A cottage at the Corbett Hideaway property and (above) a view of the Sahil Sarovar Portico hotel in Lonavala

Heard about making hay while the sun shines? Well, this is all about making the most of the monsoon! Sure, the skies are gloomy, the weather is at its unpredictable worst and floods are bringing the city to a halt. What could be better then, than getting away from it all, and stealing a few days away for a mid-year perk-up. The best part: you don’t have to spend a fortune, for the mantra this monsoon is ‘more for less’.

It’s raining discounts all right with most of the hospitality majors and travel agents offering incredible deals and other freebies ? all the way till September end.

Says Arjun Sharma, managing director, La Passage, India and chairman of Select Vacations, “While earlier we wouldn’t really focus on monsoon packages, we’re aggressively doing so now. Five years ago, the nation-wide occupancy of hotels would be about 30 to 35 per cent during this season. Today it is about 50 to 55 per cent.”

But just who are the people packing their bags for mid-year trips? According to Sharma, these are mostly corporate folks. He adds, “With the holiday season just getting over and schools having re-opened, the period from August onward is mainly for the incentive market. There is a lot of corporate movement at this time of the year. The traffic, though, is obviously less than in winter. But it’s definitely picked up.”

Pradeep Kalra, vice-president, sales and marketing at Sarovar Hotels & Resorts however has a different take on things. “Price isn’t the only driving factor now What’s also driving people is the romance of the rain,” he says.

Be it the allure of the rain, corporate incentive trips or just plain wanderlust, what really matters are the discounts themselves. So where’s the action at? Carlson Hospitality’s chain of leisure hotels has on offer, something called The Three Wishes Package that allows guests to choose from a basket of six wishes.

Depending on Lady Luck, you could, for instance, land a complimentary half-day sightseeing trip, a gift hamper or a free meal for two. Alternatively, you could get a complimentary third night on room rent, a 30 per cent discount on a second room at the package price, or even a 30 per cent discount on laundry. The Three Wishes Package can be availed at all the Carlson leisure hotels.

Says K B Kachru, executive vice president, Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific, “These are more than just discounts. They are in addition to the preferential rates that are 20 to 30 per cent lower than the usual that we offer guests. This is true value addition.”

The folks at Select Vacations, a travel company are also doling out the deals. Consider their three-night Goa Air package for Rs 13,500 per person. Valid from August 12 to 15, this takes in airfare, accommodation at Club Mahindra Varca Palm Beach, meals and sightseeing ? everything except alcohol. “During peak season, you pay over Rs 15,000 just for the airfare. This then is a steal,” says Sharma.

Select Vacations are floating similar attractive deals (valid till September), which work out to 30 per cent-40 per cent less than the usual price for places like Shimla, Jaipur, Kerala and Vaishnodevi.

Leisure Hotels, one of the oldest players in the Uttaranchal tourism sector with 13 properties, is offering an almost 40 per cent discount at its hotels in Corbett, Haridwar, Nainital, Kausani, Ramgarh and Chardhams. For instance, at the Corbett Hideaway, a package for two comes for Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500. The same deal would normally cost double the price. “We have a three-month lean period during the monsoon. Park authorities shut two sections of the park till September, but one area is kept open. So we usually offer discounts during this time,” says Vibhas Prasad, director, business development, Leisure Hotels.

The discounts may be coming hard and fast, but are they really worth it? Kalra maintains, “These are genuinely better priced. The discounts are for real. Irrespective of what the customer pays, the price is much lower than he/she would pay during a different period.”

Take the case of Sarovar Hotels & Resort. Their two-night package at Poovar Island Resort, priced at Rs 6,666 per head (that’s Rs 3,333 per night) includes all major meals. “In a really high-end hotel, this is what you’d probably pay for one meal. The same package during peak season would be double the price,” points out Kalra. The bounty of offers continues at other Sarovar properties including Sahil Sarovar Portico in Lonavala and Phoenix Park Inn in Goa.

Looking to chill in the hills? Check out what Choice Hotels India, has to offer. At their hotels in Mussoorie, Manali and Shimla, the packages (taxes included) range between Rs 6,666 and Rs 14,000.

Another reason for the deluge of deals this season is the fact that the hotel industry is getting highly competitive. Last year the average occupancy across the Carlson Hotels was 60 per cent. This year, Kachru says they are looking at upping that figure by seven to eight per cent.

On his part, Kalra points out that he’s looking at 80 per cent occupancy at the Poova Island Resort for the month of August. “This is unusual at Poova, but the long weekend following Independence Day will help,” he says. At the Phoenix Park Inn in Goa this year, the traffic has increased by about 30 to 40 per cent compared to 2005. Presently occupancy is about 55 to 60 per cent. “Two to three years ago, occupancy during this time was only about 30 to 35 per cent. The next month is difficult to predict, but we should reach 75 per cent,” says Kalra. But going by the rush of bookings at travel agencies and hotels, Kalra and even his other competitors will reach their targets. It looks like there’s going to be no rain on this parade!

My favourite holiday

Arunima,
actress

Looking back, my favourite holiday was the one when I was coaxed into going to Kedar, about six years ago. I went kicking and screaming, cajoled into submission by my family. But to my surprise, it turned out to be my most memorable trip yet. It was the usual affair with the extended family ? my cousins went too ? and we ended up having loads of fun. It was an arduous trek up to Kedar and bravely, we decided to go by foot. Once that part was over, the view below was breathtaking. The whole atmosphere was a festive one, walking alongside a mixed crowd of people making the trip with religious or irreligious ends in mind. The mela-like ambience lent a different flavour to the entire trip.

Once I started working, vacations became a thing of past and the best I’ve had since then are working holidays. My most recent was a trip to Vizag for shooting. I used to work like crazy all day, but in the evenings I’d go and sit on the beach. Watching the waves roll in, I’d feel my fatigue washing away. My mother was also with me during this trip, so we managed to sneak in some precious moments of bonding too. For now, though, I’m living for the next outdoor shoot away from the city.

Route map

Not far from home you can squeeze in a value-for-money getaway even as the monsoons wash the city. The Park, Vizag is the hideout to go for and its two nights and three days weekend package is attractively priced at Rs 7,111 for a superior room and Rs 9,111 for a deluxe room. Valid till September 30, the tariff is on double occupancy basis. The package packs in quite a punch and takes care of airport or station transfers, buffet breakfasts for the couple over the two days, a half-day local sightseeing trip, and the use of the steam room and sauna. If you are the sporty type, then step out for a spot of beach volleyball, tennis, table tennis or simply chill out by the swimming pool. Book the package and you get discount coupons valid at the hotel’s restaurants, The Spa and the MGM Entertainment Park. For reservations/details on the package, log on to www.theparkhotels.com.