Similarly going anywhere in India is no issue since u know the country .. hence I prefer planning on my own ..
But when it came to my first family tour to south east asia, I opted for a package tour, from Sun tourism, Chinchwad. Surely it was great to get through 4 countries in 13 days, a perfectly planned and executed tour, when I came back from this tour, I could hardly write 4 pages of blog posts !!! in nutshell this was not a way for me 🙁 I did not liked the idea of touching base each famous tourist point, having a nice photograph in front of it, finally putting it on facebook ! or showing to all !! no use mann .. that’s not my way. It was good since I took my mother alongwith me and need not think of other things than taking care of her.
During this package tour everything was planned, food, travel, destinations and since I was with a group it was necessary to follow the schedule, having food at the pre decided hotels and pre decided menu.
But when it came to Switzerland tour where in I wanted to spend time like what I wanted for … no binding to move alongwith a group, no bad feelings to loose one or two points from the itinerary .. but having feel of each destination I visited for .. i decided to go on my own … no matter what happens ..
and surely my Switzerland tour was a great success ….
not that since it was planned by me ..
I could talk to different people, I could talk to the hotel receptionist, to the cook, to people traveling with me in train, to people on road ! each thins was an experience for me. I could get flavor of people.
I could taste few dishes that I may not try for .. surely if u hv Indian food available u may not want to go for some other food (since we always like spicy) … but here i could try it ..
i could have wine at the bank of lake Lucerne … taking my own time .. no worry to go back to the hotel .. catch group bus …
i could walk through farm field 11 pm in night .. having GPS on to guide me to the hotel …
i could spend hours at mount titlis or mount Jungfrau the top of Europe….
i could listen to the music from musicians in Zermatt …
I could travel all over through Scenic trains ..
i could visit the markets, road side bazaar…
i mean at each point of my travel i was so excited .. i was so passionate to see things ,. no one to tell u what u r going to see .. an anxiety in mind … thrill to explore … like i used to do in my old trekking days ..
I mean really for me its clear now to have independent travel ,,, no matter what goes right or wrong .. no matter if i miss one or two places to visit … its the satisfaction i would look for … the time will stall for me … i will remember the places for years … and not for days … it shall touch my heart …that’s what i would say a real traveling for ..
here i am not denying that u get better budget .. better options .. certainty ..in a group tour …
but that’s not the way for me … i need to taste, feel the place I am visiting for .. from the bottom of my heart ..
that’s my way 🙂
cheers !!
and if u wish to refer to the index page where u get links to all posts for my Switzerland trip then do visit ..
https://trekbook.in/2013/07/planning-trip-to-switzerland-from-india.html/
Many people notice that traveling overseas is an tremendous, releasing experience, and that everyone should do it at least once in their life.india tourism
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Very nice detailed info that you had shared from your experience.
Wish i have chance to go with my family soon.
Which sim card do you purchased for Internet access?
I did not purchase any sim card for internet access, used hotel Internet access all places