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    Five foreign vacations you can take under Rs 1 lakh each

    Synopsis

    With a series of smart decisions regarding booking of flights and hotels, you will be able to fit your foreign trip into the Rs 1 lakh budget at these destinations.

    travel-thinkstockThinkStock Photos
    Find out how to make the most of your trip to Cambodia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Philippines in the budget of Rs 1 lakh.
    If it has been a summer of discontent, with the much-needed vacation eluding you, don’t fret. Autumn, with its stipulated batch of festive holidays, is just around the corner, and we have lined up a set of hot foreign destinations for you. While foreign breaks are coveted by most, financial reality, with prohibitively high flight costs, has a way of impinging on the best-laid plans. However, as Sanjay Bhasin, CEO, Goibibo, says, “A foreign vacation doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. Indian travellers are discovering multiple international destinations that are pocket-friendly and, yet, offer a great experience.”

    This may have been the reason why nearly 58% of respondents remained unaffected by the dip in the rupee against the dollar and continued to pursue their holiday plans, as per a Yatra survey, in June. “In fact, there was an increase of 14% in international travel from India in January-March 2018, compared with the same period last year, as per the DGCA data,” says Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra. com. By 2025, Indian outbound leisure trips are estimated to rise to 13.9 million from 4.8 million now, according to Tourism Ministry data. “The choice to book curated packages online at affordable rates has taken the stress out of planning and we are witnessing a large number of travellers from tier 2 and 3 cities opting for these,” says Saujanya Shrivastava, Group CMO, MakeMyTrip.

    If you too want to be a part of this outflow of vacationers without disrupting your budget, go through the five destinations we have shortlisted for you: Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Philippines. A couple can visit any of these places for Rs 1 lakh, and for simplification of calculation, we have broken down this amount into six categories: airfare, accommodation, food, sightseeing, internal commute and visa fee. With a series of smart decisions regarding booking of flights and hotels, and savings on sightseeing and food, you will be able to fit your trip into the Rs 1 lakh budget. Of course, some of these destinations are cheaper than the others and you can have a longer trip or stay in a better hotel. On the other hand, in an expensive place like Hong Kong, you may have to scrimp on food, take public transportation instead of cabs, or cram in fewer tourist attractions.

    To further reduce the strain on your budget, we have scheduled the travel for all these destinations, except Hong Kong, in the shoulder season, which lies between the peak and off season. This means that you can avail of discounts during this period. “An average discount of 15% can be expected for stay and food for these destinations. As for airfares, booking three months in advance combined with the gains from shoulder season, will enable you to enjoy a discount of about 30%,” says Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings.

    So take your pick according to your vacationing taste, book on time and have a great holiday!

    1. Cambodia
    Duration: 4N/5D
    cambodia

    The traumatic past of this beautiful Southeast Asian country—rooted in the genocide inflicted by the Khmer regime—has translated into tourism potential. Add to it dollops of architecture and history, scenic beauty and affordability, and you have a country begging to be visited. We have picked two cities, capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the gateway to the famed Angkor Wat temples. The biggest chunk of the budget, at 40%, is expectedly taken up by airfare, but the remaining amount can help you tour in style. Pick a 4-star hotel, commute in cabs and cover all the major tourist attractions.

    FLIGHT: It is important to book 3-4 months in advance and check multiple flight options to get the right price and comfortable flight duration (6-7 hours, one way). If you are unable to book early, you will be forced to buy an expensive ticket, say Rs 50,000-60,000 for a couple’s return trip, which means you will have to compromise on stay and sightseeing. You can still get a cheap ticket, but it will be for a long-haul flight of, say, 12 hours.

    Flight time: 5 HOURS, 15 MINUTES Direct Delhi-Phnom Penh one-way flight

    ITINERARY
    Day 1: Arrive in Phnom Penh. Take a city tour.
    Day 2: Take a day trip to Koh Rong Island. Back to Phnom Penh.
    Day 3: Travel to Siem Reap. Visit Angkor Wat temple.
    Day 4: Visit the floating village in Tonle Sap.
    Day 5: Back to Phnom Penh. Onward to Delhi.


    STAY: The stay options range from budget (guesthouses, hostels) and midrange (2/3- star hotels) to luxury (5-star hotels/resorts). “The 3-star hotels offer a comfortable stay in Cambodia, though backpacking hotels offer great budget options,” says Bhasin of Goibibo. You can, however, easily opt for the 4-star hotels, which will cost Rs 4,000-6,000 per night.

    FOOD: “Street food is delicious and can save you a fortune each day,” says Anand of Cox & Kings. “A 12-inch baguette with meat fillers and salad comes for Rs 82, while a bowl of meat and noodles will cost only Rs 100,” he adds. If, however, you want a proper meal, it will cost you Rs 350-500 per person. You could end up spending more looking for Indian food, which could be expensive. So it may be a good idea to carry pre-cooked Indian meals.

    Currency Rs 1 = 59.9 RIEL
    BUDGET ALLOCATION
    cambodia-budget

    Visit during April or October
    cambodia-travel-season

    SIGHTSEEING: On the first day in Phnom Penh, visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and National Museum. After dinner, you could visit the Sisowath Quay. The next day, take a trip to Koh Rong, a beautiful island with pristine beaches, in Sihanoukville province. On the third day, travel to Siem Reap and explore the Angkor Wat temples, which can take you all day (two days, if you are really keen). On the second day, you can choose between Angkor Thom area and Ta Prohm Temple, and a boat trip to Tonle Sap to see the floating village. The latter will also give you time to do some shopping or relax in the evening. Return to Phnom Penh the next day and shop in the Russian market before flying back.

    Sightseeing Tourist hotspots
    • Angkor Wat Temple, Siem Reap
    • Angkor Thom Area & Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap
    • Tonle Sap boat trip (fl oating village)
    • Killing Fields, Phnom Penh
    • Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh
    • Russian market & Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
    • Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and National Museum, Phnom Penh
    • Koh Rong Island

    COMMUTE: “The best way to get around in the city is on remorque moto, which is like a tuk-tuk,” says Anand Menon, Vice-President & Head, Travel Tours, Leisure Business, FCM Travel Solutions. You could also hire cabs, which are affordable, especially if you are taking a city tour. While moving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, take a Giant Ibis bus or a mini-bus, which will take around five hours, and is a better option than flying or taking a taxi, which are more expensive.

    PACKAGES
    Cox & Kings: Discover Cambodia (3N/4D), @ Rs 1 lakh (with airfare, per couple) FCM Travel Solutions: Cambodian Highlights (5 D) @ Rs 65,000 (without airfare, per couple).

    2. Hong Kong
    Duration: 3N/4D
    hongkong

    This former British colony and global financial hub in China is the most expensive of the five destinations, with high cost of flight, stay and sightseeing. This not only translates to a shorter duration of stay, but also the need to pick budget options and deploy saving tricks. While most packages include travel to Macau as well, there is little point in shelling out extra if you are not into gambling at casinos.

    It’s better to explore the city in three days and even then you may have to leave out some tourist hotspots due to high expense. A good thing is that you don’t dole out anything for visa as you can spend 14 days visa-free on completing pre-arrival registration online (https://www.immd.gov. hk/eng/services/visas/pre-arrival_registration_ for_indian_nationals.html).

    FLIGHT: A red-eye (late night/ early morning) flight lasting about five hours will cost you Rs 53,000, nearly 50% of the budget. A cheaper night flight, at Rs 45,000, will take nearly 11 hours, with Air Asia and Singpore Airlines typically offering the cheapest fares. A good option is to register for fare alerts, opt for cashback offers and other online discounts. Also ensure that your airfares don’t rise while searching online by browsing incognito on the Internet.

    Flight time: 5 hours, 10 minutes. Direct Delhi-Hong Kong one-way flight

    ITINERARY
    Day 1: Arrive in Hong Kong and take a city tour.
    Day 2: Day trip to Disneyland.
    Day 3: Ocean Park & Lantau Island.
    Day 4: Half-day shopping. Fly back to Delhi.


    STAY: A 3-star hotel will cost about Rs 5,000 a night, but of course, there are cheaper options like guesthouses, backpacker hostels and one-star hotels for around Rs 2,000 per night. “To save money, you could look for hotels in Hong Kong Island or East of Kowloon since they are a bit further away from tourist areas,” says Bhasin of Goibibo. Also, remember that room sizes in Hong Kong are generally quite small. “The stay prices go up during Canton Fair period in October, so remember to book in advance and negotiate well,” advises Anand of Cox & Kings.

    Currency Rs 1 = 0.12 HK DOLLAR
    BUDGET ALLOCATION
    hongkong-budget

    Visit in early October
    hongkong-visit

    FOOD: “If you opt for Chinese meals and drinks, it can easily cost Rs 5,000 per person for a day, but meals at tea houses (cha chaan tang) or food stalls(dai pai dong) will not cost more than Rs 1,000 a day,” says Anand. Adds Dhall of Yatra: “Rather than buying food from supermarkets, one can pick fresh produce from the local market. Also, since meat is costlier, you can opt for vegetarian meals.” Fast food chains like McDonald’s or Pizza Hut, which are present across Hong Kong, will offer cheaper food than Indian meals. It is also a good idea to carry light snacks or pre-cooked meals. You should also preferably carry your own water bottle instead of buying it outside.

    SIGHTSEEING: The primary attractions in Hong Kong include Disneyland, Ocean Park, Lantau Island, Victoria Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Star Ferry and Repulse Bay. The first three sites not only require a day each to visit, but are also expensive. So make sure you keep aside a tidy sum of Rs 20,000-30,000 for sightseeing. Since a day devoted to each of these places is not feasible, you can take half-day trips or leave out one, say, Lantau Island. The cheaper Star Ferry will take you through the harbour and is a must-do. A good way to reduce spending is to opt for the public transport like MTR and subway instead of taking a city tour. You could also visit various museums, such as the Museum of Art and the Heritage Museum, which don’t charge admission fees on Wednesdays.

    Sightseeing Tourist hotspots
    • Disneyland
    • Ocean Park
    • Lantau Island / Tian Tan Buddha
    • Victoria Peak
    • Star Ferry
    • Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
    • Repulse Bay

    COMMUTE: The cheapest option is MTR, followed by bus and then a cab. You could also opt for trams which are cheap. For MTR, you could use a three-day pass for unlimited rides. “The widely used Octopus Card, which is accepted by most forms of public transport, can help you save 5% per trip. Topping it up is easy and can be done at any MTR station or convenience store,” says Anand. It is also advisable to rent a bike and avoid peak hours or weekends for MTR.

    PACKAGES
    Cox & Kings: Basic Hong Kong (4N/5D), @ Rs 1 lakh (with airfare, per couple) MakeMyTrip: Spectacular Hong Kong & Macau (5N) @ Rs 70,990 (with airfare, per person)

    3. Indonesia
    Duration: 4N/5D
    Indonesia

    Bali is the most visible and inviting face of Indonesia, but there are several other places, like Yogyakarta, Raja Ampat Islands, Sulawesi, Flores, Lombok and the famous Komodo National Park in Nusa Tenggara Timur. These are as or even more enchanting, with their pristine beaches, volcanic mountains and marine and wildlife. The only hinderance is the high cost of travel to some of the remoter areas. This is why we have considered only Bali and Yogyakarta, with two nights each. The bigger part of the budget is again taken by airfare, but stay and food are not too expensive. You also save on visa fee since you don’t need one for stays of less than 30 days if you have an Indian passport.

    FLIGHT: “The faster you need to reach a destination, the more money needs to be shelled out. A layover that extends your flight time by a few hours can, however, result in discounted fares,” says Anand of Cox & Kings. So while a nine-hour flight will come for around Rs 56,000 for a couple, one that extends to 10-12 hours will be available for Rs 41,000-43,000. You can again look for multiple flight options, though “Air Asia offers cheap fares without meals and baggage for people on a budget”, suggests Bhasin of Goibibo. It is best to book at least 60 days in advance.

    Flight time: 9 hours, 10 minutes Direct Delhi-Bali one-way flight

    ITINERARY
    Day 1: Fly in to Bali and take a city tour.
    Day 2: Full-day tour of Kintamani Volcano and Ubud in Bali.
    Day 3: Fly to Yogyakarta.
    Day 4: Take a full-day tour to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
    Day 5: Fly back to Bali and then to Delhi.


    STAY: You can look for accommodation on Booking.com or any of the online aggregators and pick from a wide variety of stay options, including homestays, bed & breakfasts, guesthouses, boutique or star hotels. A good 3- or 4-star hotel will be available for Rs 3,000-4,000. If you want to splurge on sightseeing, you can cut from the accommodation cost and choose a cheaper place at Rs 1,000-2,000. “You could also do a split stay between hotels in Kuta and Seminyak since the former hotels are cheap and the latter can offer private villa with pool at a great price,” says Bhasin.

    Currency Rs 1 = 207.12 RUPIAH
    BUDGET ALLOCATION
    Indonesia-budget

    Visit in April or October
    Indonesia-visit

    FOOD: Local cuisine is always the cheapest and the best way to experience a new country. “You can try out the street-side noodle, snack and soup corners, which will not be too expensive,” says Anand. However, if you are not comfortable with the flavours, pick up basic food like sandwiches or other snacks from local markets or carry pre-cooked meals and snacks. Also, make sure you book a hotel that offers free breakfast, or city tours that include lunches. You can easily keep aside Rs 1,000-1,100 per meal for food.

    SIGHTSEEING: There are loads of famous temples in Bali and Yogyakarta, so you will have to carefully choose a mix of temples, beaches and natural wonders. In Bali, take a day trip to Ubud and Kintamani Volcano. The next day, visit the Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temples, and relax at the Kuta Beach. Yogyakarta is famous for its Borobudur and Prambanan temples and Merapi volcano, so you could take a day trip here. The next day, visit the Jomblang cave and shop or relax.

    Sightseeing Tourist hotspots
    • Kintamani Volcano, Bali
    • Ubud (Royal Palace, Monkey Forest, Art Market, Tegallalang Rice Terraces), Bali
    • Kuta Beach, Bali
    • Tanah Lot Temple, Bali
    • Uluwatu Temple, Bali
    • Borobudur Temple, Yogyakarta
    • Prambanan temple, Yogyakarta
    • Jomblang cave, Yogyakarta

    COMMUTE: Taxis are the best way to travel as you can hire one for nearly Rs 3,000 a day. The most economical way of going from Bali to Yogyakarta is by the ‘economi’ train, though you will still have to use the ferry as these are two islands. However, this is timeconsuming and the best option is a domestic flight, which is the shortest (1.5 hours), and return trip for two can cost Rs 6,000-9,000. “Negotiation is the best skill to hone as it can save you about 30% of the quoted price since private transporters charge extra from foreigners,” says Anand from Cox & Kings.

    PACKAGES
    Yatra: Bali package (6N/7D), @ Rs 39,990(with airfare, per person) FCM Travel Solutions: Balinese Wonder (5 D) @ Rs 98,200 (with airfare, per couple)

    4. Sri Lanka
    Duration: 5N/6D
    Srilanka

    With its irresistible combination of affordability and abundance of beaches, wildlife, temples and natural beauty, Sri Lanka aces the list when it comes to budget foreign holidays. This is the reason that unlike other destinations, you can take a five-night, six-day trip to this southern neighbour and add many more places to visit instead of 1-2 cities. The airfare is reasonable, comprising about 34% of your budget, as is accommodation, food and sightseeing, the last cheaper as India is a part of the SAARC group of nations. We have considered four places to visit, including Colombo, Kandy, Galle and the Yala National Park.

    FLIGHT: The return Delhi-Colombo flight for a couple, with one layover, will cost around `34,000 and take 6-7 hours, one way. IndiGo and Jet Airways offer some of the cheapest fares and, if you watch out for discounts, flash sales and fare alerts, the ticket will cost you even lesser. Also try to be flexible about dates and opt for Google Flights. You will be able to view the day-wise fare for a few months. Typically, the fare for Mondays and Wednesdays is slightly lower than weekends. “Booking for the shoulder season in peak season will also get you a better deal,” says Anand.

    Flight time: 3 HOURS, 35 MINUTES Direct Delhi-Colombo one-way flight

    ITINERARY
    Day 1: Arrive in Colombo and take a city tour.
    Day 2: Move to Kandy. On the way, visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
    Day 3: Take a day tour of Dambulla and Sigiriya in the north. Return to Kandy.
    Day 4: Take a trip to Galle and Mirissa.
    Day 5: Move to Yala National Park.
    Day 6: Return to Colombo. Fly back to Delhi.

    STAY: You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation options, ranging from hostels, homestays and guesthouses to vacation rentals, star hotels and resorts. Depending on how much you want to spend—below Rs 1,000 for guesthouses and hostels to a range of Rs 3,000-7,000 for good 3- or 4-star hotels—you can take your pick. A homestay can also be a good option since it will offer a unique flavour of the place, people and food, also making eating a cheaper option for you.

    Currency Rs 1 = 2.3 SL RUPEE
    BUDGET ALLOCATION
    Srilanka-budget

    Visit in April, September-October
    srilanka-visit

    FOOD: Since Sri Lankan food is closer to the Indian cuisine, it will do you well to sample the local food, which will not only be cheaper but also delectable. Of course, Indian eateries and fast food joints will not be too difficult to find, but will definitely cost you more. “While it is advisable for foreigners not to have tap water, buying water can be expensive. So purchasing a bottle with purifier may be a good one-time investment as you will require a lot of water,” says Anand.

    SIGHTSEEING: The cost of primary tourist attractions is virtually half of what a foreigner would pay due to the lower prices applicable to SAARC group of nations. So you will end up spending only about Rs 12,000 for a larger number of sites. In Colombo, you can visit the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple and Galle Face Green. On the way to Kandy, visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and the next day, take a trip to the famed Sigiriya World Heritage site and Dambulla Cave Temple. A visit to Galle and nearby Mirissa is also a must for their beautiful beaches and the sea turtle hatchery.

    Sightseeing Tourist hotspots
    • Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, Colombo
    • Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
    • Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Kandy
    • Sigiriya World Heritage site
    • Dambulla Rock Cave Temple
    • Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre Mahamodara, Galle
    • Galle Fort, Galle
    • Yala National Park safari, Yala

    COMMUTE: Though trains, buses and tuk-tuks are cheaper ways to travel, these can be crowded, time-consuming and not very comfortable. So, taxis will be your best option in this country, not just for inter-city transfers but within the cities as well, because they will offer more comfort without denting your budget too much. In fact, you can hire cabs for all your trips and transfers through the trip. “You can even plan a budget of around Rs 15,000 for a private cab for five days assuming that the driver’s food and stay are taken care of by the hotel or the driver himself,” says Anand.

    PACKAGES
    FCM Travel Solutions: Mystical Sri Lanka (7D) @ Rs 98,700 (with airfare, per couple) MakeMyTrip: 6 Days Holiday in Sri Lanka (5N) @ Rs 51,800 (with airfare, per person)

    5. Philippines
    Duration: 4N/5D
    philippines

    Though Philippines seems to pale in comparison with other popular Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is worth a visit. One reason for the lukewarm response among Indians is that Philippines is an archipelago of 7,641 islands and 82 provinces, making island hopping a time-consuming and expensive affair. This is also the reason we have considered only two destinations, Manila, the capital city, and Palawan, for the four-night, five day trip, even though there are several beautiful islands and provinces like Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao, Bicol and Ilocos. The biggest chunk of the budget is expectedly taken up by the airfare and accommodation.

    FLIGHT: “The airlines don’t always follow dynamic pricing and, hence, booking in advance may not always work. It just guarantees availability,” says Saujanya Shrivastava, Group CMO, MakeMyTrip. It is still a good practice because you get a better choice with the day-wise change in fares. So, while you may get a return fare of Rs 42,022 for 1-5 November visit, the price for 4-9 November may shoot up to Rs 56,134.

    Flight time: 6 HOURS, 30 MINUTES Direct Delhi-Manila one-way flight

    ITINERARY
    Day 1: Arrive in Manila and take a city tour.
    Day 2: Sightseeing in Manila.
    Day 3: Move to Palawan.
    Day 4: Visit El Nido & Puerto Princesa.
    Day 5: Return to Manila. Fly back.


    STAY: Various aggregator sites like Hotels.com throw up various options to suit every budget, but you can fit in a 3-star hotel for Rs 3,000-4,000. Remember that hotels in central areas or close to the city centre may be more expensive, as will resorts in remote islands, compared with those in popular destinations like Manila. There are more luxury resorts on islands and will be beyond your budget. “Since several stay options don’t have an online presence, you can personally go and haggle over the price of hotels or homestays, and negotiation skills may come in handy in such a case,” says Anand of Cox & Kings.

    Currency Rs 1 = 0.78 PESO
    BUDGET ALLOCATION
    philippines-budget

    Visit in May or November
    srilanka-visit

    FOOD: “Street food is extremely cheap, with meals starting at Rs 60, while local non-vegetarian meals can cost Rs 200-500,” says Anand. However, there is a chance that even vegetarian food may have some meat, so opt for fruit, light snacks or basic confectionery items from the local market. You can assign a budget of about Rs 9,000 for the entire trip.

    SIGHTSEEING: You can keep two days for Manila and two for Palawan. In Manila, you can take a day trip and visit Fort Santiago & Rizal Shrine Museum, San Agustin Church and Museum, Manila Ocean Park, and the historical city of Intramuros. For shopping, you can consider the Divisoria Market. In Palawan, do not miss the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, visit to El Nido and diving in the Tubbataha Reefs, besides relaxing at the beautiful beaches.

    Sightseeing Tourist hotspots
    • Fort Santiago & Rizal Shrine Museum, Manila
    • San Agustin Church and Museum, Manila
    • Manila Ocean Park, Manila
    • Intramuros Historical City, Manila
    • Divisoria Market, Manila
    • Manila Baywalk, Manila
    • Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan
    • El Nido, Palawan
    • Diving in the Tubbataha Reefs

    COMMUTE: For intra-city travel, you can use the local Jeepney or van which can be cheap, with prices ranging from Rs 100-1,200 a day. “You can also use cabs, but make sure you opt for apps like Grab and Uber, instead of the local taxis,” suggests Bhasin of Goibibo. However, it is better to fly while hopping between islands because it is not too expensive and will save you a lot of time. The return trip from Manila to Puerto Princesa in Palawan can cost around Rs 9,000 and takes around one hour.

    PACKAGES
    Cox & Kings: Romantic Philippines (3N/4D), @ Rs 87,240 (with airfare, per couple) FCM Travel Solutions: Best of Philippines (6D) @ Rs 77,300 (without airfare, per couple)

    Prices and flight duration are subject to change; food costs have been rounded off; airfares for flights between September and November; currency rates as on 18 June 2018; 1 US$= `67.8; exchange rate as on 22 June 2018

    ( Originally published on Jul 02, 2018 )

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