LONGING TRAVEL
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Who says you need to leave your job to travel. The person who tells you is trying to tell you that there is a certain way you have to and can live a life. That for me is the same bullshit most of us travelers and a lot of non travelers hate and fight against every day. We have our own way of travel and it has worked for us over last few years. This post is for those of you who want to travel more and are ready to put in effort for your travels. We travel independently and truly detest taking one of the tours simply because we hate being told when to get up and how much time we have at a destination. But if you find tours to be much more comfortable and easier go ahead and use these ways to get more travel time.


Our trips this year.

For those of you who like the convenience of tours but want the freedom of independent travel check out Intrepid travel and G adventures. You could also check out these day tours from Urban Adventures and have the best of both worlds. So let's get to the bottom of how you can travel more with your full time job.

1. We plan our travels WAY in advance

Saving ourselves from -20C in January while trekking the Himalayas. We booked the trip in April Last Year
Seriously if I ever hear that I can't plan that far in advance or I don't want cancellations I am running out of the room. Ever since we started traveling we have been asked the question and we have told the honest answer. Me being the fool I am I go to lengths to explain to the answer seekers what they are doing wrong but leaving it to the last minute. Result is not always good but thankfully nobody asks me again about how to travel more.

There is no real reason to plan in as much advance as we do. The problem is most of us desk dwellers are not spontaneous enough to travel when the time comes, hence the need to plan your travels.


We plan our trips at the start of the year or as soon as we get the holiday calendar for the upcoming year. We usually plan a few 8 day trips (In 2015 we have 26 days for long trips and a lot of smaller 1-4 day trips are peppered in between. Spacing the longer trips means that we are not out of office every few days and we make sure to use all the long weekends and a lot of regular weekends too.


Planning that far in advance keeps us open to deals that might come our way. this is one of the biggest reasons why we usually pay far less for flights and can afford to travel more on a much smaller budget. If you are interested to know how exactly we plan our travel head over to this detailed post.

There is no way we would be able to travel as much as we do with a 5.5 day working week without planning in advance. If you are one of those who find both motivation and mone
y to go on a spontaneous week long trip you don't necessarily have to plan the way we do.


2. We got a great Travel related credit card

If almost every other traveler or blogger is telling you that you need a great travel credit card it is time to accept that probably you do. We bought our credit card in 2013 around the time we started traveling. We have had many free flights, buses, discounted flights or hotels and all from doing nothing else except for taking out credit card instead of cash at the grocery store.
These views of Maldives are courtesy our credit card. Flight tickets are usually the make or break factor for us and  with our miles we both flew to Maldives and  back with just 100$ out of our pocket.

Over past 2 years almost all of our expenses have gone on the credit card as long as the vendor accepted cards. It is a boon for online shopping and more often than not we have a great deal which gets us better returns. I talk a lot about the card we own and if you have ever asked me in person about how we afford our travels this credit card would probably be the first answer. The reason is not that I am looking for referral money (which I don't get anyways), it is simply the solution which changed the game for us. 

3. We learned how to not book stuff

When we went off to Srilanka for a week long trip the first question our colleagues asked us was who did you go with. They wanted to know which tour package we had booked and how did that turn out for us. Imagine the shock when we told them we went on our own. Is that safe? Yes it is.

When we went for our honey moon we got the same question and we had the same answer. At that time it was just the easiest and cheapest option and we had the control over our own trip. After that we were mostly traveling within India and on a strict time line. Taking tours did not make sense unless we had to, like we did for Sundarbans. And that has stuck with us and we are trying to get out of booking stuff more and more.


When we went to Sri Lanka we decided to book a few accommodations and leave everything else to walk ins. We knew we could afford expensive places if it came down to it, so we decided to experiment even after Pattadakal fiasco. In reality it ended up way cheaper than pre-booking would have been. We booked everything for Maldives but not for Thailand, because we know we will have better deals and flexibility that way.

What has worked for us is leaving some areas of the trip which let us enjoy the trip and also gives us complete control on how, when and where to travel. This might not be for you but I really really recommend you try it out once or twice. For starters plan your own trips and not with a tour group just remember not to pack a tight schedule.

4. Control your expenses and be clear about your priority

If travel is your priority then you should probably not be spending on filling your wardrobe with clothes and shoes. If you want to travel to far corners of the world filling in your home with furniture and gadgets you hardly use and definitely don't need, is not a wise plan either. So what is wise? 
Enjoying the heritage of Rajasthan at Citi Palace Jaipur.

Actually it depends on you, if like us you are happy with enough at home so that you can spend more time on the road you don't need much. On the other hand living like we do with all required furniture and a fully equipped kitchen might feel less to people because they need TV or AC. We don't watch TV and I believe it is a conversation killer as it is, since we are in office most of the day we don't need Ac either. These save us a considerable amount of money every month, and we never had to bear the one time cost either.

If you on the other hand cannot live without the background television noise and you need to chill your extremities if it is hot outside buy them by all means. Like I said earlier there is no right way to travel, there is also no right way to live your life and save.

I love shoes, and when I just started working I would buy a pair every other week. When we shifted to Hyderabad I had a box full of shoes. Since we started traveling I have rarely worn any one of those and I need more walking shoes anyways. So I cut back on my shopping, and put it into our travel. This has resulted in decluttering my house as well as a slightly bigger budget for our travels.

5. We really want to travel and are OK with working for it



Do you really want to travel the corners of the world? It's not a bad thing if you don't want to, in past few years we have met quite a few people who would ask us how to travel, where to go but do nothing. We realize later that they don't really want to travel. Being persistent overenthusiastic people that we are we sometimes offend them unknowingly when we ask them if they traveled recently and recount our travels. Personally I keep my mouth shut when someone is explaining how their knowledge of a place is better than ours, because they heard it from a distant relative and we went there.

If you are an armchair traveler excuse my insistence on traveling but if you actually want to travel and have a modest fund to dispense, you will have to work for it. This will include all of the above and other things you will discover about travel and yourself as you get moving.

This is one of the biggest factors which has kept us traveling more and more. Even today the sight of blue domes of Samarkand makes us want to hop on a flight, as much as we love stretching on our recliners.

What are your ways of travelling that have kept you travelling better, longer and being even more awesome? Don't keep those hidden let them show off.

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We love Goa, it is a place I would probably never grow tired of. Goa gives me a sense of relief even if getting to the state is a bit tiresome. This time we headed off to the South Goa instead of the happening and always partying North Goa. It was probably one of the better decisions we made.

A Lantern at Palolem Beach Goa
South Goa probably is at the stage where North Goa would have been a decade ago. Quiet pockets and secluded beaches along with good food and readily available services. I still remember the first time we went to Goa way back in 2012, we knew just one Goa- the one which revolves around Baga, Calangute and Anjuna beaches. It was busy, chaotic, crowded and expensive. Our second trip took us to Velha Goa as we were on the GoUNESCO 2013 mission of visiting all world heritage sites. In 2014 we got our SCUBA certifications here and spent a blissful week soaking in the relative quiet of off season in the state.

After our trek in the Himalayas we had been really busy with all the shifting, and our next decided travel plans were far away in August, when we head over to Maldives. This meant we had six months of no travel (I don't count visiting family as travel) and by March we were both getting cranky and travel withdrawal was getting to us really bad. so we decided to head over to the beaches and as always they did not disappoint for our 2015 visit to GOA.

Goa to most means beaches, cheap booze and sea food, it is way more than that. Here are somethings you should do in Goa apart from just lazing on the beach.

Go Diving

A School of Fish 

You know I love diving and if I could I would be diving every beach we can find, this time we were out of money but if you are heading to Goa go diving. We are certified divers that means we can dive with minimal assistance, go deeper and it is usually cheaper. If you do not have a diving certification and are mot interested in spending upwards of 18000/- to get one go for Discover SCUBA.These are pretty cheap starting from around 5000/- and you don't have to spend time learning and then passing the test.

That being said if you ever dream of spending a week in a live aboard or diving around the world invest in your certification.


Visit the Churches

Bom Jesus Basilica

These churches of Goa are a World Heritage site and for good reason, they are beautiful and where else can you pay respect to St. Francis Xavier, whose mortal remains are displayed in a coffin at the Church. Ride to the church is beautiful as you navigate streets of Velha Goa early Portuguese capital.


See the forests

Dudhsagar Falls

Goa has a huge forest reserve and if you ever make the journey to the state on the train you would pass many water falls and dense forests as the train moves slowly along the edge of a cliff. Many companies run treks to falls and various parts of forests. Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife sanctuary along with Netravali, Cottigao make for a perfect vacation for forest and animal lovers. Two of our friends spent a morning visiting Cottigao (I was sleeping in pain, with a weird stomach ache) and we all went to the beach later; win-win for every one.


Tap your feet to music

Axwell performing in Sunburn Goa

Well this is definitely seasonal but there is almost always something going on in Goa. If you would like to be a part of some of the best EDM concerts in India, head to Goa in the end of December. Though this will be way more expensive compared to visiting Goa any other time, but as they say you gotta live a little. After thinking and ending up broke just before booking tickets every year; we are pretty sure we would be at sunburn this year and it is expensive already.


Go eating

The famous Vindaloo

If you want it there is probably a shop in Goa that sells that food- within reason. We have sat down for traditional North Indian thalis, Goan food, Israeli breakfasts, Italian, Mediterranean and a lot more. though the pricing is not as cheap as you would find in some of the smaller cities but they are fairly good for a tourist magnet like Goa. The portions are usually decent and once you add a few drinks (always cheap) it will be a great meal. Have at least one meal (candlelit dinner anyone!) in one of the numerous shacks along the beach.

Goa is probably one of the places which will make you feel comfortable and welcomed no matter what your life beliefs are and what you want to do. Take a few days off and head over to Goa for a much deserved break.



Our recommendations for booking your stays

A villa on Airbnb

1. Airbnb- If you still haven't registered with them I don't know why but we have stayed in one of the places through them and it cost us 700 per person. If you are actually not registered, use this link to get 25$(~1500) off on your first booking. If you are looking for luxury book some of the beautiful villas near the sea.

2. Hostels- Goa has so many hostels that you would be counting them all night and most of them are great with free wifi and sometimes even free breakfast.
Tow of the best ones are Prison Hostel and Brick & Bamboo both near Anjuna Beach. These social hostels will never let you feel lonely even if your friends ditched you, definitely a reason to travel solo.

3. Luxury stay- Some of the most expensive resorts are in Goa and if you are looking for luxury you are at the right place. Taj has various properties around Goa but if you are looking to be close to Palolem beach in South Goa you might want to look at Lalit and Fern Gardenia.



A Beach Hut on Airbnb

4. Beach Huts-These might be your only option if you land in Palolem in the peak season and they are a good option. These start from around 500 a night for two. If you can bargain the prices may drop too. don't worry if you don;t have a hut booked you can easily find one walking along the beach, though if you have a particular one in mind do call ahead. these are just basic accommodations so don't expect big time luxury unless you are ready to dish out 1500 a night.

Check out Camp Sanfrancisco, Art Resort  and Ciarans  they have some of the higher end huts and for regular huts, seriously just walk along the beach.



When are you going to Goa next and to which part of the state?

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Bangalore is one of the most active cities I have ever seen, and both of us like Bangalore a lot. one of the reasons we like it is because there is just so much to do in and around Bangalore. Just Like I said with Hyderabad it would have been so easy to just do a quick list but this has to be easy and no brainer, like Chennai and Mysore, because I know of friends who have not yet visited these two even though they have been living in Bangalore for ages.The list below has everything from forest to Beaches.



For some of the cities we have a detailed guide too just click on the Read more about the city tag below the city.


If you would like to add to the list and we have quite a few we would have added too, just put it down in the comments. Also let us know how many of these places have you been to.



Hampi



A great destination, Hampi is 370 kms fromBangalore and is reachable by daily buses and trains. Recommended for long weekends, you’ll love the slow pace of the historic boulder city. Best time to visit is winters. Don’t forget to pack huge loads of sunscreen and umbrella if you plan to go in summers and you may miss the coracle ride during rains. With heritage temples, village life and awesome restaurants Hampi would be your best pick. You can easily find accommodation in the range of 400-500 a night and food can be as cheap as you want. There are no designated camping grounds but we have heard a few camping stories as well.

Read more about the city here


Nagarhole National Park


photo credit: Wild life - Nagarhole and Muthanga, India via photopin (license)

Some 220 km from the city are the forests of Nagarhole with its varied wildlife and lush green forests. Like most of the tropical forests you should be planning a visit during the cooler months from October to March. With easy bird sightings and nature walks the National Park is a dream destination for any nature enthusiasts. To add to this there are quite a few resorts which have come up and promise to provide you with responsible tourism options. Though these can be very expensive during the peak season you can definitely look around and get some cheaper options. The best part is that there is no fee for the national park, at least that is what Wiki Travel says.


Pondicherry



This is almost a default choice for anyone who lives near enough, with the sea, French buildings and delicious food it is a must visit. If you have not been to Pondicherry yet, even after living in Bangalore pack your bags right away.  we have been to the Union territory multiple times now and I would go back in a heart beat, if only for the quirky shops and good food for all tastes. If you are a meat eater you would be a happy person sitting down at one of the many French places or sampling some parotha at any one of the shops.



Head over here to get more info about Pondicherry.


Chennai


photo credit: Mahabalipuram, India via photopin (license)

It might not be the default choice in terms of weekend destinations but Chennai is a great city to spend a eating weekend in. Everyone agrees that the best sambhar is to be had in the city and I second them. Not only that the city has good beaches and heritage monuments which will not just keep you busy but also satisfied. To add to that the city is barely 350 Km from Bangalore and definitely deserving of a road trip. If you opt for the road trip take your time at places like Vellore and Kanchipuram.


Belur


Photo credit: Abhijeet Rane

This small town in Hassan district is even served by the KTDC tours from Bangalore, so all you have to do is hop on a bus. The town on the banks of Yagchi river is a treasure trove for any history enthusiasts and the forests nearby are equally inviting. The city is just 3 hours drive from bangalore but that doesnot man you make it a day trip. Take at least three days and include Chikmanglur and Shravanabelagola, both of them quite different but defintley worth a visit; Chikmanglur with it's coffee plantations and Shravanabelagola with the world's largest monolithic statue of Jain deity.


Kochi




Thanks to the cheap flights going to Kochi from Bangalore is very easy and once you are that near to backwaters a weekend cna only get better. Though Kochi is a good place to visit at any time still you would do good to avoid the Monsoons, instead in the cooler months of the year the city can be one of the best destinations to visit. The main city of Kochi is not where you want o spend your time. take a bus from the airport and get to fort Kochi and spend the day and evening there to soak in it's Portuguese Heritage. It is pretty small and we cold walk around on foot easily. If you are interested in spendign a night in a houseboat (as you should be) head to Alleppy. Local buses are good and punctual and you should have no problem reaching any where.



Mysore


photo credit: Arian Zwegers via photopin cc

Really you have not been to Mysore and you are in Bangalore! Well never mind this year go and see the lighting on Tipu Sultan's palace and be amazed. the wealth held inside the palace is amazing but photography is strictly prohibited. Apart form the palace do go and visit the Rail museum, or if you are feeling adventurous or religious climb up the Chamundi hill. 1000 or so steps will take you to a temple and get you some of the most beautiful vies of the surroundings. Just 150 Km from Bangalore Mysore cna be an easy day trip for those weekends when you still want to sleep in your bed.


Badami and Pattadakal



Called as the cradle of Indian temple architecture Pattadakal is more like a laboratory where in one enclosure you will find various temple styles. The village is very small and while visiting we did not find a single lodge but then again we did not ask. We were busy roaming around the campus and then looking for food. Badami is the place where you will find options to stay and it is where you will get in if you take the train route. Badami caves are beautiful though not as widely spread as those of Ajanta and Ellora but beautiful none the less with sculptures to rival any one of the famous caves. If you are there for a long weekend take a trip to Aihole too.
ou might want to check out this post The practicals of Badami and Pattadakal
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Hyderabad has been our home for over 3 years now and our travelling life started here. Though we have visited a lot of places somehow those nearer to the city have been neglected. It is the case of your backyard just not giving you that feel that a stamp on your passport can.
We were talking to our cousins and we realized that though some of the places on our list here are just second nature to us and of course we know about them most don’t. So this year where we have so many chances of enjoying long weekends we decided to put this together for our friends who want to just be out of the city for a day or two.

For some of the cities we have a detailed guide too just click on the Read more about the city tag below the city.

Map View of all the destinations from Hyderabad (courtesy: Google Maps)


It was very tempting to make a quick list of 30+ places but that doesn’t really help does it. These are just 8 places and if you have not been to anyone of them you can visit all of them this year. If you have been to everyone of these, share your insights as well.
If you would like to add to the list and we have quite a few we would have added too, just put it down in the comments. Also let us know how many of these places have you been to.


Hampi



A great destination, Hampi is 369 kms from Hyderabad and is reachable by daily buses and trains. Recommended for long weekends, you’ll love the slow pace of the historic boulder city. Best time to visit is winters. Don’t forget to pack huge loads of sunscreen and umbrella if you plan to go in summers and you may miss the coracle ride during rains. With heritage temples, village life and awesome restaurants Hampi would be your best pick. You can easily find accommodation in the range of 400-500 a night and food can be as cheap as you want. There are no designated camping grounds but we have heard a few camping stories as well.

Read more about the city here



Bidar

photo credit: Amit Chattopadhyay via photopin cc

The seat of ancient Bahamani Empire, Bidar is 145 kms from Hyderabad and is well connected by train and bus. You can also choose drive to the city as road conditions are quite good. You would be amazed by the monumental scale and expanse of Bidar fort and intrigued by the aqueduct system, Karez, designed by our ancestors. You can also visit temples and gurudwara which are quite popular. Don’t forget to pick your Bidri souvenir, the traditional metal inlay art. Winters are the best time to visit.


Read more about the city here.



Papikondalu

Aphoto credit: Amar.PR via photopin cc

Located along the Godavari River in Eastern Ghats, Papikondalu is the best place to laze and enjoy the beauty of nature. Reach Rajahmundry, 400 kms from Hyderabad and hop on an amazing river cruise to reach here. You can visit temples, wildlife sanctuaries, go for fishing or just relax in the lap of Papi hills. Winters are the best time to visit, but it is bound to be busy. We checked around for a non booked option but could not find one. If you do know of how we can visit the area without a tour operator let us know.


Read more about the city here


Warangal

photo credit: Rajib Ghosh via photopin cc

Barely 150 Km from Hyderabad is the historic town of Warangal with the distinction of being the Kakatiya capital for centuries. If you want to just spend a day or two and travel minimal this should be one of the destinations that you look at. The city is also a good destination for those who want to try their hands at road trips be it with a cycle, a motorbike or a car, you will be driving on NH 202 and from our experience on a recent trip the roads would be more or less good. Do not forget to visit the Fort, stone gateways and temples. If you are in for a place hopping weekend starting your day with a visit to Bhuvanagiri go on to Warangal stay and visit Yadgirigutta on your way back.

Srisailam



photo credit: itsmaheshdesu via photopin cc

A popular weekend destination for many Hyderabadis and a stop for many religious travelers around the country the town offers much more than a visit to the deity. Counted as one of the Jyotirlinga, Srisailam can be reached by bus or train, though bus is one of the cheap and convenient options. The journey is through forests as the city lies close to the Nallamala forests. There is a tiger reserve nearyby as well, but that is not why you are going to be there. Hire a jeep or share one to get to the Ista Kameswari Temple, 16 Km into the forests. Another must visit are the Akkamahadevi Caves, hire a private boast or buy tickets for the tourism boat.

Nashik

photo credit: ganuullu via photopin cc


For a long time we knew Nadhik as a city now it is much more than that, it is the wine city. With many vineyards putting their roots in the city and nearby areas it has now become a place to unwind with wine tasting and vineyard views. As with most of the places in India, you can have a vacation as cheap or as expensive as you want. Go for one of the Airbnb home stays for a cheaper stay or book one of the more luxurious options from here. If you want a vineyard stay that is also possible. Not far from Nashik is the Triyambakeshwar temple which is again one of the many Jyotirlinga and has been a place where devotees have flocked to since ages. It is a bit far away with 650Km+ separating it from the city but it is still worth the journey,and you can also make a pit stop in Shirdi if you have time.

Badami & Pattadakal



Called as the cradle of Indian temple architecture Pattadakal is more like a laboratory where in one enclosure you will find various temple styles. The village is very small and while visiting we did not find a single lodge but then again we did not ask. We were busy roaming around the campus and then looking for food. Badami is the place where you will find options to stay and it is where you will get in if you take the train route. Badami caves are beautiful though not as widely spread as those of Ajanta and Ellora but beautiful none the less with sculptures to rival any one of the famous caves. If you are there for a long weekend take a trip to Aihole too.

You might want to check out this post The practicals of Badami and Pattadakal


Aurangabad


Aurangabad is around 540 km from Hyderabad and just an overnight train ride away. The city in itself has many things to do and see with Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara and others. Those who land here come not just for the treasures of the city; they come for Ajanta and Ellora Caves. These are perhaps the most famous or all caves in India, Ellora being a sculpture heaven and Ajanta putting forward some of the best cave paintings of the world.

We put together a guide for the caves, click here to sign up and download it.


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Over past few weeks I have received a lot of requests for good stay options at various locations from friends and family. Form houseboat rentals to beach villa and I have been looking for the best deal possible fro them. Yes I know I am the best friend ever, and they are awesome people so I love doing something special for them.

To make it easier for all of you to find and book hotels in a way that would help you save some good money, I decided to do this post which will cover two of my favorite sites to book hotels on. There are a few affiliate links in the post below, which means if you do book anything from here I will get a small percentage of your transaction. Be clear, you will definitely not be charged extra, more often than not you will get a free credits.

These days we are not booking our stays beforehand because we love couch surfing and also because we don't mind walking around looking for a cheaper accommodation, or a place that will suit our requirements. We also do not have to take care of a kid and usually stay in a backpacker to low budget accommodations which usually do not require bookings. It might sound cool to arrive at a new place with out bookings and just roughing it out, believe me it can turn on you as it did for us  in Bijapur. We recommend that you book your accommodation for first night at least.


Hotels.com

Hotels.com is an international site which offers a great incentive to book. If you book 10 nights with them you get one free night. This is not the only benefit of the site, let me tell you more about it. This is one of the transactions we were looking at but the plans fell through we are now working these days and travelling later.


The Start Page

We were looking for a place to stay in Goa for 4 days and 3 nights along with two other couples. Logging on to the site I fill in the form telling them where I want to stay and for how long. On the next page with search results I get an option to select the amenities I want and the search results are them filtered to suit my preference.
Search Results
Quite a few search results

Once satisfied with my choice on hotel I juts go one and pay the amount and voila I got myself a booking. Now this is almost similar to most of the other booking sites but In terms of filters I have found Hotels.com to be the most accurate.


Selecting my filters
Filtered Results

A property we liked (we do not endorse them)
Room options and Details.

Payment Page

You need to take care that as far as possible you book the hotels with the purple moon next to it and the room you are booking should show collect. Once I go through the booking and my hotel stay is complete these nights will be credited to my account, contributing to the 10 night quota for my free night stay.

This is where my friends come into play since i need to book 3 nights each for each couple, I can collect a total of 9 nights simply buy booking the hotel in 3 transactions, which will be credited the same way. If you are a frequent traveler or you travel with your family or friends you should have no problem racking up those nights and then you can use them to stay at a place you choose.

Another thing I like and the reason why I prefer the site over likes of Goibibo is because the prices are quite competitive. Recently the discount being offered on other sites have been dwindling. Most of the discounts now come with a minimum qualifying expense and put a cap on how much discount you might get. I used to think that the prices would be way higher but since this has not much to do with money and a lot to do with no. of nights rewards remains equal if I book a 600 Rs night or 6000 Rs night.


Hotels.com



These make most sense if you are traveling in Europe or any of the other expensive countries since you will spend a good amount which will help you get a good place to stay when you come back to India. They also have this last minute deal which we have never tried. So if you are looking for a place to stay today or tomorrow look it up. In case you do let us know how it went.

Hotels.com

I know what you are thinking, I stay cheap now and then  stay expensive on my free night. That is not how it works your free night is the average of all the nights you have bought. So in case your office lets book you stays you might want to route them all through Hotels.com.

Do not forget to sign up for loyalty points of your hotel group be it SPG or Hyatt or any other, everything from your stay to food will help you get another free night from the loyalty points.



This is what they say about the free night.

Our loyalty program, Welcome Rewards, is for guests aged 18+ who signed up with a valid email address. When you book and stay 10 nights at eligible hotels, you’ll get 1 night free to redeem at another. We work out the average value of all the 10 nights you’ve collected and give it back to you as a free night. You just pay taxes and fees. And if you choose a room that costs more, you pay the difference. You can’t collect or redeem nights when you pay using a discount coupon or if you’re making a package booking. 

Links above are affiliate links which means if you book after clicking through we will get a small percentage of the amount without you being charged any extra.

Next Up: Agoda.com

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Arequipa, Peru - Things to Do and Know for a Weekend Getaway

If Peru is on your radar and you were about to just visit Machu Pichu it is time you look beyond. If you are already in Peru and are looking for a place to visit beyond the ruins our friends at Two Monkeys Travel Group suggest you look into Arequipa and make the white City a stop for your weekend adventures for a long weekend.


twomonkeystravelgroup
Kach Mu and Jonathan Howe are the working-on-the-road couple behind twomonkeystravelgroup.com. They are both certified Tantra Yoga Teachers, Ayurveda Massage Therapists and TEFL Certified Teachers - working wherever and whenever they want! Travelling status: 18 months of on the road and currently based in Arequipa, Peru… 
Their next major travel goal- Antartica via Argentina! Follow them at facebook.com/twomonkeystravel


While Peru is best known for Machu Picchu, the Amazon and of course, llamas, you shouldn't miss out on a trip to its second largest city, Arequipa. Also known as the White City for the Sillar (white volcanic stone) buildings, the city is small enough to walk around most places and there is a strong sense of culture here.
Arequipa has its own airport, so you can easily fly to or from here from Cusco to visit Machu Picchu.  It’s also a great stopping point on the way to Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, although there are plenty of attractions in the immediate area to keep you entertained. 

Cities and Distances:

Peru - 1018 Km
Cusco - 482 Km
Puno- 293 Km


Arequipa, Google Maps Snapshot
Arequipa, Google Maps Snapshot by Parul

Getting Here and Getting around

  • While driving to Arequipa from Lima can take up to 20 hours, Peru has a great private coach infrastructure, with luxury ‘flat-bed’ seats available from ($40USD). If this seems a bit too long then you may want to invest a little extra in direct flights from Lima (1.5 hours), which start at around ($80USD).
  • From Arequipa itself, it’s only a 3 hour minibus ride to Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, where you can enjoy trekking to a desert oasis and relaxing in volcanic hot springs.
  • It’s the same distance to the coast where you’ll find Pacific waves, beautiful beaches and delicious seafood.
  • About five hours inland will land you in Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 metres above sea level.
  • There are many tour companies offering a variety of trips from Arequipa, so there’s plenty to choose from. We’ve always had a great experience with Gloria from Arequipa Tours and they have always been reliable and professional. 
Arequipa Colca Canyon
Arequipa Colca Canyon

Best time to visit

Arequipa offers great weather almost all year round, with the only months to avoid being January to March due to the heavy and frequent summer rains. Being a high-altitude desert situation, it tends to be very hot and dry during the day, with chilly, but not uncomfortable temperatures at night, so you’ll need to pack some light jumpers or jackets for the evenings

Things to do and See

Arequipa Beach Pacific Ocean
Arequipa Beach Pacific Ocean
  • The Plaza de Armas – The original city centre with its twin-towered Cathedral taking pride of place at the head of the square, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The unique blend of European-colonial, native-American and Baroque architectural styles give this city a truly enchanting atmosphere added to by the vaulted archways, thick stone walls and intricate decorations. 
  • The food - Arequipa boasts some of the best cuisine in South America, from Rocoto Relleno, Adobo and Ceviche to Camarones.  Try the local food in the small Picanterias; local restaurants that usually serve a specific menu of great food, freshly cooked to order. If you step slightly outside of the tourist areas then you can have a two-course meal for as little as $2USD!
  • The Ice Maiden – Visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos to see the Ice Maiden, aka Momia Juanita. This perfectly preserved mummy of a young girl is thought to have sacrificed in a ritual offering to the gods sometime between 1450 and 1480. Time Magazine named it as one of the World’s Top Ten Discoveries of all time.
  • Molina de Sabandía (Sabandia Mill) – Spend an afternoon in the tranquillity of this beautifully-restored 17th Century Mill within walking distance or a short taxi from the city centre. Explore the old buildings and equipment or relax with a picnic in the shade of the Weeping Willows.    


For kids and elderly


Anyone can enjoy Arequipa for the sights, sounds, tastes and markets; there’s so much to see and so much local history and culture that you’ll find it hard to take it all in. Be prepared however; there are no theme parks or water slides in sight for children who tire quickly of walking around absorbing the atmosphere as we adults like to do. (I believe seeing these cute llamas would be enough to get your kids in a tizzy and if they love to eat then you are in the right city. Also if your kids are a bit older then its the best place to get some active time in.)


Arequipa llama
Arequipa llama
Conversely, being historical city in a South American country, disability access is certainly not what some people may be accustomed to, for example the Europe of the US. Rough pavements, lack of handrails and steep, winding staircases are commonplace here, so be prepared to assist your elderly or less mobile travel companions. 

Places to Eat


Arequipa Pachamanca Food
Arequipa Pachamanca Food

  • El Hornitos – Pizzeria – San Francisco 216, Arequipa, Peru
  • Zig Zag – Peruvian and Fusion Cuisine – Zela, Historical Center, Arequipa, Peru
  • Deja Vu – Good food, bar and party spot - San Francisco 319B, Arequipa, Peru

Places to stay 


Arequipa Cathedral Plaza de Armas
Arequipa Cathedral Plaza de Armas

Backpacker

Wild Rover Backpackers Hostel - Alfonso Ugarte 111, Arequipa
Dorm from - $7  Private from - $22

Mid budget traveller

Casa de Avila – Av  San Martin 116, Vallecito, Arequipa
Matrimonial rooms from $53

Luxury traveller

Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa – Calle Ugarte 403, Arequipa
Rooms from $111











Have you been to Peru or to Arequipa. Share some insights with us. If you have some questions about the place let us know we'll get Kach to come and aanswer them for you
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Parul &Ajay +1

We are a couple travelling the world one country at a time with our full time jobs since 2013. Our daughter has joined us from 2018.


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