U Tropicana, Alibaug - A Luxury Getaway Only 3 Hours From Bombay

A delightful 3 hour drive from Bombay through roads that are surrounded by lush greenery and scenic beauty that open into the lazy district of Mapgaon in Alibaug, where tucked away in a corner lies the stuff that ideal getaways are made of; U Tropicana Resort is sure to leave a great first impression!

A boutique property amidst a sizeable expanse of lawns and palm tree, U Tropicana Alibaug will blow you away from the minute you step in. You will be greeted by smiling faces that will do a traditional welcome with the auspicious tika on your forehead and a welcome garland to make each guest feel special.  The service is beyond excellent here and the hotel staff all seem genuinely dedicated to make your stay enjoyable.

View From The Restaurant

As if taking a cue from a tropical island, the rooms all face the pretty swimming pool that has spectacular views of palm trees and some hills at a distance.  The rooms on the ground floor have a direct access to the pool, which is fantastic because taking an impulsive dip just got easier! The room that I was staying in was very tastefully done and quite spacious with a plush washroom and a small seating area outside. What I loved was that there was a welcome note in the room signed by the general manager; things like these just go to show that the hotel is dedicated to providing great service and they want their guests to have a memorable experience.

My Room At U Tropicana, Alibaug

I ordered some snacks in my room and the food was not only tasty but was also served very hygienically. The grilled chicken sandwich was great and the Pav Bhaji was quite good too, just the right thing for an early evening snack.

Room service with utmost hygiene

Once you get out of the room, definitely head to the outdoor bar called Captain Cook which is probably one of the nicest looking bars I have seen in a hotel so far. I loved that it was open on all sides exposing us to the beautiful greenery and the pool. The minimal lighting and a good selection of drinks made it even better.

Captain Cook - The Outdoor Poolside Bar

If you want to avoid the alcohol, then definitely take a massage at the spa, which has a select choice of massages ranging from an aromatherapy treatment to a traditional Balinese massage and much more. I took an aromatherapy treatment and it was quite stress relieving.

The Spa

The hotel has a nice restaurant on the 2nd floor where you can feast on some delectable Indian or Chinese cuisine. I went for some chicken preparation and the staple dal and roti, simple food like this too carried a nice punch of taste. The service is great; the waiting staff will ensure that you have a good meal before you plan to call it a night.

Some Delicious Food At The Restaurant

 In case it too early for you to doze off, the hotel has a game room and library where you could engage yourself in some pool or read a good book.  Want to take a little bike ride? Well you can most definitely just hop onto a bike the hotel makes available for its guests and take a little joy ride! With some great facilities like a spa, game room, gym, bikes etc U Tropicana ensures that the guests have something fun to do always. If you want to actually get out of the hotel (believe me, I didn’t want to!) then Kihim beach is just 3 kilometers away.

A good night’s sleep is perfect when you some great breakfast to look forward to, and U Tropicana certainly didn’t disappoint. A sizeable buffet serving both Indian and continental breakfast will await you at the restaurant. What I loved was that the restaurant served actual fresh juice for breakfast, not the canned juices that restaurants usually go for. The chicken sausages and the bacon were delicious as well.

Came Back To My Room From Dinner To Find This!

This is a perfect destination for all Bombayites who are looking for a staycation at a luxurious and peaceful place but at affordable prices. The monsoons add even more to the beauty of this already beautiful property, so if you are looking to head somewhere on the weekend or anytime during the week for that matter, the U Tropicana Resort is a pretty good choice be it with family or friends!

Review: Le Pot Bombay

Whether its a cosy get-together at home or a movie night, one always enjoys some light snacking and finger foods. Be it your piping hot pakoras, chicken nuggets, chips or crackers, all of these best go with some sort of a dip. I am a big fan of the whole chip and dip concept and I prefer the fresh homemade dip over the packaged ones that are full of preservatives. But obviously as much as i like these dips, my laziness gets the better of me and I barely end up making any at home. Thankfully I discovered Le Pot, a Bombay based catering service for gourmet dips and spreads who are now also venturing into salads. As a part of their promotions I luckily got to sample their new menu of dips and I can safely say that they were fresh, delicious and flavorsome. I tried the three new flavours - Hot Cheesy Mushroom, Smokey Corn & Jalapeno, and  Roasted Red Bell Pepper, while all three flavours were delicious my favourite was the Smokey Corn & Jalapeno.

The best part about these dips are that they are freshly prepared and have a shelf life of just 10 days when refrigerated, which goes to prove that they aren't loaded with artificial preservatives. These can be enjoyed with potato wafers, fries, fish fingers, lavash, pita bread and a lot of other finger foods. I even used the Corn & Jalapeno dip as a sandwich spread and it tasted quite good!

It gets a 10 on taste and hygiene, the only con here would be the pricing, it is slightly on the higher side with the mushroom dip at Rs. 350, the corn one at Rs. 200 and the bell pepper one at Rs. 280, all at a good quantity of 200 gms though. But if its fresh and good food that you want, then paying a slightly higher price should be ok, because this is definitely better than your store bought dips. So do give it a try!

A Trip To Sri Lanka Under $1000!

An island country rich in forests, wildlife, beaches and history as well as the home to some of the world’s finest teas, Sri Lanka is one of the few countries where the Indian rupee stands stronger, making it a perfect place for an affordable international vacation. You can more than enjoy an 8 day trip to Sri Lanka on a budget of just $1000 or less!

Sri Lanka is accessible from almost all major airports in India, but a flight out of Chennai will be the easiest on the pocket, with return flights starting at Rs.9,000 only! An 8 day trip to Sri Lanka means that you can cover atleast 4 to 5 major places of interest in addition to some sight seeing on the way.

Ideally this is what your trip will look like:

Bandarnaike International Airport (Colombo) to Pinnawala to Nuwara Eliya to Kandy to Dambulla to Anuradhapura to Bentota to Colombo

Day 1 (Pinnawala and Nuwara Eliya)

On landing at the Bandarnaike Internation Airport in Colombo, take a hired cab directly to Nuwara Eliya with a stop at Pinnawala elephant orphanage on the way. A 2 hour drive from the airport,  the orphanage is supposed to be a welfare center for old or abandoned elephants which they claim to have rescued. The entry costs around Rs.500 and then they have various other attractions such as elephant rides, feeding the elephants, bathing the elephants etc. You will have to pay extra for the same. During the time I visited there was an elephant named Rani who was also an artist, yes, she literally made oil paintings on canvas! One thing you must be cautious about is that despite having paid the charges, the mahout will ask you for a tip and will also state the amount he expects. This can get a little annoying. I cannot claim if this is actually a proper welfare center for “abandoned” elephants, but during my visit the animals all looked well taken care of. Having spent some time there you can now drive down further for another 2 and half hours to reach Nuwara Eliya. Be sure to have some jackets in your handbag, because Nuwara Eliya during the winters can get quite chilly, in fact that’s what makes it so perfect for farming the famous Ceylon tea. Once at Nuwara Eliya you can check into a hotel of your choice and take the day off to enjoy the weather and maybe if time permits visit Lake Gregory in the evening.

 Day 2 (Nuwara Eliya and Kandy)

The next day must be spent in exploring the sights around Nuwara Eliya including the Seeta Kovil, Views of the Adam’s Peak, St. Claire’s water fall and a visit to one of the tea estates. I visited the Mackwood’s Tea Estate and picked out some fine teas to carry back home with me. An early start will ensure that you make the most out of your day in and around Nuwara Eliya, and post lunch drive down to Kandy which is 2 hours away from Nuwara Eliya.

On the way to your hotel, you will find numerous handicrafts shops selling authentic Sri Lankan masks and other artifacts, in fact Kandy is famous for its Handicrafts and makes for the perfect place to shop some souvenirs from. Every evening Kandy center of arts and culture hosts a dances of Sri Lanka show, which hasa  moderately priced entry.

If you are interested in knowing the cultural dances and some history of Lanka then this is a good way to do so. Tickets cost around Rs. 1000 and the show usually starts at 5.30 pm, but seats are available on a first come first serve basis. Post the show, save the evening for a walk around the city and a visit to the Temple of the Tooth  which is believed to house the tooth relic of Buddha himself.  Unfortunately you wont get a view of the tooth as its cased inside a small gold stupa.

Day 3 (Dambulla and Anuradhapura)

Have a breakfast of Egg Hoppers amongst other things at your hotel and head out for a drive to Dambulla Cave Temple which is home to many ancient paintings and sculptures, some of which are beautifully preserved.

After a picture stop and some exploring, drive down further to Anuradhapura which is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. Check into your hotel and set out to explore the old Buddhist city. Places of interest include Kutta Pokuna, Sri Maha Bodhi, Abhayagiri Dagoba and Ratnaprasada. Anuradhapura is historically rich and is a UNESCO heritage site and is in fact one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Day 4 and Day 5 (Bentota)

Be sure to be well rested because this will be the longest drive of all the 7 days you will be spending at Sri Lanka. Bentota is a beach town which is a 5 hour drive away from Anuradhapura, so its best to start early so that you can still reach Bentota by late afternoon/early evening, leaving you with some time for leisure. I stayed at the Taj Vivanta in Bentota and was here for Christmas, so there was a great dinner being hosted at the hotel itself. There are many other resorts as well where you can opt for a pleasant stay.  You can try out some water sports like Jet Skiing, sailing etc and also take a boat ride on the Bentota river where you can spot some wild crocs if you are lucky. You can even interact with some baby crocodiles here.

Day 6 and Day 7 (Colombo)

Colombo is a short drive of 1 and half hour from Bentota, and after spending two leisurely days at Bentota its time for some crazy shopping at Colombo. This was a super surprise for me as well, as I wasn’t aware that Colombo actually has some amazing outlets where you can shop from. Personally I found it better that Bangkok when ti comes to shopping. It doesn’t hurt that Sri Lanka is a manufacturing hub for some of the biggest high street and premium brands in the world and factory rejects often find their way into upscale stores here. Best shopping picks are Beverly Street and Odel. For some Sri Lankan weaves do visit Barefoot. Colombo also has some good pubs where you can chill in the evenings or even visit some sea view restaurants to gorge on some scrumptious crabs and shrimps. Visit the Sea Spray restaurant at Galle Face Hotel for a memorable dinner.

Day 8

Finally say goodbye to Sri Lanka and make sure to come back again soon for you haven’t even visited Arugam Bay or Jafna as yet!

Approximate Cost Estimates Per Head (costs are estimated on the assumption that 2 people are travelling together):

Flights – Rs. 10,000

Visa – Rs. 1500

Car on hire for 5 days (within Colombo you can take the local Taxis and buses) – Rs. 15,000

Hotels – Rs. 1500 onward per day, so Rs. 10,000 in total (approx.) for 7 nights.

Food- Rs. 10,000

Entry fees to attractions/Interactions – Rs.5000

Total: Rs. 56500 or $885

You still have $115 to shop!

Travellers’ Tips

Carry Sunscreen

Don’t fall prey to Tips. Almost everyone here who thinks has contributed to your trip in any insignificant way expects a hefty tip

Do not visit any spice gardens and buy medicinal herbs or powders from there

Wear your seat belt when in the car or get ready to cough up a fine.

Feeling Bad About Not Leaving Everything Behind To Travel? Well Don't.

I see a lot of "inspirational" articles doing the rounds these days which tell people that they should leave everything behind and take a year off to travel, or why its the greatest idea to quit your job and travel and so on. Such articles leave me quite annoyed simply because how easy it must have been for someone to just pen those words without even seeing the viability of what he or she has written. It looks fabulous especially when coupled with a picture of a person on a cliff with a distant look, as if embarking on a new adventure and an instagram filter added to make that image even more dreamy.You read it and look back at your life in retrospect and heave a sigh knowing that this is probably something you will never be able to "achieve". But you know what, this is 99 percent of the world anyway.

Personally I love traveling, seeing a new place gives me the kind of happiness I probably wont get from a lot of other things. I am all for traveling and discovering the world, but I know that it's pretty stupid to encourage someone to leave their jobs, responsibilities and everything else behind just to travel. That is the most irrational thing someone can say to another person. I too love traveling, but I won't just give up everything or sell off everything just so that I can travel, there are obviously other ways to do that.

Not everyone just drops the life they have been so carefully building to take off and travel recklessly. Such things are nice to read and share on your Facebook, but that's just about it. In fact I believe its rather foolish to quit your job and just travel, or leave everything behind, uproot your life and take off. I might get a few boos for what I have written here but let me explain.

Image Credit: Moyan Brenn

Not everyone is privileged and that is a true fact about life. While it is easy for a few people to take off to exotic locations at a drop of a hat and moderately easy for some others to plan an annual vacation, but there are many others who work hard to take care of their daily lives that it becomes difficult for them to be able to afford even a single decent vacation. The very people who can quit their jobs to travel are the people who probably didn't need a job in the first place anyway. Yes you will see a few odd couples who sell everything off and take the plunge to travel together but is that something everyone can do? Not really. People have responsibilities, it can be their children, their ageing parents or even themselves, when you have so much depending on you, it is not at all possible to see your life off and go to a faraway island or go sailing around the world. The whole idea of leaving everything behind to travel is for the privileged- the ones who have more than the sufficient amount of money to do so or the ones free from any kind of responsibility. For the rest of us, its difficult to imagine something like that and no one should feel bad about it. Even if you did decide to become one of those people who will spend their life's savings on travel or work their way around the world doing odd jobs ans sustaining themselves while they travel, do you think you could do that forever? If yes, then go ahead, but if you are hesitant then what you need is better planning not day dreaming about being able to travel without any woes.

Image Credit: ally_costanzo

But that doesn't mean that you should not travel or see new places, you may not be able to give up everything to do that but you can work out some factors in your life, learn a few hacks for traveling cheap, save while living a decent and comfortable life, and take off to a new destination once a year or so. There are many inspiring stories you and I have read about people without the financial means to travel extensively and how they have overcome that, I think there was something about a tea shop vendor from India who saved and traveled the world with his wife or about a woman who has traveled the world by doing odd jobs at the countries she has visited and stayed at. Yes such things have happened and no I don't think I can be someone who works her away through traveling or such, and I believe a majority of the people too feel the same. So does this mean that we cannot travel, well no, it doesn't. It only means that one shouldn't read such "encouraging" and "inspiring" articles and eventually feel bad about themselves or their lack of ability to be a "free spirited soul". I call major bullshit on such articles. So the next time you decide you want to travel, don't feel bad that you can't just put your life on hold and go all out, rather take a few days off, travel to some place you can afford and come back to real life once you are done, and start planning your next trip!

These pointless articles are good for movie scripts and magazine but one does not need escaping life, but just some good planning to be able to travel. And honestly if you have other priorities than just checking off a list of places you could possible want to travel to, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! It's a great feeling to be able to work, earn a living and being independent and there is no need to let go off all of that just to be one of those people who leave everything to travel, ever wonder what happened to them when they ran out their savings?

So take off the instagram filters from these jaded articles and realise that it isn't even worth a share on your Facebook wall, let alone taking its contents seriously!

Travel Hacks To Save Money While Planning A Vacation

If traveling was free, the whole world would be doing it! Unfortunately it isn't but there are ways to make sure that we don't end up spending a fortune on our travels and I'm sure some of these tips below will definitely come in handy. So, as promised in my last post, here are some easy travel hacks which will ensure that you cut back on some expenses and save some money while planning your next vacation.

Find a better deal on accommodation:

I never book directly with the hotel unless I’m pretty sure that the price they are offering is the best I can get. There are many sites that provide hotel rooms at prices that are significantly lower than what you’d see on a hotel’s website. You have agoda.com, booking.com, hotels.com and many more such sites that provide you boarding options ranging from a 5 star to a budget hotel. If you want to visit one aggregator site that will show you the best deals from all such sites then do look at Trivago or Tripadvisor, you will get a list of sites and the deals they are providing. I have personally booked through Ibibo and Agoda, and have found them to be quite hassle free.

Another option that is getting quite popular is Airbnb. You could go in for properties from here as well. It has many interesting accommodation options which are more personalized than a hotel stay. For instance, if you are looking for a beach villa in Mykonos, then be sure Airbnb can give you some great options to choose from.

Image Credit: Jacques

If you are a solo traveler, or if you are backpacking your way around the world on a budget, then couch surfing is probably a great way to save the big bucks on lodging expenses.  You get to stay with a local and you can also open your home to another fellow traveler to return the favour as well! It’s like a large community of travelers who remain connected and enable lodging facilities to each other. You can sign up and read more about it here- couchsurfing.com

You could also check out youth hostels and backpackers' hostels if you are ok with sharing your room with other fellow travelers. These are one of the cheapest ways to live while traveling.

Image Credit: Hostelmanagement..com

Flying cheaper:

If you can book your tickets well in advance, then that is the best way to save some money on travel. If you know you will be traveling to a particular destination and are sure about it, then booking your tickets atleast 10-12 weeks in advance is recommended. The more you delay the more the chances of the ticket fares going up. Instead of just logging on to individual ticketing portals, it’s best to take a look at aggregator sites like skyscanner.com which will throw up the best deals available from all ticketing websites. Another trustworthy source to look up the cheapest flights is google flights. Also try booking the flights for weekdays instead of weekends. The weekend fares are usually higher. So instead of travelling on a Friday, try to book your ticket for a Wednesday or a Thursday.

Image Credit: Santanu Mondal

Save on paying for excess luggage:

This is extremely important. Remember that you are going for a holiday not to settle down somewhere permanently, so as much as you’d like to carry your whole wardrobe along with you, don’t. One suitcase and one hand bag is enough to accommodate all that you would need for a few days travel. I also always make it a point to carry less than the permitted baggage allowance (in weight) because you need to have some empty space for all the souvenirs and shopping that you will carry back from your travels. So if an airline allows me to carry 20 kgs worth of check in luggage I will probably carry 12 kgs. Make it a point to weigh your luggage at home before heading to the airport. If you are going to need a heavy jacket, don’t put it in your suitcase; wear it on board, same goes for the heaviest pair of shoes you want to carry. That saves you some allowance on your luggage and once you are inside the aircraft you can always place the jacket in the overhead compartment!

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Cut back on the dining expenses:

While it’s pretty easy to get good meals at affordable prices at restaurants in Asian countries, the same cannot be said for some European countries, especially the like of Switzerland, Ireland, France etc. Well of course you must try out their restaurants, but maybe you don’t need to go to a fancy restaurant of a café for all of your meals. Usually breakfast is included in your boarding cost (do ensure that it is, if you pay for it in advance, you won’t feel the pinch while on your vacation), for lunch do something different, maybe a picnic one day or try some food from the street vendors/food carts instead of heading to the nearest café. You can pick up some sandwiches and beverages from the supermarkets and have a nice little picnic at a park. You get to experience something fun and also save some money in the process.

Image Credit: mt 23

Save on transport and sightseeing:

Instead of hiring a chauffeur driven car, or taking taxis throughout your stay at a particular place, do some research on that particular city’s public transport system. Most European countries are well connected by metro rails and the same goes for Asian countries as well. Singapore for instance has a great public transport system with well connected metro trains and hop on and hop off buses, which will be way cheaper than hiring a cab. Same goes for Paris As well, it has a very efficient metro rail system as well as a tram system that connects the city. One can also use the buses in addition to these. The best way is to get yourself a Paris Pass which will cost you about Rs. 8000 for a 2 day validity and this entitles you not only unlimited transport but also lots of free entries to museums and galleries and some activities such as French Wine Tasting, a ride on the tour bus etc. Switzerland too has a similar card called the Swiss Card. So do check out if the country or city you are visiting has any such tourist friendly facility. You will not only save money on transport but also gain free access to attraction which you’d have to pay for otherwise.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Exchange that currency:

While you can carry your international debit card or credit card, do try to not use them unless you absolutely have to. It’s always a good idea to convert your currency back home before you take the trip. Watch out for a good rate and convert it on that particular date. This way you will know that you have a fixed amount you’d want to spend while vacationing and it will help you stick to the budget. And if you do need to convert your dollars/pounds to a third currency while abroad, avoid converting them at your hotel, you will never get a good rate.

Image Credit: Philip Brewer