arrive at Araku through the Visakhapatnam International Airport. 4. Horsley Hills: With its native name seeped in a mythical legend, Horsley Hills is a charming little town in Andhra Pradesh. Brought to notice and officially named for the British collector, W.D. Horsley, Horsley Hills is populated with a dense population of Eucalyptus trees, a remarkable number of wind rocks and scenic sightseeing points. Fly to Bangalore International Airport to get here. 5. Munnar: A paradise in every sense of the word, Munnar is a verdant hill city in Kerala with an alluring wildlife, inviting tea estates and one-hell-of-a hilly road trip. A sweetheart of the endearing Western Ghats, Munnar is an ancient town of spices, Ayurveda, and Yoga. Even after being a tourist-darling, Munnar has not lost its sheen a bit. Fly to Cochin International Airport to get to this tranquil town. 6. Ponmudi: Its name translates to the Golden Peak and it sure seems like a phenomenal hill city among the Western Ghats’ Kerala mountain ranges owing to its magnificent landscape. A lost land of sorts, Ponmudi is an uncharted coalition of bountiful life forms. Visit the Agasthyakoodam, Kallar and the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary to be amazed out of your senses. Nearest International Airport is in Thiruvananthapuram. 7. Coorg: The gem of Karnataka, Coorg is an enthralling hill town packed with thundering springs, thrilling mountain peaks, pristine plantations and an enticing climate. Brahmagiri Peak, Dubare Elephant Camp, Nagarhole National Park, Iruppu and Abbey Falls are few of the amazing irresistible sights here which you can sprinkle your holiday platter with. Mangalore Airport will give you easy access to this dreamland. 8. Gokarna: The fascinating beaches of this Karnataka town are among the best in South India. With an intriguing cocktail of temples, mountains, and beaches, Gokarna’s coasts overlook the vast Arabian Sea where travelers can enjoy all the fruits of a quiet beach life unlike the town’s nearby counterpart Goa. Reach here via Dabolim Airport in Goa. 9. Golkonda: A sight different from the hills and the beaches of the South, Golkonda which means a round-shaped hill can easily be crowned as the Diamond City of the world since it has produced many of the world’s most famous gems, including the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamonds. Explore this city for its amazing history of rulership and for its captivating forts. Reach here by booking a flight to the Hyderabad International Airport in Telangana. 10. Papi Hills: This is one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the state of Telangana although you would be amazed to know that Papi Hills is just a gorge in the Godavari River. The most exciting activity in Papi is partaking in a river cruise which steers through the enclosing spellbindingly-green mountains. This journey makes you feel like a character traveling through a Middle Earth gorge in a Tolkien novel. And may we say, the sunrise and sunset here are just bewitching.. You can fly to Papi Hills by booking a flight to either Vijayawada or Visakhapatnam international airports. Book your flight to South India via Travelopod.com.

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Top 5 beaches in Cyprus

Of all the beaches in all the cities across the world, you should swim in Cyprus’. Fly to this beautiful Mediterranean island and enjoy the pleasures of the rejuvenating sun, sizzling sand and an invigorating swim in an azure sea. Let’s sail through the country’s top 5 beaches below:

1. Coral Bay: Soak the sun in Aphrodite’s Paphos by lying in a comfortable sunbed surrounded by the the golden sands of this intoxicating cove beach. Enclaved in rocky caves and cliffs of the western coast, this beach is family-friendly. You can also indulge in water-skiing and diving here while the children can have a safe swim at the bay’s shallow shore.

2. Konnos Bay: This sheltered bay between Protaras and Ayia Napa has something to offer to everyone - dense forested cliffs for inspired hikers, powdery white sands for lazy sunbathers and turquoise warm waters for fervent swimmers. A visit to this picturesque cove, at the foot of Cape Greco, will undoubtedly develop for you countless lifelong memories of pure reverence.

3. Mackenzie Beach: The party beach of Cyprus, this Larnaca beach is super-close to the airport. Here, a multitude of beach bars line-up to quench your thirst while a plethora of music generates an astounding aura for the locals and tourists alike. Exploring water sports, playing beach games, building sand-castles, lazing in a sunshade or having incredible seafood while sipping a nice drink, Mackenzie truly enthralls you in every sense of the word.

4. Lara Bay: A hard reach and a wild beach, Lara Bay is a turtle-lovers’ treat. You need a 4x4 vehicle to access this isolated bay however when you reach here, the sight of green and loggerhead turtles will rush to captivate your senses. More so, it’s not like the path to Lara is any less enchanting. The journey takes you through sweeping bays of the endearing Akamas Peninsula nature reserve and when you arrive at the spectacular sandy beach of Lara, a scintillating and untamed landscape welcomes you with large burbling waves.

5. Nissi Beach: This Ayia Napa beach is a favorite of youngsters. A breeding ground for parties in the peak season, the water here is crystal and shallow in the low tide and challenging to swim when the tide’s high. Blessed with a swooping shore of soft white sands, Nissi beach will keep you buzzing with activities like water-skiing, paragliding, ringo rides and banana boats or lazy with its convenient sunbeds - it’s really your choice to make!

There’s many other honorable mentions in this category - Latchi beach, Aphrodite’s Rock and Beach, Porto Pomos, Serena Bay, Paramali Beach, Governor’s Beach, Makronissos Beach, Akti Olympion, Fig Tree Bay, Blue Lagoon Akamas and Episkopi. Call Travelopod and check out amazing low-cost round-trip flights to Cyprus. Book in advance to get the best possible prices.

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Where to Surf in Costa Rica? White sand beaches of Costa Rica are an entry to paradise for surfers. The seas of this beautiful Caribbean nation invites both amateur and seasoned surfers each year for the surf of their lives. Costa Rica beaches are ideal for surfers from around the world. It has an astounding landscape and an exotic coastline to let any surfer board. Once the surfer enters the Rican rein, he/she knows they are here to stay. Costarricenses or Ticos are supportive of the sport of surfing and you will find many board rentals and surfing training centres in coastal towns of this Central American nation. Costa Rica has intoxicating sand beaches where a lot of variety in sand color is present. It can be a white, dark brown, black or tan sand beach here. The rocky ambience, river points, river mouths, coral reefs and scattered islands make for an inviting surfing vacation in Costa Rica. The climate is tropical and the water is warm. The temperature stays in the mid-80s’ to low 90s’ here. There are many surf spots in Costa Rica and the ones which are far north and far south are remote and uncrowded. Costa Rica is a great surfing destination because it has long surf breaks which can go on for even a mile. The local population is diverse and major languages spoken are Spanish, German, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Italian, and English. There are beautiful palm and almond trees on Costa Rican coasts. You can easily reach  the beach destinations of Costa Rica through San Jose. The open shorelines, pristine beaches and remote coves of the land are an inspiring ambience for surfers. There’s a Caribbean coast and a Pacific coast in Costa Rica. The waves at the Pacific coast are plentiful throughout the year. April till December is a surf heaven in this small island nation. Costa Rica is a country of hollow surf rides and immaculate shores. A relatively less-crowded surfing marvel, we list below the best surfing spots in Costa Rica: Puerto Viejo Go to this Caribbean island’s southern side and explore the town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. You can surf here in Costa Rica’s biggest and strongest wave, also known as Salsa Brava. Puerto Viejo is located in the Limón province. Coastal reefs alongside pristine beaches such as Playa Chiquita, Playa Negra and Punta Uva are mesmerizing to say the least. On the beaches of Puerto Viejo, you will find Hawaiian-style barrels of waves. All kinds of surfers surf here however it is recommended that rookies learn the craft first and then pick up their board. Playa Hermosa Playa Hermosa means a ‘beautiful beach’ in English. Playa Hermosa is the surf contest capital of Costa Rica. It’s located in Northern Puntarenas. There are a lot of surf contests here. This location is good for steep-beach loving experienced surfers. There’s also Jaco nearby which is one of the most popular beaches and famous towns in the country. Tamarindo There’s a saying in Costa Rica that whoever hasn’t visited Tamarindo hasn’t seen the country’s surfing paradise completely. In Guanacaste, one of the better known surf areas, Tamarindo is near Witch’s Rock (which you can reach through boat). It is also near Playa Langosta and Playa Negra (which you can reach by the car). Witch’s Rock is a famous beach which stretches for two miles and has hollow sand bottom breaks. You also can visit surf camps in this area where you will find groups of like-minded people who love surfing like you do. Here, you can also surf on the strong sea when a storm comes in on the aggressive waters of Playa Negra. Playa Pavones Near the Southern Pacific Coast, Playa Pavones in South Puntarenas is one of the longest left rides in the world. It begins at Rio Claro and has been observed to go for more than 0.7 miles. It is at a remote location. The ideal surfing months here are between April and November. Look for a day when you can ride the waves with a surf break since they are inconsistent in this area. Matapalo is also nearby. The waves here are good to surf on. Other than the above, there are many other sites in Costa Rica where surf’s great. They are Playa Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Playa Nosara, Playa Grande and Playa Avellana. Also if you forgot to carry gear then that’s not an issue since there are many board rentals in town. You can also train at many institutes which are located near surf locations. At Costa Rica, you can hit the surf on both Caribbean and Pacific coasts. One of the sweetest surfing getaways, Costa Rica is the best among the greatest. Below are listed details of surfing destinations of Costa Rica. Hope you like the compilation. Boca Barranca - Left wave direction, Point Break wave type Brasilito - Right and Left Wave direction, Reed break wave type Dominicalito - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Esterillos Oeste - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Hotel Pelicano - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Jaco Beach, south end - Right Wave direction, Beach break wave type Malpais - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Near Tamarindo - Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Pavones - Left Wave direction, Point break wave type Playa Avellanas - Right and Left Wave direction, Rivermouth wave type Playa Dominical - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Playa Dominical Rivermouth - Right Wave direction, Rivermouth wave type Playa Grande - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Playa Hermosa - Right Wave direction, Beach break wave type Playa Langosta - Right and Left Wave direction, Reef break wave type Playa Marbella - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Playa Negra - Right Wave direction, Reef break wave type Playa Nosara - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Playa Santa Teresa - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Quepos-Manuel Antonio - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Suck Rock - Right Wave direction, Reef break wave type Tamarindo Rivermouth - Right Wave direction, Rivermouth wave type Witches Rock - Right and Left Wave direction, Beach break wave type Of them Boca Barranca, Pavones, Playa Negra can get extremely busy during surfing season. So why are you waiting? Call Travelopod and book the cheapest flight ticket to Costa Rica. A very incredible Surf’s up to you!

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Spring’s here! Come out of your winter shell and head to the Bahamas

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Book cheap flight tickets to Ahmedabad at Travelopod. Use promocode AMD300 and save upto $300

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Visit the fashion-capital Florence at the cheapest airfares possible.

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A breeding ground for awesome clubs & bars, Copenhagen’s nightlife is nothing short of legen-wait-for-it-dary! http://bit.ly/2C1gOSX   

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Top 14 Valentine's Day Holiday Destinations

Many-a-times the melodious chimes of love get damped down by the noise present in our daily lives. To carefully listen to these sweet songs of soul with your special-someone,  especially on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, requires you to step-away. Here we list the top-most holiday destinations, a balanced mix of both domestic and international places, which can serve as perfect romantic getaways for couples looking for rekindling the romance in their lives: 

 1. Santorini: The island off Southern Greece which is also known as Thira, Santorini is a perfect romantic paradise for couples. Serene blue waters, local wineries, mesmerizing white cave-houses, you, your partner and two champagne glasses, that’s Santorini. 

2. Napa Valley: A visit to the winery wonderland of Napa Valley, California is a must for couples who love to bond over a glass of wine. Exquisite properties and lush greens invite you and your significant-other for a leisurely tasting of cabernets and chardonnays in the delightful destination of Napa Valley and makes the visit totally worth for people who are madly in love. 

3. Paris: The city of love, Paris needs no introduction to couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. On a starry night under the Parisian sky as you watch the sparkling Eiffel Tower while holding hands with your partner, the scintillating romance between both of you will truly stop time and provide you both with memories of a lifetime.

 4. New York: The Big Apple has countless attractions for two people in love. Here, you can take a leisurely stroll in the Central Park, walk through the park’s snow-covered bridges or ride a horse-drawn carriage to enjoy the pleasures of the good life with your valentine. You can also listen to live music and Jazz at charming New York clubs infusing your date with lifelong memories of passion and love. 

5. Venice: The quintessential home of romance, Venice, in itself, is a love letter to the world. As your gondola drifts quietly in a Venetian canal, you and your valentine realize that with the strength of true love one can even build a city on water. 

6. Savannah: This Georgia city is called the Hostess City of the South. It holds an amazing appeal for people in love because of its flourishing oak trees and riverboat cruises. A city of historical buildings and cobblestone streets, Savannah invites couples to find love by holding hands and taking strolls at the banks of the dazzling Savannah River. 

7. Agra: The place which harbors the monument of eternal love-the Taj Mahal, Agra is a North-Indian city whose ambience embodies the true spirit of romance. A city created by the marriage of Indian and Persian architecture, Agra exemplifies a seamless union of the intricate and the grand in its intimate masterpieces. Such beauty will give any couple serious goals to achieve in love.

 8. Las Vegas: The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is a perfect destination for couples who want to have a good time on Valentines. A host of lavish casinos and the best hotels in the world makes Las Vegas a bewitching host for all-round fun. 

9. Bali: The land of love, Bali in Indonesia is an enchanting natural landscape which exudes romance. This is why it ends up attracting millions of lovers each year to walk its pristine beaches together. A place of soulful solace and a destination for buzzing nightlife, Bali will spellbound you and your loved one with its relentless awesomeness. 

10. San Juan: Hop on the flight for this Puerto Rican city to celebrate your Valentine’s Day. A dreamy destination with a pleasant climate, ravishing beaches, picturesque forts and an enthralling music scene, this city is tailor-made for an unforgettable romantic trip. Especially don’t forget to be mesmerized by the glittering microscopic planktons of the magical Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo. 

11. Easter Island: One of the remotest inhabited islands of the world, the Easter Island located in Chile is a place like no other. Also known as Rapa Nui, the island houses monumental statues known as moai which gives this Pacific paradise a unique and beguiling allure making it one of the most amazing Valentine destinations of the world.   

12. San Francisco: The Golden Gate city is a lively place to celebrate your Valentines. A city with the whole world in it, San Francisco celebrates individual differences & collaborative partnerships which some may say are important ingredients in a successful relationship. The City by the Bay, San Francisco has endearing architecture, plush rolling hills, captivating art and attractive parks to keep you and your one and only busy as bees. 

13. Mount Kilimanjaro: A valentine destination like no other, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the land of spellbinding diversity. As you and your better-half explore the Kilimanjaro National Park, you find a herd of elephants walking along against a backdrop of a snow-covered mountain. Now that’s something! Surrounded by glaciers and icefields, this destination is amazingly fascinating and one of the Valentine’s Day hotspots. 

14. Bangkok: Famous as the World’s Best City, Bangkok has numerous activities for a couple in love to explore and enjoy from. The city offers people in love a distinct blend of historical monuments, spiritual attractions and a dynamic nightlife. Bangkok city is not unlike a fascinating restaurant with different specialities and it is highly recommended to experience this city with your partner-in-crime. 

So, that’s it. These are the places you can visit this 14th Feb and you can find the cheapest flights to all of these destinations at Travelopod.com. Remember, it doesn’t matter where you go with your loved one on this valentine, all that matters is the memories you bring back.

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5 Unmissable Dos’ in Venice

Venice is undoubtedly one of the most amazing places you will ever visit in life. Each year millions of tourists visit Venice to experience the city built on water. There are obviously the usual dos’ in Venice which every tourist does but then there is much more which a tourist should explore. And it is in those explorations where the true wonder of Venice lies. Below let’s find out about 5 such unmissable dos’:

1. Roam Quaint Lanes: Venice as you might know is a city of lanes, bridges and canals. After you are done with the usual tourist spots of Venice, you should roam around the city. Doing that you are likely to find exquisite churches with amazing mosaics and paintings for you to feast your eyes upon. Incredible examples of stained glass artistry and Roman architecture will entice your sight as go from one lane to another. Such is Venice, as you wander around the city you find enchanting campi (public squares) and mesmerizing palaces, every one of which is a masterpiece in its own regard. Do remember to traipse around Venice in twilight. The whole ambience of Venice in dusk and dark is very majestic and magical and you should especially not miss watching the city of Venice bathed in moonlight.  

2. Visit Murano and Burano: Sounding like the names of two brothers from a fairy tale, Murano and Burano are among the 118 islands of Venice. Murano is famous for its glass workshops while Burano is renowned for its excellent handicraft laces and doilies. Glass furnaces created by skilled artisans are available at glass shops and workshops at Morano, which is close-by the city. Burano, on the other hand, is little further away from Venice and can be accessed through the water-bus service. Burano is a fisher’s place with an old town vibe and a Lace Museum for you to spend a perfect sunny day in.  

3. Eat in a Local Restaurant: Like every other destination renowned for its cuisine, Venice too has its fair share of popular restaurants and pizzerias. But a seasoned traveler would know that any great city has many more such amazing restaurants and eateries which may not be as well-renowned but can easily give a run for their money to any of their famous counterparts. To explore these unusual eateries, you have to meander the city’s streets and eat where Venetians eat. The below information will help: A Venetian bar is called Bacaro/Bacari where they serve enchanting wines and beers along with the exotic local food. There’s a tour of Bacaros’ available in Venice too which you can book in advance. Moreover if you are looking for a more family-friendly outing, you can visit an Osterie and have a nice Venetian meal with your friends and family.  

4. Explore these shops: Venice has so many unique and remarkable places that it is extremely difficult to see them all. One among these places is Libreria Acqua Alta which literally means the library of high water. It’s name probably is derived from the fact that  this bookshop floods at high tide. Don’t worry though, the thousands of second-hand atlases, dictionaries, art books, biographies and history books remain safely stacked away from the water in their floating gondolas. After you are finished with the books of the Acqua Alta, you can move forth to Dorsoduro where exists everything from paintings to antiques and glass to books which are sold in artistic independent shops. Further on, if you want to see how a gondola is constructed or repaired, you can visit the Fondamenta Zattere or Squero di San Trovaso and see the craftsmen work on these traditional flat-bottomed Venetian boats by hand.

5. Sail to the San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower: There’s so much to see in Venice that the last entry of this piece is to suggest the visitors to see the entire Venice from the best vantage point possible. The San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower is situated at the island of San Giorgio Maggiore where you should definitely travel through the Vaporetto (waterbus). The Bell Tower is accessible through a glass-walled elevator in the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore which takes you on the top of the tower and provides you with enchanting views of Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace and the rest of the paradise we call Venice.

  In addition to the above you should also take a boat tour on the Canal Grande (Grand Canal), visit the thousand year old Rialto Market and its bridge, marvel at the medical museum of Scuola Grande di San Marco, see the Saint Mark’s Basilica, traverse the secret passages of Doge’s Palace, eat the seafood at Chioggia, shop at San Polo, visit the secret Nazi base at San Giorgio in Alga, witness the fairytale villa Ca’di Valle Zappa, meet the Venetians at northern Venice in their locality of Cannaregio, wander the Lazzaretto Nuovo - home to the vampire of Venice, relive the madness at the prisoner island of Poveglia Plague and at the San Servolo Insane Asylum Museum, encounter the fist fights of Ponte dei Pugni (Bridge of Fists) and be amazed at the bright neon colored houses of Burano. You need not spend much in getting to Venice. Just book your flights and vacation package through Travelopod.com and experience the paradise, Venice.

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Conversion of PIO card to OCI card

NEWS ALERT for PIO card holders: Existing PIO cards, which are hand-written, will become invalid travel documents after Oct 2018 unless the PIO card holders obtain machine-readable OCI cards in lieu of their existing PIO cards. https://www.indianembassy.org/pages.php?id=21

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Summer’s here! Want to spend a lazy day at the beach? Leave it to us! Book the cheapest flights to one of the best beach destination of the world, #Barcelona

Fan of #Catalan cuisine? Well, here’s your time to grab some authentic oxtail stew. Head to #Barcelona via the cheapest flights @ #Travelopod. http://bit.ly/2nvtk35   

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India flights Republic Day sale ends soon. Book to avail MASSIVE DISCOUNTS! http://bit.ly/2BmWPZX

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What have you seen if you haven’t seen Europe’s beating heart, Prague. Fly now!

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Get lost in the lanes of Venice to find the romance in life. Visit Venice through Travelopod. Call @1-855-378-2093

Venice is called the City of Masks, maybe because it reveals a unique version of itself to each traveler. Experience your version of Venice now! #FlyVenice via Travelopod: http://bit.ly/2ERRvQw