The Mango Festival is Here!!

Goa is famous for its scenic beauty. Travelers visit this charming destination from across the world and go back rejuvenated. Most travelers are attracted by the breathtaking beaches, with views of the Arabian Sea, lush Western Ghats in a backdrop and soft sands framed by palm trees. Some even come to explore the fascinating churches. However, there is so much more that Goa offers.

Goa: Where Celebrations Never Seem to End

 

This popular holiday destination serves its guests with delicious Konkani cuisine. The freshness of the seafood, whether its prawn chilly fry, mackerel curry, fried mussels or crab xacuti, makes each dish a gastronomical experience to remember. Your visit to Goa is incomplete without trying feni (or fenny), an exotic cashew wine that you will not get anywhere else in the country. This destination has a vibrant nightlife and the bars and pubs are open till the wee hours.

With airfares becoming more affordable, people are planning even weekend getaways to this fabulous destination. In fact, one can easily book low cost domestic flights and have a memorable time even if the holiday is a short one.

Some Special Celebrations 

 

While the celebrations never seem to end in Goa, there are a few festivals that have made New Delhi to Goa flights even more popular. The two of these are Christmas and the February Carnival.

Christmas is a major festival in Goa. During this time, the streets are decorated with lights and the city becomes even more lively and colorful. The churches are lit up and hold evening mass. You may find decorated Christmas trees in every hotel, restaurant and mall. The air has music and celebrations.

The Goan carnival has been celebrated since the 18th century.  Usually celebrated in the months of February/March, this festival is a precursor to the abstinence and fast of the 40 days of Lent. You will get to see amazing dancing in the streets, vibrantly colored floats with flowers and feathers and masks. The carnival is also marked by the crowning of the legendary King Momo.

Don’t Miss the Mango Festival

 

Many tourists are unaware of Goa’s exciting Mango Festival. Organized by the Directorate of Agriculture, the Mango Festival is held every year, usually in April. The festival promotes the cultivation of mangoes. You can see a large variety of mangoes, including – local varieties (like mancurad, mussarad, ilario, colaco, xavier, furtado and alfonso), hybrid varieties (like ratna and amrapali) and varieties from across India (like totapuri and neelam.

4 amazing international trips to take in the year 2017

Year 2017 is a good year for tourism. We recommend four international destinations to check out this year.

Travelling all over the world has its own charm. You learn about other cultures and see many gorgeous sights. But often, deciding where to go is confusing – the whole world is open for exploration. Allow us to point you in the direction of 4 excellent destinations for 2017:

1. Canada. There is never a good reason needed to visit Canada. The US’s friendly Northern neighbour has many sights, cuisines and activities to keep visitors occupied all year. Since the people are outdoorsy and always in for a bit of fun and socialising, you will never be bored even on a solo journey in Canada. We especially recommend booking yourself into a special tour to view the Northern Lights in late November or December – the estimated viewing dates are announced mid-year.
2. Estonia. Gorgeous Estonia has less population and is high on beauty, but that is not to say that the local residents are not down for some fun. In recent times, Estonia has developed into a thriving music festival destination, and this year, the Tallinn Music Week takes place here in spring. You can get tickets to experience the music of over 200 performers from the country and around the world, across a wide variety of genres. You can also participate in the discussion tours, food walks and artiste symposiums all around Tallinn during this time.
3. Vietnam. Laid-back, scenic and grappling with dire poverty for the last decade, Vietnam is the ultimate backpackers’ paradise. The country is extremely safe for solo women travellers as well, and it offers many stunning vistas, temples, amazing local food and excellent accommodation at very affordable rates. It is best for a week-long family vacation or a girls’ trip.
4. Indonesia. Romanticised by the famous Elizabeth Gilbert novel Eat Pray Love, Indonesia offers up a tantalising mix of adventure, beachside tranquillity and spiritualism. You can camp at any of the country’s over 1000 islands, gorge on delicious food, and enjoy its wonderful summer season from May to September. You should especially book yourself into Bawah Private Island, a collection of five stunning islands spread over 300 acres and incorporated into an eco-sensitive resort. It opens every year in July.

Now that you have an idea of where you want to go, you can start booking your trip and getting visas. But do not leave an important task for the last minute – arranging for foreign currency. Get your bank’s guidance on how much money you should carry in cash and travellers’ cheques. Next, find out the bank’s range of foreign exchange services and if it offers an international forex debit card that you can use on your trip. Your bank will give you the best forex rate to maximise the value of your money.

This Summer, Visit Your Country

Travelling abroad gives you the opportunity to discover a new land, with its unique history, culture, cuisine and activities. Discovering India gives you the same opportunity, at a significantly lower travel budget! So, check out domestic flight offers and discover a country that is blessed with snowcapped mountains and lush plains in the North to the Deccan plateau and scenic rivers in the center and beautiful hills and oceans in the South. Its history dates back more than five thousand years and each state is unique in terms of language, cuisine, festivals and culture. So, enjoy discovering your country with amazing flight ticket offers and heavy discounts on accommodation, rather than spending all your savings on foreign travel.

Places You Could Visit This Summer

This summer, check out domestic flight tickets offers to these wonderful holiday destinations:

Darjeeling: This is the land of historical cottages and beautiful churches that have traces of the British Raj era. This beautiful town of tea gardens has a number of Buddhist monasteries as well as the Mahakal Temple that is holy to the Hindus and the Buddhists. Your journey here is incomplete without watching the sunrise from Tiger Hill. You should also plan a visit to the Padmaja Naidu Zoological park, Tenzing Rock, Gorkha Stadium and Lebong Race Course.

Leh: This cold desert, located in the northernmost part of India, is renowned for its barren beauty, ancient Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and adventure sports. Whether you go trekking, opt for a camel ride, visit the Buddhist monasteries, go rafting or just relax by the breathtaking waterbodies, you are sure to be mesmerized by the scenic beauty of Leh.

Guwahati: Like most places in Assam, Guwahati is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, ancient temples and monasteries. Visit the Kamrup Kamakhya Temple, which is really a complex of ten individual temples, each dedicated to a different Hindu goddess. Guwahati is famous for silk cloths and its cuisine which includes Kholasapori Pitha, Til Pitha and Koldil Bhaji. You must plan a trip to the Kaziranga National Park or the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, both of which are famous for rhinos.

Check out amazing deals offered by Vistara when you book flight tickets online. Apart from a host of domestic flight offers, Vistara assures you a comfortable journey, with wider seats that have more legroom and can recline further. You can also enjoy a variety of hot and cold meals. Along with great flight ticket offers, Vistara also ensures you benefit from a number of discounts on accommodation, shopping and dining.

Round trip or one-way – which one is better?

We shed light on the debate whether booking round trip tickets are better and more affordable than booking one-way tickets.

For long now, the merits of booking flight tickets within a certain window of time have been weighed against the merits of booking a series of one-way tickets instead of a round trip ticket. All we can say is, the merits of both are interconnected – and there are advantages in booking round trip tickets, too!

It all boils down to when you book. Those planning an international holiday can consider breaking up their journey once or twice mid-way to avail of cheaper one-way tickets. But this entails waiting for your next flight for hours, or the next day. Some people compromise by staying on in the connecting city for a few days, and then buying a flight out to their final destination country. However, it is better to look at why booking round trip flights might not be such a bad idea.

The advantages of booking a round trip:

• It might work out cheaper if booked well before time. Airlines are happy to extend a discount to customers booking round trip flights and who book their seats early.
• There are many domestic flight offers you get on round trips. Many airlines do not extend these domestic flight offers on one-way journeys.
• Getting the departure and arrival tickets booked and out of the way is simple. Otherwise, you will spend more time looking up connecting flights and another flight to reach/arrive at your destination.
• There is hardly any money saved on one-way trips, than on booking a round trip ticket.

…compared with the benefits of booking a one-way ticket:

• Booking one-way journeys are not a big hassle as everyone thinks to be. You can easily browse through a selection of available flights on your preferred date and book your tickets online.
• A round trip ticket is a better idea when you know exactly when you depart and arrive. But if your arrival date is liable to change, a one-way ticket is best. For example, if you are flying to be with a sick parent, you may not know when you will be back. So booking a one-way ticket is better.
• Airlines impose hefty charges on booking a one-way ticket at the last minute, but the rates are quite cheap if you book early.
• Get your flight rate aggregator app to find you the lowest one-way online flight bookings. You can get considerable savings by booking the lowest fare.

Giving a Treat to the Management Team

They say that the best way to reward your employees is by showing them your appreciation. And this becomes all the more important when you want to keep the leadership team of your business motivated and loyal. Of course, while you might give three days and two nights holiday packages for any executive as an incentive, you need to go up a notch in terms of luxury when it comes to your leadership team. Then there are times when you need to go on a retreat with this team to ideate, plan business strategies or to regroup and decision on short and long term goals. The best way to travel with the entire team could be a charter flight booking, which will make the journey extremely comfortable and convenient, giving you extra time to discuss issues.

Here’s a look at the places where you and your team should think of staying during the retreat or if you are planning an incentive for any member of the leadership team.

Top Three Luxury Hotels in Mumbai

The top most luxury hotel in Mumbai is the Trident at Nariman Point. This hotel has 555 guest rooms and suites. The dining options at this hotel are as vibrant and eclectic as the city of Mumbai. For instance, try Frangipani, a bright and cheerful restaurant that serves Mediterranean cuisine from early morning until late night. And when you need to let off steam, head to the Opium Den, which serves a vast selection of spirits and innovative cocktails. The Trident Spa is also a must try to wash away all the stress from the mind and body.

Another great option for luxury accommodation is The Leela. This place has 303 city and pool view Premier rooms, along with 58 Royal Club and 30 Royal Club Parlour Suites, which include dedicated butler services and access to the Royal Club Lounge and amenities. The Leela also offers excellent options for spa treatment, including both Ayurveda inspired and international therapy. They also have a Business Offer, with which you get accommodation in a very spacious room, delectable breakfast at their restaurant, Citrus, high speed internet access, complimentary transfers from the airport and back, and a range of complimentary hotel services.

The last option on our list is The Oberoi, which is situated in an unrivalled location on the Marine Drive, offering excellent views of the ocean and the Queen's Necklace, which is the golden crescent created by the lights along the shoreline. There are excellent options for fine dining here, such as Ziya, a contemporary Indian restaurant with an innovative menu, designed by Michelin-star Chef Vineet Bhatia.

And when you need to show your key employees a good time, don’t forget to travel in luxury too, with a domestic flight booking services, so that the entire experience is memorable from the first moment to the last.

Lesser Known Facts about the City of Dreams: Mumbai

The city that is home to more than 12 million people, Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay, is regarded as one of the nerve centers of India. It is the commercial and entertainment capital of the country. Popularly known as the city that never sleeps, Mumbai is home to the Bollywood film industry. This city also generates about 25% of India’s industrial output. 

Every year a huge number of travelers come to this city, where Parses, Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Jews co-exist peacefully. The city’s extensively planned road and rail network, along with the International airport, further make it the most accessible part of India.

Amazing Offers 

 

If you decide to fly to Mumbai or anywhere else in the country, don’t forget to check out Vistara’s Affordable Luxury suite of products. Leisure travel has become more affordable now, with attractive Business Class and Premium Economy fares from Vistara. All you have to do is to plan and book in advance or travel on weekends. If you book 30 days or more in advance, the Affordable Luxury program offers you up to 60% discount for Business Class and up to 40% discount for Premium Economy relative to last minute fares.

Amazing Facts about Mumbai

• Mumbai is named after a Goddess: The city has been named after Goddess Mumba Devi.
• The city has the largest theme park, Imagica: Situated on the Mumbai-Pune highway, Imagica is the only theme park in India built on international standards.
• Badra-Worli sea link is an architectural wonder: The 5,600 metre cable based bridge that connects the western suburbs of Mumbai with the southern suburbs is indeed an architectural marvel.
• Home to India’s first bus network: Mumbai is the first Indian city to get the well-established bus service system, known as BEST, in 1905, which is in service till date.
• City’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is India’s first railway station: CST was the first ever railway station constructed in India. It opened in 1888 and is today a UNESCO world historic site.
• The first Indian to own a car was a Mumbaikar: City’s Jamshedji Tata was the first Indian to own a car.
• The city has the longest coastline: The city has the longest coastline of 129 kms.
• Khargar’s central park is largest in Asia: An urban park in the city covering 119 hectares, this central park is the largest in Asia and third largest in the world.
• The city comprises of seven islands: The current city of Mumbai consists of Worli, Bombay, Mazagaon, Parel, Little Colaba and Colaba, which were seven distinct islands before their merger to form one city. It took more than 60 years to merge the seven islands.
• Mumbai is home to the largest and most expensive slums: Dharavi in Mumbai is not only the largest slum area of Asia but also the most expensive one. Aa house here can cost you a few lakhs!
• Bollywood’s initials were taken from the city’s name itself: The city is home to the Bollywood film industry, a name that was taken from the name Bombay.

Having learned all this about this city, aren’t you excited to explore it? If yes, book domestic flight ticket early and take advantage of Vistara’s Affordable Luxury offers.