Cover Story
Cost-savers for foreign travel
Group holidays are a great option if you are a budget traveller. You can save at
least 20-25 per cent of your travel costs.
Book your holiday at least 2-3 months in advance.
Travel during off season – from mid-January to the end of March, or from mid-
July to early November. You are more likely to nail the best prices on airfare
and hotel accommodation at such times.
If you still want to travel during summer, choose a hotel away from the city
centre. Prices will be at least 30-40 per cent cheaper.
Opt for flights that have a stopover. For example, a direct flight from Mumbai
to London will usually be more expensive than a flight via Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
or Doha. The price difference can be as much as 10-15 per cent. If you book
early, check all airline deals anyway; you just might land a sweet deal on a
direct flight.
notes of higher denominations. “In
France, most people swipe cards or
resort to digital payments, and I found
it very difficult to get change for a €500
note. It’s advisable to carry currency of
smaller denominations,” says Kumar.
Narang, on the other hand, used
foreign currency cards on her Europe
trip, and had no problem using cash in
Bhutan.
Budget Planning
As Narang goes on at least two trips
every year, and spends `50,000 to
`60,000 on each, she makes sure that
she saves up for her travels. “While
planning the trip, I get to know how
much it would cost,” she says. “I’ve
never taken a loan for a holiday so far.
I don’t understand the logic of taking
a loan.” On a similar note, Kumar
staggers her payments to reduce the
strain on her finances – she books air
tickets one month, accommodation
next, and for visas the following month.
For those like Kumar and Narang
who plan their travels in advance, there
are many interesting schemes to help
them with their budgets. One such
scheme is Cox & Kings’ ‘Save-Now-
Travel-Later’. Through this, a consumer
can schedule his or her trip a year in
advance and pay the tour costs in 11
instalments leading up to the holiday.
The 13th instalment is contributed
28
by Cox & Kings. “This helps people
who would like to travel a year later,
keeping their budget in mind,” says
Anand.
Destination Matters
Some popular domestic destinations
for summer travel in India are Ladakh,
Shimla, Kashmir, and Meghalaya.
While destinations like Munnar and
Kochi in Kerala and Goa are also
popular, they are fast becoming year-
round favourites. Popular hill stations
include Mahabaleshwar, Matheran,
and Lonavala for people in Mumbai
and Pune; Coorg and Ooty in the
south; and Mount Abu and Kashmir
for those living in Delhi. Hampi is
another popular destination for those
interested in heritage.
“Over the last few years, due
to excellent flight connectivity,
the Andamans too has become
popular, especially for water sports.
Neighbouring countries such as Nepal
and Bhutan are also getting good
numbers during summer,” Anand
adds. For Indian travellers looking to
travel abroad, the UK, Switzerland,
France, Germany, and Italy continue to
be among the most visited destinations
during summer. New destinations such
as Iceland and Scandinavia are also
gaining popularity.
Outlook Money April 2018 www.outlookmoney.com
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Vietnam
Best time to visit
October to April
How to get there
Take a flight to Hanoi or Ho
Chi Minh City from Mumbai or
Delhi. You can cover Hanoi, Ho
Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc, a
popular island destination.
Places to see
In Hanoi, visit the Ho Chi Minh
museum, Temple of Literature,
and the Women’s Museum.
Shopping, particularly at
the Friday flea market in the
city centre, is a must, as is an
overnight cruise to Ha Long
Bay. Ho Chi Minh City will
primarily interest history buffs,
while Phu Quoc is a huge draw
for honeymooning couples
and others seeking luxury.
Accommodation
Choose a hotel near the city
centre; you can also look
up homestays or Airbnb
facilities depending on your
budget. Hotels in Vietnam are
considered easy on the pocket.
Precautions
While Vietnam is safe, it is
best to be back in your hotel
by 10 pm, unless you are fond
of nightlife. Carry a paper map,
especially if you do not intend
to use data while on roam