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Where to Go on a Holiday in Asia with a Budget of Rs 1 Lakh

With a limited salary and big dreams, every individual wishes to take a holiday to a far-off destination which has the best to offer in terms of history, food, beaches, and affordability. The travel bug has charmed India with a range of domestic destinations, but individuals and couples are no more willing to spend a huge sum over a domestic holiday. They are looking for a swanky holiday overseas, which is pocket friendly as well as tourist friendly.

A lot of destinations around India welcome tourists with open arms. Given below is a list of five destinations in Asia which can be taken up with a budget of only Rs 1 lakh.

  1. Sri Lanka: Over the last few years, Sri Lanka has become a popular tourist destination in Asia. It has a charm that will enchant and leave you with beautiful memories. It has UNESCO heritage sites, beautiful beaches, and ancient ruins in addition to the rich history of the country.
  • Flight: A direct flight to Colombo will cost much, so it is good to break your journey and save money. Take a cheap flight from Delhi to Chennai and from there to Colombo. Focus on mega travel sites and apps to get the lower airfare.
  • Non-stop Flight Duration:
  • Sri Lankan 3h 35m
  • Air India 3h 35m
  • Accommodation: From heritage homes, bungalows, villas to hostels, homestays and rented apartments, you can find a wide range of accommodation options in Sri Lanka as per your budget and preferences. Indeed, homestays are one of the best options to get a taste of local flavor. It also makes food and drink affordable. If you want to stay in a hostel, make sure to do all your booking at least three months in advance.
  • Food: You can experiment with local food which is quite cheap. Vegetarian food options are cheap, but seafood and fish are quite costly.
  • Commute: Though, both buses and trains are available, it is advised to go with the latter option. For the internal transfer, hire a car.
  • Sightseeing: You can cover some of the main attractions across or can go to the specific circuit involving beaches, wildlife, and national park. Get yourself some clothes and handicrafts which are available at low prices.
  • Current Currency Exchange Rate: 1 INR = 2.34 Sri Lankan Rupee

 

  1. Maldives: An insanely popular honeymoon destination, Maldives is a beautiful island with turquoise water, exotic spas, water sports and a lot of privacy.
  • Flight: As you are unlikely to find a cheap direct flight to Maldives, it is good to split your journey from Delhi to Bangalore or Chennai and from there to Maldives. As lowest airfare is not always best, so consider the layover and connecting flight time as well.
  • Flight Duration:
  • Air India 5h 20m
  • Sri Lankan 14h 0m
  • Spice Jet 7h 50m
  • Qatar Airways12h 0m
  • Accommodation: In 2009, locals were allowed to open guesthouses, and since then, several affordable and locally owned establishments have come up to give tourists a taste of local culture. Though, there are hardly any hostel or dorm options available, you can find private rooms at a cheaper rate.
  • Food: Opened from early morning till midnight, coffee houses also offer sandwiches, noodles and snacks for around $3. In general, the smaller the island, the less food options are available and you’ll likely to be eating at your guesthouse for most of the meal. It is good to book all-inclusive meal packages as the rates will be 30%-40% higher if you buy food from the resort itself. You can cut costs by carrying some ready-to-eat meal options from home or pick basic food options from Maldives.
  • Commute: Probably, the only commuting, which you will do is from the International Airport Island Hulhule to Male, the capital city and from there, to your island resort. Use local ferries and save potentially hundreds of dollars. While, the ferries may be cheap, they are often sporadic and have irregular timings. You can use speedboats to deal with the irregularity of ferries. To roam around Male, either walk or take cabs which have their fares fixed.
  • Sightseeing: Though, Majeedhee Magu is an apt shopping street, it is advised not to indulge in a shopping spree, considering the tight budget you have. For sightseeing, you can find museums and mosques. For adventure lovers, snorkeling, scuba diving, dolphin watching, etc.; are some great options.
  • Current Currency Exchange Rate: 1 INR = 0.23671 MVR (Maldivian Rufiyaa)
Maldives
  1. Vietnam: Vietnam is a famous holiday destination for architecture lovers and individuals who love to explore a different culture. There is a lot more to Vietnam than the temples and monasteries. Take a trek or drive a bike and let the essence of the place sink in.
  • Flight: Since the airfare can be quite expensive, book tickets three or four months in advance and split your journey.
  • Flight Duration: Direct Delhi-Hanoi 7 hours, 35 minutes
  • Accommodation: You can easily find homestays, dormitories and hostels in Vietnam, but make sure to book them in advance. Though, homestays are popular, language can be a barrier while negotiating for a deal. It will be good to pick a hotel in a central location to avoid commuting expenses.
  • Food: Street stalls offer some great food options which not only entice your taste buds, but also fall easy on your pocket. However, it is better to carry some instant Indian meal packages, in case you don’t like the local food.
  • Commute: Though, travelling via road is cheap, it can pose serious problems as most of the people don’t understand English. So, hire a car rental company from a local travel agency who has English-speaking drivers. You can hire motorcycles and scooters as well, which are affordable. Short-internal flights are also not so costly.
  • Sightseeing: Though, places like the Cu Chi tunnel or other monuments charge an entrance fee, you should go there if you want to understand the local culture. During shopping, avoid markets like Ben Thanh. Go outside and visit the street vendors where things are available at a much cheaper price.
  • Current Currency Exchange Rate: 1 Indian Rupee=350.88 Vietnamese Dong

 

  1. Dubai: Dubai has a lot more than rich people and belly dancing! It offers a desert safari, historical districts, spice souks, nice restaurants, and Burj Khalifa. It is a perfect destination away from India which offers a range of things to do for all age groups.
  • Flight: One of the travel aggregators is offering discounts up to 25% on international flights. You can easily find lots of discounts and freebies offered by various travel aggregator sites, so keep your eyes open. Further, many airlines come up with seasonal discounts and limited-period offers.
  • Flight Duration:
  • IndiGo 3h 50m
  • flydubai 3h 45m
  • Air-India Express 3h 35m
  • SpiceJet 3h 50m
  • Accommodation: You can easily find good 3-star hotels like Rove City Centre, Centro Barsha, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport Hotel, etc.; as per your budget. The hotels situated near airports will charge high prices, so go with those which are situated slightly at a distant place. You can get good deals if you approach hotels directly.
  • Food: Although, the city is widely known for its luxurious hotels, you can enjoy a much more informal (and affordable) style of dining by visiting Al Diyafah Road where you can gorge on some delectable cuisines from one of the most reasonably priced restaurants. With a wide array of cuisines from Iran, Japan, and India, you can give your taste buds an amazing treat without spending much. Try to book a hotel with free breakfast option. For lunch, you can pick local food stalls. Always buy bottled water from a local store as it can be costly at tourist places. If you are lucky to be a lady and fortunate to visit the city on Tuesday, Dubai’s nightlife will look more amazing to you. Most bars offer a couple of free drinks to their female guests.
  • Commute: You’re travelling by metro can only set you back by nearly 14 AED (United Arab Emirates). You can combine this option with cabs which are also reasonably cheaper.
  • Sightseeing: Buy tourist passes or discounted public transport cards at metro stations or bus stops. Though, sightseeing options can be expensive, book them in advance to save some money.
  • Current Currency Exchange Rate: 1 INR= 0.056400 United Arab Emirates Dirham

 

  1. Mauritius: People believe that Mauritius is an expensive travel destination, however, this place can also fit in your budget if you act tactfully. This beautiful destination has some breathtaking beaches and exotic spas to attract tourists from different parts of the world.
  • Flight: Certainly, the flight cost will eat away your budget, so fly when no one else wants to, i.e., plan your vacation during off-season or weekday. Also, regularly visit Air Mauritius, the island’s local airline website to find last-minute offers and split your journey to get better deals.
  • Flight Duration:
  • Air Mauritius 7h 30m
  • Air India 7h 30m
  • Emirates 13h 55m (Connecting)
  • Accommodation: Stay at guest houses, boutique hotels and B&B (Bread and Breakfast) rather than luxurious hotels. You can save money by staying at beach side guest houses. Hostels are available for those who don’t mind sharing.
  • Commute: Don’t be afraid to try out local transport— buses which are fun and cheap. For a short-trip, hire a bicycle and for far-flung areas, taxi is a good option. You can also hire a car for a hassle-free journey.
  • Food: A far and enriching idea is to savor at local food and eat at street stalls which are popular among locals.
  • Sightseeing: Indeed, it is not about beaches only, as there are other breathtaking views, historic sites, and blooming forests as well. Some of the great attractions of the place are Black River Gorges National Park, La Vanille Crocodile Park, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, etc.
  • Current Currency Exchange Rate: 1 INR= 0.54338 MUR (Mauritian Rupee)

In addition to the above, you can visit Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Malaysia on your shallow budget. Along with this, it is necessary to buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy to secure your journey from all unforeseen perils, like missed luggage/flight, personal accident, loss of passport, etc. The cost of travel insurance depends on the destination and the duration of your travel. It is important to apply for a travel insurance after you have finalised your destination and period for which you are planning to stay there. Accidents come unannounced to spoil your otherwise good holiday mood. Therefore, it is imperative to take steps to secure your journey and keep the ‘fun’ element of the trip intact with the right overseas travel insurance plan.

Vacation is not only about enjoyment, sometimes it is about rediscovering our inner self. So take a plunge and go on a trip to make things happen without worrying about money because, travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.

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Images credit (under CCL) by order: feature,  Maldives

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