So there are two long weekends in this month. Well,
technically only one but with a little ‘creativity’ you can have a second,
longer weekend. The first one is from August 13-15 (Independence Day) and the
second one could be from August 25 (Janmashtami) to August 28, that is, if you
‘feel so sick that you just can’t make it to work’ on August 26. And if you are
planning on heading to Goa, just like thousands of other Indian travellers, you
might want to keep the following points in mind to make your vacation a
memorable one:
Early bird gets the
worm (and the room!)
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Most travellers make the rookie mistake of reaching Goa
after the long weekend has kicked off, and therefore face difficulties in
securing the accommodation of choice or any accommodation at all. The idea is
to enter the state one or two days prior to the commencement of the long
weekend. You’ll be surprised with the unbelievably great deals that you can get
your hands on. Remember the simple formula: Goa in the rains, minus long
weekends is equal to empty beaches, green landscapes and no crowd, which in
turn is equal to super cheap deals on accommodation.
Ditch the flight
We all know that Goa is the most favourite tourist
destination of Indian tourists. Sadly, the air carriers are also aware of this.
Do not be surprised if you are asked to shell out anything north of INR 15,000
for a return flight ticket from any of the metros on long weekends. Therefore,
we suggest that you get your own/self-driven rented car and drive into the
state instead. There are multiple advantages of doing so. One – The Mumbai-Goa
highway is one of the most scenic highways in the country. Driving into Goa,
especially from Mumbai or Pune, is an extremely pleasurable activity. Two – You
can share the fuel expenses between the carpoolers and the figure that one
individual has to cough up is much lesser than the money spent on flight
tickets, or the mental trauma faced to get a train ticket. Three – (and this is
the most important one) once you have your car in Goa, commuting is way more
convenient; you can explore hidden treasures on your own. You also save
yourself from being fleeced by the taxi guys, and petrol is cheaper in Goa.
Sharing is caring
On long weekends, apart from accommodation, do not be
surprised to see inflated rates on the F&B front too. For those who like to
make the most of ‘cheap liquor’ in Goa, ordering drinks by pegs may prove to be
‘not-so-cheap’. Instead, order drinks by
the bottle, especially if you are with a group of friends and if everyone’s
choice of poison is the same. The money saved by sharing a bottle might just be
good enough to get you another bottle. Also, avoid the temptation of using
things from the Mini Bar at the hotel. Most of the times, they are priced 3-4
times the MRP, and moreover, no one is going to stop you from getting your own
bottle of water into the hotel property.
