Several Countries Expedite their Visa Procedures

Zooming around the world to places like India, Myanmar, and southern Africa just got easier for citizens of 40 plus countries including Australia, Canada and the USA:  

For India, you no longer have to go to an India consulate to apply for a visa.  As of November 27, 2014, you may now apply for and get a tourist visa-on-arrival (TVoA) online, entitling you to enter India anytime within 30 days of the approval. The electronic travel authorization, which will be in the form of an email received from the Indian authorities, will entitle you to a 30-day stay in India.  On arrival, simply present the authorization to the immigration authorities who will then stamp the entry into the country.

For Myanmar, a country with few consulates around the world, a simple online registration, which takes between 7-10 days to approve, is definitely the easiest way to apply for a tourist visa.  It costs $50, and like the India visa, you will receive an emailed pre-approval letter confirmation that can be presented on arrival and the visa stamp placed on your passport.

For Southern Africa, it gets even easier to see this culturally rich region.  As of November 28, 2014, you can now receive a UNIVISA upon arrival in Zambia or Zimbabwe.  The UNIVISA costs $50 and will be valid for 30 days, as long as you remain within Zambia and Zimbabwe for hotel overnight purposes.  It also covers Botswana and Namibia day trips without the added cost of a visa fee to those countries.  At a later stage other popular tourist destinations such as Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar are expected to be added to the list of UNIVISA participants.

Magical Myanmar

Myanmar is the newest Zoom Vacations destination (March 12-18, 2015).  For sometime now I had been waiting for the right time to visit Myanmar, which many had told me is a very special country.  Sandwiched between India, China and Thailand, Myanmar has been influenced to some degree by the best of these 3 iconic cultures.  

 Myanmar is called the Golden Land because there is always a 24 karat golden domed pagoda within eyesight.  For 50 years after English colonialism ended, Myanmar was sheltered and isolated by various dictatorships and military governments.  Until recently the country had seen very little tourism within its poor tourism infrastructure.  Today, however, Myanmar is quickly developing a luxury tourism infrastructure that is putting it on the bucket list of every discerning traveler.  Recently, Zoom Vacations was honored to be one of only 17 international travel professionals and media to be invited on the inaugural sailing of the 5 Star M/V Sanctuary Ananda from Mandalay to Bagan. 

 What I discovered along the way is a country of charming, hospitable, deeply spiritual and accepting people.  Truth be told, what made the trip so enjoyable for me was the ability to travel on the Ananda along the Ayeryawaddy River, visit temples, markets and villages, then return to the comfort of the Ananda.  The Ananda is the newest most stylish boat on the Ayeryawaddy.  But in addition to the luxurious surroundings, another thing in which the Ananda excels is the food.  The kitchen is personally overseen by the former executive chef at the Bangkok Mandarin Oriental.  He was even kind enough to offer an onboard cooking demonstration and shared his love of cooking and simple, yet mouth watering Thai soup recipe.  Every meal was something to look forward to and nothing (except for some breakfast dishes) was ever repeated.  Lunch and dinner were perfectly paired with just the right wines every day.  

 But Myanmar is not just about the Ayeryawaddy River. There are also Inle Lake, a picturesque fishing community, and Yangon, with its bourgeoning art scene.   Plus, of course the Chinatown night market, reclining Buddha, and Scotts Market, which are also to be seen and experienced. 

 Today, Myanmar is quickly developing a luxury tourism infrastructure that is putting it on the bucket list of every discerning traveler. For instance, three years ago Myanmar saw 300,000 visitors; this year there are 2 million visitors and counting. 
 
Myanmar is also perfectly combined with Laos and or Thailand. Contact me for more information.

Finding the Next "It" Spot

People often ask us how we go about selecting new destinations for Zoom Vacations tours.  We actually go about this in a number of ways.  The main way is that while on our tours, our travelers often tell us the places they would like to visit.  We really listen, and especially when we start hearing the same destinations mentioned over and over, it moves to the top of our radar.  Also, destinations who often contact us to create tours to their locales.  We have noticed that when destinations reach out on their own to attract LGBT travelers that these same destinations often have the background support and resources necessary to organize a truly memorable trip.

Once we have selected the destination, we bump up our research, verifying the best times to visit, and we make a plan to visit.  We always scout out a destination before developing a tour.  While there, we tour dozens of hotels, restaurants, and sites, finding the best of the best, and identifying opportunities for creativity.  

 For instance, I am heading to Myanmar this month.  It is a destination about which many of our travelers have enquired, and coincidentally, it is presently "all the buzz" in the travel community.   Its mystery and decades of isolation has peaked the interest of so many of us.  While there, I will be finding the best hotel(s) and river cruise to host our future group, and I will personally interview tour guides and explore various excursions.  I will also be looking for venues where we can add our own sense of magic to this magical country.