As 2019 offers around 11 long weekends, travel experts suggest tips to plan wisely and utilise them to the fullest. By Team Viva

There are two perennial dilemmas associated with long weekends. Whether to celebrate them at home or as day-outs and plan for a big annual break or burn up all of the savings in one big trip or spread them out over many shorter ones?

There have been significant changes in terms of travellers’ preferences in the recent past, as experts highlight. “Until a couple of years ago, long weekend trips were limited only to domestic destinations. But now people do not mind exploring elaborate options within a three-day window. The scenario started changing when travellers also started planning for international breaks taking advantage of  long weekends,” says Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings. The rise in the weekender traveller means that the spinoff effects on the local tourism economy are huge, what with a regular flow ensuring there is no low season.

The West is already calling 2019 the year of “bite-sized travel”, which means packing in customised and curated experiences in your limited time frame. Boosted by attractive frequent flying miles that you accrue on your business trips, smart flight linkages and inter-connections, affordable car rentals and accommodation, the short getaway has already begun to look more gettable. Couple this with a one-time obsession, like taking a dip at Kumbh, and the mini breaks seem a profitable option. 

However, Anand suggests, in 2019, people need to plan their trips wisely as the year  will have only 10-11 long weekends as compared to 2018, which had 16 long weekends. This in turn implies that the bookings would have to be made a little more in advance to avoid the rush. 

April and August are the two months in 2019 wherein one can plan long domestic or international vacations. He says, “You can plan an international trip, six to nine days long, during the period, April 13-21 by taking two to three days leave. This will be coincide with the official holidays of Ambedkar Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday. Similarly, August 10 to 18 also make up for an ideal period to plan a vacation as there are holidays for Bakri-Id, Independence Day and Parsi New Year.”

A few suggestions for planning the long weekends the wiser way this year could be: January sees an occasional holiday on 14, that is Monday, for Makar Sankranti and Pongal, so an excursion could be planned from the night of January 11 to the morning of January 15.

Anand believes that since weekend travel has become an intrinsic part of people’s lifestyle these days, “the lesser number of long weekends will not stop them from planning one.” Travellers used to this format could pack in an extra day or two as casual leaves.

While Anand points towards making the most of long weekends by planning international trips, Heena J Akhtar, co-founder, TripXOXO, feels that people may actually choose theme travel as they do not want to just visit places but also take in the culture of a place in an immersive fashion.  “It has been observed that the travellers are always looking forward to trying something new. This time there are enquiries for grand festivals such as Kumbh Mela, Pushkar festival and Kite festival, which people want to experience,” says Akhtar. Nature trails and other adventure activities specific to a place are making the weekend hotlist.  “Bungee-jumping in Rishikesh, excursion tour in Rajgir and Nalanda in Bihar, camping in Shimla, village experience in Sikkim, bike ride to Ladakh are some things that travellers want to explore now.” The travel company is also offering cash benefits to the users through their ClubPass.

Jay Kantawala, WIYO Travel, feels that due to an increase in disposable income and Indians willing to explore new destinations and cultures, there would be a significant rise in the number of people opting for a few short trips. Says he, “A substantial number of Indian vacationers are opting for two to three short breaks in a year as compared to vacationers choosing a single vacation. The year has just begun with the Republic Day round the corner.”

Manmeet Ahluwalia, Marketing Head, Expedia India, also feels that over the past two to three years, the Indian travel scenario has changed to a great extent. “The millennials and even GenZ are fuelling their travel plans by utilising the weekends for short vacations. We often see them clubbing their long weekends with a day off and exploring nearby areas or for an adventure activity trip. Since 2019 has 11-14 long weekends, the queries around extended weekend are expected to grow by 30 to 35 per cent this year,” says he.

DINK (double income, no kids), young couples, nuclear families also cash these opportunities to take a break from their schedule and travel. He believes, “Now, short trips have become a very popular format of taking vacations with friends, family, co-workers or at times even solo. Domestic destinations like Narkanda, Chail, Jaisalmer, Hampi and international destinations like Gili Island, Bali, Kandy, Dubai, Qatar, Bhutan stand among the most preferred destinations.”