Yatra.com Blog

Wouldn’t you be interested in sending your kids to a very rewarding, enjoyable and enriching holiday where they make new friends, enjoy the time off and most importantly have real-life education? If this looks appealing then read on…

“Alternative” is the buzzword these days whether used with “Therapy”, “Music”, “Yoga”, “Medicines”, “Apparel” etc. Here is one more to add to the list – “Summer Breaks”. And this one definitely deserves more attention than most of its illustrious peers.

The traditional residential schools in India - Gurukul’s used to train students not just in academics but also ensured their overall development by inculcating an attitude of service, respect, compassion etc. This was done by assigning them household jobs at the Gurukul. These mundane jobs would ensure that the students irrespective of their social standings would imbibe the virtues of hard work, self service in their lives.

The idea behind “Alternative Summer breaks” is similar though not full-time – to expose the kids to social projects where they can contribute to the society in their own small but meaningful ways and at the same time be sensitive to the needs and problems in the society. Moreover, they make new friends and have a fun holiday that they remember for a long time. A byproduct of this vacation is confidence which is very essential as they grow up to take bigger challenges in life.

Imagine the possibilities – the kids in India volunteer a week to rebuild the homes of people who have lost everything because of natural disasters like earthquake in Bhuj or Tsunami in Andaman Islands or because of Floods in Orissa and West Bengal. These kids would become more sensitive to needs of others and in the process help in uplifting of the society. More than two birds with one stone…

I feel its worth sending kids to one such vacation. What do you think?

–Swapnil

Ever heard of Spirituality in India? I bet 95% of us already know a fair deal about it or would claim to know. If you don’t have an opinion on Spirituality then you probably haven’t lived in India long enough. Indians are globally acknowledged to be “Spiritual”; faith and devotion are visible in every aspect of life here. However we ourselves perceive that spirituality is meant for Sadhus/Saints who are supposed to stay in Himalayas and should not enjoy the “material” life. Till recently there was a concept of compartmentalization – material life and spiritual life as being separate with no overlap. But, there has been a definite shift off late in this regard. With heightened competition professionally and in education, more demanding personal lives and more stressful lifestyles people feel the need for a more rejuvenating and long lasting break with elements of spirituality embedded aka “Spiritual Leisure”.

I remember from the years I had spent abroad; we needed an additional day to recover from the hectic and frantic schedules during a vacation long weekend. A four day weekend would effectively get converted to a 5-6 days with an additional day for recovery. However the evolution of vacationing in the last few years has been quite noticeable not just abroad but also in India - from being an action packed schedule where the idea was to see as many places in one go to a more relaxed and focused vacation. People are now ensuring that their holiday destination is such that the time spent in traveling by road/air is significantly less while the quality time spent on actual leisure is more. Some prime examples of such trips include*:

• Amrtisar - Golden temple pilgrimage can be clubbed with Wagah Border/Jaliawala Bagh
• Tour of Puri temples can be clubbed with a wild-life parks, Sulphur Springs of Bhuwaneshwar
• River Rafting in Rishikesh can be clubbed with Scenic sightseeing in Dehradun, Mussorie and with Ganges dip in Haridwar and Rishikesh

As you would notice that these places are geographically close to each other and cover more than one aspect for a vacationer and that makes it even more tempting - the historical significance of a Wagah border along with the spiritual aspect of Golden Temple OR the scenic beauty of Dehradun/Mussorie with the Ganges dip in Haridwar. Spiritual leisure is here to stay; so don’t be left out, experience it for yourself by planning such a trip for you and your family.

All the best for your upcoming vacation!

Swapnil

* The list is not limited to the places mentioned below. You can get as creative as you want.

Are you looking forward to the extended weekend around the 15^th of August break? Are you wondering where to go, what to do, and how best to utilize the break? And are you at a complete loss for places to go to? Well, frankly so are we…..This is off season time at almost all most-popular destinations. The hills can be a tad bit dangerous during Indian monsoons- for fear of landslides. The beaches are closed because of the swelling waters. And land is water locked…… So while you know the hills will be a misty azure amidst the clouds and the beaches with the coconut tree lines will be glittering shades of green, you dare not brave it all to follow your heart.

But what the heck? This is just the time guys for the best off-season discounts. Most hotels lend their rooms at lesser rates at this time of the year. The hills and beaches are also typically less crowded. So, in a way, this is adventure season for the brave at heart. If you have the spunk to follow your wanderlust, just pack your bags and move. Avail the great discounts available on hotels and enjoy nature in tranquility. For some destination details check out our post called “Travel Destinations for Indian Monsoons”

Do some research into budget airlines: Many online travel agents give some sort of promotional offers on low cost carriers through out the year. With some planning you should be able to avail one offer or another that could discount your travel cost.

Under cover: Before buying expensive travel insurance, find out if you are already covered. Many credit cards give such insurance as a freebie.

Use your points: If you are a loyal frequent traveler, chances are that you have collected some points on your airlines that you could redeem to get a lower airfare.

Do a room check: Before you pay up the big bucks for your luxury suite, check to see if you need all the amenities advertised for the suite. Can you do with less?

Read up: The best deals may not be all that visible. Read fellow travel reviews to cross check on Hotels, Eateries and ‘places to visit’ lists. They may be able to give you some really economic options.

Timing is everything: Go in the off-season. Goa in the winters is a very charming place but may cost you a bomb. Goa is also pleasant in the monsoons and is a lot easier on the pocket.

Lodging for less: Don’t accept the first price you’re quoted for anything. Be prepared to haggle

Hole up in a hostel: Hostels provide shared accommodation and if you don’t have a family with you, it will be a very economical option.

Don’t turn up your nose at budget chain hotels: Many of them give pretty neat deals.

Act like a local: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Wear similar clothes. Try to blend in with the crowd. Tourists are often charged a premium for local transport.

Talk to fellow travelers: Make friends on the way. Your fellow travelers may know great bargains that guide books have not mentioned.

Take the bus: A cab is convenient but the bus is functional and economical.