Plan a ‘cheap holiday' in India

Taking a cheap holiday with your family is easier than you think. You just need to plan ahead and plan well. Here are some tips for travellers who like anything that is inexpensive, especially cheap holidays.

Holiday research tips for cheap holidays

• Compare holiday packages from several providers to get the best value for your money and also to ensure your holiday package suits your requirements. A good portal for holiday comparison is Polama.com, which lets you compare up to five packages side-by-side. It also has a category for ‘Cheap holidays in India'!
• Look for hotel deals which are offered in the last minute to sell inventory, which are aptly called ‘last minute deals'. One such portal to find such tour packages is Agoda.com
• Sometimes travelling in the off-season may be rewarding. You can get the best deals, with room upgrades, never mind a little compromise with the weather.
• New hotels/airline routes which are launched generally have an introductory offer which come with huge discounts - avail them.
• Try to look for APEX fares for airline seats, which can be availed if you book well in advance.

Bedding tips for cheap holidays

• Kids stay free -Search for accommodations where your kids can stay free. Ensure you validate the child policy, before booking. This category will get you the biggest saving. Generally in India, children below 5 years get to stay free; children between 5 to 12 years are charged 50% of the adult fare or some hotels may allow free stay. If the child is above 12 years, they are charged for an extra bed and in some rare instances charged an adult tariff.
• Double bed - If there is an option for 2 single beds or 1 double size bed, go for a double sized bed. It is possible to pile 3 on double sized bed. If possible request for a King-sized bed, if the hotel does not charge you extra.
• Bed in a bag - There are a few sleeping bags available in its own carry bag with a handle or shoulder straps. If you are on a shoe string budget it makes sense to pack, carry and make your own bed!
• Patronize your favourite hotel chain at various destinations and earn points, which can be redeemed for room nights. Same can be followed for airlines which earn air miles.

Meal tips for cheap holidays

• Plan your meals - Not just for cheap holidays but for a healthy holiday, meal planning is important. Breakfast is generally included in the cost of the room, so try and fuel up as much as possible. Check the buffet breakfast timings with the hotel, so that you can go as late as possible - preferably a little before they close the counters. Skip lunch, snack in-between and eat a full dinner.

• Keep snacks handy - Load your day packs with healthy and junk food. Yes, your kids are on a vacation too. Let them have those fries, chips and cookies. In India, at many tourist places you will find fruit vendors, coconut vendors, juice vendors etc. for some healthy snacking.

• Eat local - If in India, be an Indian. Try the local street food chai, dosa (rice based Indian crepe) etc. You will find plenty of good joints everywhere.
Sight seeing tips for cheap holidays

• At many sight seeing places in India, video camera is charged additional on the entry ticket . If you do not have to, do not carry it with you.

• Try to book your guide at the relevant monuments or historic sights, rather than using the hotel's concierge services, as it come with a price.

• Use local transport, which can sometime be the best ways to explore a city. A local bus ride in smaller towns or for instance, a cycle rickshaw ride in Jaipur can sometimes be a much more rewarding experience than a car ride through the city.
Shopping tips for cheap holidays

• For items of basic needs, you will find MRP (manufacture's suggested retail price) on each item. Always check this and never pay more than MRP.

• For souvenirs, try to shop in government run handicraft stores, they are quality and price guaranteed.

• If you are shopping from the hawkers in the streets, you can get a good bargain if you do your entire shopping with a single vendor - negotiate hard.

• Try to shop with a local if you know and can trust somebody.

Happy cheap Holidays! You can know more at www.polama.com.