Step by Step Guide to Budget your Travel

Everyone plans on visiting a place at some point in their life. However, only some travelers manage to accomplish their dreams without getting penniless or without spending all their fortunes on just a single vacation. Most people do not realize that the success of any trip or vacation depends on how well it was initially planned. Planning for travel is a systematic process which if followed correctly, can have endless perks and benefits.

If you are one of those who always fail to  plan your travel , this article is exactly meant for you!  Jovago Pakistan  offers the step by step guide to  budget your travel  for your next vacation:

Step 1 : Reckon your budget
It’s only once you know your budget, can you stay within it. Once you have a budgeted amount in your head, you can then allocate your budget on food, shopping and other adventures. Don’t forget to keep an emergency back-up for the most uncertain situations.

Step 2: Make early reservations Making your reservations and bookings in advance can be very cost effective to you. Once you make advance payments, there is no need to get worried about any increase or mark-ups over fairs.

Step 3: Track the exchange ratesThis applies for all foreign travelers. Download a currency converter app on your smart phones to keep an account about the exchange rates. This will give you an evaluation of how expensive it will be traveling there. In case converting the currency costs you more than you anticipated, you can always find a more budget friendly alternative.

Step 4: Keep an account for all the ongoing promotionsA lot of your money can be saved if bookings are made via travel and hotel deals. Especially if you are travelling in a group, focus on the packages in which you don’t have to go for the individual costs and can avail group discounts.

Step 5: Make shopping your last priorityMost travelers make the mistake of spending on items like souvenirs and other utilities in the very start of their travel. This exhausts your budget in the first few weeks of your vacation and which might create funds shortages for the rest of your travel. Make sure you have spent on basic necessities and have enough buffer cash before you spend on shopping.

Read More

Step By Step Guide To Plan Your Travel This Year

If you are one of those who have been long trying to make your travel happen, this post is exactly meant for you! Most of the times, we fail to make things happen just because we lack the correct guidance to get our plans executed. In this article, Jovago, the leading online hotel booking website in Pakistan provides step by step guide to finally make your long planned trip happen!

Step 1: Arrange your funds
Bitterly nothing comes for free! The best way to save for your travel is to put a set amount aside as soon as you get your monthly paycheck. Treat it as if you have some obligatory monthly fee to pay which cannot be touched no matter what! Period. Preferably open a separate savings account to deposit your money devoted to travel so that the chances of it getting used get minimized.

Step 2: Decide your destination
If you are preparing for a solo travel, start researching for potential travel spots right away. However, if you are planning to have a trip with your friends and family, you might need to share your preferences with your travel partners well in time to agree upon one destination. Since every travel requires a lot of investment, make sure to choose to visit a place which is close to your preference.

Step 3: Budget out everything in advance
This is probably the most boring and most stressful part of your travel planning. However, thanks to the emerging e-commerce websites, the estimated costs of flights, hotels, commutation and food can all be found on the online booking websites. It is always a better idea to put some efforts in budgeting your travel than to spoil your travel due to funds shortages!

Step 4:  Plan your activities during travel
Nothing happens on its own! Just reaching your destination without having a clue about how to spend time there wouldn't make your travel any fun. All the planning should be done ahead of reaching the destination to make your travel as smooth and memorable as possible.

Step 5: Get set, Go!
It is a simple rule. You won't know until you go! Once you think you have planned everything out, rest assured that you are all set to go and experience your long awaited travel!

Read More

Perfect Sehri during Travel

Fasting becomes even more challenging when you are traveling. To ensure good health during your entire journey, it is extremely important to carefully plan all your meals. Needless to say, Sehri marks the start of your day and your fast therefore should be the healthiest one. If you are one of those who struggle with the lack of Sehri options every Ramadan, this article is exactly for you. Jovago Pakistan hereby provides a list of healthy yet fulfilling Sehri options that will keep you charged and on your toes during your entire travel.

Oatmeal dishes
Starting your day with an oatmeal provides an energy booster for the entire day. Rich in vitamins, minerals and lipids, oatmeal is considered fourth healthiest food worldwide which possesses endless benefits for our health. Start your travel with a bowl full of oatmeal to fuel up your entire journey!

Raw fruits and whole grains
One of the basic concerns during travel is to find food options which are handy and can be consumed on-the-go! In this case, it is best to bag some fresh fruits and granola bars in your bag which can be consumed anytime during your travel. Rich in nutrients and minerals and easy to carry, fruits and grains make one of the most gratifying and energy-rich Sehri option during your travel.

Lots of Yogurt and yogurt made products
With Ramadan also comes the scorching heat of early summers which makes fast even more challenging! Having yogurt during the early day cleanses and prepares our digestive system for the strenuous journey ahead. Yogurt made products such as Lassi , Chaas and Smoothies, therefore become excellent options to fuel yourselves for the rest of the day!

Water all the way
There is no other way to keep yourself hydrated to combat this hot and humid weather than to consume the right amount of water. Some people prefer to have caffeine over water during their Sehri which further dehydrates the body during the rest of the day. It is therefore recommended to have a good amount of water during your Sehri. However, be careful to drink water gradually and slowly while eating Sehri; as drinking too much water too quickly sometimes dilutes the stomach acid content and causes bloating and indigestion.

Read More

Travel Essential for summers

Summers have already hit us in most part of the world. As summers are approaching, so are summer vacations. This  super long vacation  comes with a lot of planning on how to spend it. There are so many fun ways to spend it like going on a summer camp, learning how to cook, develop a new hobby or the most common, traveling.

While we have visions of our fantasy travel wardrobes, the reality of an overstuffed suitcase can wreak havoc on our adventures. If you are traveling this summer, vow to packing light and head out with only the essentials in tow. Even if yo  u’re not packing light and probably traveling for a longer period, don’t forget to stuff your bag with summer  travel essentials . We have prepared a list for you that will help you while you do the toughest and tiring task of  packing .

Sunglasses and a hat

The sun will follow you no matter where you go. Even if you love the sun and bathing in it, it is always better to protect your eyes and skin from extra sun exposure. Sunglasses and a summery hat are the best and must items to carry with you on your trip.

Sunscreen and skincare products

When we say protect yourself from the scorching heat and the intense sunlight, it is not always about saving yourself from getting tanned. The sun rays can also affect your skin negatively which is why it is crucial to take care of it. Sunscreens and other skincare products are a rescuer. These also include any cosmetics that you might need to use on your face or body.

Flip flops

Whether you are a male or a female traveler, remember to keep yourself away from socks and tight shoes that block air from touching your feet. Even your feet need to breathe and relax in hot weather, and this is only possible if you carry flowery flip flops that give you the sense of vacation and summers.

Lip balm

Speaking about breathing fresh air, your lips are made up of soft tissues and they need to stay hydrated be it any time of the year. Use them at night before bedtime and in the morning when you wake up. It will moisturize your lips in dry and hot environment and consequently make you feel fresh.

Read More

Shaadi Ki Bahar, ARY Digital and ARY Zindagi are celebrating Pakistan’s biggest wedding week

ARY Digital Network has a strong legacy of presenting the biggest and the most happening wedding weeks amongst all and this year it is going to take place from 2nd May 2016 to 13th May 2016 on ARY Digital and ARY Zindagi.

This time it’s going to be something different, amazing and extraordinary because this time there will be two hosts, two morning shows, two channels, two weeks and one grand wedding and it will be The Biggest Wedding of Pakistan!!!
First time it will be LIVE from two Channels with Nida Yasir as Larki Walas on ARY Digital and Faysal Qureshi as Larkay Walas on ARY Zindagi. Both the hosts will be highlighting fun-filled interactions, customs and conflicts during typical eastern weddings. The celebrations for the grand wedding is of a renowned celebrity couple, where the week will start from the rishta settlement and will highlight all the happening events and customs of traditional wedding to the Valima, with renowned celebrities who will join the celebrations and will support their respective camp (Larkay / Larki Walas).

Jerjees Seja CEO ARY Digital Network shares, “We are bringing to you Pakistan’s biggest shahdi with two morning shows with the entire traditional wedding for our viewers, and we are very thankful to our viewers for their constant love and support.”

Be a part of this mega wedding, from 2nd to 13th May at 9:00 am on ARY Digital and ARY Zindagi.

For more information, visit:
Facebook:  https://web.facebook.com/aryzindagi.tv/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/arydigital.tv/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/gmponarydigital/
Facebook:  https://web.facebook.com/SalamZindagiOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryzindagi/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ary_digital/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/aryzindagipk

Read More

5 Healthy Snacks to Carry While Traveling

Hitting the road this  summer in Pakistan ? Whether traveling by car or plane, you sure need some snacks to snuggle during your trip. It’s a universal need that you just can’t escape. Food is something that is not only a need to survive but the best source of entertainment. Don’t you sometimes feel too bored and then get rid of it with food?

Although you are provided with food/snacks on plane or train, they hardly give you anything other than the specified meals. So what do you do when you feel hungry, you take your own snacks. We have a list of items that are healthier options for you to carry. These are as filling as any other processed food. Keep reading to find the list of alternate options for you.

Mini sandwiches

The easiest snack to make on your own is a sand  wich. Make it more fun by cutting it into mini bite sizes that you can pop into your mouth easily. Experiment with the types of breads and fillings, and pack it in a big or several small boxes so everyone has their own. 

Granola bars

Granola bars are the healthiest option if you feel the need of a sweet snack. They are sweet and power packed with the grains that energize you while you travel. Go for the organic ones that are low on fat as well as free of chemicals.

Fruits

The best thing to rely upon while traveling is fruits. They are readily available, extremely healthy and tasty, and rich in nutrients. Though they can’t be stored for long, but that’s the idea of travel snacks, you eat them right away. Just be sure to take the ones that can survive a day long trip before rotting away.

Cookies

You might be thinking that cookies aren’t the healthiest option. Well, they can be if they are homemade. You can opt for gluten free products to make them yourself. Store bought/packaged cookies are full of preservatives and unhealthy. If you bake them yourself, you will enjoy a personal satisfaction.

Tea/Coffee

It is not the best option to carry hot tea/coffee on a plane, but you can carry your favorite flavored tea bags or coffee blends that you can mix in hot water. You can do the same for a road trip or carry a flask filled with tea/coffee. Trust me, you can’t afford to skip tea or coffee from your snack list.

Tip: Plan your snack according to your destinations and travel routes. Ideally you will be planning it when you are  researching the destinations for traveling .

Other than these healthy snacks you might be interested to explore the  delicious cuisine of Pakistan .

Read More

Deciding where to travel next

Traveling is definitely a sweet escape from the daily routine of life. However, it sometimes becomes stressful to plan out your holiday trip from beginning to the end. Apart from basic pre traveling errands like buying tickets, booking hotels, getting stuff together and packing it and many more, there might as well be another important decision to make before heading out for a vacation.
Sometimes, you have the idea of taking a time off and going for a  holiday trip   . But what is absent here is the exact destination to travel to. If you have had such moments and are afraid that you might have again, this is the right article to read on. Let’s look at some steps to make deciding where to travel next easier.

Like every other time, before taking a decision, people tend to and certainly should brainstorm. Break the thinking process down to steps and ask questions to yourself.

Why do you want to travel?
Do you want to relax? Do you want to party? Do you want to be alone? Again, a question is followed by a number of constructive questions. You can easily sort out the places that fall under these categories. You can look for islands to relax, or a busy  city that never sleeps  so you may party all night too.

How long to travel for?
First and foremost, determine the number of days that you can spare for your vacation. The more days you have, the far you can travel to and vice versa. You might even fly to a nearby city if you have just a few days in hand.

What’s your budget?
You can surely cut down on different costs and make your trip cheaper, but it will most definitely take up a chunk of your savings. If you can easily fund airfare for a long flight, find the right accommodation in low price and make a list of touristy things to do under your budget, you’re good to go.

Are you traveling with someone?
Traveling alone or with someone, both have their own pros and cons. If traveling with a partner, you can mutually decide on the location, bear the costs equally and share the stress from planning to execution. However, if  traveling alone , you don’t have to worry about whether or not your travel partner may like your ideas and recommendations regarding the trip.

At the end of the day, it’s your decision so don’t overthink and stress about it too much. A holiday trip is always fun, you should probably worry about how you can make it the most memorable one. Happy traveling y’all!

Read More

What will Traveling be Like in 50 Years

If we go back some 50 years and think about traveling at that time, it was more of either luxury or difficulty. Yes, we have had airplanes and other modes of transport since quite a few years now. It was easy and luxurious for the rich frequent traveler but a lay man found it to be extremely difficult. Why was that, because there was very little information available for a regular man.

Traveling has been becoming easier by the day and more people are willing to travel. It is changing from luxury to lifestyle with many low budget options available with all the information one needs.  Travel  will evolve and change in the years to come. It is fun to predict the future so let’s foresee how traveling will be like in the next 50 years. 
 
There will be more to explore

People want to explore the world and are looking for programs to facilitate them. Just like traveling is increasing in general, the most remote areas that have not yet been explored or are in the initial phase of becoming a tourist spot, will increase in popularity.

Online information and reviews

With the  e-commerce world growing , people will rely more on the information that is available online. There will be no agent or third party that will involve in planning your journey but you will be ahead of this. Even today, platforms like Jovago.com have introduced a free gateway for people to choose their accommodation from thousands of options. This will expand exponentially in the coming years.

Increased budget friendly options

As the demand will increase, so will the supply. There will be more options that are low on budget as well as provide comfort. Increased competition on travel routes will encourage airlines to improve experience and decrease rates. To facilitate paperless travel, smartphone apps will be widely used like SkyScanner app, Careem app and  Jovago app .

What else can we say, there is already a kind of restaurant that is based in the air, and we might have more of such restaurants or hotels in the near future. Passports might become obsolete, car trips may become air trips with cars having wings, and what not. What do you think about the future of traveling?

Read More

Myths about Traveling Within Pakistan

Pakistan is probably one of the most misjudged countries in the world. Most people fail to see what lies underneath the media reportage stressing on the challenges facing the country today. Not only outsiders but local Pakistanis also have created a pre notion of  traveling within Pakistan  as risky. If you a  re also one of those who think many times before planning your trip to explore Pakistan, this article is just for you.

There are quite a lot of myths attached to traveling within Pakistan. Keep reading to find the list of these misconceptions and the realities of travel and tourism in Pakistan.

1.       There is nothing to see/do for a tourist

Pakistan is rich in high mountains, spectacular valleys surrounded by beautiful lakes, historical monuments and places, attractive hill stations and much more. Apart from the immense natural beauty, there are severalman made attractions like Patriata, Hingol National park and Khewra salt mines. Before you plan to head out to foreign countries, you must explore your country first instead of believing in the false fact that Pakistan has nothing in it for a tourist.

2.       Pakistani people are hostile

We sometimes mistake to love our hometown/city more than our country and start comparing. We believe that people from a certain city are unwelcoming while we are the most hospitable people ever. Foreigners believe that Pakistanis are unwelcoming and aggressive. We need to acknowledge the fact that we are more than welcoming and we treat our guests very well. People throughout the country are true Pakistanis and we may  differ in ethnicities , we are very much similar in several ways.

3.       Pakistan is an unsafe and dirty land

Just because we have been the target terrorism a few times, people have associated Pakistan and its people as terrorists. If we were terrorists, we would harm others instead of our own homeland. You can most definitely travel freely in any area of the country. We are a country that facilitate and welcome tourists/travelers with an open and happy heart. Pakistan only lacks proper infrastructure which will be catered to very soon. It’s not dirty but beautiful like anything.

Apart from these myths that are absolutely not true, Pakistan has so much more to give to its people and tourists. Explore the beautiful spots, try the wide variety of  Pakistani food , discover different cultures of the country and get a hang of the bounties that our country is blessed with. Be proud of your country and support tourism in Pakistan.

Read More

The ancient city of Pakistan

Thatta is an ancient city located around 100 km from Karachi. With approximately 250,000 inhabitants, the city has a lot of historical monuments and is considered as a tourist spot for those wanting to learn about the history of Pakistan. In fact historians say Thatta may have been the main port on the Indus during the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion. A lot of schools and universities take their students to Thatta to learn about the history of Pakistan.

The poverty rate in Thatta is very high, and a lot of people live in small tent houses. Thatta is extremely hot, and it wouldn’t be advisable to travel there during the summer seasons. In 2010 there were severe floods that hit Thatta, which caused a lot of damaged crops, cattle deaths and approximately 175,000 people were displaced.

1 – Makli hills

The necropolis of Thatta is considered as a UN World Heritage site. With a diameter of approximately 8km, the necropolis has over 125,000 rulers buried over there,

including Sufi saints.

2 – Shah Jahan Mosque

The mosque was built in 1647, as a gift for the people of Sindh by Mughal King, Shah Jahan, as a gift for the people for their hospitality. The structure is beautiful with 93 domes and beautiful tiles. Since 1993, it has been on the tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.

3 – Gujjo Twn

While traveling to Thatta, you will come across two famous towns – Gujjo town and Thame village. They are both fish farms, so if you really want to have some fish they would be the perfect place for a pit stop.

TIPS For Tourist:  

Restaurants:

Just like any other town of Pakistan, there are a lot of places to eat located in Thatta. The food served is usually typical Pakistani food, but Thatta is very famous for fish because of the lakes. Because of the heat it is advised that you constantly drink water.

Shopping:

Shopping in Thatta is very popular because of the local products manufactured in the area. The bazaars of Thatta are known for their hand-printed fabrics, glass bangles, Sindhi embroidery and handicrafts (pottery etc.). People come to Thatta just to purchase these products.

Hotels:

Jovago.com has many hotels and guest houses in Thatta with different price ranges. Book now onwww.jovago.com

and get the best prices.

Money: 

Pakistan Rupees, All International Credit Card (Visa; MasterCard) are accepted in the ATM.

Exchange Rate:

http://www.xe.com/currency/pkr-pakistani-rupee

Nearest Airport: 

Jinnah International Airport, 87km from Thatta

Read More