By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Top 10 Countries For Expats To Live And Work Abroad:

1) Mexico
2) Spain
3) Panama
4) Malaysia
5) Taiwan
6) Thailand
7) Costa Rica
8) Philippines
9) Bahrain
10) Portugal

The above countries excel as an affordable places to live with comfortable financial situations and high job satisfaction. Expats easily befriend locals in these nations, friendliness, environment, nature, and climate and offers affordable housing, a reasonable cost of living, and strong personal finance and career opportunities are the main advantages as per the locations.

By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Where to find ‘Best Quality of Life’? Top 10 nations

Quality of life is a fundamental aspect that shapes societies and nations in the contemporary world. It serves as a crucial barometer for assessing a nation’s progress and development. In response, world leaders and governments are placing growing emphasis on enhancing the quality of life for their citizens.

This emphasis on quality of life is further underscored by global migration patterns, particularly in regions like the Global South. People from various corners of the world are increasingly seeking improved healthcare, education, and economic stability to enhance their overall quality of life. As individuals and families look for opportunities to migrate, these essential factors often top their priority list.

As per the World Report’s findings, the list of the top 10 countries offering the best quality of life comprises Sweden, Norway, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand. These countries have consistently excelled in various critical metrics that collectively contribute to a high quality of life.

The report assesses several essential factors, including economic stability, affordability of housing, income equality, social and political stability, family-friendliness, safety, the quality of healthcare systems, and the effectiveness of education systems. These metrics collectively provide a comprehensive overview of the overall quality of life in each of these nations.

By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Travelling abroad from India? Here’s your common Visa queries tried to answered: FAQ

With India opening the international air travel, the outflow of passengers seeking leisure travel as well as business travel has increased multifold. While now very few countries offer Visa on Arrival or e-Visa facilities on Indian Passport due to very weak position of Indian passport on global index, there are still a lot of countries, including those in Europe which need a prior visa. Despite such massive inflow of passengers from India, Europe and other countries has some of the stringent visa norms Called ‘Schengen’ Visa, there’s only one Visa applicable for all 28 countries under the European Union. One can avail a Schengen Visa and can travel to any of these countries with ease. Here we will try to understand the Visa requirements.

How early before my travel dates should I apply for my visa?

When planning your travels, you always book flights and hotels in advance. Do the same for visas. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (three months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 02 February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel.

Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible. Visa Service providers forwards applications as per the agreed service level agreements with the embassy/consulate.

What are the typical turnaround timelines for visas?

Each country has a different timeline for its visa processing, and these timelines are clearly mentioned on their websites and with travel companies, providing you the information required to apply for your visa well in advance. Be aware that during peak season visa processing can take longer than anticipated, hence apply early.

What is the appointment allotment process ?

Appointment slots are offered online based on volume of demand or forecast, and in conjunction with the embassy`s own internal capacity planning. Once scheduled, we highly recommend being at the center 15 minutes prior the appointed time to avoid missing your slot. For appointments, you can always check with authorized travel companies for the slots being offered.

I am confused about documentation, which varies depending on who I ask! Which are the correct documents to submit?

A checklist of the documentation required for visa applications for each country which is always available with travel companies. Be sure to carry all the requisite documentation, including a printout of the checklist, to submit along with the duly filled application form. Check your passport`s validity. Many countries require a valid passport six months beyond your return date.

How do I track the status of my application?

Once your application is submitted, you can opt for the SMS service, and receive timely updates on your application’s progress through travel company from which you have applied the visa. The status will be updated as and when your passport is ready for collection/delivery. Be aware that no one can track your application during the assessment process within an embassy or consulate.

Can Travel Companies offer me advice and guidance on visa categories and vaccination?

Yes, authorised service providers advice or gives you guidance on visa category or any other visa requirement that the customer may need. Along with managing the administrative and non-judgmental aspects of the visa process only, such as visa application submission and biometric enrolment will let u know the vaccine requirements. All travellers are requested to check the destination / transit country guidelines for the same.

Can I expedite the process? Does availing any of the value-added services guarantee a faster visa outcome?

The time taken for visa processing differs with each mission. Please check the turnaround timelines before applying. Opting for any optional, value-added services (such as Prime Time Services or Form-filling, or any other service) does not guarantee a quicker or more positive decision by the concerned embassy/consulate. Optional and value-added services are available for select client governments only, as per agreed service level agreements with those governments.

If I am travelling to the UK with stopover in EU member states, do I need Schengen airport transit visa?

Yes, Schengen airport transit visa is mandatory for travellers with a stopover in France, Spain, Germany, and the Czech Republic. This requirement has been in place for many years.

(With inputs from IANS)

By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Reasons to buy services from Travel Agents or Tour Operators :

1. Experience
Able to match traveller’s need with better alternative.

2. Assistance
If something goes wrong, travel agent can fix it, no matter who is at fault.

3. Resources
Access to variety of tools which is not easily available to travellers directly. 

4. Convenience
Time is gold, dont waste it , let travel agent do it for you.

5. Relationship
Travel agent knows your style and appetite, plan in advance for you and can be in touch personally on one on one basis.

6. Save Money
Travel agent knows how to find & get good (value for money) deals for you.

7. Added Value
Tour operators connections get you loads of surprises.

8. Destinations
To new attractions and destinations, Tour Operators get you there with detail information. 

9. Exclusive Experience
Exotic tours, treks, private jet products, adventures Etc, are available and exclusives with Tour operators only.

Travel agents strives best for you, reliable in every action with honesty and trust.

By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Traveling Recovery Around The World:

This past months has seen an exciting stages of border openings and relaxation of protocols at least across ASEAN, after they announced the relaxation of protocols (ranging from no masks outdoors to allowing large scale social events and no quarantine for all vaccinated travellers).  It felt like a mini-celebration in achieving that stage of opening up – progress with cautious optimism. As the WHO pointed out recently, each nation is coming down the mountain in a different way. They advised ‘Exit strategy has to be careful especially when you’ve been successful keeping transmissions so low.’

Reunions abound now – a commonly heard refrain here in Asia is “I’m seeing my (parents, children, friends) back home in stages – I’m visiting for the first time in 2+ years”.  It seemed the majority of my friends were either on extended long haul trips for both leisure and business or were happily escaping for the weekend to Phuket / Bali / etc. So now, joyful reunions were photographed at airports and border crossings.

With the world reopening, though early stage here in Asia, we are planning physical / in-person events – We’re keen to make them experiential and conducive to reconnecting our strong travel community from across the region and around the globe.

Lastly, while the world is, fortunately, opening up more, the pandemic is still very much present and evolving – in all our countries. The US just saw the triggered dropping of mask mandates on numerous air carriers. I may be an outlier among travel leaders saying this but I would say use of masks is not good for health now, even when in high traffic, crowded areas. This is not confined to travel – a crowded shopping mall or grocery is just as risky as a crowded air terminal which normally believes. Manage the things to yourself precautions, the community around you and, most particularly, those most vulnerable. Nothings is going to happen, it’s all just spreading rumors.

I’ll end this note by sharing some news from WHO:

“While people in high-income countries get back to the things they love, many in low-income countries remain restricted and vulnerable to infection. Vaccine inequity puts everyone at risk, with low vaccination rates creating the ideal conditions for new variants of COVID-19 to emerge.”  “We are still seeing 1.5million cases of COVID-19 globally every day.” Which are just a false statement to belive.

2.8 Billion people have still not had the first vaccine – its depends on them if they don’t want to, after all people who has not taken the vaccinations are feeling to be better than people who had taken it, new variants are attracting to the people who are already had 2 to 4 doses.

By Line:
M.A.Moiz

Where does the Indian Passport Ranks ?

Covid-19 seems to be largely receding from most countries. Travel is on everyone’s mind. But there are still several factors to consider from a country’s individual stance on opening up as Covid recedes and then, of course, there is Russia and the Ukraine war in between.

But most importantly, ease of travel decides the travel itinerary as per the passport ranking around the world.

So, where does India rank on this passport index ?

Well, India ranks 85th on the passport ranking index, out of 199 passports in the world.

Indian passport holders can have visa-free or visa-on-arrival facilities in 59 countries. The number of countries with visa-free access has not changed since last year.

Indian passport is in the same position as the passports of Mauritania and Tajikistan.

You can check visa-on-arrival destinations from our website that Indian passport holders can plan a trip to.

And check out the complete list of countries where Indian passport holders can travel visa-free.

You can check out the complete list of the most powerful and best passports in the world from our website.

The above date is based on several sources and its exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

By Line:
Ms. Natalia Troshina
Czech Republic

For two years I was sad to walk around Prague. I was going to Charles Bridge – and there, well, it’s too free ! No queues anywhere. Gift shops were empty. Waiters were bored in restaurants. Prague doesn’t look Prague without tourists, as it were, no longer Prague.

True, my husband was happy – he does not like the crowd.

But last weekend of Mar 2022, I finally felt, here it is, life has returned ! Crowds everywhere, everyone speaks different languages, guides walk around with signs, and horse carriages with tourists even formed a traffic jam!

My heart as a tour operator was finally rejoiced!

The husband, naturally, was annoyed.

But enough about me. What about you all tourists? Here we prepared kind of economical tours all around Europe. It’s a bit different format of tours, considering independence of traveller. Just check with us, probably, will be interesting for you. Of course, any tour can be customized.

And, yes, forgot to mention, Covid restrictions are at minimum, and you can come here with an ordinary tourist visas.