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It’s always a first time experience to every thing in the world. We take a lot of time and efforts when travelling abroad for the first time. Its a new experience in the new land. We take care of all the major things but forget small things while travelling abroad. We should check the list while travelling abroad before making any plans.

1. Check In with the Travel Insurance – Travel Insurance is a must for most of the countries to travel. But it’s always advisable to check in with travel insurance because it covers most of your health and travel expenses for a very nominal charges.
2. Copies of Passport – Always keep a passport copies with you and leave a copy of your passport home. so that you can prove your nationality. Best you can make an electronic copy of your passport and can save in your emails.
3. Register with Embassy – It’s most important that you register with your countries embassy so that in any emergency situation you could be brought back to home safely.
4. Currency Conversions – It’s important to take the currency from a registered forex company. It’s always advisable to take the local currency before you fly to your destination.
5. Credit Cards Validity – Make sure that the credit cards and debit cards will work in the country you tend to visit. Almost every country accepts Master and Visa International Card. You need to check with your bank do you hold the international debit or credit card or not.
6. ATM and Bank Charges – Always check upon the ATM and Bank Charges that your bank charge for swiping it internationally.Sometimes the bank charges are more than what you spend internationally. Be aware about it before you use and travel.
7. Entrance and Exit Fees – Sometimes some countries require the travellers to pay a entrance and exit fee which may not be included in your Air tickets. Generally these fees can range from 25 USD to 200 USD.
8. Look for the Air Ticket – It’s a most important factor that need to be checked before you plan any trip internationally. Air tickets are the major cost component in any international trip.
9. Search for the Events at the time your travel – Events at the time of your travel can hamper the travel plans. You may have to give the surcharge on the hotels and other things. Your trip may become a costly affair.
10. Universal Converters – Every country works on different electronic voltage and switching system. so its advisable to purchase a universal adapters or converters for your international trip. Your mobile chargers plug in may not work in another country.
11. Tell your Bank you are Abroad – Making a transaction on your bank account all of a sudden may result in freeze of account and cards. Bank may think that some frauds have taken place. Its good to tell the bank that cards may be used internationally. so that you may not face any emergency situations on your trip.
12. Illegal Items – You should always read the things which are illegal to take into the country. Anything which is legal in your country may not be legal in the country you are tend to travel. So you must check the customs site of the country you travel about the things that are permitted to carry in the country.
13. International Number – How can any one contact you when you are travelling. You should take an international roaming or a local sim card from your country that are available with Matrix and lot more companies now at a reasonable rate.
14. Cross Check your Bookings –  Always cross check your bookings made in advance with the hotel for your stay if booked from a new source.
15. Cultural Check – Always check about the culutral barriers of the country. There may be certain do’s and don’t for every countries. You should live upto the rules and regulations of the country.

Its a 5 step simple way to apply the visa on arrival for Thailand before you leave for Thailand. It becomes simpler and convenient to apply for VOA before your departure.

Simply take the Following steps to apply for VOA for Thailand

Step 1  Log on to the Thailand Immigration Bureau page

https://extranet.immigration.go.th/voaonline/voaonline/VoaonlineAction.do

Step 2 Select the page according to your category (Agent or Tourist) and complete the form. Fill in all the required spaces and make sure that all the given information is correct (both spelling and data).

At the end of the process when you submit the form. You will receive the Transaction Reference Number (TRN).

Step 3 Take the print out of the completed form and make sure TRN is visible.

Step 4 Fly to Thailand and enjoy the thailand hospitality on board experience and service.

Step 5 After your arrival, go directly to the visa on arrival counter and submit the print out form.

For tourists and tour operators alike there are certain facets of Sri Lanka that should not be missed when compiling an itinerary or panning a holiday. 2 or more of the following will combine to create a memorable holiday in Sri Lanka.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites 

There are 7 world Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. The 3 ancient and magnificent cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list is 1982 followed by Galle, Kandy and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in 1988. Finally the Golden Temple of Dambulla was added to the World Heritage list in 1991. These places of historical and natural significance are not to be missed for any visitor to Sri Lanka.

Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan elephants (Elephus Maximus – Asian Elephants) known as Aliya or Etaha (tuskers) by local people is the most beloved animal in Sri Lanka. They display fascinating behaviour and have great National value as a tourist attraction. There are many National parks around the country to see elephants. The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, first of its kind in the world is a unique place where abandoned and disable Elephants gets care and protection. It is an award winning conservation effort and a great place to see elephants up-close.

Sri Lankan Cuisine

Being an ancient kingdom, Sri Lanka has preserved its most precious treasures, its culture & its tradition and part of this is its Cuisine. There is very little of Sri Lankan food that we call our own as influences are as varied as North and South Indian, Persian, Malay, Dutch and Portuguese can be found in Sri Lankan cuisine and makes a delicious combination.

Beaches in Sri Lanka 

Being an island, Sri Lanka is surrounded by beautiful golden beaches, certainly a feature not to be missed by any visitor. Unfortunately due to the 2 decade long conflict in the north and east, some of the best coastlines are out of reach. The beaches in the west coast and the south coast are no less spectacular and hosts 1000s of visitors each year.  There is a thriving beach culture in Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna and to a lesser extent in Negombo. Other coast lines such as Bentota, Beruwela and Kalutara are the tourist hot spots featured by many of the large tour operators in Europe.

Ceylon Tea and the Hill Country 

Tea drinking is an all-time favourite pass time with Sri Lankans and steaming hot cup of tea has been a symbol of relaxation in the mind of a Sri Lankan. Tea was introduced to us two centuries ago by the British who transformed the lavish hill country in to lush green tea plantations. The British left, and we had tea!! The introduction of tea also brought the railways in to Sri Lanka.

Adventure

With its varied terrain and climates for a small island, Sri Lanka is an up and coming adventure destination. There is a multitude of land and water based activities being developed in Sri Lanka and the most popular of these is the river rafting and kayaking runs in Kithulgala which has become the focal point of adventure based tourism in Sri Lanka. A climb to the top of Adams peak is also a highlight for those hardcore adventure enthusiasts.

Birds in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a birds and bird watchers paradise with 435 resident species of which 26 are endemic. Most of them are found in the wet zone. The winter migrants come from distant Siberia and Western Europe. The reservoirs attract vast number of water birds and the forests attract many other species. There are many bird sanctuaries across the little island and in additions you can see birds throughout the country in pockets of forests, lakes, lagoons and rivers during your travels here.

The Elusive Leopard

The Sri Lanka leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), is a subspecies of leopard native to Sri Lanka. A recent study has shown that Yala National Park has one of the highest recorded densities of leopards in the world, although this animal is considered an endangered species even here. The Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka is also famous as a good place for leopard watching. Leopards are more visible in parts of Sri Lanka than many places where they share their habitat with dominant competitors. Spotting a leopard is no easy feat as they are elusive and shy. But lucky visitors to Yala have seen up to 6 leopards (including Cubs) on a single game drive.

Colonial Heritage

Having a history marked by four centuries of colonial rule, we still manage to safe guard remnants from the past in their original grandeur. Some of the more renowned edifices are the Galle Fort built originally by the Portuguese and Colombo Harbour. As enthusiasts with a pulse on the hospitality industry, our focus is on a number of hotels which were built by the British. The origin of these present day hotels were mansions or public buildings built in order to accommodate the governors and other high ranking officials. Furthermore the plantation bungalows which were built in the tea estates have now been converted in to stylish boutique hotels.

SRI LANKA