The Nexara travel blog
Honest planning advice, comparisons and seasonal ideas.
India travel planning
India travel planning8 underrated hill stations in South India
Beyond Ooty and Munnar: quieter South Indian hill stations with tea estates, wildlife and cool air, and how to fit them into a trip from Chennai.
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India travel planningWhere to travel in India during the monsoon
Six Indian destinations that are at their best, or at least very good, in the monsoon, plus the places to avoid and how to plan around the rain.
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India travel planningThe most scenic train journeys in India for holidaymakers
From UNESCO-listed toy trains to coastal and mountain routes, these Indian rail journeys are worth building a holiday around.
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India travel planningPlanning your first trip to Northeast India
How to plan a first trip to Northeast India: which states to start with, how long to go for, permits, seasons and realistic travel times.
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India travel planningRajasthan beyond the Golden Triangle: where to go next
Already seen Jaipur? Explore Rajasthan's desert cities, holy towns and forts beyond the Golden Triangle with these ideas.
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India travel planningKerala beyond houseboats: 7 experiences to add to your trip
Kerala is more than backwaters. Seven experiences, from Kathakali and spice farms to wildlife and clifftop beaches, to make a Kerala trip richer.
Read →International travel planning
International travel planningThe best first international trips from Chennai
Six easy first international holidays from Chennai, with short flights, familiar food and simple logistics, and how to choose between them.
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International travel planningHow to check visa rules for Indian passport holders (and avoid old information)
Visa rules change often. How to find current, official entry requirements for Indian passport holders, and the common types of visa you will see.
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International travel planningHow to beat jet lag on long-haul trips from India
Practical tips to reduce jet lag on trips to Europe, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, from planning flights to the first days after arrival.
Read →International travel planningLong-haul flight tips for Indian travellers
How to stay comfortable on long flights to Europe, the USA, Australia or New Zealand, including seats, layovers, food, sleep and staying healthy.
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International travel planningTwo weeks in Southeast Asia: three routes for Indian travellers
Three ways to spend two weeks in Southeast Asia: Thailand in depth, Indochina's history, or a Singapore, Malaysia and Bali loop.
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International travel planning8 mistakes to avoid on your first Europe trip
Common mistakes Indian travellers make on a first trip to Europe, from cramming in too many countries to visa timing, and how to avoid them.
Read →Honeymoon planning
Honeymoon planningHow to budget for your honeymoon
How to set a realistic honeymoon budget, what costs to include, where to splurge and where to save, for trips in India and abroad.
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Honeymoon planningHoneymoon in India or abroad? How to decide
Comparing honeymoons in India and abroad on budget, travel time, paperwork, experiences and season, with the best choices for each.
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Honeymoon planningMaldives water villa or beach villa: which is right for you?
Comparing Maldives water villas and beach villas on privacy, views, snorkelling access, space and price, and why many couples choose both.
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Honeymoon planning15 romantic things to do on a Bali honeymoon
Romantic Bali experiences for honeymooners, from floating breakfasts and jungle swings to sunset temples, spa rituals and island day trips.
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Honeymoon planningRomantic things to do on a Kashmir honeymoon
Ideas for a Kashmir honeymoon: houseboats, shikara sunsets, Mughal gardens, the Gulmarg gondola, Pahalgam's valleys and shopping for keepsakes.
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Honeymoon planningA Switzerland honeymoon: how to plan it well
How to plan a Switzerland honeymoon: the best bases, romantic experiences, summer versus winter, train travel and how long to stay.
Read →Family travel
Family travelHolidays with toddlers: what we have learned
Practical lessons for travelling with toddlers: choosing destinations, flights, hotels, food, naps and keeping everyone happy on holiday.
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Family travelHolidays teenagers will actually enjoy
Destination and activity ideas to keep teenagers engaged on family holidays, from adventure sports and theme parks to food tours and city freedom.
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Family travelPlanning a holiday for three generations
How to plan a family holiday with grandparents, parents and children: destinations, pacing, rooms, transport and activities for every age.
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Family travelThe best theme park holidays for Indian families
Comparing theme park destinations for families from India: Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, the Gold Coast and Orlando.
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Family travelPlanning around school holidays: summer, Puja, Diwali and Christmas
How to plan family trips around Indian school holidays, with destination ideas for each break and tips on booking early and avoiding crowds.
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Family travelHill roads and car sickness: tips for families
How to reduce car sickness for children and adults on winding hill roads to Ooty, Munnar, Manali and the Himalaya, and how itineraries can help.
Read →Adventure and nature
Adventure and natureBeginner-friendly treks in India
Easy and moderate treks for first-time trekkers in India, from Triund and Kheerganga to Coorg, Chikmagalur and Meghalaya's root bridges.
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Adventure and natureLearning to dive: where Indian travellers can start
Where to try scuba diving or take a beginner course, from the Andamans and Lakshadweep to the Maldives, Thailand and the Great Barrier Reef.
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Adventure and natureWhite-water rafting in Rishikesh: what to expect
A guide to rafting on the Ganga in Rishikesh: stretches and grades, the season, safety, what to wear and combining it with yoga and the aarti.
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Adventure and natureTiger safari tips for wildlife photographers
How to photograph tigers and wildlife on Indian safaris: choosing parks and zones, lenses, settings, light and ethical behaviour.
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Adventure and natureBirdwatching hotspots in India for travellers
Where to go birdwatching in India, from wetlands full of winter migrants to forests with hornbills, with the best seasons for each.
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Adventure and natureWhen India's national parks are open: a seasonal calendar
When popular Indian national parks open and close, how the monsoon affects safaris, and how to plan wildlife trips around the season.
Read →Cultural and heritage travel
Cultural and heritage travelUNESCO World Heritage Sites in South India
A traveller's introduction to South India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Mahabalipuram and the Chola temples to Hampi, Pattadakal and the Nilgiri railway.
Read →Cultural and heritage travelFollowing the Cholas: a temple trail through Tamil Nadu
A heritage trail through the Chola heartland around Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, with the great temples, bronze-casting traditions and how to plan it.
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Cultural and heritage travelA Mughal architecture trail: Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri
Follow the story of Mughal architecture from Humayun's Tomb to the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, with tips on how to see each monument at its best.
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Cultural and heritage travelGreat Buddhist heritage sites across Asia
From Bodh Gaya and Sarnath to Borobudur, Angkor, Luang Prabang and Bhutan, a guide to Asia's great Buddhist heritage sites.
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Cultural and heritage travelFestivals worth planning a trip around
Festivals in India and Asia that are worth building a holiday around, from Yi Peng lanterns and Durga Puja to Hornbill, Pushkar and the Rann Utsav.
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Cultural and heritage travelIndian crafts worth buying, and where to find them
A guide to India's best handicrafts by region, from Kanchipuram silk and Kashmiri pashmina to Jaipur block prints, and how to buy authentic pieces.
Read →Budget and premium travel
Budget and premium travelWhere to splurge on a holiday (and where to save)
How to spend your holiday budget where it matters most, from one special hotel night to private guides, and where to save without noticing.
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Budget and premium travelShoulder-season travel: better prices, fewer crowds
What shoulder season means, why it is often the best time to travel, and shoulder-season months for popular destinations in India and abroad.
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Budget and premium travelBook early or wait for a last-minute deal?
When it pays to book a holiday early, when last-minute deals make sense, and how flights, hotels, visas and festivals change the answer.
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Budget and premium travelThree-star or five-star? Choosing the right hotel category
How to decide between three-, four- and five-star hotels for each part of a trip, and why location and reviews often matter more than stars.
Read →Budget and premium travelIndia's luxury trains: a journey of a lifetime
An introduction to India's luxury tourist trains, the routes they follow through Rajasthan and beyond, and what to expect on board.
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Budget and premium travelStaying in Rajasthan's heritage hotels: forts, palaces and havelis
What it is like to stay in Rajasthan's heritage hotels, from palaces and forts to havelis, and how to fit one into your itinerary and budget.
Read →Itinerary planning
Itinerary planningHow many places can you really see in a week?
A simple rule for how many bases to include in a one-week holiday, why fewer hotel changes make better trips, and examples for India and abroad.
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Itinerary planningHow to pace a holiday itinerary so you actually enjoy it
How to balance sightseeing and rest on holiday, with practical rules for daily schedules, travel days, early starts and keeping energy up.
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Itinerary planningWhich order should you visit places in? Planning a logical route
How to choose the order of stops on a multi-destination trip, using geography, flights, weather, festivals and energy levels.
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Itinerary planningDay trips or moving hotels? How to decide
When to see a place on a day trip from your base and when to move hotels, with examples from Bangkok, Kyoto, Jaipur and Switzerland.
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Itinerary planningWhy your itinerary needs rest days
Why rest days make longer holidays better, when to place them, and how to make a free day feel like part of the trip rather than a waste.
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Itinerary planningHow to combine two or three countries in one trip
How to combine countries on one holiday without wasting time: choosing neighbours, flights versus trains, visas, currencies and how many nights each.
Read →Seasonal holidays
Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel in January
The best destinations for a January holiday in India and abroad: winter sunshine, snow, festivals and great beach weather.
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Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel in the summer holidays (April to June)
Summer holiday destinations for families from India, from hill stations, Kashmir and Ladakh to Singapore, Bali, Europe and Japan.
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Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel in July and August
July and August are monsoon months in India, but Ladakh, Bali, Koh Samui, East Africa and Europe are in season. Here is where to go.
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Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel during the Puja and Dussehra holidays
Holiday ideas for the Puja and Dussehra break in September or October, from the eastern Himalaya to Rajasthan, Kerala and Southeast Asia.
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Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel in November
November is one of the best months to travel. Ideas include Chiang Mai's lanterns, the Pushkar fair, beaches, wildlife and autumn in Japan.
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Seasonal holidaysWhere to travel for Christmas and New Year
Ideas for a Christmas and New Year holiday, from Goa's celebrations and Kerala's churches to Dubai's fireworks, Lapland and European markets.
Read →Destination comparisons
Destination comparisonsThailand vs Bali: which is right for your holiday?
Comparing Thailand and Bali for Indian travellers: seasons, beaches, culture, food, nightlife, honeymoons, family trips and budgets.
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Destination comparisonsMaldives vs Mauritius for a honeymoon
Comparing the Maldives and Mauritius for honeymooners: landscapes, activities, flights, seasons, food, budgets and the overall experience.
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Destination comparisonsSingapore vs Dubai for a family holiday
Comparing Singapore and Dubai for families from India: attractions, theme parks, weather, food, getting around, visas and costs.
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Destination comparisonsKerala vs Goa: which one for your holiday?
Comparing Kerala and Goa on beaches, nightlife, nature, culture, food, seasons and who each suits best, from honeymooners to families.
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Destination comparisonsLadakh vs Spiti Valley: which high-altitude trip suits you?
Comparing Ladakh and Spiti for a Himalayan road trip: landscapes, accessibility, comfort, crowds, culture, seasons and difficulty.
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Destination comparisonsOoty vs Kodaikanal: which hill station should you choose?
Comparing Ooty and Kodaikanal on scenery, getting there, things to do, crowds and who each suits best, plus how to combine them.
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