Why Research is Important for Traveling

Having some knowledge is better than knowing nothing at all. When traveling, research can significantly but positively impact your time. Researching prior to traveling to a certain place involves getting information regarding the place in several aspects. Getting a deep insight into the area, what places to must visit or avoid, the culture and local traditions, must try foods, the dress code and other important material to know.

This article will highlight few but important reasons why researching before making plans to travel to a place play an important part.

Understanding the cultures

It’s patently evident that cultures differ from place to place. It is interesting to know that the difference is not only amongst countries but within the same country as well. Knowing the right dress code, what languages to communicate in, what is a common practice and what is disliked by the locals are some of the things that will help you avoid being in a state of an awkward tourist.

Avoid getting scammed

No matter how safe a country is, there are always a few slayers who target tourists or any foreigner. It is always safer and better to understand this and know the ways to avoid it. For example, there are pick pockets that are so professional at their work that you might not even feel that you have been robbed. Locals tend to charge foreigners higher amounts from foreigners/tourists for something that is extremely cheap. So, how will you know about these scams and ways to get away with it, research all the way!

Finding the top tourist destinations

There are two types of tourists, one who gets themselves registered with a planned tour and relies completely on the tour guide, and second who is adventurous, relies on personal research and explores the desired destination. The tour guide will definitely take you to the top tourist attractions, but they might skip a few or might not tell you about some great places due to time constraint or other reasons. Research is what will take you to the most breathtaking spots that are must to visit. Fortunately you will find many breathtaking spots in Pakistan.

Of course, research will help you in finding good accommodations and budget hotels, best restaurantsand food, gain an understanding of the potential dangers zones, top shopping places and things to take back home, and much more than you can try to know on your own.

Clothes to carry for a comfortable journey

Traveling is very exciting and what more exciting are the preparations prior to it. These include shopping for your journey, getting your stuff together, deciding what to take or what not to take and finally, packing. Packing is usually done at the eleventh hour because it is considered as a hassle. Every hassle becomes easy and organized if divided into steps. This can be done by making a list of things that you should take while traveling. The list should also be divided into must haves, essentials and extras.

Once the list is ready, you just have to dig the items out of your closet or cabinets and align them accordingly on your bed. It sounds messy right? But guess what, this mess will make you want to get rid of the stuff on your bed. So where does this mess go, inside the travel bag! Packing is pretty much sorted. This however is the final part of your preparation. The first thing to decide before traveling or before packing for your journey is what clothes to carry to make your trip easier.

We often tend to mistake extras with travel essentials and end up carrying half of the house, even if it’s for a short trip. Keep reading to find some interesting guidelines to decide what clothes to take.

Forecast the weather

Pretty easy right? Is it a summer vacation, winter vacation or pleasant spring time of the year? Forecasting the weather isn’t that much of a task. Once we know the time of the year, research on what the weather is like at the place you’re traveling to and how it will be like until your stay.

Dress code

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” It is not a must to follow the dress code of a country but it makes it less complicated for you to decide on what to take. If you know the dress code, search what you already have and if not, shop for them. But remember, save some shopping for your vacation spot too.

What is comfort to you

Wear comfortable shoes, loose fitted clothing, 100% cotton socks that will help your feet breathe, a large scarf to cover yourself if needed, a cozy jacket to keep you warm and simply whatever makes you feel happy and at ease, carry it with you.

Visiting Islamabad Over The Weekend

Pakistan is a country that loves to celebrate, be it an occasion, a festival, national holidays or simply a long weekend. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to get a long weekend with either one or two days holiday prior or after the weekend. There are several ways to utilize the long weekend and the best option is to “travel”. You must be thinking about how one can travel to another place within 2-3 days. Well, it is very much possible.

Islamabad, not only the capital of Pakistan but the second most beautiful capital city in the world, is the best option for a peaceful yet energizing weekend getaway. Islamabad is a perfect spot for the locals who live in the nearby cities or towns. You can easily plan a short trip when such holidays pop up and travel to Islamabad. A strong reason to love Islamabad includes its peaceful environment surrounded by immense greenery, along with several attractions for tourists.

ISLAMABAD TRAVEL GUIDE

Once you have a timeline, the next thing to decide is about the mode of transport. Since it’s a local trip, you can choose one of the many available transport options. You may fly to the city, take a train ride or simply drive yourself all the way to Islamabad. Weekend trips are usually done by car, after all road trips are always fun. Worried about accommodation? Don’t be. There are plenty of cheap and cozy options available for lodging, ranging from top 5 star hotels to inexpensive guest houses.

Islamabad is the best epitome of beauty and the other characteristic that makes it superior is that it connects several cities and towns, up to the north. So, if you are really adventurous and enjoy driving up towards northern areas, there is good news for you. The several destinations that Islamabad is connected to are Murree, Bhurbhan, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Naran and Muzaffarabad.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN ISLAMABAD

As Islamabad is famous for its tranquility, it is equally renowned for the places to visit that make Islamabad what it is. Mosques, monuments, parks, museums, art galleries, hills and legendary restaurants with mouthwatering food are the specialties of the city.

Mosques and monuments: Shah Faisal Mosque is the biggest mosque in the country and the most beautiful present to Pakistan from the Saudi King Faisal.  Karachi is home to Pakistan’s founder M.A Jinnah’s tomb, Lahore has ‘Minar-e-Pakistan’ and Islamabad has the national monument.The Golra Sharif is another prominent shrine.

Museums and art galleries: LokVirsa museum, the National art gallery and Rohtas gallery are a must for heritage fans.

Hills and parks: Margalla Hills, Rawal Lake, Daman-e-Koh, ChattarBagh are few of the many stunning locations to enjoy the weather and scenery.

Restaurants: Monal restaurant, Kabul restaurant, Papa Sallis, Des Pardes and the list goes on. These are some of the most famous eateries with delectable offerings that are not easy to miss.

Decide what gifts to bring back from a vacation

Bringing back a gift for someone from your vacation is more than just a gesture, it shows that even when you were away, you had a thought about them. Generally, the vacation gifts are given to immediate or close family and friends. These can even include your neighbors whom you have a good relationship with, people who work for you and maybe someone who was supposed to go with you but couldn’t.

There are many types of shops to buy gifts from but the best ones to look for are the local traditional shops with unique items depicting the country’s cultures. Touristy shops are present all around the world and buying stuff from there doesn’t really add to the uniqueness of the gift. We have a list of ideas for you that you can apply before buying something for those who are special to you.

Art

These not only include huge paintings of major landmarks of the country but also pieces of matted art, with local scenes, that come in all sizes. These range from the size of your palm to large portraits. Remember, you cannot carry large items so stick to the smaller travel sizes. If it’s not enough for someone, buy a couple of different ones.

Jewelry

Jewelry is something that is localized all around the world with every place having a unique variety of designs and way of wearing them. These include earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. There is different themed jewelry available that you can buy for the female members on your list.

Beauty products

Trust me, you will win the ladies hearts if you take back beauty products for them. These can also include spa products that like organic lotions or shampoos which will help the users relax. Another item that you can add here is a natural sponge.

Local food

Traveling is about two things, to relax and to eat food, well shopping too. Going to a new place and can’t wait to try their special delicacies at the most popular and best restaurants?  This is how every traveler feels before going for a vacation. Imagine how good those people will feel whom you bring the local food of the place you were at. Of course, keep in mind that if the distance is really long, the food might rot.

There is never a stop to anything. Apart from the above mentioned ideas, you can take anything as a gift for someone you think would love it. Be it clothes, souvenirs, themed items or postcards. Tip: carry an extra bag for the gifts. Happy shopping!

Most fascinating zoos in the world that you must visit

Traveling or a vacation is romantic, peaceful, relaxing or adventurous. People who are fond of adventures keep looking for new ideas for an adventurous trip. This article is a guide to most fascinating zoos in the world that you must visit.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn – Vienna, Austria

Located in the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, it is one of the oldest zoos founded in 1752.It was developed as a scientifically administered zoo targeting conservation of species and general nature. It is also popular because of its modern architecture.

Wellington Zoo, New Zealand

The Wellington Zoo in New Zealand is another zoo that must be in your list if you are traveling to the country. It is a hundred years old with more than 100 species of fauna from all around the world. The zoo is involved in breeding programs of endangered species that are about to go extinct.

Changa Manga Forest and Wildlife Park, Pakistan

Changa Manga is the largest manmade forest in the world, located in Lahore, Pakistan. The forest is hand planted and includes a wildlife reserve. There are 14 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, 6 of reptiles, 2 of amphibians and 27 species of insects. It was founded back in 1866 and still tends to be the best wildlife park in the country.

San Diego Zoo, USA

The San Diego Zoo is situated in California and is the largest zoological membership association in the world. It is famous and recognized for founding open-air exhibits, to recreate natural habitats for animals instead of cages, as well as for housing giant pandas and koalas. Apart from that, it houses about 3700 animals.

Beijing Zoo, China

Built on an area of 220 acres, the Beijing Zoo in China comprises of beautiful lakes and ponds that cover an area of 14 acres. It houses about 14,500 creatures including mammals, animals, reptiles, water animals and other different 450 species. About six million people visit every year to view the zoo’s wide collection. So when do you plan to visit?

Jovago’s list of top three places worth visiting in Jacobabad

Jacobabad, built over Kangarh village, is a city in Sindh, Pakistan. It is the capital of the Jacobabad District and administrative center of Jacobabad Taluka. Jacobabad takes its name from General John Jacob who founded the city in 1872. Generally, Jacobabad is a hot climatic city that experiences hot summers and mild winters. It is famous for its historical horse and cattle show, initiated by the British Government to obtain good horses for its cavalry.

Cattle show and world’s oldest camel fighting competition is held in the month of February every year. Jacobabad’s weather is suitable for producing different varieties of rice, wheat and other crops. The district has huge potential in contributing to the economy. The city is also popular for its mouthwatering dates.

Jovago’s Top 3

Victoria Tower

This building was commenced in 1888 by Miss Pritchard, daughter commissioner of Sindh. Colonel SS. Jacob supervised the design of the tower. It was founded by the contributions from the Zemindars and other inhabitants of the frontier district. As the building is quite old, it is wearing away, so you must visit it soon.

Pigeon Bird House

This place is best to visit if you are a birds’ lover and have interest in pigeons. Have a good time feeding seeds to them.

Shahbaz Airbase

Shahbaz Airbase is a military base operated by the Pakistan Air Force as well as a civilian airport. It was also used by U.S army and allied forces. It is an interesting site to visit.

Tips

 Restaurants

One of the most important parts about visiting a place is to try its local food. John Jacob Burger, Hotel Al-Harmain and Dawn Restaurant are the top recommendations according to reviews.

Shopping

There is a lack of shopping malls which is why online shopping is very common in Jacobabad. If you don’t get the time to go out and shop to take back home, order it online as per your convenience.

Hotels

You can easily book Jacobabad hotels here on Jovago.com, with the best price guaranteed. Sakhi Guest House and Royal Guest House Jacobabad are some of the hotels available on jovago.com.

Airport

The commercial airport at Jacobabad, about 300 miles (480 km) southeast of Kandahar, is located on the border between Sindh and Balochistan. It is the third largest airport in the country.

JOVAGO CROSSED 2000th MARK IN PAKISTAN HOTEL LISTING

2147 hotel properties from all over Pakistan are listed and can be booked using JOVAGO App and website

Lahore, April 6th, 2016: Jovago, the leading online hotel booking website, has now 2147 hotels listed from all over Pakistan that can be booked from anywhere in the world using the Jovago mobile app and website. Jovago has been working with the hotel industry to strengthen tourism by offering the economical rates and packages without compromising on quality and services.

These 2147 hotels are ranked from 1 star to 5 stars according to the reviews and votes given by tourist upon their stay. Among them 800 hotels are ranked as 1 star, 32 hotels are 2 stars, 199 hotels are 3 stars, 35 hotels are 4 stars and 10 hotels are 5 stars, Whereas, some fall under the category of 1.5 star, 2.5 stars and 3.5 stars.

Jovago believes that success of any country is highly dependent on its tourism sector hence bringing a wide variety of hotels will promote the goodwill of the country. Talking about this, Country Manager Jovago, Nadine Malik said “Jovago is constantly making efforts to promote tourism industry of Pakistan by offering a wide variety of pocket–friendly hotels to boost tourism in Pakistan. Furthermore, reaching up to this mark is the evidence of our commitment to support this relatively ignored industry. We are determined to take tourism to a new height by making it accessible for the people of all walks of life”.

This effort is one step forward in promoting the hotel and tourism industry of Pakistan which will boost the economy of Pakistan.

 About APACIG

The Asia Pacific Internet Group (www.apacig.com) is a joint venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo. The group’s network consists of 14  e-commerce and online marketplace companies, operating across 15 countries. Since it was founded in 2014, APACIG has become the leading online platform in Asia, building top internet companies in the region.

About Jovago

Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Group and has MTN and Millicom as investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 20,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.