I love the idea of travel but I dread it when I find out that everyone else is going to do it at the same time. And that time has to be the holiday time, the nearest one being the Pooja Holidays. Now it makes life easy if you wish to travel at a time when it is easy to coordinate leaves. I no longer need to take leaves as I left my job but I have to worry about my daughter’s school holidays for sure. It should be easy for Chhavi and Seshadri to take leaves. And the stars seem to align better during the holiday season.
But I dread to travel during the holiday season at the same time, because everything gets incredibly crowded starting from the metro trains. I remember a Diwali when Chhavi, Seshadri and I were traveling to Manali close to Diwali. We could not even enter the MG Road Metro Station, it was so crowded. We got out, took an auto and went to the next station, Sikandarpur, it was a bit manageable there. Chhavi and I went to the coach reserved for the ladies and Seshadri braved it out in one of the general coaches. Needless to say, it was no fun.
Then comes the issue of prices. All price gets jacked up during the holidays, be it hotel prices, bus fare or air fare. If you think of it, you only gets train tickets at the same price. But even there you need to book right on the day, dot on time when the reservation slot opens!
Then the popular destinations get crowded too. The restaurants jack up their prices during holidays! Chances are that there will be a longer wait time at the more popular ones. So, if we can manage we try not to go out at the peak periods. But then there are times when public holidays are the only opportunities for a family to travel together. And like everyone else we brave it too.
I totally agree… I dread it too… so prefer not traveling during holidays :-p
We are giving it a miss this year!
True. Coupons can come in handy during travel season.
😀 Prices go up everywhere.
I dread it too! My daughter is still really small and so she can take off from school at will, but I know that this will change very, very soon!
Same with us Chaitali, we still can manage to miss a week but not for much longer 😀
True.. Travel is pain during continuous Holidays as every one makes use of all that.. But many times, there’s no alternative as we too get leave only during those days.. More effort is required here! Right point brought out, Mridula!
Thank you Sreedhar ji. I dread the crowd!
Exactly the same thought but no other choice but to travel on holidays.
Ah make the most of it.
Hey hi there Mridula! Couldn’t agree more! Thankfully my toddler’s not going to school yet so we are not restricted to the holiday seasons for travelling but very soon we shall be and I sure dread that! Glad to have found your blog 🙂
Thank you so much Leena. 😀
Most of the family person make their plan to travel in these days, so naturally crowd becomes double triple.
Yogi fir Delhi mein hi rah jate hain 😀
Well, like you said, sometimes you just don’t have a choice. 🙁 Exams, holidays and leaves!!! ARGH
Ami Chhavi is still small so exms are not that big an issue but soon I would be saying the same 😀
I never prefer national holiday tours as i feel suffocated at those places ,crammed with people.
Same here but we end up going out sometimes.
Oh.. I absolutely avoid during festivals even a trip to city ;p
Ha ha 😀
I love travelling off season.
Same here Lady Fi.
Indeed!
Those are some great offers.
Thank you Indrani.
I love to travel. Planning a trip during holidays are the only way for a family vacation.. Well, with such good offers, sure we get ready to pack our bags. 🙂
Happy to hear that,
So True. Yes holidays are, for many travelers, only time to go out.
I agree Anupam and yet the traffic jams and the crowd 🙁
Leaves for me are not really too much trouble, but totally relate to your dilemma. It was just 2 years ago that we could travel any time of the year without parental guilt (son missing school, teachers complaining), but now we are relegated to planning long vacations only during SCHOOL holidays.
The two things that works for us is booking early (refundable tickets, free cancellation hotels are a must) and flexibility in plans (if not Udaipur, then Jaipur kinds – I am going through this phase right as I type :)).
If its a 2-3 day trip, we prefer taking a friday or a monday off, rather than a long weekend to avoid crowds.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” 😀
I agree with you 100% on the lemonade bit. thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and tips.