Enjoy Your 'Holi'day: 3 Budget-Friendly Getaways Beyond Maharashtra For The Long Weekend

Everyone’s favourite vacay destination, Goa needs no introduction. However, just because it’s a tourist hot-spot doesn’t mean you still can’t have a relaxed and cheap holiday.

How Do I Get There: There are direct buses from Pune to Goa, and we recommend taking one overnight. Leave by Thursday evening, and wake up in Goa on Friday morning. An AC sleeper bus should cost you around INR 1,800 per person each way. Once you reach Goa, you can take a local rickshaw or a cab to your accommodation. You could even rent a bike right then and there.

Where Do I Stay: We recently discovered a superb place to stay a in Vagator, called ‘604 Vagator’ {more on that here}. This newly launched property also boasts of in-house yoga classes, a tattoo studio and a cafe. Expect comfy, clean rooms with their own verandah, swing, and en-suite bathrooms.

What Do I Do There: You could get tattooed at their studio Mandalism, or sign up for an ongoing yoga workshop. The property is just walking distance from all the popular bars, beaches, and eateries in Vagator – so there will always be something to do.

What Will This Cost Me: Your total travel by bus {including return to Pune} should cost you around INR 3,600 per person. We suggest you add another INR 400 for travel by auto, making it INR 4,000 for all your commute. The accommodation will cost you INR 6000 {for 2 nights for 2 people, with complimentary breakfast}, which is INR 3,000 per person. Your total expenditure, per person will now amount to INR 7,000. Add another INR 3,000 for eating out and shopping and you can do Goa easily under INR 10,000 on a long weekend.

#LBBTip: If you decide to road-trip it overtaking a bus, check out our tried and tested route to Goa here.

Gokarna is a sleepy little town, also famous for its Hindu temples and sandy beaches.

How Do I Get There: We recommend travelling overnight by bus {it’s an 11-hour journey each way} from Pune to Gokarna, which should cost you approximately INR 1,400 per person for an AC sleeper {one way}. If you leave Pune by Thursday night, you’ll reach Gokarna early on Friday morning. Return via the same bus, leaving Sunday evening, so you’re back in time for office.

Where Do I Stay: We suggest you stay at the lovely Om Beach Resort {more on that here}. The bus will drop you off at Madangeri point in Gokarna, and you’ll need to take a local bus {autos will over-charge you} to Om Beach Resort. A hillside property with cottage-style accommodation, the resort is just a short walk/bike ride away from Om Beach and other beaches. Stay here with all meals included will cost you INR 6,000 per night for 2 people – which we think is a pretty great deal.

What Do I Do There: Go for a long walk along any of Gokarna’s famous beaches – we hear Om, Paradise, and Half-Moon are the best. If you look close enough you’ll find graffiti on walls around the city of Gokarna, making for great photo-ops. Namaste Cafe at Om Beach is popular for its food and laid-back vibe. Trek your way up a hill for some amaze views, or be a beach bum and spend your day swimming, surfing, and/or sunbathing. If you’re feeling fancy, treat yourself to an Ayurveda spa or yoga class at the resort.

What Will This Cost Me: Your total travel by bus {including return to Pune from Gokarna} should cost you INR 2,800 per person. The total cost of your accommodation is INR 12,000 {for 2 nights for 2 people, all meals included}, which means that you’ll shell out INR 6,000 per person. The grand total of your trip will be INR 8,800 per head. What makes this really cool is that this also includes all your meal, but we’d suggest you carry some extra emergency money anyway.

#LBBTip: We hear that Canara Pinto is the best tried and tested bus operator for the Gokarna-Pune route, so book accordingly.

Hampi is a temple town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, popular among local and foreign tourists alike.

How Do I Get There: There isn’t a direct bus to Hampi from Pune, but you can get there by taking an overnight bus to Hospet {approximately a 10-hour  journey}. Once you reach Hospet, you can travel to Hampi town via auto-rickshaw {INR 100} or public bus {for less than INR 20}. We found AC sleeper bus tickets for INR 1,549 per person, each way, with the same bus operator. We suggest leaving for Hospet on March 1 in the evening, and returning from Hospet on the evening of March 4.

Where Do I Stay: We suggest you stay at in Anegundi called Uramma House, which will cost you about INR 6,000 per night for a double occupancy room, with breakfast included. Lunch and dinner can be arranged {at extra cost} on request. Uramma House is a gorgeous heritage house, which you can read more about here. They also provide power back up, WiFi, pantry and dining area, a private verandah, terrace, hot/cold running water and butler service.

What Do I Do There: There’s lots to explore in Hampi – in addition to temple trekking, you can try your hand at bouldering, cliff-diving, or more off-beat activities we recommend here.

What Will This Cost Me: Your total travel by bus and auto {including return to Pune} should cost you around INR 3,198, and your total accommodation will cost around INR 12,000 {for 2 nights for 2 people}, which is INR 6,000 per person. Your entire trip cost would come to around INR 9,098 per head. Don’t forget to carry some extra dough for other fun stuff you might want to do.

#LBBTip: Since Hampi is a temple town, no non-vegetarian food is served there, but you can get non-vegetarian food across the river on the Anegundi side, or in Hospet.