6 Great Reasons To Choose A Luxury Pool Villa For A Phuket Stay

BY  Sibashree Dec 18, 2024

Located in California,  Sequoia National Park is famous as the home to giant sequoia trees. It is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest one in the world by volume. Further, it has famous landmarks like Kings Canyon.  No wonder that the California National Park is flocked by millions of visitors every year. You can enjoy a drive in the park and enjoy its scenic beauty. However, the best thing to do here is explore the park on foot. Only then will you be able to discover the waterfalls, the true hidden gems.  In this context, I must speak of the Tokopah Falls, the tallest in the park. Moreover, the park houses many prominent hiking destinations, like the route to Mount Whitney.  So, do you want to know more about the things you can do at the Sequoia National Park? Here is a Tour and Travel guide. Fun Things To Do At Sequoia National Park: Exploring Nature And Its Wonders At Your Own Pace Spread across an area of 1,635 km2, Sequoia National Park in California is a melting pot for many things. You will find the largest mountains, canyons, and falls in one place.  The best time to visit Sequoia National Park is between June to September. Exploring the sequoia groves is comfortable during these months.  Nevertheless, irrespective of the season you visit Sequoia National Park, you must not miss the following fun things. 1. Hike To The General Sherman Tree There is always a huge queue near the General Sherman Tree. The tallest in the world, this tree comes with a height of 275 feet. Further, it has a width of 36 feet.  Tourists gather around this gigantic tree to take photographs, and from there, they take an uphill road.  Nevertheless, to reach the General Sherman Tree, you will need to start your journey from the trailhead on Wolverton Road. The route is known as the Main Trail. As you advance in the trail, you will have to walk through the Giant Forest Area, where you will see the tallest sequoia trees and get to learn about their history.  2. Drive Along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway This spring or summer, you can enjoy a scenic drive by the Kings Canyon Byway. Here, the drive amidst the giant sequoia trees is a surreal experience. Further, on your way, you will find the Boyden Cavern.  Boyden Cavern is a hidden gem in Sequoia National Park and as you enter the cave, you will find the presence of stalagmites and stalactites. A drive through the Kings Canyon Byway is full of twists and turns. So, it is a great pursuit for adventurous souls. It starts outside Fresno and takes you to the Sequoia National Park after a drive through the Grant Grove Area.  On your way, you can stop at spots like the Grizzly Falls and Boyden Cavern.  Tour And Travel Note:The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway was closed due to a devastating fire condition earlier in 2024. Please check with the park authority before you plan this drive at Sequoia National Park.  3. Visiting The Grant Grove Village Within walking distance from the Great Grant Tree, you will reach Grant Grove Village. It has a visitor center. The Great Grant Tree is the second-largest sequoia tree in the world. It is more popular as the Nation’s Christmas Tree, the name given by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926.  Further, the village stands out because of the Grant Grove Restaurant. The Grant Grove Restaurant here serves the best lunch, dinner, and even breakfast. Food here is yum and they are all prepared using locally-grown ingredients.  Moreover, you can buy beer, wine, and grocery essentials from here. Also, if you are interested in local arts and crafts, you can collect the best souvenirs from here.  4. Camping At Sequoia National Park Camping is the best thing to do at Sequoia National Park if you want to enjoy the best of Sequoia National Park. At Sequoia National Park, camping will cost you between $32 to $80 based on the number of people in a camping group. Further, you will find 14 campsites in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park combined area. In addition, two of the campsites here are open across all seasons.  Some campgrounds at Sequoia National Park are: Lodgepole and Giant Forest Campgrounds Foothills Campgrounds Lodgepole and Giant Forest Campgrounds, etc.  Camping at Sequoia National Park comes with strict fire restrictions and other regulations. You must adhere to them.  5. Hiking To The Tokopah Falls Tokopah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park. However, this waterfall, with a height of 1200 feet offers amazing views from different viewpoints because of how it proceeds through cragged routes. It does not fall straight like a curtain like many other waterfalls.  However, to reach the Tokopah Falls, you will have to complete a hike of around 3.5 miles. It is an easy route and even suitable for children and beginners. To see the waterfall in its full glory, you will have to visit the waterfall in spring or early summer. In this season, the waterfall is fed by snow-melted water from the mountains. As we approach the fall season, the flow of water in the fall becomes weaker or thinner.  Nevertheless, the fall looks beautiful in every season, with gigantic trees and gray rocks surrounding it.  6. Enjoying The Peaceful View Of The Crescent Meadow Taking a walk along the Crescent Meadow is one of the most peaceful things to do at Sequoia National Park in California. Once you reach Moro Rock or the Crescent Meadow Road, you will find the Crescent Meadow in the end. However, you will have to walk for 1.5 miles to reach the grassy meadow, and the lush greenery here will make you forget about the fatigue of hiking. In addition, the wildflowers in the meadow will offer you the warmest welcome.  This hiking trail is easy to conquer and ideal for travelers who want to explore the park at their own pace. Are you looking for more exciting things to do at Sequoia National Park? You can hike to Moro Rock or visit the Giant Forest.  Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. Traveling On A Budget: Tips For Affordable Adventures. From Cocktails To Kickflips: Must-Try Activities In San Diego.

BY  sagnika Mar 30, 2024

Do you know how far Houston is from Austin? Are you planning to make a trip to Houston? Do you know how Austin is also an interesting place to visit? I am here to enlighten you about the distance between the two cities, Austin and Houston.  The two transportation methods you can use to travel to and fro from Austin and Houston are flights and road trips. I will share with you the information that will help you decide when to make the trip and where to visit.  I will share information about how you can plan and design your itinerary when you visit Houston from Austin and vice versa. If you read this blog, you will learn about the total travel time. Therefore, let's start reading about these places along with how to travel, where to visit, and how you should plan.  How Far is Austin from Houston? And Why You Should Visit Both!  When visiting Houston from Austin, a nonstop drive will take about 165 miles or 266 km. If you want to know how long it will take to drive and reach Houston, the time is 2 hours 32 minutes.   However, it is only possible to constantly drive from one location to another by taking a break. If you take stops while traveling, it will take more time to reach. Let us learn how to travel from Houston to Austin via flight.  I will also share what it will take if you plan a road trip from Houston to Austin. Furthermore, you will learn why these places are unique and interesting. I will share the highlights of Austin and Houston, which make them beautiful places to visit.  Houston To Austin By Flight  When you travel from Houston to Austin by flight, you cover 146 miles, while the flight time is 30 minutes. The flight distance across 236 km is 1/4th compared to when you drive.  A very short flight, especially if you take a private plane, but if you take a corporate plane, it will take time. Considering you must take local transportation, taxi, and plane boarding, you will spend more time based on realistic calculations.  Austin To Houston Road Trip  If you plan to take a road trip from Austin to Houston, you must drive for at least 4 hours! It is a full-day trip so you can plan the interesting places you will try in these two cities. You can decide on the itinerary and the important areas you want to visit.  Let us get into the plan so that you can decide where you can stop. For example, you can plan where to stop, watch the performances, and experience adventures. You can check out Hotel San Jose to have delicious food when you are on a road trip!  Of course, there is also Franklin's BBQ in Austin, and if you are an old customer, I am sure you can relate to it.  Why Should You Visit Austin?  One of the most interesting and unique places, Austin, is a great place to visit because it gives you a feel of the local culture. Their food, people, places, and culture are authentic.   There are over 50 breweries where you can drink craft beer, visit local music festivals, and go for adventures like kayaking! Let us delve deeper into knowing more about the places to go and why!  History  It is an interactive history where you visit Austin, with several historical attractions such as the French legation, Texas State Capitol, and others.   There are also several museums in Austin, namely the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, the LBJ Presidential Library, and others.  Yummilicious Food And Craft Beer  There are more than 400 restaurants that serve delicious food with cold beer. You can choose any food, from taco joints to steakhouses. Tacos are quite famous in Austin, as people usually prefer them.  If you are more of a gourmet person, you will get that, or if you like street food, there are several street vendors. Keep exploring food trucks, which are quite popular!  The Live Music  Many people in Austin are music enthusiasts, so several live music performances are hosted in the city. Of course, live music is organized in several concert halls and fields. You can see many famous musicians performing in these places!  You can visit festivals and attend movie screenings, thus celebrating rockabilly culture and food trucks, which are an integral part of the party. Even local artists perform regularly at these events.  Outdoor Adventures  Visiting Austin is very easy as the flights are quite cheap! You can visit Austin, where several popular parks exist, such as Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs Pool, and Zilker Park. If you love hiking, trail walking, or cycling, this is the perfect place to visit.  The Texas Hill Country Wine Trail and Barton Creek Greenbelt are two of the most popular trails in Austin. Several private and public golf courses are beautiful and dangerous; hence, they will be challenging.   Why Should You Visit Houston?  Why should you visit Houston? For one, Beyonce was born and raised in Houston, paying homage to Queen B! Read about the different reasons why Houston is a damn good place to visit. You can have a hell of an experience, from restaurants to space research centers.  If you love adventures and experiencing adventures, food, and culture, here I am with suggestions. You should take advantage of the experience because it will help you develop.   Diverse Food Culture  Houston's food scene is quite diverse, as more than 10000 restaurants serve food from 70 countries. You can get various foods in Houston, such as Ethiopian, Lebanese, Peruvian, Vietnamese, etc,   Of course, Houston is known for the crawfish season, which shows the Cajun influence! There are also burger joints in several fast food joints. The place's culture is quite diverse as there is an edge in the bustling city!  Drinking is accepted and encouraged in Houston. Houstonians entertain the drink, margarita on the rocks that is common practice! Of course, a mountain of tacos is accompanied by a drink. I suggest one place for fine dining, Theodore Rex because it offers fine dining!  Visits NASA Johnson Space Center  Houston is famed with the NASA Johnson Space Center, so you must see it when you visit. Only some things are allowed for all visitors, but there are some areas you can visit, especially if you have children.  An epicenter of technology, art, cancer treatment, and engineering, Houston is a perfect place to visit for two to three days of celebration without spending too much money.   Finishing Off…  To sum it up, you have to know how far Austin is from Houston. In this article, I have described the distance between the two locations and how long it will take if you travel via flight or road trip. You will agree that the experiences and the boundaries will help you develop special memories.  The itinerary will include many elements that will keep the excitement up and create lifetime experiences. It is all about having authentic experiences from the local culture, food, people, places, and events.  Comment on the places you want to visit when traveling from Austin to Houston or vice versa!  Read More About: Three Reasons To Fly By Private Jet At Any Time Explore These 5 Excellent Yacht Charter Destinations!

BY  Sibashree Dec 8, 2022

Are you a frequent traveler like I am? Well, if you are, you know it can take a lot of time to plan and organize travel arrangements and plane tickets. In my case, it helps if I have a reliable travel agency to do everything for me, so it becomes easier. But I am sure you have seen that not all travel agencies are reliable or legit. So, how will you know the difference without losing money? It would help if you read a thorough review of any travel agency, which is why I am here to review one of the best and trusted travel agencies I have used for my last few trips. So today, we are going to talk about the Trip.com travel agency. I can gush about it all day, but for you guys, I will stick to the facts. Trip.com has been around for a while. I know it still has questionable customer service and inappropriate customer reviews. So is trip.com legit? Or are we just wasting our time and money on it? About Trip.Com Trip.com Group Limited (parent company) is a Chinese travel service provider headquartered in Shanghai, and it was listed on NASDAQ in 2003 as Ctrip.com International. Also, I liked the fact that Trip.com is affiliated with about 1.4 million hotels and operates in approximately 200 countries and other regions. The company was established back in 1999. By now, they have over 2 million routes that connect over 5000 cities all over the world. The company has a massive network and well-connected 24/7 customer service in more than 20 languages. Also, its stocks are pretty high-stakes, as NASDAQ states. It's priced at $64.92. Recently, Trip.com, at the global partner summit, invited other travel agencies and industries to join them and build a future together. Why Is Trip.Com So Cheap? While booking your tickets, you would prefer somewhere you get the best deals. Although there are several places where you can save your money while traveling, getting the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, and other travel expenses is a good thing. And that is one of the great things I prefer about Trip.com, as they give the best deals on flights and hotels.  This makes them a popular choice for most travelers. But how do they offer such low prices compared to other companies? Ever thought of that? Since Trip.com sells to its customers directly, it can avoid other high costs from other agencies. And another thing that Trip.com does is they give back a part of the commission taken from the hotels and all the airlines to the customers, as low fare costs. So this is how Trip.com stays ahead of its competition. Can We Use Trip.com On Our Mobile Devices?  Of course! You can use Trip.com on your mobile devices. You just have to download their app. It is available for both iOS and Android. The app lets you book all sorts of tickets, such as: Flights  Hotels  Trains  Airport Rides  Attraction Tickets  You can also access Trip.com through their website on your mobile web browser.  Is Trip.Com Legit? If the company's legitimacy is in question, then there is no doubt that Trip.com is a legitimate company operating worldwide. Furthermore, it's been twenty years since the company has been operable, so you can rest assured that they are here to stay and will not disappear one day.  The services offered by Trip.com through their website are safe to use, and you can easily access flights and hotels from the website if you want.  And regarding website safety issues, it is safe and secured using SSL encryption to ensure all your data privacy, like financial and personal information.  Read More: Top Trips For Travelling With A Big Group Of People Are there Cancellation Policies on Trip.com? Trip.com has cancellation policies for flights, hotels, and trains, but these policies can be very different depending on the airline, hotel, or train operator, as well as the type of ticket or room you booked and when you cancel. Always check the specific rules for your booking to see if it is refundable and to find out what fees may apply.  How Can I Cancel A Flight Booking On Trip.com?  To cancel a flight booking on Trip.com, you need to follow the steps written below:  To cancel a flight booking on Trip.com, you need to follow the steps written below:  On your mobile or laptop, log in to your account on Trip.com. Once you are logged in, navigate to "My Trips -> All Bookings" or “Account -> All Bookings” on the Trip.com app.   To cancel your booking, tap "Manage My Booking" and select the "Cancel Booking" button. I want to clear, according to Trip.com’s Flight Cancellation Policy, you may have to pay a service fee and cancellation charges.  Now, you have to review the refund details. Then, you must confirm any processing fees that might be associated with cancelling your flights. Then, click "Next" to proceed to the details page.  Now, you must carefully verify the refund details and information, then tap "Submit" to complete the cancellation process. It will take a day or two for the amount to be refunded. How Can I Cancel A Hotel Booking On Trip.com? To cancel a hotel booking on Trip.com, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:  On your mobile or laptop, log in to your account on Trip.com.  Once you are logged in, navigate to "My Trips -> All Bookings" or “Account -> All Bookings” on the Trip.com app.  To cancel your hotel reservation, tap "Cancel Booking." Keep in mind that some hotels do not refund cancellations, while others may give a full or partial refund if you cancel by a certain date.  Enter the reason for cancelling your hotel booking and click "Submit" to confirm your cancellation.  After you submit your request, click "View cancellation policy" to check your refund details. Look over your refund information and status to finish the process.  How Can I Cancel A Train Booking On Trip.com?  Do you want to cancel a train booking on Trip.com? No biggie. You can follow the steps mentioned below: On your mobile or laptop, log in to your account on Trip.com.  Once you are logged in, navigate to "My Trips -> All Bookings" or “Account -> All Bookings” on the Trip.com app.  Click the "Refund" button to cancel your China High Speed train booking. Please remember that a small assistance fee may be taken from your refund.  To complete the cancellation process, please provide the front and back of your ID. After that, review the refund details. Finally, click the "Refund" button.  The refund fee for China High Speed trains depends on how early you cancel your ticket before the train departs. Here’s a simple overview of the refund fees:  Time Of Refund Fees Required More than 8 days No fee 48 hours-7 days 5% of the ticket fare 24 hours-48 hours 10% of the ticket fare Less than 24 hours 20% of the ticket fare  Is Trip.Com Reliable? Relying on a certain travel company can be tough, as hundreds of travel companies give great deals. So now the question is the trip com reliable?  The easy answer is yes. The Trip.com Group is a huge multinational Chinese company that is one of the world’s leading travel service providers. Although the figure isn’t accurate, currently, the Trip.com group has over 32,000 employees. In addition, the company owns other travel companies, such as CTrip and Skyscanner. Is Trip.com Better Than Other Online Travel Agencies?  Umm, it's really tricky to answer that in a single sentence. So, I will explain it in detail. You see, the other notable online travel agencies, or OTAs, include booking.com and Agoda.com. Now, Trip.com is a bit different than both these sites. How?  Well, firstly, these sites are more accessible depending on which destination you choose to travel to. To be precise, if you are planning a trip to China, please go to Trip.com. Also, if you want to book your entire trip together? Of course, including hotels, flights, and tours in one place, Trip.com is your answer.  Additionally, Trip.com will give you the best deals and possible discounted prices. Plus, you will have quick and easy booking, without any follow-up negotiations. These are all the reasons why I completely shifted to become a Trip.com user, and I intend to stay this way for a while. Trip.Com: Customer Reviews A company that has been around for more than twenty years is sure to have a good reputation and reliability as a travel company. But the real reviews come from the customers who have already used the services of Trip.com.  So here are a few original customer reviews of Trip.com.  **“Nice and easy! The details were clear with each step! Clearly showed the important stuff such as baggage allowances with each flight, dates, times, etc. On top of that, was cheaper than other websites I've tried looking. Will definitely keep using this moving forward!” ( August 24, 2025, Trustpilot)** **“I tried to book a flight then after typing all the information it kept showing it wasn’t available for like the next three times, every time showing a higher price… I wished it just showed what was available. The price turned out to be 3 times higher, still couldn’t book so I just gave up.” (August 25,2025, Trustpilot)** Is Trip.com Legit If The Reviews Are Mixed?  Even though most of the reviews the customers wrote are bad and negative, it is important to note that the company’s customer service department replied. They tried to respond to almost 94% of the bad reviews and tried to solve their problems. Not only the bad reviews. Trip.com even replied to the good reviews as well, showing their gratitude. So unlike most travel companies that ignore the negative reviews given by customers, Trip.com not only responds but tries to help them as well. Read More: Do You Know How To Buy Cheap Air Tickets?  Is Trip.com Legit? A Reliable Yes. Now that you are well aware of your question, is trip.com legit? You can decide whether you want to rely on Trip.com for your next trip plans. But it is important to note that you shouldn’t get discouraged due to the bad reviews as they are inevitable in every business. Rather it is important to know how the company deals with all those bead reviews and tries to improve itself. So if you think Trip.com legit is worth taking a chance on, comment below on how you feel.