money today
The one good news about the global financial meltdown is that travel has
become a lot more affordable. With recession eating into the revenues of the
travel service providers, landing a bargain has never been easier. Take a look
at the discounts on offer at some of the most favoured
foreign locales.
More Money Today stories
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Hot Deals
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Interesting
packages to look out for
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Ananda Spa,
Rishikesh
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Cost:
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Rs 24,500 per couple
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Contact:
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011-26568888
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India's
most luxurious spa is offering a 15% discount on its regular rates. The
Experience Ananda package offers a two-night stay
in a valley-view room,
with daily breakfast and dinner,
hydrotherapy facilities, daily oga and a trek to
the nearby temple, offering a fabulous view of the snow-covered Himalayan
peaks. Offer valid till 30 April.
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Taj
Lake Palace,
Udaipur
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Cost:
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Rs 70,000 per couple
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Contact
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1800-111-825
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The
two-night Royal Valentine package includes accommodation in a luxury
room, breakfast, a shikara cruise at night, a
special in-room bath, your pick of Hollywood classics, couple massage, an
exclusive, intimate dinner with live music, a tour of the hotel, and more.
Offer valid till 31 March.
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London: According
to the figures provided by the hospitality research company, STR Global, the
average daily room rate for hotels in London
has dropped by 4.2% compared with the rates in February 2008. Combine this with
the favourable exchange rate-the pound is almost 15%
cheaper today, says Dhruv Shringi,
head of yatra.com-and you have London
on sale. For instance, at the Hendon Hall, a four-star hotel in north London, a night's stay is
currently offered at Rs 7,080, compared with the
regular rate of Rs 12,000, and bookings made before 2
July will include a free room upgrade, breakfast and a 15% discount on meals.
Must-do: Buy the oyster card, which can be used on buses,
the Tube, trams and DLR (trains). It stores up to £90 (Rs
6,500) of credit and automatically calculates the cheapest fare for all the
journeys you want to make in a day.
Advisory: Beware of the ATM scams in the city.
Dubai:
The playground of the rich and the famous has been wearing a deserted look of
late. With the occupancy rates down by about 14% in the last quarter of 2008
and tourism showing no signs of picking up, luxury hotels are offering
discounts of 40-60% on room rates.
In addition, Emirates airlines has launched special
packages with Atlantis, the resort at the Palm Jumeirah
island. The Super Value Atlantis packages include return air fare from Mumbai,
a three-night stay with breakfast, and a complimentary fourth night. The prices
start at Rs 66,189 for economy travel, Rs 88,000 for business class and Rs
1.1 lakh for first class, all on a twin-sharing
basis.
Must-do: For the cheapest souvenirs, from shisha pipes to fake Dior bags, visit the Al Karama market in Bur Dubai.
Advisory: Your passport should be valid for at least six
months after your visit is supposed to end.
Thailand:
In an attempt to revive its fortunes, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has
recently launched the Thailand Super Deal campaign, which offers rooms in more
than 25 hotels and resorts nationwide at a discount of up to 70%. This only
means that you are unlikely to find a better time to visit the country.
Consider the 'Banyan Tree Smile Again with Thailand' campaign. The chain is
offering 1,000 'free room nights' till April. This means that the tourists who
stay for a minimum of one night with Banyan Tree get a free extra night while
reserving online. The usual tariff is Rs 11,200 a
night at the Phuket p r o p e
r t y and about Rs 7,000 at the Bangkok hotel. Must-do: Catch an elephant
polo match at the Annual King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament, typically held in
March.
Advisory: The political situation remains uncertain. Avoid travelling to southern provinces like Pattani,
Narathiwat and Yala.
Singapore:
The world's largest observation wheel and the widest range of
electronics notwithstanding, the country may see tourist arrivals dip by 7.5%
this year. Coming on the heels of a rather lean 2008, this translates to lower
tariffs. Shringi predicts that Singapore will be 15% cheaper in
2009.
The fact that cruises are also likely to be 15-20% cheaper than last year
makes it an ideal opportunity to undertake a sea voyage. One option is Yatra's Singapore
with Star Cruise package. Priced upwards of Rs
45,899, the four-night tour includes air fare, stay in Singapore and two nights aboard the
Star Virgo, a luxury cruise ship, daily breakfast and sightseeing.
Must-do: Visit the island of Pulau Ubin
for its unique marine sanctuary of rare sea creatures.
Advisory: There is an alert for dengue fever.
Hawaii:
Right now, nearly four in 10 hotel rooms on the island are empty. So, if you
can bag a good deal on air fare, it could turn out to be a budget holiday. Both
the Hyatt Regency Waikiki and Sheraton Maui Resort are offering a third night
free, instead of the typical fifth-night-free deal. Restaurants and tour guides
have cut prices drastically and even pricey car rentals are reportedly
promising Rs 1,000 a day; the regular rates are
double this amount. Must-do: Visit the Kilauea
volcano. Advisory: Check for jellyfish or Portuguese man o' war warnings before
taking to the waters.
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