Covid- 19 has since the year 2020 created a mess around the world. Lockdowns, restrictions, and border closures initiated by various governments negatively affected economies worldwide. One of the most affected sectors was the tourism industry, which came to its knees. People are still unable to travel around the world to their desired tourism site as the virus keeps mutating. With this, internal tourism has become the best option.

Traveling within your country allows you to know the nuke and cranny of the country, explore other cultures and festivals and taste some good local dishes you never knew about. Here are some reasons to travel within your country.

Changes your perspective about the country

Until you travel widely within, you wouldn’t know how beautiful and diversified your country is. If tourists can identify some unique things in your country and travel miles to see, why can’t you also take such initiative? Traveling within gives you an entirely different perspective about your country and appreciate it better. Aside from the usual beachside visits and hiking, explore the other beautiful and serene landscapes that put your country on the world tourism map. Contact your local tourism office to know the beautiful areas you can visit.

Learn History

Almost all tourist sites, especially castles and other monuments, come with a history. Some are linked to slavery, religion, migration, resistance, and wars. Visiting these local sites allows you to learn the history behind the places and the locals with a particular area.
Experience Different Cultures and Festivals

Most countries are blessed with different ethnic groups with unique cultures, traditions, languages, festivals, dishes, etc. When touring within your country, you can witness, partake, enjoy and learn from all these diversities. The culture and traditions displayed during festivals will surely blow your mind. If for nothing, you can learn some few words of a new language and taste new dishes.

Meet New Local Friends

Building a vast network of people is very important in our very existence. As you tour your country, you meet new people and make local contacts for different purposes, including business.

Crurientation (Cruise Orientation)

Travel is an exciting, awaited and an integral part of life. People form some of their most cherished memories when they travel. Seeing new lands, exploring different cultures and cuisines with your loved ones is what most people look forward to all year. Those few days that provide an escape form the rudimentary monotony of one’s daily lives and gives people enough momentum to work through the year so that they can explore the world and create lasting memories.

An exciting new way to travel is on a cruise ship where you can sample the ports and cities that dot the coastline of the mighty oceans & seas across the 7 continents. A cruise holiday is very different from a land vacation and offers many perks – for starters, no matter how many cities, countries and ports you visit, you will only unpack and pack your bags once. All your meals are taken care of on the ship which is a floating hotel that also provides all the entertainment & facilities as you hop from one exotic port to another. And when on sea, your views can change every hour, with the color of the ocean changing going from blue to turquoise to dark as ink.

Like I said, in a nutshell, no matter how avid a traveler you might be, cruising is an experience in itself. For those planning a cruise vacation the first time, you might find this blog immensely helpful as we list some of the most fundamental dos and don’t’s on a cruise.

Embarkation and Disembarkation: Just like your international flights, cruises too have a somewhat lengthy procedure for embarkation. Make sure to check-into your cruise no less than two hours before your scheduled departure. Any friends and family that may have come to see you off shall only be allowed till the pier and not inside the ship, for obvious security reasons. As for your baggage, once you’ve checked in, you will see your luggage directly in your staterooms in a couple hours or maybe three so do pack a few necessities in a small hand bag in case you need something before your check in bags arrive in your cabin.

Cabins: Rooms on cruises are known as Staterooms or cabins that differ in terms of size and luxury based on your preference. Cruises today provide a wide array of choices for accommodations, from studio cabins for single travelers, to giant duplex family cabins with sliding staircases. With every passing year, cruise cabins are getting grander and more creative. Naturally, grabbing the best view of the ocean is the goal of most of us when booking a cabin, which is precisely why the same should be done well in advance. Cruises have a range of cabins with their own balcony and floor length windows as well as a few with a partial sea view blocked by the feeder boats. Be sure to pick and choose your rooms wisely and remember the simple principle, the higher the deck, the better the view (if you have opted for a balcony cabin). The newer ships have a higher ratio of balcony cabins when compared to inside or oceanview cabins so we would highly recommend balcony cabins for a cruise of 5 nights or more duration – its well worth the price difference! Also an average, a standard cabin on a cruise is smaller than your hotel room, so remember to pack light and carry as little unnecessary baggage as possible in order to save space.

You also need to decide whether you would like your cabin in the forward, mid or aft (back) of the ship AND whether on the portside (left) or starboard side (right) of the ship – we would recommend cabins in mid-ship area since the central location makes it easier to reach all parts of the ship. Both portside and starboard side have their advantages but it doesn’t really matter for round trip cruises.

Currency: The standard currency on most cruises is the USD. However, guests are given a multi-purpose ‘Cruise Credit Card’ upon embarkation which also serves as the cabin key card. You can use the cabin key card for all on-board expenses, shore excursions, spa treatments, etc and settle the bill on the last day of the cruise either by your credit card or with USD currency.

Familiarizing: Navigating through a cruise ship can be a daunting task, especially for first time cruisers, with each new ship grander and more complex than the previous one. To ensure you don’t miss out on all that the ship has to offer, you must attend the muster drill on the day of embarkation. Not only will it give you all the information in the case of an emergency, it’ll help you get acquainted with the ship. When exploring, do begin from the top deck and then go downwards, and always keep a map of the ship handy. The crew onboard are generally from various nationalities and speak English (apart from their native language) so do ask them for directions in case you get lost. Many cruise liners have developed apps which they recommend that you download when you board the cruise – the day’s schedule of activities, ship map etc are loaded on the app for easy reference. Besides, you will get a schedule of the ship’s daily programme in your cabin the night before so you have ample time to plan your next day’s activities.

Tipping: Tipping etiquette dictates that each guest should tip at least eight to ten dollars a day, per person. Most cruise liners have made gratuities compulsory which is either collected at the time of booking the cruise OR added to your extras billing which is settled at the end of the cruise. This saves the hassle of tipping for individual services availed on the ship.

Liquor: Liquor is strictly, unequivocally not allowed to be carried by passengers to the ship. So, in case you were planning on sipping from your vintage collection, beware, don’t let those bottles occupy any space in your baggage. You can buy your share of exotic liquor from the ports of call, but the same will most likely be retained by the cruise line until the end of your voyage. You can of course, try all the wine and vintage liquor in the multiple specialty restaurants and dining rooms on the ship and pay for it at the end of the cruise.

Shore Excursions: You will have multiple stops throughout your voyage, whether it’s the marvelous European cities of Rome and Santorini or tiny snow-capped villages on an Alaskan Cruise. It is advisable to book some of the popular shore excursions in advance from the cruiseliner especially for destinations like Alaska & some ports in Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

Many of the ports like Barcelona, Copenhagen etc are also geared to handle cruise tourists so you can simply disembark from the ship and book your shore excursion from a local travel agency or just hire a taxi and drive around the destination. But remember to return to the ship atleast 45 minutes prior to the ship leaving the port. Ship gates close 15 to 30 minutes before sailing.

Onboard Communication: Most ships offer WiFi access either across the entire ship or atleast the common areas of the ship. Some cruiseliners offer WiFi complimentary for the entire duration of the cruise and some offer WiFi packages which you can purchase onboard the ship. Cell phone network will be strong at the ports but weak when you are cruising on the high seas – since you will be travelling through multiple countries, choose your international roaming pack carefully.

Cruise Lingo: This isn’t strictly something that you should or shouldn’t do, but basic cruise lingo can be a lifesaver that’ll help you feel more at home on your ship! First and foremost, your vessel is always a ‘ship’ and not a ‘boat’ and is always, always referred to as ‘her’. Her floors are called decks and bedrooms called cabins. Fore and Aft refer to the front and rear of the ship respectively, and the ‘Bridge’ is the area of the ship from which the captain and his crew navigate the ship. Also, the tiny boats that you might use to get to small ports of call are called ‘Tender’. Your cabin crew are called ‘cabin stewards’ and they will be in charge of cleaning and upkeep of your cabins. Any housekeeping related jobs are to be assigned to your cabin steward.

Another important tip is to avoid elevators during embarkation and disembarkation days, they will be especially slow and crowded and will occupy a lot of your first and last hours on the ship. Make bookings as far in advance as you can – whether it is for a fine dining restaurant on the ship, a particularly favourite shore excursion or a coveted spa appointment. Always keep maps in handy, and thoroughly go through the ship’s daily newsletters and announcements. Double check with your respective cruise line as to what you will not find in your cabin, so that your holiday pictures are not marred by a bad hair day.

And most importantly, take all the photos you want, click away to your heart’s desire, because the sea will change shades with every hour, and each picture will be more beautiful than the last. So go up to the top deck and take that Titanic pose no matter how cliché it is, devour every inch of the ship during your stay, and get yourself memories glorious enough to last through the rest of the year!

Darkness falls early in Britain. Its ancient history is rich with murder, disease, and natural disasters, which makes it the perfect destination for dark and macabre tours—if you dare.

Stroll through the streets of London where serial killers have stalked their prey and thousands were killed by plague, fire, and wartime bombs. Travel to the countryside where Norman churches reveal gruesome secrets and medieval towns hide shameful pasts. While many seek only to walk in the steps of Jack the Ripper or visit the Tower of London to check of their “dark tourism” box, many other dark places can be experienced.

Let’s embrace the misery along with the rain and take a trip around some of the creepiest places in Britain.

10. Lord Lucan’s House

The first stop on our list is 46 Lower Belgrave Street, a six-story house in the exclusive London borough of Westminster. In 1974, it was home to Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, and his wife, Veronica.

The couple separated and became locked in a bitter custody battle, and Lady Lucan remained on the property with their children. On November 7, their nanny Sandra Rivett entered the dark basement and was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe. When Lady Lucan went to investigate, she was also attacked in the dark. However, she was able to escape to the nearby Plumbers Arms pub, soaked in blood and badly injured.

Rivett’s body was found in the basement, stuffed into a mail sack with a bloody footprint next to it. Lucan vanished into the night; the only clue was a length of bandaged lead pipe found inside his car, which had been dumped miles away. An inquest ruled that Lucan was most likely the murderer—having mistaken Rivett for his wife in the gloomy basement.

Lucan’s body has never been found, but over the years, sightings of him have been reported from India and Africa. Rivett’s son believes he is an elderly Buddhist man living in Australia. Lord Lucan was officially declared dead in 1999.

9. Beachy Head

Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, with stunning views across the south coast. Tourists flock to the cliffs for walks and picnics, but the area has gained global notoriety for darker reasons. The cliffs stand 162 meters (530 feet) above sea level, making it a very effective spot for suicide.

It is so popular that 500 people have died here since 1965. Not all these deaths have been by suicide; some have perished in cars plunging over the edge, others have been murdered. Many have slipped and fallen over the crumbling cliff edge while posing for photos.

In June 2018, three bodies—all unrelated—were found below the cliffs in one day. People from around the world have traveled here to end their life, with tourists—either unwittingly or intentional—visiting the scene of these self-inflicted or nefarious deaths. Volunteers regularly patrol the area and rescue around 500 desperate people a year from the cliffs.

8. Ruth Ellis

Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Britain, aged 28. On Easter Sunday 1955, Ruth followed former lover David Blakely to the Magdala pub in Hampstead. As he left the building, Ruth stepped out from a doorway, took a gun from her purse, and fired two shots into Blakely. She walked over to his prone body and fired two additional shots. Then she calmly asked bystanders to call the police.

Police investigating the cold-blooded murder revealed a relationship of violence and abuse. However, the law at the time did not allow for the abuse—including a few trips to the hospital and a miscarriage likely from a punch to the stomach—to factor in her trial and reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter. She was convicted and hanged. Public outcry and protest eventually led to abolishing the death penalty in Britain.

As the aftermath of the crime still lingers, so does the location. The Magdala is a favorite on the dark tourism trail, mainly due to the bullet holes still visible in the pub walls. Rumor has it, though, that they were added with a drill in the 1990s as a way to increase visitor numbers.

7. St. Leonard’s Church, Hythe

Hythe is a sleepy town on the Kent Coast and home to St. Leonard’s Church, built around 1090. Deep in its crypt, you will find over 1000 human skulls and a stack of bones. Historians estimate that these are the remains of 4000 people—but no one knows why they are there.

The crypt, known as “The Bonehouse” or “Ossuary,” is rumored to house victims of the Black Death, murdered Vikings, or shipwrecked pirates. As the bones are mainly female, they are believed to be from locals whose bodies were exhumed and re-housed in the church during building works carried out in the 13th century.

A polite note rests next to the bones asking visitors not to disturb the 700-year-old residents. In 2018, thieves smashed a lock and stole 21 skulls from the collection. They have never been recovered.

6. Canvey Island

Canvey Island in Essex is made up of land reclaimed from the Thames Estuary and lies just above sea level. On January 31, 1953, a massive storm hit the North Sea, causing a tidal surge that burst through the sea wall surrounding Canvey.

Flood water poured into the island, trapping residents in their homes. Many climbed onto the roofs for safety, where they died due to shock and hypothermia. Others died from heart attacks or drowned in the rising waters. Fifty-nine people lost their lives, and 13,000 were evacuated. The sea wall, previously made from little more than earth and grass, has been replaced by solid flood barriers.

Today, Canvey Island is a haven for birds and rare insects alongside a memorial to the flood victims.

5. Lancaster Castle and the Pendle Witches

Britain in the early 1700s was a place of fear and suspicion as King James began a campaign of terror to rid the country of witches. The remote village of Pendle in Lancashire became a hotspot when a local woman, Alizon Device, was accused of witchcraft. She was begging at the roadside when a traveling salesman refused to give her some pins, and as she cursed him, he fell to the ground and became paralyzed.

Villagers accused Alizon of being a witch and arrested her along with several members of prominent local families. They were held in the dungeons of Lancaster Castle on various charges, including old unsolved murders.

The trial of the Pendle Witches took place in August 1612. The star witness was 9-year-old Jennet Device, who gave evidence against her own mother, Elizabeth. Ten people were sentenced to death, dragged past the jeering crowds, and hanged on gallows high up on the windswept moors surrounding the castle.

Today you can visit the eerily atmospheric Lancaster Castle or venture to nearby St. Mary’s Church and see the grave of Alice Nutter, one of the accused. The church has an “evil eye” in its turret to ward off malevolent spirits.

4. The Blind Beggar Pub

The Kray Twins—Ronnie and Reggie—were infamous criminals who controlled London’s underworld in the 1960s. Together with their gang “The Firm,” they committed armed robberies and ran protection rackets, controlling local businesses through fear.

George Cornell was a member of a rival gang, The Richardsons, who had been involved in a shoot-out with a known Kray associate. On March 9, 1966, Cornell arrived at The Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel, East London—seen as being Kray “territory”—and settled onto a bar stool. Word quickly got to Ronnie Kray, who walked into the pub, fired a single shot into Cornell’s forehead with a 9mm Luger, then strolled out toward a waiting car.

It took three years for Kray to be sentenced to life for the murder as no witnesses came forward. Today, The Blind Beggar is a thriving East End pub, and a pool table now stands in the spot where Cornell was gunned down.

3. Hampton Court Palace

The Tower of London is the capital’s most ghoulish attraction—many people were murdered within its walls. But there is another London palace with a strange and murky past.

Hampton Court Palace is located just outside London and was home to Henry VIII and his assortment of six wives. Third wife Jane Seymour died here in 1573, days after giving birth. Her shadowy figure has been seen lingering on the Silverstick Stairs, leading to the room where she died.

Fifth wife, teenager Catherine Howard was arrested for adultery and dragged screaming through the Palace grounds to meet her executioner at the Tower of London.

After dark, you may hear the faint sound of a spinning wheel from behind a wall, said to belong to the “Grey Lady,” a loyal servant to four Tudor monarchs.

2. 10 Rillington Place

An ordinary street in Notting Hill, London, has had several name changes. Now Bartle Road, formerly Ruston Close and most famously, Rillington Place. John Christie lived at number 10, and it was here that he gassed and strangled eight women, including his wife. Their bodies were hidden behind the kitchen walls, under floorboards, and in the garden. Timothy Evans, who lived in rooms upstairs, was wrongly found guilty and hanged for the murders of his wife and daughter—after Christie had killed them.

The other bodies were found behind a wall when Christie moved out, and the new tenants attempted to put up shelves.

Christie was hanged in 1953, and the address changed names before finally being demolished in 1978. During Christie’s reign of terror, the street was a slum, but it is now one of the most desirable areas of London. Bartle Close and Andrews Square were later built on top of the site to cover the burial ground.

1. 23 Cranley Gardens

Once dubbed the “House of Horrors,” 23 Cranley Gardens sits in a leafy North London street. Serial killer Denis Nilsen lived here and murdered at least three young men in the tiny attic flat.

Unlike at his first property, where he had killed nine men, Nilsen did not have access to an outside space in order to burn the bodies. Instead, he began a complicated process of boiling body parts and flushing them down the toilet. Eventually, they blocked the drains. Police were called when plumbers found human flesh, and Nilsen calmly confessed to 12 murders. Denis Nilsen was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in 2018.

The property has changed hands several times, with potential buyers being urged to research its history before viewing.