Cover Story
Bhutan
Best time to visit
Anytime during the year , though in winter the temperature can fall to 1 ° C .
How to get there
Take a flight to Paro from Delhi or Kolkata . Or go by road from Bagdogra airport in West Bengal . Keep in mind that flights to Bhutan are few , so getting tickets could be difficult . Paro is one of the most dangerous airports in the world to land at , because it is situated in the middle of the mountains . Tip : For the best views , sit on the left side of the aircraft while flying into Paro , and on the right while flying out .
Places to see
Cities to visit include Thimpu , Paro , and Punakha . Phobjikha Valley is a must-visit for sighting the black-necked crane , an endangered species that migrates from China to Bhutan every year between November and February .
Accommodation
It ’ s easy to find hotels . Plus there are plenty of homestays and Airbnb options .
Precautions
Bhutan is safe even for solo travellers . Asians can travel alone or hire a guide-cumdriver . But it is mandatory for non-Asian travellers to be accompanied by one driver and one guide separately .
Food
Vegetarians could find it difficult because most locals are meat-eaters . All dishes contain chilly and cheese .
Airfare to Paro
From Kolkata – `16,989 From Delhi – `24,981 ( Source : Skyscanner . co . in , tentative return airfares for April 2018 )
Photo : Apoorva Salkade
CSR consultancy firm , went to France last year , she booked her tickets three months in advance . “ I did not want to see France as a typical tourist . I wanted to focus only on one place – or two at the most – and see more of those two places . If I had extended my trip to other European cities , it would have been too hectic ,” she explains .
Once she decided on Paris and Versailles as her preferred destinations , Kumar settled on a budget of `100,000 and started surfing online for the best deals . She found refundable tickets to Paris for less than `40,000 . For her stay , she checked out both Airbnb and Booking . com . On Booking . com , she opted for hostel rooms that fit her budget . “ In most hostels you don ’ t have to pay in advance and they give you the flexibility to cancel at the last minute . These bookings also serve as proof of stay when you apply for a visa ,” she says .
Airbnb offers you the convenience to choose single rooms or the entire property . Payment terms also differ
Jaya Narang , 38 years
Type of Traveller : Likes both popular and offbeat destinations ; avoids group tours
Planning Tip : Do your research online , and check reviews for hotels on at least two websites before booking ; include at least one homestay
Word of caution : In some places – Bhutan for instance – vegetarian food may not be easily available . Remember to carry ready-to-eat food like instant noodles
across listings . For some of the listed properties , you might be expected to pay the entire amount upfront , while some others may charge half the amount while booking and the rest at the end of your stay . Some listings also allow cancellations for a fee .
Jaya Narang , a sales and marketing professional , is an avid traveller who steers clear of groups . “ I don ’ t like package tours because you ’ re bound by the routine . Often you have to leave the hotel at eight in the morning and return at eight in the evening . I prefer flexibility and plan my own trips ,” she says . Once she ’ s chosen her destination , Narang does research to put her itinerary in place . Only after this does she books the flight tickets and hotel rooms . She also makes it a point to include one homestay . “ Homestays offer a local experience and that ’ s a good idea for places you want to explore . But if I ’ m going to a place I have visited several times and just want to relax , a hotel would be fine ,” she says .
Online reviews for hotel rooms are not foolproof . It ’ s wise to check user reviews from at least two independent websites . Narang , for instance , reads reviews on TripAdvisor and HolidayIQ before booking .
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Outlook Money April 2018 www . outlookmoney . com