Cheap ‘n chic destinations

Mexico Imbued with a rich cultural heritage inherited from the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilisations and not to mention the long Spanish rule, this jewel of the Central American continent is exotic with a capital ‘E’. The food, the music, the people and the colours of Mexico are simply mesmerising and are sure to leave you spellbound! Sadly, with ‘Big Brother’ sitting haughtily on top of this vibrant nation, Mexico is often sidelined by travellers who choose to spend their time exploring the more well-known locales of the US. But for those willing to scratch the surface of Mexico, they will find a very reasonably-priced holiday destination that offers all the same thrills, if not more, as the US, at almost half the cost. In many colonial cities like Puebla and Chihuahua and small, out-of-the-way beach towns like Troncones and Puerto Escondido, you won’t be far from good bed-and-breakfasts and inns charging as little as INR2,788 a night or less for two people. And the same goes for food, with the ridiculously cheap street side Taquerías that offer superb tacos for a paltry INR27. As for shopping, the street markets that dot most cities in Mexico are great places to scope out those killer bargains. Croatia Grabbing the eyeballs of true-blue travellers looking for some off-the-beaten-track travel action, Croatia on the edge of the Adriatic Sea in Central Europe has been on the ‘affordable destination’ map for the last decade or so. With a dynamic and fun capital city like Zagreb, the Italian-influenced city of Istria and sunny islands Hvar and Brac, Croatia has a wide and dynamic spectrum of travel spots on offer. Thanks to its amazing 5,835km of coastline, more than 4000km of which belongs to islands, cliffs and reefs, Croatia is a superb place for diving and snorkelling. Cities like Dubrovnik and Split are wonderful places to explore and are jam-packed with budget accommodation options and youth hostels that let out rooms for a night at a jaw-dropping INR1,500 per person, often with breakfast thrown in. Meals in cafes are feasts of cobanac and strukli for as little as `500 for two and you can add on an extra INR450 for a bottle of a very drinkable Croatian red wine. Though not much of a shopping destination, Croatia does offer a few cheap souvenirs like home-made cheese and local grape brandy called rakija from the many farmer markets such as the morning market at Gunduliceva Square in Dubrovnik. Cambodia Emerging from the decades of darkness imposed on it by the savage Pol Pot-led Khmer Rouge rule, Cambodia in South-East Asia is slowly finding a place for itself in the sun as a destination that seems to have it all. From the enigmatic Angkor Wat Hindu temple complex in Siem Reap to the seaside town of Sihanoukville and the leafy capital of Phnom Penh, the diverse range of attractions here are staggering. The sheer number of foreign travellers present at any given point of time in Cambodia is proof that this country is slowly but surely limping back to a state of normalcy one day at a time. Tourism is just about getting a foothold here and almost everyone in Cambodia seems to want to get onto the bandwagon by opening up their homes as home stays and their kitchens as restaurants. Competition for the tourist dollar is at all time high, with each vendor trying to out-price the other by offering fabulous discounts and deals. What this means is that your Indian rupee will get you pretty far in Cambodia. Take for example accommodation in the rather touristy town of Siem Reap. Just INR750 will see you enjoy the comforts of an air-conditioned double room with an en suite bathroom. While `500 is enough for a hearty seafood-laden Khmer meal for two at one of Sihanoukville’s many beachside cafes, including a cocktail each! Sri Lanka Our little neighbour to the south-east, Tear Drop Island, Serendib—all epithets that Sri Lanka wears with immense pride and grace. Fastened like a lush emerald in the Indian Ocean, the tiny island nation has bounced back onto the world’s travel scene after decades of civil war that ravaged it to the core. With peace now prevailing, Sri Lanka is gearing up to face the tourism onslaught… and how! Colombo, the vibrant capital offers everything—from fine dining and great shopping to amazing beaches and Buddhist temples. Galle, in the south is a haven for beach lovers with its many soft-sanded lagoons and coves dotted with turtle conservations centres. The Galle Fort built by the Dutch, is another wonderful place to get lost in. Head up north into the ‘up-country’ as locals refer to it and one can partake in the serenity of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Historical sites like Sigiriya and Dambulla are perfect for culture vultures, while the tea country of Nuwara Eliya gives you a dose of the country’s British colonial past with its tea estates and stately manors. With the Sri Lankan rupee pegged at a ridiculously low INR0.44, you can truly feel like royalty here. Accommodation options here range from comfortable home stays to superb boutique hotels that can be had for rates as low as `2,500 for two people, per night. Delectable Sri Lankan meals like kottu roti, string hoppers and lamprais cost a ‘princely’ INR150 – 200. Stores like Laksala, Barefoot and Paradise Road, which have branches all over the island, are great for handicrafts, crockery sets and fabrics available at rock bottom prices. Our advice: go there now! Morocco A fantastic blend of the exotic Middle East and the wonders of Northern Africa, Morocco has, for centuries, captured the imagination of artists, poets and other creative geniuses. How can we forget the romance of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the classic Casablanca that was set in the Moroccan city of the same name? The riotous bazaars of Fez and Marrakech and the undulating Atlas mountains to the southwest of the country, all give Morocco a flavour so unique and spellbinding. Accommodation options range from fancy riads to inexpensive hotels and guest houses that range from as low as INR2,700 to 7,000 for two per night, with breakfast and dinner. As for eating well in Morocco, you’re never too far from magic on a plate! The latest buzzword in culinary circles across the world is Morroccan food with its superb tagines and cous cous dishes gaining cult status. So there is no better time than now to get a bite of all it has to offer. The rather overwhelmingly huge Jamaa el Fna square and market place in Marrakesh’s old quarter of Medina is a budget foodie’s dream, with its over 10,000 stalls laden with freshly prepared delicacies of grilled meats and fish that cost around INR200 per plate. Here, stall owners outbid each other to give you some of the best deals your money can buy. You will leave you satiated, that’s a guarantee. A ramble through the spice and crafts market alongside the food stalls will be rewarded with superb buys that range from plush carpets to glass lamps and fez caps that make great souvenirs. Remember to put your good old desi bargaining skills to use here and you will rewarded with some awesome deals. Tips to keep your vacation costs down Make sure you choose your holiday destinations keeping in mind that country’s economic situation that will often determine the costs you encounter there. Once you’ve zeroed in on your destination, make sure you scout around for the best air ticket deals, meticulously do all the due diligence. Two or more people travelling together instantly brings down the cost of the trip. Not only can you share hotel rooms, food and cab rides, but it’s also fun to travel with a pal. For a unique way to spend a few nights, sign up with one of the many hospitality clubs where members can stay with other members in their homes for free. A visit to the local market for a self-catered meal will not only make sure you eat inexpensively, but also give you a great place to mix with the locals. For cheap domestic travel around your holiday destination, make sure to book your travel passes and discount tickets before you leave India as doing so will help you get humungous discounts. This was first published in the July 2013 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

1. Tips to keep your vacation costs down