If the festive crowds have left you gasping for breath, then beat a hasty retreat from the city for a beach holiday. Now is the perfect time, what with the weather looking up. Be it Palolem in Goa or Patong in Thailand, you’re sure to be in luck since most resorts and airline companies are offering special packages and discounts currently. Great nightlife, lip-smacking food, some underwater action with scuba diving and snorkelling — what more could you ask for? So go ahead and pack your tankinis and sunglasses! And don’t forget the sunscreen lotion.

Palolem beach, Goa

The Leela Kempinski Hotel, Goa

Goa still packs in a few surprises, if you can plan your holiday in one of the less explored beaches of South Goa. Pretty as a picture, Palolem is a crescent-shaped white sand beach with rocks jutting out to the sea. It’s about 50km from Panjim and 17km from Margao (you can hire taxis) and 3km from the nearest railhead (Canacona Junction/Konkan railway). You get to experience the best of a Goan holiday — the food, music and a glorious beach.

Hot ticket!

The plush 5-star Leela Kempinski Goa has a two-night package for holidaymakers (valid till October 15) at Rs 6,909 (double occupancy) per night. The tariff goes higher if you’re there for a single night. The package includes airport transfers (by AC coach), a welcome drink on arrival, breakfast and complimentary use of sauna/steam bath and the swimming pool during your stay. If you book post 15 October, you pay Rs 15,000 per night for a room (double occupancy). Lunch and dinner included.

Patong beach, Thailand

Andatel Hotel, Thailand

With its white sand beaches and shimmering, emerald waters, Phuket is truly paradise on earth. It has 17 sandy beaches, the most popular being Patong, one of the world’s top 10 diving sites and also Phuket’s most popular nightspot. By day, Patong buzzes with activities like scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing. At night it comes alive to hundreds of restaurants, lounge bars, beer bars and of course discotheques. You could also make trips to the Phuket Aquarium, Phuket FantaSea (a theme park with all the works including Vegas-style theatrical productions), Sirinat National Park and the Shrine of the Serene Lights.

Hot ticket!

Travelocity India is offering a four-night and five-day package for two at Rs 43,510 which includes airfare (ex-Calcutta by Jet airways or Thai Airways International), accommodation (twin-sharing) and breakfast at the 3-star 53-room, Andatel Hotel located in the heart of Patong, just steps away from entertainment and dining outlets and a mere 300m from Patong beach. Log on to www.travelocity.co.in for more details.

Bentota, Sri Lanka

Taj Exotica, Sri Lanka

Located to the South of Colombo, Bentota is a beach destination popular with travellers from around the world. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Colombo airport and there are plenty of hotels to suit your purse. While at Bentota, don’t forget to see the Bentota Ganga, great for boat rides and watersports and the Galapata Vihara, a temple dating back to the 12th century. You can also visit the Sea Turtle Project — a turtle hatchery — where for a small fee you can release a three-day old turtle into the ocean.

Hot ticket!

SOTC has a three-night and four-day package with bed and breakfast at the Taj Exotica, Bentota. At Rs 19,400 per person, the package includes accommodation, breakfast and sightseeing. Airfare is an extra Rs 7,815 (per person) ex-Chennai. The package also includes transfer in an AC car to the hotel from the Colombo airport and a daytrip to nearby Galle and Balapitiya. Log on to www.sotc.in for details.

Seychelles

Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove, Seychelles

The Republic of Seychelles comprises 115 tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean. If you love the sea, Seychelles is surely the place to be. It’s also a great place for divers. It features six national marine parks and you can enjoy both snorkelling and scuba diving once you hit the beaches. Wildlife is also a major draw for tourists. Avoid visiting from December to January — the peak season — when accommodation can be hard to find.

Hot ticket!

Travelocity India has a three- night and four-day package from Calcutta to Seychelles for Rs 1.32 lakh per person (including airfare). The package includes stay at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove, which offers a great view of the ocean. The hotel’s Le Cocoloba Bar and Lounge is the perfect spot to unwind if you have a fetish for tropical cocktails and watching sunsets. You’ll be staying at a deluxe pool-view room with 20 per cent discount on breakfast. The hotel offers a gym, steam bath, plunge pool and two double massage rooms with open air showers. For details log on to www.travelocity.co.in.