Facts about Christmas.

Everyone loves Christmas. It’s a season of fun, celebrations, lots of cooking and eating.Guess what? Eating is my best activity during this Christmas period!

Since childhood, I have celebrated Christmas with lots of people, especially my family with so much to eat and drink.

Not until recently did I get to know ‘some’ fun facts about Christmas. How old were when you knew these facts?

  1. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is an annual Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The 25th day of December was chosen to mark His birthday by the Roman Catholic Church years after His death. And this Christian holiday is celebrated by Christians all over the world.

 

  1. Christmas trees were first used by ancient Egyptians and Romans

The origin or the use of Christmas trees goes way back to ancient Egyptians and Romans. They used evergreen trees like fir or pine trees, wreaths, and garlands. And the use of modern Christmas trees started in Germany in the 16th century. Instead of the glitzy decorations that we see on them today, they were decorated with fruits and nuts. Wet bet you didn’t know this interesting fact about the Christmas tree!

 

  1. Santa Claus originated from a newspaper ad 

Far from being a quaint medieval legend, Santa Claus first appeared as a recognizable entity was in a newspaper ad for toys and “gift books” in the mid 19th century.

 

  1. Back In the days, Christmas light don’t come cheap

Christmas lights were so expensive that they used to be rented rather than sold. An electrically lit tree was a status symbol in the early 1900s.

 

  1. Merry Used to mean drunk

The word “merry” in Merry Christmas was not always accepted because being merry used to signify slight intoxication.

 

  1. Meaning of “X” in X-mas

The abbreviation X in X-mas is not an abbreviation. It stands for “Chi,” meaning Christ in Greek.

 

  1. The significance of Christmas gifts

The reason we give presents during Christmas is to symbolize the gifts given to Jesus by the three wise men.

 

  1. Santa Claus did not always dress up in red clothes

Santa Claus initially wore clothes that were in green, purple, or blue. For many years, this was the common theme for the jolly old man at the North Pole. However, Coca Cola decided to dress him up in colors that match their brand and that stuck. So this is why he is always in red clothes now!

 

  1. The Christmas wreath is a symbol of love and eternal life

The Christmas wreath is representative of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. Eventually, the colors of Christmas – red, green, and gold were added. Red is said to represent the blood of Jesus, green is supposed to symbolize life, and gold stands for royalty and light. And the evergreen foliage used to make Christmas wreaths symbolizes the continuity of life and nature even in the darkest days of winters.

 

  1. People give Christmas cards to convey their feelings to their loved ones

One of the most fun rituals of Christmas is the exchange of Christmas cards. You can ask your child to make your cards with embellishments of his choice. By giving Christmas cards, they can convey their feelings to the person they like and wish them well.

 

Merry Christmas to those who observe it and Happy Holidays to everyone else!!!

Dubai Desert Safari

Travelling requires lots of planning, both for seasoned travelers and first-timers. 

The same way you trust your plumber or electrician to fix a damaged pipe and other jobs is the same way you need a travel agent to help you put your  travel plans in the right order and help you get the best travel deals available. 

Here are 5 key questions you need to bother about before signing up with a travel agent to help you out with your trip and vacation plans.

 

  1. When is the best time of the year to visit a destination?

Your travel agent must know what type of traveler you are. Perhaps you are the type that likes going with a large group or  you prefer to go on a trip with not more than 4 people or a lone traveler who loves to vacation all alone. Your preference will determine when to visit some destination, whether off-peak or peak season.

For instance, Mauritius enjoys winter between May and October, while summer is between November and April. Europe’s winter is between November and April and summer is usually between May and October. Your travel agents must be well informed about weather conditions and patterns in the destinations where you intend to vacation. 

 

  1. What deals are available?

Millions of tourists and adventurers travel all over the world all around the year and there are millions of best deals and offers on the table for only those who know how to find it, and the best person who knows is your travel agent. Meet and go figure!

 

  1. What are some destinations on the list of travelers at the moment?

The one person you can talk to about top of the list vacation destination of the moment is your travel agent.

Whether you would love to see Seychelles, Mauritius, Dubai, South Africa, UK, Paris or even Singapore, one person you can trust and talk to for the best advice is your travel agent.

 

  1. What documentation do I need for my trip?

The type of document you need will depend on your destination as some countries require visas which in turn require documents like bank statements, proof of employment and other personal documents for processing.

Your travel agent will know what document you need to gain legal access into the country of your choice and what the budget should be. This helps you plan and get you geared up for the journey with less or no stress.

 

  1. What sort of travel insurance do you need?

Traveling safe goes along with having the best travel insurance package that provides security just in case something awful happens. Your travel agent should be able to lay the cards out on the table and guide you to make the right decision.

Are you confident about your travel agent? If you’re not, then you should speak to Grandeur travels to plan your trips. Asking the right question will save you from having the wrong experience.

Talk to us and get ready for a pleasant experience of a lifetime!

Call +2349097000500 or send an email to info@grandeurtravelsng.com let’s get you started!

The Super helpful guide on how to cope with long flights

Traveling can be tedious and stressful if you’re on a long flight to – say, Madagascar – which is about 11hrs and 45 minutes including transfers. This means you will be cramped, siting and probably screaming if you’re traveling with a kid. The nuisance of the roaring jet engines and the inconvenience can call for serious consideration.

 

Here is a post that is meant to help you cope with the journey and give you tips that will enable you to bear the headache.

 

Try to do early ticket booking

Early tickets give the best seat. This is a trusted tip among experienced travelers. Try it!

 

 

Find a back seat

While it’s a sure thing to experience a lot of noise at the back seat space, you probably won’t have to bother about anyone giving you extra disturbances because you’re most likely going to end up having a couple of empty seats beside you while other passengers are scrambling for the front seat.

 

Cherish more than economy

This might not always be an option though, but if you can step up from the regular economy class to either premium or something more expensive, you will find it amazing. The benefits you will enjoy include more space, extra legroom, priority check-in and lots more that will cover for the plenty of stress in the economy class.

 

Get ready for jet lag

It’s always advisable to be prepared for this experience. For instance, ensure you give yourself lots of rest before the flight and adjust your sleeping patterns to prepare your body for the changes. 

 

Check-in Early 

Early check-ins save you a lot of stress. You don’t have to start panicking your way through the busy airport or fidgeting before the customs and immigration official and worse still….miss your flight! Just be there early enough to avoid the unwanted drama.

 

Get a pillow handy

It will be nice to be able to rest your head on some extra cushion, isn’t it? Small pillows all over the airports, so get yourself one!

 

Dress right

This is not an interview outing. Get yourself a light dress and extra layers of duvets in case it gets colder. Some pieces of pajamas won’t be a bad idea.

 

Travel light

Don’t go flying with bags full of David Baldacci series or countless Tom Clancy and Nora Sheldon.  Ensure you travel light as much as possible and get help with your luggage at the airport if need be.

 

Traveling is meant to be enjoyed no matter the distance. Get the most of the pleasant experiences with our helpful guide.

 

How was your last flight experience? Tell us the story in the comment section…

We will be more than glad to hear from you.

 

Top 6 Destinations you should visit in Africa come 2020

Africa is an emerging economy and part of this is due to its growing tourism site. Many countries in Africa are doing a lot to draw more interest from other parts of the world, and rate high on the world tourism ranking. These are the top 5 destinations and amazing places to visit in Africa come 2020.

 

Rwanda

Rwanda is on the eastern part of the African continent with many attraction sites like the Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Ethnographic Museum, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

 

This African pearl, recently named as the safest country in Africa by World economic forum is changing the travel narrative in the continent with its recent efforts in transforming its capital, Kigali with its many national parks as a point of attraction to many tourists. Rwanda has a rich cultural mix, wonderful natural surroundings and lots of gorillas to see. The captivating scenery of the fire-spewing volcanoes at the Volcanoes national park is worth the journey. 

 

kenya

Kenya is undoubtedly one of Africa’s greatest tourism destination for a wildlife. Kenya is famously known to be home to wildlife like lions, elephants, and rhinos.

The Giraffe Manor is a beautiful conservancy for Giraffes. You’re free to share a kiss with a giraffe and the experience is simply mind-blowing and delightful. For some people, it could be uncomfortable in the beginning, but in a couple of minutes, you’ll find yourself going back to get more kiss from the giraffes.

There are a whole lot of other animals to be seen at Maasai Mara, such as the rhinos, elephants, Lions, Kangaroos, ostriches, and many others.

 

 

 

Our very excited client kissing a giraffe at the Giraffe Manor in Kenya

 

 

 

Madam Grandeur and a happy client strikes a pose with the Maasai tribe in Kenya

 

 

A super excited client hanging a snake on his shoulders at Nairobi National Museum

 

 

Mauritius

Mauritius is just another paradise-island on the Indian Ocean, with its white sandy beaches, peaceful people and clear waters, the experience is simply amazing. For travelers who want to tour Africa in 2020, Mauritius is an amazing destination with a super-rich history, luxurious resorts, one of the world’s best botanical gardens, splendid traditional cuisines and many other amazing adventures you want to have a taste of.

Mauritius has a lot of attractive places to visit like the Capital Port Louis, Charamel village (with multi-colored sands like a rainbow), the mountainous side of the island on the West and South-west where most of its volcanic mountains can be found. You can also visit the Northern part of Mauritius with a colorful natural sight that leaves you awed as it has done to millions of adventurers who have been here. You can visit the two UNESCO world heritage sites, the Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne cultural landscape, The black river Gorges national park and the Casela wildlife park where you can have a nice time with lion cubs.

 

There are quite a number of activities you can do in Mauritius from biking, zip lining, deep-sea fishing, mountain trekking, parasailing, underwatersea walk and many other amazing activities that can make the experience such a memorable one.

 

Seychelles

Seychelles, an amazing island on the Indian ocean and staying 1000 miles east of Tanzania with 115 strings of tropical islands is the most wanted destination for many adventurers. A country that was influenced by the presence of the British and the french during the slave trade. This paradise has a mix of interesting cultures and languages that makes tourists want to come back here again!

 

Seychelles is blessed with beaches, amazing white sand, turquoise water with a tropical atmosphere beach where you can have the feel of amazement. From the Famous Anse Source D’argent on la Digue, Anse Royal on Mahe, Grand Anse on la Digue or even the Anse Lazio on Praslin, these beautiful beaches are nothing short of splendid.

 

Though Seychelles is popular for its beaches, it also has great mountains, made from granite unlike the volcanic ones in Hawaii. It also has a vastly cool native wildlife and also the Coco de Mer palm which you can find at the Vallee de Mai nature reserve, recognized by the UNESCO world heritage site.

 

Talk of delicious food, Seychelles boasts of tasty kinds of seafood on their menu with Creole dishes that you can find available in most of their restaurants. 

 

You can have great activities in Seychelles that range from hiking (don’t forget your sturdy boots), sailing, snorkeling, diving, and surfing. There are lots of places to visit in Seychelles, from the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, Morne Seychellois National Park, Seychelles Natural History Museum, Domaine de Val des Prés, Rita’s Art Studio And Gallery and lots more.

 

 

Ghana

The West African country is one of the ideal destinations for tourists from Europe and neighboring countries. English speaking and safe for tourists with plenty of activities like tracking elephants on foot in the National Park at Mole, sight waterbuck, hippos, warthog and water buffalo and hyenas at the park. You can also visit the UNESCO-listed fifteenth-century St George’s castle or shop for batik, and fashion accessories at Kumasi market.

 

Ghana is blessed with immense natural and cultural diversity with its dotted forts and Swedish, German and British castles lined up along the Cape Coast and Elmina. Ghana also has ancient mosques around the Northwest with the City of Kumasi serving as the royal capital of the Ashanti kingdom. The beautiful Kakum national park still houses the remaining rainforest animals like the Elephants, Leopard, 300 different kinds of birds and many more. If you’re also a beach lover who loves the sands, you can visit the white-sand beaches of Busua and Kokrobite or go hiking at the waterfalls and mountains of the Volta region.

 

 

Madagascar 

Madagascar is indeed a destination of wildlife, uncountable variants of habitats and rare species of wildlife you can’t find anywhere else on the face of the Earth. Madagascar has a mysterious, diverse and fascinating unique wild lives that house the famous Lemurs of Madagascar as they are called.

 

This amazing country has a vastly diverse tropical rainforest and a huge field of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles to massive baobab trees, mangroves swamps, caves, islands, and white-sand beaches. With a growing tourism industry, Madagascar has around 4,800 km long coastline, with 93 percent of its mammals, 89 percent of its plants and 98 percent of its reptiles are endemic. Tourists can trek, dive, snorkel and enjoy an array of flavored cuisines from the friendly Malagasy people.

 

If you are planning on where to go in 2020, you must book a session with Grandeur travels for expert advice on getting the best deals. 

 

For honest expert advice, give Grandeur travels a call now and do not miss our amazing Mauritius offer!

 

How to plan your December vacation – trusted tips!

Planning to go on a December vacation trip? Not a bad idea!

 

December is here!, and with few weeks to go into the new year, you might love to go on a vacation trip. These helpful vacation tips will guide you in making the right decision.

 

The festive season will be filled with lots of bustlings – from shops showing off their festive season stock, and busyness of different people trying to get stuff for the season before prices skyrocket among many other things.

 

To ensure you enjoy the best of your December vacation to recover from the year-long hustle, Grandeur Travels is offering you an amazing planning guide to help you earn your greatest moment this holiday. 

 

Find the best deals

Many tempting deals come up within this period and you definitely cannot sign up for all them. Go for the best deals that can offer you the enjoyment, relaxation, and excitement that you want. If you’re planning a trip with your family, it will be a good deal to seek out deals that have amazing value for money packages – the best offer for everyone involved!

 

Find affordable deals

The best deals may not be the affordable ones. You have to consider the package that can serve your purpose and still offer you the value which will not take away all your money. In a busy season like this that a lot of people are busy with different plannings, consider your budget to be on the winning side.

 

Find out specials deals

Like the amazing Mauritius offer on the table from Grandeur travels and tour, you might want to think of signing up before the offer ends. This is one of our many special offers.

 

Find out special offers that have an “all-inclusive” package if you’re traveling with family or with a group.

 

From hotels reservation, visa booking, to car hire, make sure all the packages you want to sign up to meet your needs.

 

These trusted travel tips is the fastest and tested route to enjoying your December vacation.

 

We wish you compliments of the season in advance!