Planning a trip this monsoon? Travel to these destinations

Because it's raining offers.

Photo: Mail Today

Summer seems to be finally giving way to monsoons and a metropolitan city is not exactly the place to enjoy the rains. It is also raining deals, with online travel companies, hotels and tour operators showering customers irresistible offers for monsoon travel.

Those who have missed out on their summer vacations, this is the time to travel, with rates dropping from 15 to 25 per cent in the domestic market.

According to Karan Anand, Head-Relationships, Cox & Kings, "We have already witnessed an increase in the number of inquiries by 25 to 30 percent and it is primarily the Double Income No Kids (DINKS), segment and those between 21 to 26 that's driving this market.''

He adds, "According to Ayurveda, the monsoon is the best season for rejuvenation therapies, for the atmosphere is dust-free, humid and cool. This encourages a large number of fitness enthusiasts to check-in at Ayurvedic resorts in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.''

Goa

Other destinations that are popular for monsoon are Wayanad & Munnar (Kerala), Goa, Leh-Ladakh, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar and Konkan Coast (Maharashtra), Coorg (Karnataka), Spiti Valley (Himachal), Shillong (Meghalaya), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) and Ranikhet (Uttarakhand).

Online travel portal, Ezeego1.com is offering up to Rs 2,000 cashback on select domestic airlines between June 1st and 20th and up to 70 per cent discount on select domestic hotel bookings until September 30.

Neelu Singh, CEO and Director, Ezeego1.com said, "Short weekend trips are popular for quick monsoon getaways. Trekking, waterfalls, camping, wellness getaways and night forest trails are some of the experiences that top the preference list of monsoon travellers. Waterfalls like Athirapally in Kerala, Dudhsagar in Goa, Nohkalikai in Cherrapunji create quite a spectacle for tourists in this season. We have seen a 25 percent increase in our enquiries."

She adds, "Road journeys closer home are very popular during the rains. Mumbai to Goa, Chennai to Pondicherry, Bengaluru to Coorg, Shillong to Cherrapunji, Darjeeling to Gangtok, Bengaluru to Ooty via Bandipur to name a few."

Leh-Ladakh

"With the development of new tourist circuits and improved rail and road connectivity to Tier II and Tier III cities, travellers are increasingly opting for domestic short haul locations for quick getaways. While Goa and Kerala continue to trend as favourites, fresh new entrants emerging on the radar for monsoon getaways are Bekal and Hampi," says Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head - Leisure Travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd.