Accra to Vijayawada Emirates Flights

  About Accra

Accra is the capital of Ghana and is one of the liveliest cities in Africa. It's a wonderful blend of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers. Accra is also one of the wealthier cities in Africa and has a rich history. The fact that it is so close to the sea is what attracts tourists to the city. Accra is known for its never-ending party parade. The locals don't need a reason to celebrate and start partying from Wednesday through Sunday. You can head to Labadi beach in the middle of the week, and you'll see the locals partying. The loud music, the party atmosphere, the flowing drinks and the hangover that follows the next day is a normal thing for the people here. The city has a lot of open-air venues and amphitheatres where they host live music. The groove never ends in this city. Not just musicians but you will also find a lot of artists in Accra. You can also check the artworks and the various art galleries in the city. You can head up to Aburi Hills if you want a break from the city and turn it into an adventure. Accra is full of surprises and one of the most underrated destinations for an adventurous holiday.

Best Time to Visit Accra

January to May is the high tourist season in Accra. The temperature averages to 28 degree Celsius making it the best time to hit the beach. Though the weather is moderately humid, it doesn't stop you from pursuing any outdoor activities. Make sure you book your hotel in Accra for several weeks in advance because the hotels will not get packed but also increase their rates. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Accra well in advance before the prices increase. Since this is a high tourist season, the party scenes will only get more exciting. You will, however, have to make sure that you are using your sunblock regularly and drink lots of water. You will find yourself attending a lot of beach parties during this season. You might also have to wait in queues at certain major tourist attractions owing to the increase in tourists.

You can also visit the city from June to September. The temperature ranges from 21 to 32 degree Celsius, and it's quite humid, but it still won't stop you from stepping out and exploring the city. The hotel prices and flight fares might drop since this season doesn't have a lot of tourists holidaying in the city. You will get great flight deals to Accra online if you decide to travel to the city during this time of the year.

October to December is also considered to be a great time to head to Accra. The temperature reaches a maximum of 32 degree Celsius, and it does get pretty hot, but it is also a decent time to hit the beach, or you can chill by the pool in your hotel. You might get cheap flight tickets to Accra during these months since only fewer tourists are seen holidaying here during these months. Since the city is known for its vibrant party scenes, you know that you will have a great time at the New Year's parties here. You can pick from nightclubs or beach parties or both. Put on your fanciest outfit and get your groove on.

Places to Visit in Accra

Jamestown Lighthouse is one of the oldest structures in Accra and offers you a magnificent view of the city from up top. Artists Alliance Gallery is an art gallery that you wouldn't want to miss. You will find the quirkiest artworks and exhibitions. Nubuke Foundation is another place to head to if you want to witness and appreciate good artwork. Fantasy Coffins is one of the unique coffin makers in the world. The coffin can come in any form that the customer wants, and it is worth it. Labadi beach is a popular beach in the city that is known for throwing the craziest beach parties, and you will absolutely love spending an evening here. +233 Jazz Bar and Grill is a nightclub that you can go to if outdoor parties are not your cup of tea. This is also one of the oldest music venues in Accra. If you want to have some casual lunch, shop at the fanciest places and then enter a premier nightclub to the wee hours, ICON House is the place for you. You can shop at La Maison, have lunch at Coco Lounge and head to Carbon, one of Accra's premium nightclubs.

Don't feel like doing anything crazy today? You can just go for a walk at the Aburi Botanical Garden. Accra also has quite a lot of other extracurricular activities for tourists, and You can also go horseback riding, play rugby, surf, etc. The city has something in store for all kinds of tourists. You might even make a few friends before you leave the city. You can also check out the package tours that are available with your tour guide. It is best to hire a guide to explore the city so you know the history of Accra and you might even meet new people if it is a guided tour. You can also go on a shopping spree at the local markets here. You will definitely need help with the bags because you will end up purchasing a lot of things at a minimal price. Whether it is souvenirs or clothes or jewellery, you will find everything that you need here.

Things to do in Accra

If you love parties, Accra is the right place for you. The locals start partying Wednesday onwards and keep at it till Sunday. Well, you don't have to party for four days straight if you don't want to, but it is an experience of a lifetime. You can also sign up for a guided sightseeing tour of the city and cover the major attractions. If you don't feel like going sightseeing, you can always hit the beach and just relax there. The beaches in Accra also offer a variety of water activities for you to try, like surfing, boating and so on. You can also go horseback riding if you want to. If you are in the city during a football match league, you are in for a treat. The locals cheer for their favourite teams quite fiercely. You can just go to a sports bar and cheer for whatever team you like with a pint of beer. You will definitely make a lot of friends this way unless you are cheering for the opposite team.

Foods and Restaurants in Accra

Accra, or Ghana for that matter, is not particularly known for its cuisine. Still, you will find a variety of cuisines from all over the world being served at restaurants here. Bread & Wine is an expensive place in Accra but is completely worth all the money spent. It is a perfect restaurant for celebratory meals or a romantic date or a far romantic proposal. The restaurant serves authentic French cuisines that come with an excellent selection of Wine. You can pack some desert and take it home as the restaurant also has its own bakery. Most customers prefer outdoor terrace seating. Kaya Energy Bar and Design is a unique restaurant that creates dishes and drinks using raw ingredients. They believe that food must be enjoyed raw, so you don't lose any of the nutrients in the cooking process. This is the best place to go to if you are health conscious. Craving for some sushi? Head over to Santoku. You can also tie the restaurant's signature dish, pan-fried scallops with foie gras and orange tobiko. You can also opt for the teriyaki pork belly with ginger ponzu aubergine.

Buka is an African restaurant that serves fusion dishes from Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria. It would be best if you tried the fresh fish soup, grilled guinea fowl and jollof rice here. You can also try La Chaumiere, a bistro that specialises in French cuisine. You will find vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, too. You must order the French onion soup and Nicoise salad here.

How to reach Accra

Kotoka International Airport is the international airport that functions from Accra. The flight connectivity to Accra from India is quite good. Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates Airline have more frequent flights to Accra than any other airline, with layovers at Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Dubai. Look out for exciting flight deals to Accra online, especially if you are travelling during peak season. You will get cheap flight tickets to Accra during the offseason since the demand is low. The airport has quite a lot of facilities for passengers like several ATMs, information desk, lounges, WiFi, bars, restaurants, cafes, duty-free shops, car rental services and so on. Getting a cab to your hotel from the airport is not a huge task, and even the airport staff offers to book one for you.

  About Vijayawada

Situated on the banks of Krishna River is the city of Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by dense greenery of the Eastern ghats, the city has exquisite scenery to cherish. The industrial city is known to have the second-largest rail junction connectivity, making it an important city in India. It is the hub of transport connection to South India. The city enjoys a beautiful melange of cultures and heritages, making it a good tourist place. Flight connectivity to Vijayawada from other major cities further enhances its importance.

Best time to visit Vijayawada

Vijayawada's climate is usually moderate all-round the year. However, winter months make it the best time to visit. Winters arrive in October and stay till February, giving people ample time to plan a trip to Vijayawada for a small excursion. The November and December months are especially favourable for travelling as the sun is pleasant, as is the vibe of the place. Thanks to the favourable weather, it manages to attract a lot of tourists to Vijayawada city. Even the flight tickets to Vijayawada see a spike during the peak-season, being winter. You will have a good time during winter in Vijayawada as the streets are lit with many hawkers selling some of the finest street food. Plus, it would be easier to visit tourist attractions in and around the city.

While the winters are inviting and beautiful, the summers are equally scorching and terrible. The temperatures often spike up to 43 degree Celsius, which can be tough for some people to deal with. The weather is extremely hot and humid. It definitely would not allow you to traverse within the city as the pesky heat and humidity would come in the way of your mood. Not to mention how it could have some have implications such as heat strokes and dehydration too. Best thing to do would be to avoid summers in Vijayawada for one's own safety. Besides, if travel and leisure is your purpose of visiting Vijayawada, then it is all the more important that you do not opt for Vijayawada for vacation. It certainly wouldn't be a good trip, and you might end up feeling more worked up than before.

Interestingly, the monsoons are not good but not as bad as summers. The city witnesses torrential rains between the months of July and September. Due to the extreme downpour, the travel plans that you may have had might need alteration. The erratic nature of the rain will have an effect on the temperature of the city. It could be favourable, or it could be bad. Hence, the best way to go about it would be to only pick winter as the time to visit Vijayawada. It is ideal, and the city also has more life to it that would do well with your vacation mood.

Places to visit in Vijayawada

Vijayawada has a plethora of beautiful tourist attractions that would make for a good itinerary. Bhavani Island is one such place where the Krishna river would surround you while you enjoy fine dining. It is the perfect leisure setting that one can ask for. Aside from it, you can further explore some of the temples and pilgrimage that is situated in the city. Places such as Kanaka Durga Temple, Subramanya Swamy Temple, Hinkar Tirtha, ISKCON Temple, to name a few, are places that would transport you to a serene environment. Exploring ruins at the Kondapalli Fort is also a good way to spend time in Vijayawada. As is visiting the Victoria Museum to learn more about the Vijayawada empire and the historical significance of the city.

Things to do in Vijayawada

Not just food and tourist attractions but the city also cater to one's recreational needs with a slew of things to do. Shopping being the primary attraction for many, tourists often flock over to the Besant Road for some street shopping. Getting souvenirs for your peers could be something fun to engage in. For those who are interested in flexing calf muscles and engaging in some adventure activities, you can pick trekking to the Mangalagiri Hills or Gandhi Hill as an option. Further to rest easy, packing a picnic basket and heading to the Kolleru Lake is also a comfortable idea that you can undertake.

Food and Restaurants in Vijayawada

Vijayawada's food culture would be agreeable to all. The city brings together some of the finer shades of Indian cuisine in one platter. Although the city is predominantly South Indian and would cater to the said cuisine, they do come with variations. Vijayawada accommodates Udupi-style restaurants, exquisite fine dining experiences with global fusion and more. You will thoroughly be overjoyed by the plethora of food options that the city has for you. Traditional food joints have also been transformed into fine dining experiences that cannot be missed. The foodie in you would certainly agree with some of the food that the city offers. It is a known fact that people in Andhra Pradesh hold a special spot for rice and pickles. Do make a note that the food quantity is abundant, so prepare your stomach for an adventure.

The city has a bunch of mess and caterer services where you can eat to your heart's content. Sr Ramayya Mess and Caterers is one such place which would give you some delicious authentic South Indian spread. It is purely vegetarian and one of the famous places in Vijayawada. Make sure you taste their bread halwa and gongura pachadi, you will not be disappointed. Babai Hotel in Vijaywada is not just prominent for being a breakfast joint since 1942 but also for serving food to bigtime celebrities such as Sri N.T.Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Chandra Mohan, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, to name a few.

For impeccable non-vegetarian dishes, you should head to GAD Restaurant, Sweet Magic, TFL and RR Durbar. These places serve the best non-vegetarian spin that is Andhra Pradesh's speciality. Much of their menu has kebabs and biryanis for food enthusiasts. You should not miss out the street food that also defines Vijayawada's food culture. At Kit-Kat Bakery, relish their masala burgers and bread omelettes. Visit Shahana's juice point to get some refreshing fruit juice.

How to reach Vijayawada (Transportation)

By Air

Vijayawada is an international airport and entertains international flights along with domestic ones. Located in the Gannavaram area, Vijayawada International Airport was originally built as an army base to serve during the Second World War. Since the airport's location is right on NH 5, it connects with various cities in the South such as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, to name a few. Major airlines such as TruJet, Air India, SpiceJet and Air Costa function from the Vijayawada airport. Flights from Vijayawada fly to prominent cities in India, including Bangalore, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Varanasi, Kochi, Kolkata and more. Direct flights to Mumbai from Vijayawada are also available and are serviced by Air India.

Despite being an international airport, there are no flights from international routes that connect to Vijayawada. In fact, to book an international flight, you will have to check for connecting flights from Hyderabad. Flight tickets to Vijayawada are not extremely pricey. You can easily book your flight ticket to Vijayawada and get some fantastic flight deals. Better accommodations are available in the city centre, but it would be best to book your hotel room in Vijayawada before your journey.

By Rail

Vijayawada's railway connectivity is legendary. In fact, the city's railway junction is known to be the second biggest in India. Vijayawada railway station is an important station in India as a majority of the train connections from North to South of India pass through the city. The rail is actually a hub that enables connecting all the cities in South of India more convenient. The station is abundantly crowded with trains coming from all corners of India. While there is a Howrah-Chennai mainline that passes through Vijayawada, there are other lines like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, too that pass through this. Vijayawada is a popular rail route that has excellent network.

Express trains such as Chennai Express, Shatabdi Express, Coromandal Express, Guwahati Express and Jaipur Express, to name a few, take a halt at Vijayawada. The station's location is in the city centre, making travelling within the city comfortable. Due to the fantastic connectivity of trains, the rail is considered over flights to Vijayawada by tourists.

By Road

The roads are just as brilliantly connected as the air and rail to Vijayawada. National highways such as NH 5, NH 9, NH 30 and more passes through Vijayawada, making it a popular route for road transport. A state-run bus facility for inter-state travelling is also available. As for intra-city and inter-state buses, private services to connect cities via AC/Non-AC buses. While traffic congestion can be expected on the highways, the road conditions are favourable, making travelling by road a lot easier. As a developed city, Vijayawada's transportation is quite immaculate. Traffic and other concerns do erupt owing to the crowd.

  About Emirates Airlines

Emirates, based in Garhoud, Dubai, is a state-owned carrier airline of United Arab Emirates. It is a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates is undoubtedly the largest airline in the Middle East which has operations of more than 3,600 flights in a week from Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, the hub of the airlines. It connects to over 150 international cities spread across 80 countries and has flights to six continents. With a fleet carrying about 300 aircraft along with cargo activities that fall under Emirates SkyCargo, it easily becomes one of the biggest and important airlines in the world.

The airline came into existence in 1985 after Gulf Air decreased the flight services to Dubai. Emirates was originally backed by Dubai's royal family as well as two flight services from Pakistan International Airlines on wet-lease. The start-up capital of the airlines was $10 million and operated independently from the government. Further on this, Pakistan International Airlines also enabled training services to help Emirates' cabin crew. The following years saw some tremendous expansion and put Emirates on the map of the top airlines in the world. This has been possible thanks to the leadership of their current chairman, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The airlines have managed to expand their fleet size as well as the number of destinations.

Dubai International Airport even constructed a new terminal building dedicated to Emirates in 2008. All operations concerning the airport have since been moved to Terminal 3 of the airport. Emirates currently operates a mixed fleet which includes Boeing wide-body aircraft along with Airbus among them. It has been recorded that Emirates is the largest operator of Airbus A380, as of 2019, with about 115 aircraft service. The airlines plan to add eight more to its fleet. Ever since the introduction of Airbus A380, it has become an indispensable part of the Emirates fleet. It is perfect for long-haul international routes. Along with Airbus A380, Emirates is also known to be the largest operator of Boeing 777 in the world with 144 aircraft functioning from under the airlines.

Fleet size of Emirates

The fleet size of Emirates currently stands at 259 aircraft. The airline is the only one in the world to operate the largest fleet of massive aircraft, Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. The two aircraft are known for their gigantic sizes. Along with the two major aircraft, Emirates also accommodates A319, which flies as an executive jet. Since 1995, the airlines have not accommodated single-aisle aircraft as part of its mainline fleet.

Back in February 2019, Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to add 40 A330-900s and 30 A350-900s to their fleet. Simultaneously, they also plan to reduce the total number of Airbus A380 aircraft to 123. Post this, Airbus plans to cease production for A380. However, the same year, the airlines announced to order 50 instead of 30 A350-900s for a sum of USD16 billion. In the same year, Emirates also ordered 30 787-9s which values at USD8.8 billion. Deliveries of the same will commence in 2023 as the fleet further plans to reduce the order of 777Xs from a total of 150 to 126.

The livery on all Emirates flights features the flag of United Arab Emirates painted on the vertical stabilizer along with a white fuselage and the word Emirates etched in golden. The same design was introduced in 1999 and was first featured on the Boeing 777-300 as well as on all the Airbus A330 aircraft. The complete repainting of the fleet to the said design happened in 2005. An Arabic version of Emirates is also painted on the livery but has been etched in a smaller size.

Inflight services

First-class cabin services - In the first-class cabin, it has been segregated into two types of seating, one that is fully enclosed suite with a floor door extended to the ceiling and the second, also with doors but not the kind that extends up to the ceiling. The suite ensures complete privacy with in-flight services such as a coat rack, mini-bar and ample storage space. An ICE entertainment system has also been installed with a 23-inch wide LCD screen. The seat can be converted into a fully flat bed too. Interestingly, Emirates' in-flight services for first-class and business-class cabins also include lounge areas with a bar, shower-equipped lavatories and a spa. A 13-inch tablet to communicate with the cabin crew or call for room service is also available to upscale the first-class scenes for travellers.

Business-class cabin services - Emirates' in-flight services for business class cabins include a 2-meter long recliner that stretches up to 79 inches lie-flat bed. Some of the amenities present in the cabin include partitions for privacy, a winged headrest that has a six-way movement, individual reading lights, in-seat power supply, RCA socket to connect laptops and ICE entertainment system, to name a few. Business-class cabins of Airbus A380-800 aircraft accommodates flat-beds and personal mini-bars. However, due to the awkward layout of the cabin, some of the beds stretch only up to 70 inches instead of 79. Business-class travellers are also given access to the on-board bar which is located at the rear of the aircraft.

Premium economy class services - While no other aircraft of Emirates' fleet accommodates a Premium Economy Class, the same is available in their first Boeing 777X. The seats have been curated to fit the design of what can be found in Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs. These will be introduced in the aircraft that is slated to release in 2020-21. Details of the same are yet to be revealed by the airlines.

Economy class services - Emirates' economy class is not blessed with all the world-class features that their other cabins do, but it still has enough to keep the passengers comfortable. The seats offered on Airbus and Boeing 777 aircraft is approximately 34 inches. It has ten seats lined up in a row with adjustable headrests and an ICE entertainment system that offers 3000 channels. Not to mention how the seat also comes with a laptop power outlet in some of the newer aircraft. An additional recline is also available in A380 aircraft.

In-flight entertainment and dining services - Emirates prides itself on being the first airlines in the world to propose a personal entertainment system on commercial aircraft. The same was introduced in 1992, right after Virgin Atlantic brought forth similar ideation along with an entertainment system. Emirates' in-flight services include personal entertainment system which is of two types, ICE and ICE Digital Widescreen. Larger high definition screens have been installed in all classes of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet. ICE is information, communication and entertainment and an in-flight service offered by Emirates. ICE also provides communication services which include sending and receiving emails for USD1 per message.

There are provisions to access mobile broadband services in flight as well. The same was introduced in 2008 and had been functioning well since. The airlines also offer scrumptious meals during the flight. Catering for the same is done by Emirates Flight Catering service, which operates one of the largest facility for airline catering in the world. Emirates strictly follows a halal dietary guideline and all meals are prepared accordingly. Much recently, Emirates also signed a million-dollar venture with Oakland-based Crop One Holding. The deal is to build and maintain the largest hydroponic growing facility that would provide yields to Emirates' fleet.

Baggage allowance

As long as you are able to meet the weight criteria, you can carry as many baggage on Emirates flights as possible. Depending on the class ticket that the traveller has purchased, the flight does have weight allowance segregated. As per the economy class' rules, the baggage on Emirates should not weigh beyond 32 kg. The weight concept applies to all international routes chosen by Emirates. As for first-class and business-class, the weight is 50 kg and 40 kg respectively. Emirates does not have baggage allowance with respect to numbers but requests passengers to adhere to the weight.

Popular routes and top cities for Emirates

Emirates has impeccable connectivity with respect to flights within the Middle East. Some of the domestic routes chosen by Emirates include countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Melbourne, Dhaka, Cambodia, Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo-Haneda, Singapore, Seoul, Male, Karachi, Christchurch, Auckland, Seychelles, Colombo, Hanoi and Bangkok in Asia, are some of the top cities that the airlines have flight operations in.

In terms of global reach, Emirates flies to international routes such as Addis Ababa, Cairo, Lagos, Cape Town, London, Istanbul, Zurich, Moscow, Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam, Athens, Rome, Dublin, Frankfurt, Paris, Copenhagen, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City to name a few.

Why travel by Emirates?

On a global scale, Emirates is the fourth-largest airline in the world in terms of passenger-kilometres flown and the second with respect to freight tonne-kilometres flown. The airlines have over the years built a name for itself to be the best with respect to comfort and connectivity. You can book Emirates flights online on all travel websites as well as the official site. Plus, you can find Emirates' flight schedules and check flight status on the website as well.