The perfect winter breaks
A round up of five destinations worth exploring over the
Christmas and New Year holidays.
December is less than a week away and it’s time to
firm up winter holiday plans. You could be torn between wanting to do it all
yourself or opting for the much more convenient but expensive package deals
from travel websites. We recommend the DIY approach as it lets you build your
own itinerary and helps save money on those package activities that you may not
find too interesting.
We have shortlisted five sought-after winter
destinations—Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, Gujarat and Kashmir—and charted out an
extensive expense plan for each. The total budget has been calculated by taking
into account all major expenses like transport from Delhi, 3-star
accommodation, local commute and food, for two people. But there is room for
you to cut costs further, especially on transport and commute. For transport
cost, we have not followed a set strategy across all places, rather we have
picked options that will save you both time and money. Here is wishing you
happy holidays.
GOA
GOA IS EVERYONE’S favourite
beach destination round the year, but December is peak season thanks to the
balmy days and Christmas festivities. Airfares from all major cities tend to be
high during this period.
We have picked the costeliest options for calculating
the budget. You can cut down the total expense up to 15% by opting for cheaper
alternatives. We have picked the option of cab for sightseeing, which will cost
around ₹9,000. Instead
of taking a taxi, you can hire a selfdriven bike for about ₹3,000, which is also the
preferred option of most tourists. For accomodation, you can save a total of ₹6,000 by staying in a hotel
slightly away from the beach.
Dedicate a day each to explore North, South and Old
Goa. Dine at beach side shacks for lip smacking seafood at cheaper rates.
KERALA
HILLS, BEACHES and
backwaters—Kerala has it all. We have worked out an itinerary that starts and
ends at Kochi, and you get to spend two nights in Munnar, famous for its tea
plantations, one night in the jungles of Thekkady and one night in the
backwaters of Alleppey. Hiring a cab for the entire trip would be convenient
but expensive. Alternatively, all the places are well connected by state transport
buses and trains. Whatever you choose, road trips through lush green mountains
and picturesque little towns will be an unforgettable experience.
RAJASTHAN
DECEMBER IS THE perfect
month to explore the beautiful state of forts and desert. We have opted for two
nights in Jaipur, one night in Jodhpur and two nights in Jaisalmer.
It is better to take a train from Delhi to Jaipur as
the distance is short. However, for the return journey, you can take a flight
from Jodhpur to Delhi. We recommend staying at least one night in a desert camp
in Jaisalmer. If you take a package, it will pinclude camel ride and meals.
GUJARAT
WHILE MOST parts of
Gujarat can be explored round the year, December is the best time to visit Rann
of Kutch, a wetland with a marshy salt bed that appears like a sheet of snow.
Also, the three-month-long annual Rann Utsav is at its full glory in December.
We have included a one night stay in Bhuj for you to explore the nearby ruined
city of Dholavira or the beach city of Mandvi on the first day. We recommend
taking the Rann Utsav package for your stay in Kutch as it will include cab
transfers from and to Bhuj airport/railway station and complimentary
sightseeing in Bhuj on the last day.
KASHMIR
GULMARG IS AMONG the top
destinations for snow lovers and winter sports enthusiasts. We have limited the
itinerary only to Gulmarg as it hosts skiing, sledging, snow scooter etc and
gondola rides. Also, it witnesses more snowfall compared to other parts of
Kashmir, enough for you to build your own snowman. We don’t recommend taking a
cab for the entire trip as Gulmarg is a small town which can be covered on
foot.
by Shipra Singh
ETW26NOV18
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