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Planning a holiday abroad is best done in advance. This will ensure good rates on flight tickets and hotel bookings. However, for those who have not, it is still possible, even if you have only a week or 10 days to do it. It need not even be very expensive but you might have to restrict your choice of destination. Let us look at how one can plan a cost-effective foreign holiday at short notice.
Destination
For a last-minute holiday, opt for short packages, as it makes the trip economical, says Karan Anand, head of relationships at Cox and Kings. Short trips also require less preparation than a 15-20 day holiday.
Picking a destination might get restricted to locations where it is easier to get a visa. These could be countries that offer visa on arrival or an electronic visa, says Abraham Alapatt, marketing head at Thomas Cook India.
There are spots which don't require a visa if you hold a valid one for the US. An example is Turkey; if you hold a 10-year and multiple-entry US visa, Turkey is an option you can consider even at short notice. Even if you are a passport holder of US, Schengen, or OECD member countries, you can receive Turkey e-visa via the government's website, making it easy to plan a last minute holiday.
Europe is also a popular holiday destination for summer. France, for instance; its government is promoting rapid visa processing and you can get one within 48-72 hours.
For travel to countries without a visa-on-arrival facility, approval takes seven to 15 days or more for processing, a factor to note for last-minute international holidays.
Costs
Last-minute travellers must remember the holiday cost is likely to be higher, says Neelu Singh, director, Ezeego1.com. Also, those booking early usually get the benefit of choosing an accommodation of choice; last-minute booking might mean having to compromise a bit. A way out is to book in a group tour; it helps avoid high last-minute airfares or non-availability of hotels.
"Group tours and fixed departures are a good way for last-minute travel. It is not only lighter on the pocket but ensures you are safe, since you are part of a larger group," Singh says.
Thomas Cook for instance, has a 'Simply' series which can be booked through its website. It offers packages for destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Thailand-Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
"A last-minute holiday doesn't necessarily have to be very expensive. Many large travel companies offer attractive packages. Since they do bulk bookings for air tickets and hotel packages, they get good deals, which are offered to customers. The 'Simply' series is built around visa-friendly locations, where you get visa on arrival or e-visa," says Alapatt.
"Travellers can take advantage of flash sales or last-minute deals or opt for shorter packages of two to four nights to save costs. Similarly, booking off-season deals can help save costs by 25-30 per cent," says Anand of Cox and Kings. Last-minute deals or flash sales are primarily aimed at creating demand for low-selling inventory. Airlines often introduce flash sales to sell seats that would otherwise go vacant and not bring any revenue. Similarly, hotels put up select rooms on sale to attract customers in times of low occupancy. However, it is important to note that such space is often limited and one has to act quickly. You can get information of such deals by keeping track of travel websites and tracking advertisements.
For example, Ezeego1.com has introduced an 'Your Europe, Your Way' offer, wherein customers can choose itineraries for three cities of their choice and get a fourth city absolutely free. One can pick and choose from at least 40 destinations. Special offers such as these can cut your holiday cost, while giving you an itinerary of choice.
"When travelling in off-season, travellers need to keep in mind that the popular tourist attractions are likely to be shut, especially during snow or rainy seasons. However, it is one of the best times to catch some great bargains on your holiday, as much as 50 per cent. Also, because of lesser tourist crowds, it is a great opportunity to explore the destination peacefully, at one's own pace," says Singh of Ezeego1.com.
For instance, the period between May and August is typically considered a low travel season for Australia and New Zealand, because the weather is cold and not very conducive for outdoor activity. The same period makes a low tourist season for Egypt owing to very high temperatures.
Money tips:
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If travelling around Europe, book in overnight trains. This way, you can save on hotel cost and also save time by travelling at night
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Similarly, look for hotels away from the city centre and near a subway or bus station. This way, you can get cheaper accommodation but travel easily
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Families or groups can look for service apartments or studio apartments, though these might be difficult to get at the last minute
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Buying a common pass that can be used across various modes of transport like train, bus or subway will also help cut costs. Many cities offer hop-on, hop-off services, using which you can get across the city easily
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Check tourism board websites to get discount vouchers and coupons. These are sometimes also available at airports, which you can pick up on arrival
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Some countries like Singapore offer free city transport from the airport to certain hotels, which you can avail by showing your passport
- Make use of the free days at museums, monuments and other attractions. For information about this, read before you leave or check the tourism websites.
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Carrying money using a pre-paid travel card is the best option. Most banks offer such cards, which you can load with the currency of your choice. Keep only cash that you might require for cab or taxis. It is safer to carry cards for all other payments
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Always carry two copies of important documents such as passport, visa, itinerary, tickets, etc
- Buy travel insurance as a precaution against any untoward accident or illness while travelling.
| POPULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS |
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International Dubai and Abu Dhabi - electronic visa Thailand, Bali and Sri Lanka - visa on arrival and economical Singapore - two year multiple - entry visa Turkey - no visa required if you have valid US visa. France - visa is processed in 48-72 hours since government is promoting fast visa processing Domestic: North India - Leh-Ladakh, Kashmir, Gangtok and Darjeeling, Himachal Pradesh, Mount Abu and Udaipur in Rajasthan. South India - Kodaikanal (near Madurai) and Ooty (near Coimbatore) in Tamil Nadu, Munnar and Thekady (near Kochi) in Kerala Beaches - Goa, Puri, Pondicherry (near Chennai) Tips for last-minute travel:
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